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These Marine combat generals deserve more attention from historians than they had been given for their roles in garnering victory over Japan. The Marine Corps’ success is a credit not only to their doctrine and culture, but also to the USMC Commandants, who relied on their personal knowledge of the officer corps to appoint the right people for the right posts. And even after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and hours later, the Philippines, the grand strategy was still to deploy resources against Germany, and remain on the defensive in the Pacific against Japan. counter-offensive across the Pacific, except in the Philippines mainly because the focus was on the fight in Europe to block Hitler’s advances. However great their contribution, they were still criticized mainly for their large casualties.Īlthough Marine Corps battle Commanders took some of most horrendous and complicated assignments, they emerged victorious in all of their operations during the U.S. The Marine Corps were directly responsible for the performance of their division’s missions. The Marine generals selected their officers and staff. They did amphibious operations that were extraordinarily tough to organize with tactical precision. They fought with professionalism, persistence, and competence against the strongest Japanese defenses in the Pacific.Īlthough the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Commanders decided which Japanese island to attack, it was the Marine Combat Generals who determined the proper tactics, timing, weaponry, planning, organization, alternatives, and training for the actual ground operation. As Marines, they did not question orders. If the Marines had balked at any of their missions, it would have upset the Navy’s confidence in the Marine Corps, and grant the Army a bigger role in the war. They acceded for having little say in the Pacific War strategy, and because they were ready to demonstrate their added value to the military establishment.

The Marine Generals’ willingness to take on almost any assignment therefore came at a stiff price. Some of the Marine Corps’ most difficult assignments were not only excessively costly, but also had questionable strategic value.