The United States Merchant Marines
The United States Merchant Marines are complied of thousands of the best trained men and women of today to man naval or commercial ships. Merchant Marines have dated back even further then the United States Coast Guard. The Merchant Marines have had a huge impact on the United States Navy since they have been established. Merchant Marines have manned fleets of ships for the U.S. Navy which carry imports and export during peace time. Once wartime rolls around, they become naval auxiliary, to ship and deliver troops and war materials. The largest participation came from the United States Merchant Marines after the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. Due to the act of 1936, the controversial question is when the
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These patriotic men of all ages came forward to serve in the growing U.S. Maritime Service. Young men even at the age of 16 joined to help their country in the time of need. The country at the time had 37 Official U.S. Government Recruiting Offices set up to recruit the men of all ages. Newspaper ads and the radio really helped spread the word to find the thousands of men. United States Maritime Service offices were specially placed next to Navy and Coast Guard Offices for competition. Men who went into the Navy and Coast Guard offices to sign up were usually passed to the USMS by recruiters to help the aid the low numbers of merchant marines. Also what contributed to the growing service during this time was that the USMS was the only racially integrated service in the United States. The men who instructed recruits the USMS were thousands of active and retired mariners from the Navy and Coast Guard. The USMS took over 250,000 recruits and was able to turn them into fighting mariners. The instructors taught the men how to operate anti-aircraft guns and cannons, along with the proper equipment used to protect them selves. They were taught navigation, engine …show more content…
If all of the naval ships manned by the Merchant Marines had not been produced, the war would have been thought be prolonged for months, if not years. Some argue the Allies would have lost and they would not have had the means to carry the personnel, supplies, and equipment needed to defeat the opposing powers. The total of 55,000 experienced mariners, before the war was increased to over 215,000 because of the U.S. Maritime Service training programs. The dangers that the Merchant ships faced were mostly from submarines, mines, armed raiders and destroyers, aircraft, and the elements. The merchant marines had a greater percentage of war-related deaths than all other U.S. services. The total men killed were estimated to be around 9,000, while approximately 8,000 of the mariners were killed at sea, and 12,000 wounded. The number of POW's where approximately 663 and only 66 died as prisoners in camps or aboard Japanese ships while being transported. Only 31 ships vanished without a trace to watery graves. Since the end of the war it has been calculated that one in twenty-six mariners that served aboard merchant ships during WW II died in the line of duty. The casualties were kept secret during the war to keep any information about success or failure from the enemy, also to help attract and keep mariners at sea. One of the greatest threats to the mariners was
The Marine Corps today has developed itself into an elite fighting force based on strong naval traditions. The basic Marine is amphibious, which means that the warrior is capable of fighting on land and sea. The idea of an amphibious landing was developed through the training of the Marine Raider Battalions, which was tested and perfected in combat. Although there were two Raider Commanders with very different views on how to prepare their marines, Evans Carlson and Merritt Edson were responsible for training lightly armed Marines for amphibious assaults.
Out of the initial two hundred and forty, eighty-two remaining United States Marines killed over one thousand enemy troops. Eventually the remaining men were relieved to return home to be reunited with their
The United States Marine Corps are a branch of the United States Armed Forces, accountable for providing rapid power projection. Training is an essential aspect of becoming a Marine and being able to do this, so, Ian Tyson arrived at bootcamp, where there was utter chaos and confusion. No one knew what was happening or why, the drill sergeants looked like monsters, and every individual became nothing but a number, a part of the crowd.
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, America was at last forced to officially enter World War II. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially declared war on the Japanese and in his famous radio address to the American people, he professed that December 7 was a day that would live in infamy. Americans and Japanese alike, still remember Pearl Harbor Day, but how many remember the gallant, fighting Marines who served on a tiny atoll in the Pacific by the name of Wake Island?
Years after the birth of the United States, the Navy became part of the new country’s military branch. However, piracy was a huge issue throughout the Imperial age in the United States. In 1794, the legislative body imposed an Act to strengthen the forces of the navy (USS Constitution Association). As the result, David Stodder and his co-builders, Josiah Fox and Joshua Humphreys, built one of the first ships called the USS Constellation 1797, which it gained recognition through barbaric battles and British rival dominance.
Unquestionably, the marines were very basic and underdeveloped in their earlier days. The USMC, or better known as the United States Marine Corps, is one of the five main branches of the United States military. The Marines Corps started out being known as the Continental Marines ("United States Marine Corps" 4). The Continental Marines were born November 10, 1775 at Tin Tavern in Pennsylvania. Due to the act of July 11, 1798, the Marines were formed in place of them under the constitution. They were first formed because of America being in debt. At the time, the United States was in a naval war with France (Metcalf 343). The marines have many allies and foes throughout the branches of military. The United States Navy is said to be the "big brother" of the U.S. Marines out of the other military branches. Most of the support that the Marines get is from this fine group of men. Early marines served as gunners, mechani...
Exemplary performance has always attracted accolades and numerous prices; this gives morale and vigor for everyone to achieve their best. In the disciplined forces, particularly the marine, the service members always receive a major reward that elevates them in rank; this is the medal. This rewards them for their bravery and contribution in the missions they are involved in. Indeed, they contribute a lot to the peace and security of the world at large and they truly deserve these medals for recognition (Tucker, 2011). This has been a practice for the U.S. Marine to issue Corps medals since the Civil War to present day. Among the Corps Medal categories include American Defense Medal-WWII, Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal among others. Since the Civil War there have been over 120 U.S. Marine Corps Medals. This paper identifies Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller and describes why he has been one of the most decorated marines in the history of the U.S.
America’s veterans should be honored because they have suffered through so many hardships that others could not and have not survived, and they did it for their country that they loved and still love today.
Military background and history has been in the world for a long time. It goes back as far as Assyrians, Spartans, Aztecs, Romans and Greek. The military purpose is mainly to protect our country and our rights and freedoms. It’s just a part of nature. No one came up with military it just happened and got stronger and stronger over the years. It first started with random people coming together protecting towns and homes and families, and eventually more and more people came together. The three main branches of the military are The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. All three of these branches are the reason the U.S is how it is. These branches fight for our freedom, our rights, and our country!! (Robbie Hughes Interview)
A Marine is a very brave person, in any condition or place. In the year of 2015, a Marine in Chattanooga, Tennessee, risked his life when trying to distract a gunman from shooting many
" The Mariners' Museum : Birth of the U.S. Navy.” The Mariners' Museum, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
In 1917, the United States entered World War I under the slogan “Make the World Safe For Democracy.” Within a week after the U.S, entered the war, the War Department stopped accepting black volunteers because colored army quotas were filled. No black men were allowed in the Marines, Coast guard or Airforce. However they were allowed in the Navy only an as mess man which was a position the yielded very little advancement and no glory. When drafting began, of the more than 2,000,000 blacks registered 31 percent were accepted to 26 percent of the white men. Blacks then comprised 10 percent of the population. World War I
In the thirty-eight years of the United States Naval Submarine Service no United States submarine had ever sunk an enemy vessel. With the ignition of the Second World War the poorly equipped and poorly trained Silent Service, nicknamed for the limited access of the media to the actions and achievements of the submarines, would be thrust into the position American submariners had longed for. The attack on Pearl Harbor left the United States Navy with few options for retribution. The three remaining aircraft carriers were to be “the last line of defense.” Commander Stuart S. Murray made the precarious situation clear to his skippers, captains, upon sending them on their first war patrol. He stressed the importance of smart sailing by warning them not “to go out there and win the Congressional Medal of Honor in one day. The submarines are all we have left.” We entered the war with 55 submarines, 27 at Pearl Harbor and 28 at Cavite in the Philippines. At first our submarine strategies lacked ingenuity and failed to use our subs to their full potential. United States subs were assigned to reconnaissance, transporting supplies, and lifeguard duty, picking up downed airmen and sailors. They were even, on occasion, sent to rescue high profile Americans on the run from the enemy or from islands under enemy siege. Although their ability was, unfortunately, wasted in our entrance to the Pacific Theater the Silent Service would soon gain the recognition its men yearned for.
and Drill Instructors see Boot Camp. Why did he pick the Marines as his topic? Attracted to the Corps perception and morale, Thomas E. Ricks expresses the Marines as the only service still upholding its honor and tradition. Due to society changing into a commercial society with a “me” attitude, civilians focus on how they can splendor themselves with material items—never looking at the big picture at all that we can accomplish as a team if we give our heart and soul to life. Team means everyone on earth, for we are the people that provide for one another with peace and prosperity.
Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, through dedication to his mission and the welfare of his marines, was a visionary leader even by today’s standards. In his youth, Chesty attempted to join World War I before he had reached the required age. He attended Virginia Military Institute, but dropped out after one year to satisfy his urge to experience combat. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private and remained enlisted for only a year before his commissioning as a lieutenant. Unfortunately, the war ended before he was able to experience combat. When a force reduction ensued after the end of the war, Lt Puller was sent to the reserves and given the ...