Early WW2 training, US Army vs. USMC

The first Army troops to land on Guadalcanal were placed in the same fighting positions as the Marines because they arrived during a Japanese attack. They was no chance of a repeat of the Layac bug out and their introduction to combat went well.

Joe

 

defense is easier than offense ...the USMC had some problems on the Canal when they were on the offensive ..I thought it was September in the Mantanikau Offensive that the Japanese ''won'' that battle .....
...it's not easy moving through thick jungle and coordinating units for attack
..like others have said, I thought the USMC had more experienced men at the time and the USMC is/was a much smaller force = easier to train/etc .....I was in the USMC for 8 years

 

I do not know about Marine training WWII but Dad joined the army in 1934, In 1937 he was at Ft Oglethorpe then assigned as a Heavy Cannoner in Panama.I don't remember the units as we are on the other side of the Country now and most of the records are destroyed in 72. In 39 Dad was discharged.In June, 41hewas recalled , and for 34 months was "Basic Trainer" what we now call Drill Instructors, at Camp Forest, in Tennessee a short way from his home. The family were Sharecroppers. There is photo of him in the Winchester Tn library in a book, him in uniform among pup tents in the snow. A man of steel destroyed by the war. he had one Brother that served and several Cousins in the Army, Navy, and Marines. One Cousin who passed in 05 had a bronze star and several commendations for service in Germany. He was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.
he told of being in freezing water and ice and snow with. poor clothing and boots for several weeks,I believe. .Dad told of training men with pieces of woodcut out to resembel rifles, in the beginning and dummy items for grenades etc. It is no wonder the first wave, so to speak, were a little green but the swamps of Tullahoma, and the mountains toughened up any city fellers right quick. During those years mot men were farmers and tough as nails. In 44 Dad was sent to Camp Columbus in Missouri, and from there to the Pacific and Saipan as a"Radio Man." Dad would not talk about his service but on his death bed he recounted being chased by natives with knives and sticks.Perhaps Panama. Both he and has brother suffered terribly and Dad never drove acar after the war or owned gun. he owned large collection, before the war and his years at Camp Forrest. He had two younger Brothers one served in the Marines in Korea the other and my Big Brother, so to speak, was Korea Era Veteran and served around the world and three tours in Nam the same years as me. I have manged to talk to several WWII Veterans and every Household on the street, in town where I mostly spent winters were Army Veterans of the war. I have served with all services in common training at Ft Eurstis. To disparge the Army as less than the Marines is a travesty. In Nha Trang the Guys went out at night with knives and came in in the morning flights with blood on them.. My cousin a Marinehis first conflict was killed by a mortar tube burst at Ashau Valley. Special Operations in all services, the Rangers, the special Forces, The Seals the glamour warrior,s after the battles on average are equal.

 

There is talk of having the Marines over here in Darwin during the wet season...not just the cooler dry season...hehe...I cant wait to see that. The wet season is Darwin's slow season, because no one comes here during that time A. Because everywhere is flooded and inaccessible...and B. Its too hot to do anything outside.
Up here we play Aussie rules (NTFL) during the wet (dry season is for cricket) - And the AFL refuses to play/schedule Aussie rules games up here during the wet or "build up" due to player welfare...
And they want to train Marines in the wet!? As I said...hehe...

 

..do you know what unit the Marine killed at Ashau was in? year? thanks

 

..so they are there year round, but not in Darwin? the USMC?
..I know they sent a unit to Australia ....I guess they don't have an amphibious MAU around there for exercises, ''year round'' like they do in the Med or Northern Pacific

 

Good question...my understanding is the Marines ONLY train during the dry season, but are now thinking of making it all year around (I’m talking out in the field/war gaming)...they could still be here in some capacity all round now anyway, I don’t know.

 

roger that..I guess by stationing them there, the US wants training with the Aussies and more options available....unless anyone else has ideas on that?