US Marines

[Y Ddraig Goch]

Did any US Marines serve in the ETO?

I don't think they did but I just want to make sure.









Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.

[Zapfenstreich]

I was told by an ex-Marine I knew (he has since passed away) that there were several Marine Officers on the beaches during the Normandy invasion acting as fire direction control for the off-shore ship batteries. I don't believe any full strength Marine units fought in the ETO at all. They were pretty busy in the Pacific.

The Germans mistakenly thought some of the amphibious landing ops during the Sicily-Salerno-Italian Peninsula campaigns were being carried out by Marines but they soon realized these were the usual Army units.

Z

[Mito]

Hi,

Why didn't the Marines participate in the European theatre?

Thank you.

Mito

[Dan W.]

U.S. Marines were to be used in amphibious operations and landings, of which this role was what made up the Pacific Theater. The island-hopping campaign was largely conducted by the U.S. Marines, who also had the support of some Army Divisions.

The ETO was landlocked, and did not have a suitable role for U.S. Marines who were trained in amphibious landings.

[Logan Hartke]

Also, why split a branch between two continents when you can keep them all together. It wasn't needed. Another thing, the Marine-style camouflage uniforms were tried out by some US Army troops in France.



Men were lost due to friendly fire accidents since the SS and FJ were the only ones walking around France with camo uniforms at that time. Needless to say, the were quickly withdrawn from sevice in France and the men were given regular OD HBTs.

Logan Hartke

[Bret van Sant]

CHECK THIS OUThttp://www.expage.com/page/usmarinesinwwii

[Bret van Sant]

YES, MARINES WERE VERY BUSY IN THE SOUTH PAC! ME OLDE MAN

[Dan W.]

Hey, great shot! I like the picture of the Samaurai sword.
Is there a story behind it? Did he haul back anything else?

[Logan Hartke]

That was a good site Bret, thanks.

Logan Hartke

BTW - Dan, whereabouts in Illinois do you live?

[Dan W.]

I live right smack dab in the middle! Central Illinois.
Okay Logan, you go next. Whereabouts do you live?

[Logan Hartke]

Gotta town? I live near Staunton, 1 hour S. of Springfield and 45 min NE of St. Louis.

Logan Hartke

[Dan W.]

Hey Logan! I live near Peoria, exactly 60 miles north of Springfield.
I guess this means were neighbors, huh?

[Bret van Sant]

ALL YOU GUYS,I WISH I STILL LIVED IN INDIANA.I GO BACK 4 OR 5 TIMES A YEAR.ITS WARMER THATS FOR SURE! MY DAD,3RD AMFIB.MARINES, MARSHALL AND GILBERT ISLANDS.. ET ALL..BEEN THERE DONE THAT! STILL A MEAN S.O.B. SERVED OUT THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH A NAVY BUD IN SAN FRANCISCO BOTH AS S.P.'S.I COULD NEVER IMAGINE A MARINE AND A NAVY GUY WORKING ANY LONGER TOGETHER THAN GETTING IN A FIGHT THEMSELVES.ALL SARGS. IN HIS UNIT WERE ALL OFFERED EARLY ROTATION BACK TO THE STATES HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO TOOK IT.THE OTHER GUYS NEVER CAME BACK.THE SWORD STORY IS NOT VERY EXCITING.BUT ITS WHY I COLLECT.YEA HE HAS A FEW OTHER TROPHYS.HE ALSO IS INTO DAGGERS.HE GETS MY SECONDS FROM UPGRADES.SEMPER FI POPS!

[Mito]

In that movie, were those soldiers marine or regular army?
I guess they were regular soldiers, because they didn't have any camouflage.

Did the US army also engaged in amphibious landings as did the Marines?

Thank you.

[MadJim]

Marines served in Europe in WW2 in small numbers. That they never served in larger numbers was do to the fanagling and machinations of the Army who didnt want them there. (In WW1 Marines served in the 2nd Infantry divison)

Marines served on ships during the war, and 1st Marine Brigade was sent to garrison Iceland (releived the British 49th Inf Division) until relieved by, I believe the 6th Us Infantry Divison. Marines took and active part (in small groups) during Operation Torch and in a Marine Officer got the Navy Cross for his exploits. (NC ranks just below Medal of Honor in the Naval Service).

Marines also served in the OSS. If you want to read a true life adventure read about Ortiz, escaped pow, ex legionairre and volunteer for the OSS. His showing up at a bar with German officers in it in occupied France , in full Marine uniform, demanding they drink to the USMC is a classic.