Subject: the Ghost of General Patton

STRONG LANGUAGE, BUT THE NAIL HAS BEEN HIT ON THE HEAD!

A Message from the Ghost of General Patton....

ATTENTION!

To those whining, panty-waisted, pathetic Maggots, it's time for a little refresher course on exactly why we Americans occasionally have to fight wars.

See if you can tear yourself away from your "reality" TV and Starbucks for a minute, pull your head out of your flabby ass -- and LISTEN UP!!

Abu Ghraib is not "torture" or an "atrocity".
This is the kind of thing frat boys, sorority girls, and academy cadets
do to newcomers.

A little fun at someone else's expense. Certainly no reason to wring your hands or get your panties in a wad

Got that Kennedy?

THIS IS an atrocity!

So Was This!!!

WHICH PART DON'T YOU GET?

Islam a peaceful religion???
Millions of these sons-of-bitches are plotting as we speak to destroy our country and our way of life any way they can. Some of them are here among us now.

They don't want to convert you and don't want to rule you. You are a vile infestation of Allah's paradise. They don't give a shit how "progressive" you are, how peace-loving you are, or how much you sympathize with their cause.

They want you dead, and think it is God's will for them to do it. And you think Bush and Cheney are your worst enemies?

Some think if we give them a hug or listen to them, then they'll like us... and if you agree? Then you are a dumb ass!

If they manage to get their hands on a nuke, chemical agents, or even some anthrax -- you will wish to God we had hunted them down and killed THEM while we had the chance.

Stop bitchin' about your damn Health Care, Social Security, Gas prices, and your measly 4.4% unemployment rate...and start worrying about you, and your family's, and your friends' asses.

How many more Americans must be beheaded before you stop blaming Bush for all your troubles --
You've fallen asleep AGAIN, maggots!
And you may not get another chance!
NOW GET OFF YOUR SORRY ASS -
and pass this on to any and every person you give-a-damn about..
if you ever gave a damn about anything

DISMISSED

See if you have enough balls to forward this email. The truth shall set you free!

My personal Motto

Propinquus per quod attero per propinquus certamen quod Decursus

Κλείστε με και καταστρέψτε μέσω του στενών αγώνα και του ελιγμού

Close with and destroy through close combat and maneuver

Confederate States Marine Corps

Confederate States Marine Corps



A Corps Such as Our Own: A Brief Look at the Confederate States Marine Corps by Lt Col Richard M. Schmitz
Marines who fought with a rebel yell.
Introduction:
Much has been written about the exploits of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) throughout its history, and many a book has been penned on a multitude of topics covering the American Civil War. Justifiably, the USMC can be proud of its accomplishments in the Civil War, from the awarding of its first Medal of Honor to Cpl John F. Mackie to the assaults on Fort Fisher, SC. Yet, also during the Civil War, not much is known, let alone written, about a Corps such as our own: the Confederate States Marine Corps (CSMC).

1 Even before shots were fired on 12 April 1861 at Fort Sumter, SC, the Congress of the Confederate States established a Corps of Marines. On 16 March 1861, the CSMC came into existence commanded by a major and comprised of a battalion of six companies.


2 An amendatory act was passed on 20 May 1861 that enlarged the CSMC to 10 companies commanded by a colonel.


3 The Confederate States Congress authorized an end strength of 989 Marines consisting of: 1 Colonel, 1 Lieutenant Colonel, 1 Major, 1 Quartermaster (Major), 1 Adjutant (Major), 1 Sergeant Major, 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, 10 Captains, 10 First Lieutenants, 20 Second Lieutenants, 40 Sergeants, 40 Corporals, 840 Privates, 10 Drummers, 10 Fifers and 2 musicians.


4 A paymaster (major) was also included in the supplemental act bringing the total strength to 990 Marines.


5 The CSMC was later enlarged on 24 September 1862 to 1,072 by adding 20 sergeants, 20 corporals, 20 drummers, 20 fifers, and two principal musicians.


6 Interestingly, the size of the USMC at the opening shot of the Civil War was 1,768, which included the President's Own (Marine Band).


7 The peak strength of the USMC would reach 3,881 in February 1865 whereas the Confederate Marines mustered less than 600 at its zenith.


8 A report by the Confederate Commandant on 30 October 1864 reflected a total of 539 Marines, of which 67 were prisoners of war and 32 were recruits, leaving an effective strength of 440 Marines.


9 Despite its relatively small size, the CSMC distinguished itself in many ways throughout the duration of the Civil War. The CSMC drew upon the collective experience of the other American Marine Corps to ensure it was established on a firm foundation. The CSMC was created with an eye on its brethren USMC whereby the Confederate Congress stated that: All laws of the United States heretofore enacted for the government of the officers, seamen, and Marines of the Navy of the United States, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, are hereby adopted and applied to the officers, seamen, and Marines of the Navy of the Confederate States.


10 Therefore, the origins and the role of the CSMC in the Civil War would not be unlike that of its precursor with rebel Marines defending shore installations, embarking on ships, and engaging in numerous battles with enemy land forces when the need arose. Due to a lack of able-bodied seamen in the Confederate Navy, rebel Marines were called upon to maintain discipline and man the deck guns of the ship more so than their counterparts in the USMC. In addition, the CSMC was seen as a unique organization that could be relied upon to take on special assignments when the need arose and carried out these varied duties with a high degree of success despite its nascent beginnings and small numbers.


11 What was created on paper by the Confederate Congress had to be fleshed out with able bodies in a short period of time to contribute effectively in the war of northern aggression. To this end, the origins of the CSMC were grafted from the pre-Civil War USMC. Origins of the CSMC The bulk of the CSMC officer corps were seasoned veterans from the USMC who tendered their resignations in order to offer their services for the cause of the South. Fifty-six officers were appointed to the CSMC throughout the Civil War and 19 of these were former USMC officers.


12 An interesting note is that the Confederate Commandant was actually a former U.S. Army officer. MAJ Lloyd J. Beall, a West Point graduate, was a paymaster in the U.S. Army stationed at St. Louis, MO when he tendered his resignation and headed south. Although born at Fort Adams, RI, he was a Marylander who married the daughter of a South Carolina senator, and his loyalties were with the South. Beall was appointed a colonel and Commandant (the only one of the CSMC) on 23 May 1861 and served in this capacity throughout the war.


13 With the transfer of the Confederate capital from Montgomery, AL to Richmond, VA, Col Beall established the CSMC Headquarters in Richmond as well. The training of officers and enlisted Marines took place a short distance to the south of Richmond at Drewry's Bluff overlooking the James River. The CSMC benefited from the experience and training of many former Marine officers who also tendered their resignations (or attempted to prior to being unceremoniously dismissed from the USMC). Of note were Maj Tyler, Adjutant and Inspector of the Marine Corps, and Maj Terrett, hero of the Battle for Mexico City in the Mexican-American War, who both joined the CSMC. Tyler was appointed to the sole lieutenant colonel billet and Terrett was appointed a major in charge of the battalion stationed at Drewry's Bluff in the defense of Richmond.


14 In all, 21 USMC officers chose to foreswear their allegiance to the Grand Old Flag and take up arms with the South. 2nd Lt Sayre was the first to resign and was appointed a first lieutenant in the Confederate Marines. 1st Lt Read resigned, and although he never served with the CSMC, he was appointed a captain in the 1st Georgia Regulars. 1st Lt's Holmes, Hays, Baker, Tyler (son of Maj Tyler), Turner, Meiere, Greene, Tattnall, and Wilson tendered their resignations from the USMC and were appointed either first lieutenants or captains in the CSMC commensurate with their time in service and experience in the USMC.


15 Capt's Taylor, Simms, and Rich also tendered their USMC resignations and were appointed as captains, or in Taylor's case a major, in the CSMC based on their stature in the USMC. Capt Rich originally entered the Virginia Marines, but after consolidation with the CSMC, retained his rank until declared incompetent and released from active service. Capt Tansill resigned as well and accepted an appointment as a CSMC captain, but later resigned and became a colonel in the 2nd Virginia Artillery Battalion.


16 2nd Lt’s Howell (brother-in-law of President Jefferson Davis), Ingraham, and Dawson also resigned their USMC commissions and were appointed first lieutenants in the CSMC. 1st Lt Stark also resigned but was not commissioned in the CSMC. Interestingly, former USMC Commandant Gen Archibald Henderson's son, Richard (who had no prior USMC service), served in the CSMC as a first lieutenant and his other son, 1st Lt Charles Henderson, was stricken from the rolls as disloyal despite the fact that he was medically retired and did not serve with the CSMC. LCDR Allison, USN resigned his Navy commission as a paymaster and was appointed a major in the CSMC and became its paymaster.


17 Three other CSMC officers had served with the U.S. Navy or Coast Survey, and three others were directly appointed from the civilian sector (most notable of the civilian captain appointees were Thom and Van Benthuysen who distinguished themselves during the war), and the remainder came from the Provisional Army of the Confederate States.


18 The organization of the CSMC into companies under the nominal control of a regimental headquarters was different from the organization of the USMC at that time. The USMC was organized under Marine barracks, and ship detachments were sent out accordingly from those barracks near the ship's home port. The intent of the CSMC was to train officers and enlisted Marines at Drewry's Bluff (similar to the USMC training at Marine Barracks, Washington DC) and then send them out to man ship detachments or "barracks" at designated ports or installations. The captains were responsible for recruiting their own companies and not until later in the war were recruiting offices established throughout the South. Initial enlistments were for 4 years, but later changed to 3 when recruiting goals were not met (a problem the CSMC experienced throughout the war).


19 A good example of the problem of enlisting and retaining Marines can be seen in the case of the sergeant major's billet. The Sergeant Major of the CSMC position was vacant until 1 February 1864, when a suitable application from Edwin Wallace was received and approved. Wallace, the son of a sergeant major of the Royal Marines, had served in the Royal Marines as well, and was educated at the Duke of York Military School in London. Recruited by Capt Meiere out of Mobile, AL, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant major and transferred to the battalion at Drewry's Bluff. Yet, he was later reduced in the ranks on 25 July 1864 and deserted 5 days later over a deep-seated disagreement with the Commandant over supposed promises made to him about his enlistment by his recruiter Capt Meiere. In a letter to the Commandant, Capt Meiere stated he promised nothing.


20 Initially, the Confederate Marines were recruited from Montgomery, AL (the capital of the Confederacy at that time) and New Orleans, LA. The men were organized into companies and served primarily at the Navy Yard in Pensacola, FL for the first year of the war under the commands of Capt's Van Benthuysen, Thom, and Holmes. On 26 July 1861, Lt Col Tyler took command of the 300 Marines when the Marine battalion, made up of the 3 companies, was attached to the 3rd Brigade of the Army of Pensacola. Also in the spring of 1861, 1st Lt Howell took a company of 150 rebel Marines to New Orleans in defense of the harbor.


21 Upon the Federal bombardment of Pensacola, the battalion transferred its companies piecemeal to Virginia and completed the movement, with a small detachment remaining at Mobile, AL around 24 February 1862.


22 The bulk of the CSMC remained in the Richmond area at Camp Beall on Drewry's Bluff and at the Navy Shipyard, Norfolk, VA with smaller units deploying to Wilmington, NC; Charleston, SC; and Savannah, GA. From these locations, rebel Marines formed ship detachments and embarked on numerous vessels to include ironclads and cruisers that preyed upon Northern shipping. The largest Marine contingent that served on board a ship was the detachment of 55 officers and men who served on the ironclad CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimac).


23 Marines served aboard the CSS Sumter, CSS Shenandoah (recruited from Australian stowaways while visiting Melbourne, Australia), CSS Alabama, CSS Atlanta (rechristened the Tallahassee and also known as the Olustee),CSS Tennessee, CSS Chickamauga, and the gunboat Gaines,to name a few.


24 The rebel Marines would prove their mettle both ashore and afloat in the ensuing exploits. Exploits of the CSMC One of the most notable events of the Civil War involved a duel off Hampton Roads,VA. between the Union ironclad Monitor and the Confederate ironclad Merrimac (known in the South as the CSS Virginia) on 8-9 March 1862. Capt Thom and his Marines manned several guns during the standoff and performed well enough to be mentioned in ADM Buchanan's report, "the Marine Corps was well represented by Capt Thom, whose tranquil mien gave evidence that the hottest fire was no novelty to him."


25 Although the Marines were not able to perform their traditional role of sniping and boarding the enemy ship or repelling boarders, their skill and daring behind the deck guns was exemplary and showed that the Marines were an integral part of the ship's complement. This type of action would be repeated throughout the Confederate States Navy wherever Marines were present. The Marines redeployed to Drewry's Bluff when the Virginia was trapped in the James River by Union forces and she was scuttled to prevent her capture.


26 With the Marines firmly entrenched on the heights at Drewry's Bluff along the James River; preparations were completed for the anticipated Union flotilla that would attempt to reach the Confederate capital at Richmond. On 15 May 1862, a Federal squadron comprised of the ironclad USS Monitor, the armor-plated gunboat USS Galena, and the wooden gunboats Aroostook and Port Royal tried unsuccessfully to run the gauntlet at Drewry's Bluff. Along with the accurate cannon fire, the Marine sharpshooters were effective as evidenced by wounding the commanding officer of the USS Port Royal and trading heavy volume of fire with the U.S. Marines embarked on the ships.


27 Cpl Mackie earned his Medal of Honor in this engagement embarked on board the USS Galena. The Marine battalion at Drewry's Bluff would remain until fighting late in the war caused them to retreat with GEN Robert E. Lee's army. The Confederate Marines were called upon many times for special missions such as the plan to capture Federal ironclads anchored off of Charleston Harbor. The plan called for the Marines, under the command of Capt Wilson, to board the ships at night and disable the engine by dropping sulfur, gunpowder, and wet blankets down the smokestack. Once this was completed, the Marines would wait for the gassed victims to emerge and surrender or die from suffocation. Training was conducted and the Marines were ready, yet the Union armada of nine ironclads sailed into Charleston Harbor on 6 April 1863 and received such a terrible shelling that the fleet withdrew and the mission was scrubbed when the threat vanished. The Marines returned to Drewry's Bluff to await other special operations.


28 Capt Wilson's Confederate Marines were instrumental in the special operation to "cut out" the USS Underwriter from the flotilla anchored at New Bern,NC. on 2 February 1864. After a brief but violent hand-to-hand fight, the Marines and sailors under CMDR Wood, USN was successful in capturing and destroying the ship. CMDR Wood commented afterward on the bravery displayed by the Marines that, "as a body they would be a credit to any organization, and that I will be glad to be associated with them on duty at any time."


29 The rebel Marines were also successful on 2 June 1864 in cutting out the USS Water Witch near Savannah, GA in a 10-minute bloody battle on her decks and adding her to the Confederate Navy complement.


30 The fortunes of war favored the North, and the pressure of land and sea invasion forced the rebel Marines to abandon many of its shore installations and ships or fight until captured or defeated. The tide had turned and the Union forces were bearing down on Richmond. Along with the Southern cause, the CSMC's days were numbered. The Eclipse of the CSMC With the evacuation of Wilmington, NC and Charleston, SC, the Marine units made their way to Richmond. Many of the ship detachments prior to capture also struck out for the capital once their ships were trapped by the Federal blockade and no hope of breaking out was possible. The mass of Confederate Marines now assembled at Drewry's Bluff also took part in the final defense of Richmond. Along with displaced and shipless seamen, the Marines were organized into a naval brigade under the overall command of CAPT (flag officer) Tucker, USN. On 2 April 1865, the brigade retreated toward Appomattox, VA and 2 days later fought a pitched battle with the pursuing Federals at Sayler's Creek.


31 The Marine battalion fought courageously in savage hand-to-hand combat with the 37th Massachusetts and 121st New York Regiments in rain-swollen marshland and repulsed the attack of the Federals. The 37th Massachusetts regimental commander credited his unit's use of Spencer repeating rifles as the only reason they were able to avoid disaster at the hands of the Marines.


32 The remnants of the naval brigade were surrounded at day's end, and with the outcome hopeless, Capt Tucker surrendered his forces, which included at least 57 Marines.


33 The remains of the Confederate Marines withdrew to Appomattox and surrendered with GEN Lee on 9 April 1865. Twenty-nine Marines were present when the Stars and Bars were furled for the last time at Appomattox Court House. 1st Lt Richard Henderson (former USMC Commandant Gen Archibald Henderson's son) was the senior Marine present on that day when the Confederate Corps capitulated alongside the Army of Northern Virginia.


34 The last rebel Marines to surrender in the war were north of Mobile on 10 May 1865.


35 Conclusion: The CSMC had come full circle with the surrender of the Marine detachment in Alabama. The first Confederate Marines were raised from the state of Alabama 4 years prior to stand up a Corps such as our own. Based on the principle laid down by USMC Commandant Gen Archibald Henderson prior to the Civil War, the USMC was to be ready to respond instantly to any emergency. To the credit of Col Beall and his experienced officers, the CSMC abided by the same principle. With a battalion-sized unit close to the CSMC Headquarters, the Marines were ready and capable of responding in short notice to emerging threats and special operations. The CSMC did not become a casualty of the war by becoming an odd organization of seagoing infantry split up into ineffective units and scattered to the far winds. Despite its small size, the CSMC distinguished itself numerous times and was constantly called upon and in demand not only by the Confederate Navy, but also by the Army as well. On four separate occasions throughout the war, the CSMC received official thanks from the Confederate Congress.


36 Even in the Confederacy's waning days, the rebel Marines did not give up without a fight. One Union soldier after the Battle of Sayler's Creek stated, "Those Marines fought like tigers and against odds of at least ten to one."


37 Whether on land or sea, the rebel Marines fought with valor and a tenacity only expected of an elite fighting force. The CSMC, although short lived, carried itself notably and could be seen as an implicit extension of the principle of a force in readiness as espoused long before the Civil War by Gen Archibald Henderson. One should accept nothing less from today's Marine Corps and as exhibited from a Corps such as our own-the CSMC.



Note: Most of the official records of the CSMC were maintained by the CSMC Commandant Col Beall and his staff and subsequently destroyed by fire upon the orders of Mr. Mallory, the Secretary of the Confederate States Navy, presumably to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy according to a letter written by Col Beall, CSMC to Capt Cochrane, USMC on 21 September 1880.

Famous Marines

Marines Who Have Made it in the Limelight

Dozens of Marines have distinguished themselves off the battlefield after they left the Corps. Here are a few individuals who have made it big on the small or silver screen.

Don Adams Get Smart Hugh O’Brian Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp Bea Arthur The Golden Girls Drew Carey Drew Carey Show James Carville Crossfire Brian Dennehy Tommy Boy Dale Dye Band of Brothers David Eigenberg Sex and the City R. Lee Ermey Full Metal Jacket Mike Farrell M*A*S*H

Glenn Ford Superman (1978) Chris George Chisum Gene Hackman Behind Enemy Lines B. Gerard James Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Bob Keeshan Captain Kangaroo Harvey Keitel Reservoir Dogs Mills Lane Judge Mills Lane Jim Lehrer The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer Lee Marvin The Dirty Dozen Ed McMahon The Tonight Show

Steve McQueen The Great Escape Oliver North War Stories Randy Orton World Wrestling Entertainment George Peppard The A-Team Tyrone Power The Mark of Zorro Robert Remus World Wrestling Federation George C. Scott Patton Montel Williams The Montel Williams Show Jonathan Winters It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Ed Wood Plan 9 from Outer Spa

The “Aguilas Aztecas” in the War with Japan

Just so people don't think that I only do USA

In March 1942 Mexico declared war on Germany and Japan. This was more than just a gesture of support for the United States in its struggle with the Axis, for Mexican ships had been sunk by enemy action. Nor was the declaration merely a symbolic one, for Mexico ultimately made a valuable, if modest, contribution to the military defeat of the enemy.

With the cooperation of the United States, the Mexican Air Force organized a special air wing of three squadrons.

Squadron	Function
201st	combat
202nd	replacement training
203rd	primary training

Initially The Mexican airmen trained with the famed AT-6. They were subsequently equipped with P-40s, but went into combat after having transitioned to P-47s.

In July 1944 the 201st Squadron (“Aguilas Aztecas” – Aztec Eagles) arrived in the US for advanced flight training in P-47s. Upon completing training, the squadron departed for the Philippines in March 1945. Attached to the 58th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force, and based at Clark Field on Luzon, the 201st Squadron performed reconnaissance, ground attack, and close air support operations against Japanese forces in the Philippines and on Formosa until August. Shortly before the surrender of Japan the squadron was reassigned to the Thirteenth Air Force and transferred to Okinawa in anticipation of participating in the Invasion of Japan. The squadron was still in Okinawa when Japan surrendered.

The 210th Squadron performed 785 combat sorties during the Philippine Campaign, during which only one man was killed by enemy action, and four others in operational accidents, and others had died in training.

The Aguilas Aztecas returned to Mexico in the autumn of 1945, and were disbanded on November 22nd.

Lend-Lease

During World War II one of the most important American contributions to the Allied war effort was Lend Lease. The program was created because by early 1941 Britain and the other Allied countries were running out of money with which to purchase munitions and other assistance from the United States. As a result, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed an arrangement under which he would be authorized to "lend" military equipment and other materials to nations whose defense he deemed vital to that of the United States. The program was enacted as Public Law 1776 on March 11, 1941, over often hysterical ("This bill will guarantee that every fourth American boy is plowed under!") opposition from isolationist groups ranging from the German-American Bund to the Communist Party, then still faithfully following the Moscow line of friendship with Hitler.

Lend Lease had an enormous impact on the war. Military equipment, foodstuffs, and in some cases cash totalling nearly $51 billion of very uninflated 1940s money was dispensed to nearly 45 countries, including the U.S.S.R. beginning within days of Hitler's invasion, after which the hitherto vigorously isolationist American Communist Party suddenly became just as equally interventionist.

Lend Lease Aid
Country	Sum
Belgium	$ 148,394,457.76
Bolivia	5,633,989.02
British Empire	31,267,240,530.63
Brazil	332,545,226.43
Chile	21,817,478.16
China	1,548,794,965,99
Colombia	7,809,732.58
Costa Rica	155,022.73
Cuba	5,739,133.33
Czechoslovakia	413,398.78
Dominican Republic	1,610,590.38
Ecuador	7,063,079.96
Egypt	1,019,169.14
El Salvador	892,358.28
Ethiopia	5,151,163.25
France	3,207,608,188.75
Greece	75,475,880.30
Guatemala	1,819,403.19
Haiti	1,449,096.40
Honduras	732,358.11
Iceland	4,795,027.90
Iran	4,795,092.50
Iraq	4,144.14
Liberia	6,408,240.13
Mexico	36,287,010.67
Netherlands	230,127,717.63
Nicaragua	872,841.73
Norway	51,524,124.36
Panama	83,555.92
Paraguay	1,933,302.00
Peru	18,525,771.19
Poland	16,934,163.60
Saudi Arabia	17,417,878.70
Turkey	26,640,031.50
U.S.S.R.	11,260,343,603.02
Uruguay	7,148,610.13
Venezuela	4,336,079.35
Yugoslavia	32,026,355.58
Total Payments	$48,361,210,768.24
Other Expenditures	2,578,827,000.00
Grand Total	$50,940,037,768.24
Note: "Other Expenditures" includes materials not charged to the recipient nations, including goods lost in shipment, items consumed by American forces, and administrative costs

In terms of 2002 dollars, the $51 billion expended through Lend Lease is roughly the equivelent of some $800 billion.

The range of materials covered by Lend Lease was extraordinary. Russia, for example, received over 430,000 trucks, nearly 7,000 fighters, and over 340,000 field telephones, as well as samples of unusual equipment such as the M?1 rifle, the T?10 heavy tank, and the B?17, not to mention a lot of gold braid, which was found useful in raising the morale of Red Army officers (who wore it) and men (who saluted it.)

Several countries provided the U.S. with what was termed "reverse lend-lease," goods and equipment not readily available, a category including everything from uranium ore to cheese. The total value of this was about $10 billion, leaving a deficit of about $41 billion. It is, however, worth recalling that virtually all the money involved was actually spent in the U.S. Some one owes us a whole lot of money.

David Bushnell’s American Turtle

David Bushnell (1740-1824), of Connecticut, began experimenting with the possibility of underwater explosions while attending Yale, 1771-1775, and created a viable device using a waterproof keg and a clock. He then set about building a submarine, on the Connecticut River.

Completed in early 1776, Bushnells’ American Turtle consisted of two large wooden demi-hemispheres built of shaped oak staves, caulked with cork, joined by iron bands, and with the hull tarred, which formed an enclosed vessel of about six feet by seven. It had a hatch and eight small windows in little conning tower. The vessel had a rudder, and two short, hand cranked screw propellors, one for vertical and one for horizontal movement. There were two brass schnorkles, one for intake and one for exhaust, which could be sealed, leaving the operator 30 minutes of air when completely submerged. There was 900 pounds of lead ballast, of which 200 pounds could be detached for buoyancy. For navigation underwater, the operator had a compass and a barometer both rimmed with phosphorus to aid visibility.

An iron auger bit that could be worked from inside the vessel wasa intended to be used to affix a screw against the hull of an enemy ship. A rope attached to the screw extended to the mine, which could then be released from its storage site on the “back” of the vessel, which simultaneously activated the clockwork mechanism, and left the mine floating against the hull of the enemy ship.

Initially intended for use against the British fleet in Boston Harbor, the American Turtle was not ready before the British evacuated Boston in March of 1776. However, with the British landing on Staten Island later that summer, Bushnell convinced Benjamin Franklin and George Washington that he should be given a chance to try his device.

An intial effort against a ship anchored in the Narrows failed because neither Bushnell nor his brother were strong enough to maneuver the vessel. Sgt. Ezra Lee of the Connecticut was chosen to be the pilot, and shortly after midnight on September 7, 1776, attempted to attack HMS Eagle, 64, the flagship of Admiral Richard Howe, off South Ferry, New York. This effort failed because the screw mechanism was unable to penetrate the ship’s copper sheathing.

As he returned to Manhattan, Lee cast off the mine, which exploded harmlessly about an hour later, leading the British to cut their cables so that their could drift down the bay to avoid danger.

When Washington evacuated Manhattan, the American Turtle was hauled to safety. Several other attempts were made to use the vessel, none successful, although an attack on HMS Cerberus in 1777 off New London did result in the destruction of a schooner. The ultimate fate of the American Turtle is unknown

So Why Does a Lieutenant General Outrank a Major General?

Well, it's a bit complicated.

Aside from a few men to guard the royal person and some critical castles, prior to the fifteenth century most countries did not have standing armies. When war came, the king would call for troops, often using a combination of feudal levies, paid contractors, and mercenaries, who were often feudal lords commanding their own vassals. But in the late fifteenth century the kings of France and of the Spains began keeping a larger body of troops on the royal payroll even in peacetime, primarily to preserve internal order.

These were organized into "companies" of vaguely similar size, each of which was commanded by a "captain," a word deriving from the Latin and meaning essential "head." Assisting the captain was a lieutenant, deriving through French from the Latin locum tenens, which means "in place of the holder [of command]." Now since these companies were initially composed of mounted troops -- men-at-arms -- the individual soldiers were all "serjeants," essentially unknighted knights. So the next lowest ranking man in the company was the "sergeant major."

When an army was needed, a bunch of the companies was ordered to report to an officer appointed as the "captain general," who would command them in action. Of course with so many individual companies under his command, the captain general had a lot to do. So early in the sixteenth century, King Ferdinand of Spain (Columbus' friend), grouped batches of ten companies into colunelas --columns -- under a capitan de colulnela, thus creating the first regiments. He also created the basis for the modern rank structure The colunelas worked pretty well in combat, as the captain general now had a lot fewer subordinates to deal with. Within his colunela the capitan de colunela -- the "colonel" -- had several subordinates, notably a teniente de colunela and a sergente mayor de colunela. And within his army, the captain general also had some subordinates, a teniente general and a sergente mayor general.

On each level, the role of the officers was the same:

Rank (in Spanish)	Assignment
capitan, capitan di colunela, capitan general	The commanding officer
teniente, teniente di colunela, teniente general	Deputy commander
sergente mayor, sergente mayor di colunela, sergente mayor general	Management of the troops

With changes in spelling to account for language differences, the Spanish usage spread to the other armies in Europe. And it from these roots that modern rank structure developed.

Evolution of the Rank Structure
Original Spanish	Modern English
capitan general	general
teniente general	lieutenant general
sergente mayor general	major general
capitan di colunela	colonel
teniente di colunela	lieutenant colonel
sergente mayor di colunela	major
capitan	captain
teniente	lieutenant
sergente mayor	sergeant major

There are, of course, some other ranks. The differentiation between first lieutenant and second lieutenants -- and in some armies even third lieutenants -- was an evolutionary matter. The brigadier general is named after a non-commissioned officer rank found in some Latin armies, the brigada or brigadier , who was the principal subordinate of the sergeant major. It seemed reasonable to call the commander of a group of regiments by this title because he would be directly subordinate to the sergeant major general of the army. Eventually, of course, the commander's title became the name of his command, the brigade. In German and Russian usage there is a "colonel general." But these armies lack a grade between colonel and major general, so the colonel general actually ranks with a full general.

Gulf War Beta version

A totalitarian dictator of a Muslim nation kills hundreds of thousands while spending his nation's resources building a palace of mind-boggling size.
European powers toady to a Muslim tyrant who projects his power in provocative ways, preferring to pay him off and do business rather than take action against him - even though they have enough military power to do so.
The American president authorizes a mission to install a friendly government in a hostile Muslim country.
Sleazy French agents undermine the mission and warn the dictator.
An American diplomat whose marriage keeps him well connected scorns the idea that a government friendly to America can be established – or a military mission can succeed – then sets about to cause appeasement and containment.
Marines are left hanging without support in unfriendly territory after a spectacular military success.
Americans take the lead in stopping nation-sponsored terrorism in the Middle East, while the Europeans maintain a safe distance, becoming involved only in mop-up operations and peace negotiations.
If you suppose this scenario was taken from recent headlines, think again. Some are the main elements of a nearly 300-year old story, others from America's first shooting war during the Thomas Jefferson administration.

• Jefferson became president in 1801 he refused to accede to Tripoli's demands for an immediate payment of $225,000 and an annual payment of $25,000.

• May of 1801, the Corsairs of Tripoli became restless and declared war on the United States,

• The Americans cruised the Mediterranean, evacuating American merchantmen and winning several engagements with the Corsairs.

• The American show of force quickly awed Tunis and Algiers into breaking their alliance with Tripoli.

• Sweden declared war on the Tripolitans

• The combined fleet of Swedish and American, and infrequently Danish, ships was unwilling to bombard the city until early 1802

• President Jefferson ordered that the war be pursued with greater vigor.

• Sweden made peace that year

• Early 1803, an accidental explosion aboard an American ship killed nineteen men.

• May of that year, a large squadron of American warships was assembled and proceeded to Tripoli to destroy the Corsairs' fleet entirely Large guns protected the anchored fleet, but marines landed close to the walls of the city to set fire to many of the docked ships as they were pelted with stones from the town’s inhabitants.

• October of that year, a large U.S. man-of-war, Philadelphia, gave chase to a Corsair ship trying to break the blockade, but was lured into an uncharted reef. The ship was paralyzed and overtaken and put into the service of the pirates.

• February, eight marines sailed a small merchant vessel alongside the anchored Philadelphia, killed twenty Corsairs, and destroyed the warship without any loss of life of their own side.

• The aggressive action of Commodore Edward Preble (1803-4) forced Morocco out of the fight and his five bombardments of Tripoli restored some order to the Mediterranean.

• 1804, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies declared war on Tripoli, lending a number of small, maneuverable gunboats that were thought to be helpful in subduing the pirates.

• August 3, the American-led force began an all-out attack, sailing into the harbor and bombarding the city at direct range The Americans aboard the smaller gunboats decided to counter the pirates' standard technique and approached the enemy ships fast, boarding them and engaging in hand to hand combat. After destroying much of the town's fortifications, several gunboats, and a large mosque, the squadron withdrew.

• A small force of marines was sent to Alexandria, Egypt, to locate the original hereditary ruler of Tripoli, with the intent of restoring him to the throne.

finding him, they raised a mercenary army of Arabs and Greeks

began a several hundred-mile march towards Tripoli from the land.

• After a difficult march across the Libyan Desert and a bloody victory in the outlying town of Derne, the marines were informed by messenger that the war was over.

• The humiliating loss of the frigate Philadelphia and the capture of her captain and crew in Tripoli in 1803, criticism from his political opponents, and even opposition within his own cabinet did not deter Jefferson from his chosen course during four years of war.

• In fact, it was not until the second war with Algiers, in 1815, that naval victories by Commodores William Bainbridge and Stephen Decatur led to treaties ending all tribute payments by the United States. European nations continued annual payments until the 1830s.

http://hnn.us/articles/287.html

http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/17128.html

http://www.hnn.us/roundup/comments/26846.html

Marine Corps Martial Art Program

This is a good read about the Marine Corp Martial Art Program, goes over what belts are available and what you need to get them, along with some history
MCMAP

Rank structure

This is a very interesting read, the article goes over rank, and the history of that rank. It also delves into Feudal rank a must read.
check it out

Rank Stucture

Iraq as long as WWII

It has been reported that we have now been in Iraq as long as we were in WWII. While this is true on a base level, it seems that every one tends to forget that we have been in Germany for 64 years.
At first it was to "liberate", then for the next 15 years (give or take) we were there to stabilize the country. From then till the mid 90's we were in Germany to protect them from their evil neighbors, but now we are there t0 uhm..... (Well we have just been there for so long nobody cares any more)
I guess my point is that if you are going to count the occupation and the subsequent stabilization as the whole war I am a WWII vet. Not only a WWII vet but I am also a Spanish American war Vet, as we were still occupying the Philippines. That we are still there, and should we still be there is not the point of this post. I just want apples to apples.

Michigan vs. Ohio

Today is the big game, said by some to be the game of the century. Why the big rivalry between Michigan & Ohio. It all goes back to the Toledo war (1835-1836). In 1787 the Northwest Ordinance declared that the north/south border of three of the future states would be "an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan."

When Ohio became a state their constitution set the northern border as "an east and west line drawn through the southern extreme of Lake Michigan, running east...until it shall intersect Lake Erie or the territorial line [with Canada]; thence with the same, through Lake Erie to the Pennsylvania line aforesaid." This in effect stole the port of Miami (later to be called Toledo) from the territory of Michigan. When Congress finally got around to having it surveyed they hired former Ohio Governor Edward Tiffen, who at no surprised surveyed the line in accordance with the Ohio Constitution and not the Northwest Ordinance. Michigan was forced to pay for a new survey that found the Ohio border to be below the mouth of the Maumee River. This disputed area became known as the Toledo strip. This area was and still is a commercially important area.Ohio refused to cede its claim, Michigan quietly occupied it for the next several years, setting up local governments, building roads, and collecting taxes throughout the area.

After some laws passed by both sides with Ohio making the disputed area Lucas County and Michigan passing a law that made it a criminal offense for Ohio to carry out governmental actions in the Strip, under penalty of a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment at hard labor. Michigan occupied Toledo with 1000 troops while Ohio was able to field 600 troops.

In a attempt to prevent armed battle President Jackson stepped in. Being Ohio was already a state, and he needed the votes Jackson sided with Ohio. (They voted Whig that year and he lost the re-election)On June 15, 1836, Jackson signed a bill that allowed Michigan to become a state, but only after it ceded the Toledo Strip. In exchange for this concession, Michigan would be granted the western three-quarters of the Upper Peninsula (the easternmost portion had already been included in the state boundaries). Michigan promptly rejected this, but due to financial hardships accepted this on December 14, 1836. Michigan picked up the rest of the Upper peninsula although it was deemed worthless at the time and Ohio gained the Toledo strip.

The latest adjustment in the border happened in 1915, and in 1973 Michigan lost half of Turtle Island to Ohio.

Michigan has never signed a peace agreement with Ohio. The war is still on and we want our land back with monies lost, The Upper Peninsula would have still came to Michigan as 1/3 of it was already part of our territory. Unlike Ohio,Michigan still has a Militia that we can send to defend our territory, after all they have defended us from evil Canada all these years.

USMC returns to China

According to CCTV 9 China's english tv station Marines from the USS Juneau conducted a competition with the Chinese Marines including obstical course and markmanship. The Chinese Marines fared very well. I have tried to find the clip but as of yet no luck. If I do find it I will post.

Marine Posters

http://www.bluejacket.com/usmc_posters.html

This is a cool site with Marine Posters starting during the Civil War

USMC Farewell

This is a very well done tribute to fallen Marines. It isn't something that I would normally post or pass on but it is very good, althoug kind of sad at the same time.

Semper Fi

http://www.pcsuccess.us/yrg/farewellmarine_final.swf

Veterans Day

Yes its veterans day. The day to give thanks to the veterans that have servered their country

Thank you

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINE

Happy Birthday Marine

#231

It seems like only yesterday on 10 November 1775 ,
that the Marine Corps was born

Birthed in a Tavern
A Idea
A Brotherhood

Did they know on that cold November
The very name
United States Marine
would strike fear in the bad guys heart

A name that could strike fear
Would ever sound sound so sweet
to the ears of one held in Captivitey
United States Marine
We're here to get you out

No job to big
No job to small
All done on a shoe string buget

It is not the rifle
Nor is the big guns
Not the tanks running over the crunchies
That make the Marines
That pierces the breath
of those who would oppose us

It is the heart
of the Marine behind
the rifle
and the heart of the Marines
that came before

Happy Birthday