Compass Points - Keep Fighting
Marines keep moving forward
Compass Points - Keep Fighting
Marines keep moving forward
June 23, 2024
.
This June, more than 100 years ago, Marines were fighting at Belleau Wood. Throughout nearly the entire month of June, inexperienced Marines fought against battle-hardened German troops. Attacking again and again through thick woods, barricades, and barbed wire against a well-armed and entrenched enemy, the 4th Marine Brigade (comprised of the 5th Marines, 6th Marines and 6th Machine Gun Battalion) seized Belleau Wood and stopped the German advance.
Among those leading the Marines at Belleau Wood was Dan Daly who Smedley Butler called, "the fightingest Marine I ever knew." According to Marine Corps legend, at Belleau Wood, the 5ft 6 inch, 132 lb. Daly stood up and rallied his outnumbered Marines, shouting "Come on, you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever?"
Daly's leadership and fighting spirit at Belleau Wood earned him the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross. From the French Government, he also received the Medaille Militaire, the Croix de Guerre with Palm and the French Victory Medal with four clasps.
Another Marine, whose actual name was Janson, but who had joined the Marines under the name Hoffman was awarded two Medals of Honor for the same action at Belleau Wood
.
============
.
MEDAL OF HONOR
Charles F Hoffman (also known as Ernest August Janson)
[Hoffman / Janson received both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor for the same deed.]
Army Medal of Honor: Immediately after the company to which he belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. GSgt. Hoffman was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative, and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
Navy Medal of Honor: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. Immediately after the company to which GSgt. Janson belonged had reached its objective on Hill 142, several hostile counterattacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. GSgt. Janson was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy, armed with five light machine guns, crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two leaders, and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action, initiative, and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops.
.
============
.
Compass Points salutes the Marines who kept the fight going at Belleau Wood until victory was achieved. Today, Marines throughout the Marine community are still pressing forward, still keeping the fight going. Compass Points has readers -- not from World War I -- but from conflicts and contingencies including the Middle East wars, Vietnam, Korea, and at least one reader from World War II. World War II!
Why do all these Marines still care about the Marine Corps? Why do so many Marines today, their active-duty years long behind them, still work today to help the Marine Corps move in a better direction? The answer is Marines never quit. No matter the odds, no matter the intensity of the fire, Marines continue to advance. The Marines at Belleau Wood set the example. When the fire is the hottest, keep fighting. Keep the fight going. Victory is closer than it seems
.
I learned long ago, great military leaders exhibit not only strategic brilliance but also the humility to acknowledge and rectify their mistakes.
When they make a bad decision, admitting their shortcoming and apologizing demonstrates strength of character and fosters trust among the ranks.
Once a great leader acknowledge the bad decision, the leader quickly reorient towards mission accomplishment . This reorienting allows for a renewed focus on the mission with lessons learned, ultimately enhancing their leadership. A historical example is General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who took full responsibility for the failure of Operation Market Garden during World War II. His candid admission and subsequent adjustments helped maintain the morale and cohesion of Allied forces, paving the way for future successes. Imagine the outcome otherwise!
As Marine and now a civilian leader, I have always lived up to this simple etho. I have never shied away from admiring wrong and accepting responsibility. I wish today’s Marine Corps leaders admit their mistake concerning FD and work hard to restoring our Marine Corps to its former fighting strength before it is too late.
In today’s global chaos Marine Aviation F35’s could be out fitted w Stealth Hypersonic missiles similar to those rumored to have been used by the IDF in their recent demonstration to Iran after Iran’s 300 plus barrage of missiles and drones that IAF had the capability to eliminate the Russian Supplied AAD array guarding their nuclear weapons development compounds. Our F35s could be given a nuclear role. Wake up current USMC leadership…read your Intel and learn from Ukraine and Israel. Improvise Adapt Overcome now or once again become irrelevant Seagoing Bell Hops.