Compass Points - Thanks!
To All Marines and Friends of the Corps
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Compass Points has been asked, "Where do Compass Points Mission and Values come from?"
The question brings to mind the battle for Hue City which concluded on 2 March 1968, exactly 55 years ago this month.
The story is told in many publications including in, "Death in the Imperial City: U.S. Marines in the Battle for Hue 31 January to 2 March 1968" by Richard Camp and in "The Battle History of the U.S. Marines" by Joseph Alexander.
The battle was part of the Tet Offensive. Even after the first attacks were repelled at other locations, Hue City was still in the hands of the North Vietnam Army.
Colonel Alexander writes:
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Only at Hue did the situation remain in doubt.
Hue was the ancient imperial capital, the cultural center of South Vietnam, seat of a great university, and site of the Citadel, whose immense brick walls and moats had been built in 1802 by the Emperor Gia Long.
Now, 3,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops occupied the city, fortified behind those same brick walls. An enormous Viet Cong flag fluttered from the King's Knight, the Citadel's highest parapet.
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To re-capture the city took weeks of brutal urban battle -- block by block and sometimes inch by inch -- at a cost of 1,000 Marine casualties, including 147 dead. It was a combined arms battle where supporting arms were critical.
Some Compass Points readers fought at Hue City.
Compass Points Mission and Values are inspired by Marines, the Marines of Hue City who distinguished themselves 55 years ago this month, and inspired as well by so many other Marines from Tun Tavern, to all those future Marines who will follow John Glenn into missions in space. Compass Points is inspired by our readers, including World War II era Marines, Korea era Marines, Vietnam era Marines, all the Middle East era Marines, and so many more from so many different battles in so many different places.
Marines know the battle is never easy, but Marines never ask for ask for easy. Marines know the battle always demands a cost. Marines endure the cost so they can deliver the victory. Marines are not defined by rank, MOS, or years of service. Marines are defined by an understanding that protecting a peaceful world requires warriors willing to confront, engage, and battle.
Where do Compass Points Mission and Values come from? They come from Marines. Compass Points salutes the Hue City Marines for their magnificent victory 55 years ago this month as well as all Marines past, present, and future who lace up their boots, put on their pack, and say, "Let's go." so tomorrow can be better.
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Compass Points Mission
Provide an independent source of broader thinking, deeper understanding, and better decisions, for a stronger Marine Corps.
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Compass Points Values
We believe the Marine Corps must be responsive, relevant, and ready today, and more so tomorrow.
We believe the Marine Corps is never owned by any small group of people, but is always held in sacred trust by every Marine and friend of the Corps, past, present, and future.
We believe Marine Corps success in garrison, in the field, and in operations is a complex ecology of the physical, the intellectual, and the spiritual.
We believe in the complexity of combat.
We believe good data is good, but waiting for more and more data is not necessarily better.
We believe no information system can or will sweep away the fog of war.
We believe nothing is more uncertain than certainty.
We believe planning is good, but first plans rarely survive first contact.
We believe Marines must prepare to battle skilled, devious, and unpredictable adversaries
We believe Marines must be always ready to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat.
We believe in combined-arms, multi-mission capable Marine Corps units that can quickly arrive anywhere, and address any conflict or crisis.
We believe the Marine Corps must experiment with new technology constantly, and adopt it prudently.
We believe in practicing and perfecting proven methods, while also experimenting with and adopting new methods.
We believe in the Marine Corps culture of teamwork, trust, creativity, and courage.
We believe in candid culture among Marines, never cancel culture.
We believe the strength of the Marine Corps comes from the valor at the heart of each Marine. Each Marine draws strength from the entire Corps of Marines. Together, all Marines are joined across time and geography by the unbreakable red stripe of service.
"Take courage then, seize the fortune that awaits you, repair to the Marine Rendezvous, where in a flowing bowl of punch, and three times three, you shall drink. Long live the United States and success to the Marines." -Semper Fi
Recommend adding "Hue 1968" by Mark Bowden to the reading list for the Battle for Hue.