In 1957 Marine Brig. Gen. Victor Krulak wrote to Gen. Randolph Pate, commandant of the Marine Corp, "The United States does not need a Marine Corps. However, for good reasons which completely transcend cold logic, the United States wants a Marine Corps."







Both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps started at about the same time, during the Revolution. The Marines, like those in Europe, were seaborne, protecting U.S. Navy ships against boarding and mutinies, as well as leading raiding parties. The Army did what other armies did, fight the land war. Then the 20th century came along and the Marines didn’t have enough pirates to fight and sailors cut down on mutinies.





In World War II the Marines earned their keep by doing the dirty work for the navy in the Pacific, amphibious invasions; or as Marines like to say, “kick in the door.” Yep, they kicked in a lot of doors. But so did the Army. In fact, the Army did the heavy lifting in the Pacific. During World War II, the Army deployed five times as many troops to the Pacific Ocean as the Marines.





The Army took on the main force of the Japanese Imperial Army in New Guinea and the Philippines while Navy and Marines were “island hopping” –– amphibious assaults on islands such as Guadalcanal and Saipan. General MacArthur thought these assaults unnecessary; here’s his quote “these frontal attacks by the Navy, as at Tarawa, are tragic and unnecessary massacres of American lives.” The Army killed, captured, or stranded over a quarter of a million Japanese troops on New Guinea, at a cost of only 33,000 US casualties. The Navy and Marines, on the other hand, suffered over 26,000 casualties to kill roughly 20,000 Japanese on Iwo Jima.





To this day, the Marines say that their job is to kick in the door. The biggest door we ever kicked in was D-Day, Normandy, 1944. The Army kicked in the door. The only doors the Marines were responsible for at D-Day were the doors they opened on Navy ships for the admirals.





"The Marine Corps is the nation's 911 force — you call and we respond.” This was in an article written by a Marine officer. But it makes me wonder. A Marine expeditionary unit, a reinforced battalion, rides on ships that move at about 25 mph. Okay, let’s say they’re about a thousand miles from the trouble spot. It’ll take them forty hours to get there. What if the trouble is in a country like Afghanistan, landlocked … America’s real 911 is the 82nd Airborne Division. The Air Force takes them to the fight on C-17A Globemasters, traveling at 540 mph. Thanks to air-to-air refueling they can drop the 82nd Airborne Division anywhere in the world.





Let’s look at Brig. Gen. Victor Krulak again, "The United States does not need a Marine Corps. However, for good reasons which completely transcend cold logic, the United States wants a Marine Corps.” He wasn’t the first person to realize that we don’t need the Marine Corps. After World War Two President Truman believed the Marine Corps was simply a smaller and redundant force with a mission better performed by the Army and Air Force. The Marine’s senior leadership rallied their allies in the government and managed to have the presence of the Marine Corps made a matter of law. The National Security Act of 1947 established the USMC as a separate service, though part of the Navy, and even made its size a matter of law.





Okay, let’s not rag on the Marines. America loves the Marine Corps, actually, America almost loves the Marine Corps as much as the Marine Corps love the Marines Corps. They are the only “army” that comes with its own air force; or is it an air force that has its own army? Two things you can never take away from the Marines is that they have the coolest uniforms and the best song. So everyone on your feet and as loud as you can begin singing …





“From the Halls of Montezuma

To the shores of Tripoli;

We fight our country’s battles

On the land as on the sea;

First to fight for right and freedom

And to keep our honor clean;

We are proud to claim the title

Of United States Marine.





Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze

From dawn to setting sun;

We have fought in ev’ry clime and place

Where we could take a gun;

In the snow of far-off Northern lands

And in sunny tropic scenes;

You will find us always on the job

The United States Marines





Here’s health to you and to our Corps

Which we are proud to serve;

In many a strife we’ve fought for life

And never lost our nerve;

If the Army and the Navy

Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;

They will find the streets are guarded

By United States Marines.”





MARCH 2020 UPDATE

While this article did question the need for the Marines, we really weren’t suggesting that they reduce the size of the Corps. Though it seems like the Pentagon was looking at this very issue. Recently (March 2020), The Commandant of the Marine Corps has announced that the Corps will shrink and return to its traditional mission “naval expeditionary warfare.”





Units and squadrons that will be deactivated under plan include:

· 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines

· Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264

· Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462

· Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469

· Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367

· Marine Wing Support Groups 27 and 37

· 8th Marine Regiment Headquarters Company.

The 8th Marine Regiment's other units -- 1/8 and 2/8 -- will be absorbed by other commands. Second Marines will take on 1/8, and 2/8 will go to the 6th Marine Regiment. Artillery cannon batteries will fall from 21 today to five. Amphibious vehicle companies will drop from six to four. The Marines will also be reducing its number of infantry battalions from 24 to 21 (yes, they are even reducing the Marine’s infantry numbers) and cutting tiltrotor, attack and heavy-lift aviation squadrons. More here on the shrinking USMC.





Note, we wrote a followup to this article titled "11 Myths About the Marine Corps." Click to read.