Training Of The Marine Raider Battalions example essay topic

2 SEP 2002 OUTLINE I. Introduction. The Marine Corps today has developed itself into an elite fighting force based on strong naval traditions. The basic Marine is amphibious, which means that the warrior is capable of fighting on land and sea. The idea of an amphibious landing was developed through the training of the Marine Raider Battalions, which was tested and perfected in combat. Although there were two Raider Commanders with very different views on how to prepare their marines, Evans Carlson and Merritt Edson were responsible for training lightly armed Marines for amphibious assaults. II.

Body. 1. Historical Background a. Forming of the Marine Raiders. Evans Carlson, Commanding Officer, 2nd Raider Battalionc. Merritt Edson, Commanding Officer, 1st Raider Battalion 2.

Training. Carlson's Training. Edson's Training. The Amphibious Raid. Close-In Fighting.

Combat ative Conditioning. State of Combat Readiness 3. Significant Battles. Makin Island, 2nd Raider Battalions. Guadalcanal, 1st Raider Battalionc. Guadalcanal, 2nd Raider Battalions.

Forming of the 3rd and 4th Raider Battalions 4. Summary a. Strengths of the Raider Battalions. Weaknesses of the Raider Battalions. Dissolving of the Raider Battalions into the infantry units.. Conclusion.

The Marine Raider Battalions developed an elite fighting force within an elite service. There still exist today the elite units of the Marine Corps, such as the Force Reconnaissance Battalions and the Special Operation Capable Units, but the Raider Battalions were the first specialist of the amphibious doctrines. Although the amphibious landing has been preformed throughout the ages since the invention of the water-bearing vessels, the Marine Raider Battalions tested and perfected this combat operation. Although the two Raider Commanders had very different views on how to prepare their marines, Evans Carlson and Merritt Edson were responsible for training and combat success of the lightly armed Marine Raiders for amphibious assaults. EDSON AND CARLSON'S MARINE RAIDERS The Marine Corps today has developed itself into an elite fighting force based on strong naval traditions. In the early 1940's, the world was drawn into another world war that pitted the allied forces against both Nazi Germany in the European theater and the Japanese in the Pacific theater.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was the final straw that convinced the United States to enter against both the Germans and the Japanese. With the two opposing forces having most of their conquered territory right on the ocean, especially the island campaigns of the Japanese, it became imperative for the amphibious landings of the Marines to be perfected and two Marine officers were tasked. Evans Carlson, the son of a congregational minister, enlisted underage in the Army during World War I. The young Carlson was somewhat of a rebel at home and was a runaway at the age of fourteen, but found some peace of mind in serving during the war. While in the Army during World War I, Carlson never saw combat, but he quickly rose through the ranks and proved to be one of the toughest soldiers in his unit. He retired from the Army as a First Sergeant, after peacetime was called, and headed for civilian life. Carlson's goal of combative experience was not answered in the Army, but the need for armed service would be too strong to be denied.

Carlson soon enlisted again, but this time in the Marine Corps as a private at the end of World War I where he was soon selected for Officer Candidate School. The Marine Corps recognized his small unit actions in Nicaragua and he received the Navy Cross Medal, but his major obsession was in the fighting tactics of the Far East. When the opportunity arose for him to study the tactics of Mao Tse-tung's Army in China, Carlson seized the opportunity and became a firm believer in the new guerrilla raiding tactics by 1938. The communist origins of the military tactics did not sit well with his superiors and Carlson soon resigned his commission in protest after his ideas were being suppressed. Carlson was able to put the actions of Mao Tse-tung's Army into perspective and judge the reasoning behind the tactics without dismissing them as communist actions. His evaluation of the Chinese military would change his life in the Marine Corps.

Prior to his resignation, Carlson was working at the Warms Springs, Georgia Marine Detachment where his duties brought him face-to-face with President Roosevelt. He believed passionately that the ability of the Chinese foot soldier was due to what he called ethical indoctrination, and this training process consisted of little separation between officer and enlisted ranks, a series of lectures on why a battle or event was taking place, and tough training combined with political awareness. Carlson consistently talked with the President about what he had seen in China and this relationship would serve him well when he returned to active duty in 1941, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. With great political connections and a training plan, he was ready for command. Meanwhile, another officer had taken a more traditional path. Merritt Edson was born in Vermont, and after joining the Marine Corps, he quickly established himself as one of the Corps best tactical officers.

A rather modest looking man, he possessed a no nonsense personality and a feel for the tactical situation that was quickly put to the test during service in Nicaragua. On a series of long patrols and jungle engagements, he became a master tactician and leader, known both for his cool presence under fire and his tough yet fair leadership style. Due to the severe conditions in the field, he grew a red beard; he was known affectionately as "Red Mike" for the remainder of his career. After Nicaragua, Edson served with distinction in a variety of staff and leadership positions. A superb rifle and pistol shooter, he captained Marine Corps level shooting teams and valued the capability of accurate marksmanship both on the range and in the field. Edson, although he did not claim credit, was the principal author of the much-valued "Small Wars Manual".

This text, which breaks down tactics to the basics, is still of value today. Edson was looked to by junior and senior Marines alike as a man to trust in any situation. Edson along with Carlson would be coupled together by an order of the President to form the Marine Raiders. In the early days of war in Europe, there were few bright spots.

One strong force was recognized, the British Commando unit, which used hit and run tactics to score a few small victories against the Nazi forces. President Roosevelt became captivated with the concept and made it known that he was ready to form commando-type units. The Marine Corps was clearly not charmed with the idea; however, a number of officers, including future Commandant Captain Wallace Greene and renowned author Captain Samuel Griffith were sent to view commando training. After a lengthy battle of whether or not to adopt commando training in the Corps, it was deemed to Commandant General Holcomb that two such units would indeed be formed. The men picked to handle the job were Evans Carlson and Merritt Edson. While these two fine officers were given top priority, it was not held in high regard within the Corps.

An elite within an elite was considered a waste of manpower, valuable assets, who could be used for the upcoming Pacific battles. The outside influences of the President and high-ranking members of Congress only added fuel to the fire. The Raider's multi-purpose mission was to conduct hit and run raids behind enemy lines. Both commanders, Carlson on the West Coast and Edson on the East Coast, began training to make their units ready for combat. Their training and social methods were different due to personal philosophies. Carlson favored the approach that he had seen in action in war-torn China.

He labeled his effort "Gung Ho", which means, "Work together". He used this phrase in just about everything. His 2d Raider Battalion was based on extreme physical fitness, extensive indoctrination, and a toughness gained through an intense selection process that included personal interviews. Edson, with his 1st Raider Battalion, was no less a taskmaster. He had no patience for "Gung Ho"; rather, he based his training on hard conditioning with an emphasis on hiking and combat marksmanship. Both commanders wanted a certain type of Marine that would be able to conduct the multi-purpose missions.

Carlson, for example, selected for his Executive Officer Major James Roosevelt, the President's son. Edson took an equally appropriate choice: Major Sam Griffith, one of the officers who had observed British commando training. Screening favored single Marines with outdoor backgrounds. Carlson went so far as to question a Marine's ability to kill, why would he and what was his rationale? Edson drew from the ranks of his own experience; many of the Nicaragua NCOs came to work for "Red Mike" again. There was a high degree of readiness in both units, along with specialized equipment and training packages.

Amphibious raiding, a wide-ranging arsenal of weapons, close-in fighting packages, and priority of training areas gave the Raiders a solid grounding in the tools of the trade. Combined with combative conditioning that included 30-50 mile hikes over uneven ground brought both Battalions to a combat-ready state. Both units did some pre-combat deployments and exercises which tested their theories and extensive capabilities. Though not in favor by inner Marine Corps circles, the Raiders were ready to go. 2 ND Raider Battalion was first into action. Makin Island was an atoll that was considered a good candidate for a mission and Carlson believed the Raiders could execute, the amphibious raid.

Traveling aboard two submarines, elements of the Battalion braved rough seas to land under the cover of darkness. However, surprise was negated when an accidental discharge occurred. The battle itself was highlighted by several elements: uncertainty of enemy strength, tough small unit action, and challenging weather and sea state that turned the withdrawal into a major ordeal. Carlson would lose several Raiders due to enemy fire. But the worst occurred when, after a moderately successful first outing in terms of action and mission accomplishment, several Raiders were left on shore, captured, and eventually beheaded by the Japanese.

In spite of these failings, the Makin Island raid was hailed as a success and gave the Raiders, and the American public, a much-needed pat on the back during the early days of the Pacific War. Evans Carlson and several raiders were awarded the Navy Cross. Edson had to wait his turn until Guadalcanal, but his later entry did not dampen the excitement or the intensity. Deployed first on the small island of Talagi and then on Guadalcanal itself, the tough training regimen carried a battered 1st Raider Battalion through one of the Corps most fabled battles. The ridge overlooking the critical airfield became known as Bloody Ridge and then later was named Edson's Ridge. Japanese troops made numerous attacks and counterattacks to take the Raiders off the key terrain.

In each instance, Marines stood their ground with vicious close in fighting that included bayonet charges, hand-to-hand combat, and the stubborn leadership of Merritt Edson. To many of the Marines there, it was his presence more than any other single factor that held the Ridge. For his actions, Edson was awarded the Medal of Honor. Another visit to the island would have to be made soon after the first and the 2nd Raiders too would make their mark on Guadalcanal. After a period of refit and retraining, Carlson and his Battalion embarked on a test of their training and their resolve when they worked for thirty days behind enemy lines. The Raiders mission was to take control of the Henderson Field, the same airfield surrounded by the Bloody Ridges with artillery on three sides that the 1st Raider Battalion had just secured.

Fighting against the overwhelming Japanese forces traveling by destroyers at night through the channel known as the "Tokyo Express", a nightly trip from Rabaul to restore the Japanese manpower, the Marine Raiders engaged in conflict after conflict. Using quick ambushes and superior fitness, even in the severe conditions, the Raiders accounted for numerous Japanese casualties with minor losses, mostly due to fever. The guerilla tactics used by Carlson were straight out of Mao Tse-tung's Strategy Book, proved to be more effective than conventional tactics. As a result of early Raider successes, a 3d and 4th Raider Battalion was formed, and then a Raider Regiment. But the war in the Pacific was changing, and the heavily armed Japanese fortifications were not the mission for the more mobility conscious, lightly armed Raiders. Less than three years after their creation, the Raiders were dissolved and reassigned into Marine conventional infantry units.

Carlson never commanded again and was wounded badly forcing him to soon retire. After his return to civilian life, he tried running for public office in California, but he developed heart problems that ended his life in 1947. Edson went on to become the Commanding Officer of the 5th Marines and eventually rose to the rank of Major General before his retirement. He spent his retirement serving as the Commissioner of Public Safety in Vermont, and as the Executive Director of the National Rifle Association until his death in 1955.

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