Chapomatic

…that you didn’t have need to land at Red One.

En Revanche points to a TINS story, related by a served Marine visiting his elders. Perhaps this story will remind us to talk to the 80 year olds; we might learn something. Grownups only, please.

“Well, let me tell you, we were really enjoying the show those flyboys were putting on but then we hear over the One MC (the ship’s public address system) that announcement that sends chills down the spine of every Marine grunt and is guaranteed to increase your pucker factor by at least a thousand per cent. You know the one I’m talking about, Scott.”

“Attention all hands….LAND THE LANDING FORCE.”

True story? No idea but I’m regarding it as such–story told at a VA clinic, and it’s not one of those stories that fit the narrative of a liar. As Scott relates it the tale becomes a little hard to research because he changes some of the names (for a reason that will soon become obvious and the comments thread for this might prove entertaining).

But it matches some of these.

And if the man telling the story survived what he survived he can say anything he wants. Even the lion heart of Dorie Miller didn’t survive the invasion.

It was later estimated that about 1,000 marines started that momentous assault – but it was only a small group of probably 100 to 300 men who waded through the graveyard of fire to the beach and seized control of a narrow strip.

This surviving group of men held the island, alone and under frightful conditions, for most of the first afternoon. Behind them, in the sea, floated the bodies of hundreds of their buddies.

For some things it’s worth giving thanks.