I thought I read/heard/watch something that said when the US troops went ashore at Tripoli to put down the pirates that an Army Captain lead the way and that the Marines where established after this.
Didn't you know that Tripoli was exclusively a Marine battle fought without the Army's help. Just like Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, Chosin Reservoir, Hue City, and Fallujah. Nope, the US Army had absolutely no participation in any of those - according to most Marines. Okay, honestly I don't know anything about Tripoli.
It was eight Marines with a mercenary army of about 300-500 Arabs, Greeks and Europeans. And they never made it to Tripoli (not in battle anyway) - the fight was at Derna.
US Army Captain William Eaton was a consular, but appointed himself General In Command of the combined Marine/mercenary force for the attack on Derna.
Originally posted by XAbnInf: It was eight Marines with a mercenary army of about 300-500 Arabs, Greeks and Europeans. And they never made it to Tripoli (not in battle anyway) - the fight was at Derna.
US Army Captain William Eaton was a consular, but appointed himself General In Command of the combined Marine/mercenary force for the attack on Derna.
He was an Army officer before his appointment as consul, but was he still an Army officer when he was appointed as "agent of the Navy?" I've seen several references to him as a general, but I couldn't find anything referring to his appointment or promotion, other than the aforementioned self-appointment as "general and commander-in-chief" of the expedition.
He had an interesting life, regardless. He was considered something of a hero in his time for the capture of Derna. It's a shame he doesn't get a mention in that line of the USMC song....
I served in the USMC from 1978-1981, but have served since in the U.S. Army, Ohio Army National Guard and now U.S. Army Reserve since 1981-Present. I will always cherish my days with the Corps, but they continue to leave out anything to do with the U.S. Army according to their history. Especially WWII in the Pacific. An Army Officer also which I am, may have appointed himself CONSUL in that time, but still was an Army Officer until the Presdient either revoked his appointment or he resigned his Commission as an Officer in the United States Army. Neither which we have in the historical accords. So for all my former and fellow Letherneck Brothers, sorry he was still an Army Officer. Looks like our Great Army took the lead in your USMC expedition, huh.
Originally posted by Compston: I served in the USMC from 1978-1981, but have served since in the U.S. Army, Ohio Army National Guard and now U.S. Army Reserve since 1981-Present. I will always cherish my days with the Corps, but they continue to leave out anything to do with the U.S. Army according to their history. Especially WWII in the Pacific. An Army Officer also which I am, may have appointed himself CONSUL in that time, but still was an Army Officer until the Presdient either revoked his appointment or he resigned his Commission as an Officer in the United States Army. Neither which we have in the historical accords. So for all my former and fellow Letherneck Brothers, sorry he was still an Army Officer. Looks like our Great Army took the lead in your USMC expedition, huh.
Sorry to interject here but it's kind of rare now that I run across someone that shared the 2AD (FWD) experience when I did.
