November 1919 Proceedings
In “The Study of Naval History,” Naval Academy Associate Professor H. J. Fenton underlined that, “It was Mahan who first saw the deeper significance in naval history. His philosophy of sea power in its quiet but solid way did more for the navies of the world than the more visible performances of some who have received greater acclaim. It was Mahan perhaps who first taught that historical study is practical because it ends in action.”
November 1969 Proceedings
Francis J. “Bing” West Jr. served in Vietnam, 1962–65, as a Marine platoon commander. In “Stingray ’70,” he analyzed the continuing Stingray U.S. guerrilla operations as a vehicle that could obliterate the competition in the 60 to 70 percent of Vietnam that was uninhabited wilderness. “Exactly what these small teams, be they Army, Navy, or Marines were to do, or how they were to do it could not be mapped out ahead of time by senior staffs. There was no body of experience directly applicable. While their main assignments have been to find out and to wear down the enemy, their specific missions have depended more on operational factors.”
November 1994 Proceedings
In his column “The Few, the Proud—But at What Cost?” Captain Richard W. Palermo, U.S. Marine Corps, wrote: “Anyone who has served a tour as an enlisted recruiter or as an officer selection officer has heard the following statement: “I don’t care how you do it, just don’t come back until you have found a warm, breathing body qualified to be a Marine.” Marine recruiters have always been tasked with finding those few civilians who have the mettle to be Marines, but at what cost to those tasked with this demanding mission?
A. Denis Clift
Golden Life Member
