The Story of the U.S. Marines

U.S. Landmark Books #14

by George P. Hunt, Charles J. Mazoujian (Illustrator)

THE STORY OF THE U.S. MARINES

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Military History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

George Pinney Hunt

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reliving my childhood by re-reading Landmark history books first read nearly 60 years ago. This book was one of my first and most favorite reads. Ten or so years after reading it I would be a young Navy Hospital Corpsman serving on the Neurosurgical Ward at Great Lakes Naval Hospital treating Marines with spinal cord injuries. An irony is that during my time on that ward only three patients had injuries suffered from action in Vietnam. The remainder were young men who had returned from their combat tours only to suffer lifelong paralysis due to automobile accidents.

I'll always remember two Marines on that ward in particular. Sgt Gary Lomprez, a quadriplegic, made my life hell for my first several weeks on the ward. I couldn't do anything right for Sgt Lomprez. I couldn't feed him correctly - "Miller! Stop with this meat, potatoes, vegetables, meat, potatoes, vegetables bullshit"; or, "Is the wash cloth too hot? How the f--k should I know? I'm paralyzed and can't feel a damn thing you dumb Squid"; or, "If I get any f'en bedsores I'm going to kick your ass!" (as if). Sgt Lomprez even shamed me into switching my new leather watch band with his old worn one because he certainly wasn't going to be able to "walk out anytime soon and buy himself a new one".

Corporal Madsen was paralyzed below his waist. One day when I was prepping him for a catheterization his penis became errect. Madsen excitedly reached into his bedside stand and pulled out an instamatic camera and took a picture. He then yelled out to our ward nurse to come see! Before the day was over the word got around that patients should insist that I perform their catheterizations because "Miller has the touch!"

It was quite an experience working with these young men. I wonder how many of them had read The Story of the U.S. Marines as young boys as I had?

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though written for a younger audience, I still found this book to be quite interesting. Some of the stories were ones I had heard before, but many were new. Have you ever heard of the marine sergeant who was crowed king and "reigned" for 3 years and 3 months? It's true. Do you know why the Marine Band is called the "President's Own"? This book starts at the American Revolution and takes you through Korea (it was published in '51) as the story of the United States Marines grew to what we know it today. Well, at least until 1951.

[Tom Batalias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book several times as a child, dreaming of becoming a Marine, which happened about a decade later. I saved the book (which I am prone to do) and read it to my son when he was old enough. Published in the middle of the Korean War, the stories of the exploits of the individual Marines featured in each chapter is legendary.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book! I enjoyed reading this history if the Marine corps from the perspective of 70 years ago. It is a quick read that gives you a brief overview of the early history of the U.S. Marine Corp.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight forward, not political accounting of the establishment and employment of the United States Marine Corps.

[Cws]

J359Hun

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very interesting, informative and a good history book. I enjoyed reading it.