Court-Martial at Parris Island: The Ribbon Creek Incident

by John C. Stevens III

The definitive account of a tragic episode in U.S. Marine Corps history and its aftermath

On the night of April 8, 1956, marine drill instructor Matthew McKeon led Platoon 71 on a forced march through the backwaters of Parris Island in an effort to restore flagging discipline. Unexpectedly strong currents in Ribbon Creek and an ensuing panic led to the drowning of six recruits. The tragedy of Ribbon Creek and the court-martial of Staff Sergeant McKeon became the subject of sensational national media coverage and put the future of the U.S. Marine Corps in jeopardy.

In this definitive account of the Ribbon Creek incident former marine and experienced trial lawyer and judge John C. Stevens III examines the events of that night, the men of Platoon 71, and the fate of Sergeant McKeon. Drawing on personal interviews with key participants and his own extensive courtroom experience, Stevens balances the human side of this story with insights into the court proceedings and the tactics of the prosecution and defense attorney Emile Zola Berman. The resulting narrative is a richly developed account of a horrific episode in American military history and of the complex characters at the heart of this cautionary tale.

Genres: Military Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply engaging review of a major legal case in the history of the 20th century marine corps…

Court-martial at Parris Island: The Ribbon Creek Incident by John C. Stevens covers a night training incident where 6 marine recruits drowned and the drill instructor was found at fault…but there’s significantly more to the story…

Let me be clear that I went into this book with a heavy bias due to my own past with the marine corps, DIs, and Parris Island. I was skeptical that i would have the same view as the author, but after reading it…I found my mind significantly changed.

Equal parts legal thriller and putting the activities of marine training under the microscope, there’s a ton of side characters brought up from lowest level recruits to even commandants (and future commandants) of the Marine Corps…not to mention members of other armed forces and assorted civilian players.

All of this during a transformative time in Marine Corps history…after the Korean War when it’s a time of transition to new missions, training methods, and even ideas (such as helicopters).

The book goes into incredible detail regarding the testimony, facts, photos and maps of the individuals and areas involved, and legal principles (and how some involved probably shouldn’t have been a part of the process).

I hesitate to go into heavy detail to avoid spoilers (even if it’s tied to a court martial trial over half a century old), but I leave it to you the read to evaluate what is presented in this book and draw your own conclusions…and whether you’d have done the same…

[Darren Sapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Stevens set out to deliver a detailed account of this event, however, it's repetitive at times going over the same info as would happen in an actual court case. Nevertheless, he brings the drama of this true event that offers the same legal thriller elements of The Cain Mutiny.

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this was a very knowledgeable book, but the author definitely leaned towards one side of the court martial rather than staying neutral.

[Boy Dyl · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s one of those books, like Ron Stallworth’s Black Klansman, that reads more like a police report or, in this case, a situation report merged with the court-martial record. I’m not saying there needs to be dramatics to make it a good story, it’s good on it’s face, it just doesn’t appeal to everyone stylistically.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong telling of a dark day in U.S. Marine Corps history. My uncle was one of those in the platoon who were marched into the water that night. He lived. Others were not so lucky. The book is very well written but goes a bit easy on the drill sergeant responsible for the deaths. The book does not do enough to tell the stories of the men in the platoon.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book. Good history and procedural story.