First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps

by Victor H. Krulak

Marine general Victor "Brute" Krulak offers here a riveting insiders's chronicle of U.S. Marines - their fights on the battlefield and off, and their extraordinary esprit de corps. He not only takes a close look at the Marine experience during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam - wars in which Krulak was himself a participant - but also examines the foundation on which the Corps is built. In doing so, he helps answer the question of what it means to be a Marine and how the Corps has maintained such a consistently outstanding reputation.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Nonfiction, War, Military History, Leadership, Biography

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Nate Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A "must read" for all Marines, not just because it is on the Commandant's Reading List, but because it waters the roots of our Corps and underscores why throughout our storied history the accomplishments of the Corps supersede individuals. Full of eye witness perspective, this book added to my knowledge of the development of the amphibious assault mission which the Marines have only recently embraced as central to our role. Further, it suggests that our Marine Corps has become a metaphor for the virtue of our Nation.

I am generally swayed by General Krulak's argument - and we must return to our frugal past quickly or that virtue and the virtue of our nation will be jeopardized.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having served in the Corps for what must have been eight years or so, an edict from on high came down that all Marines, of every rank, were required to read this book. I don't know how formal the original order actually was, but if memory serves me correctly, a MARADMIN may have even went out about it.

Whatever the case may have been, I dutifully went out and found myself a copy of it. I purchased the book without my usual background research on whether or not the book was worthy of the money. To do so, after being sent such a strong message that it was to be read, would have been willfully disobedient. Some orders aren't meant to be questioned or clarified. This was one of them. Plus, at the time, I had the disposable income for such things and wanted to be able to highlight and make notes in the margins if I felt compelled to do so ... things you can't do with a library book or somebody else's copy that you've borrowed.

So, I got the book and set down to read it, but truth be told, I was a bit skeptical. I thought to myself, How good could this book really be (especially if it is one that everyone has to read)? Was it going to be a yawner that I'd have to force myself to read? How on earth could one book appeal to every rank in the Corps? God only knows that there had been a few selections on the Commandant's Professional Reading List that I just simply did not enjoy.

But having said all of that, let's just say that all of my doubts about the worthiness of this book were quickly quelled. As my highlighting would soon reveal, this book is chock full of things I had never known about the Corps ... things that were important to know ... things that every Marine needed to know ... from the youngest and spryest of privates to the most wizened and hardened of generals.

And the single most striking thing I took away from the book is how many times others have tried to disband this merry "band of brothers" ... this merry band of brothers that refuses to go away, that refuses to fall to bended knee, that refuses to crumble no matter how many slings and arrows on the battlefield or behind closed doors are hurled at it.

To all Marines, past, present, and future, and all those who respect them, and all those who are protected by them, ...

Semper Fidelis

... may you live on well beyond your enemies have been dead and buried.

Indeed, may you live on forever.

[Joshua Greer · Rating 1 out of 5]

A truly awful book in so many ways.

Extremely dry and poorly written, the book is a chore to read. I would have dumped it after the first chapter but it is required reading for Expeditionary Warfare School in the Marine Corps. Krulak has been involved in some historical moments but he focuses so much on names and dry details that the impact of what he is describing is lost. The sentence structure is often overly complex, bordering on run-on sentences; so much so that I wonder if he hired an editor at all.

The worst part of the whole thing is that the author purports to explain why the Marine Corps should continue to exist despite all the efforts to get rid of it but he never gives any hard answers. The only argument that I could cobble together is that the Army is terrible at maintaining readiness when a fight isn't expected so the Marine Corps is necessary because in its insecurity it will always train for cheap and never push back when given an impossible task, no matter the consequences.

If you want an ego stroke to make yourself feel good about being a Marine, go ahead and waste your time. Otherwise don't bother, it's just poorly written propaganda.

[Justin Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember at the School of Music during my training early on in my Marine Corps career, this guy in the Army asked me why we needed a Marine Corps. He said something like, "We [the Army] can do everything the Marine Corps does.." First to Fight is an inside look at the reason we have a Marine Corps.



At the end of World War II, there was a downsize of the military and with good reason: the over-burgeoning weight of men and women who joined the war efforts was staggering; as it came to a close, there was no need to continue the excessive size that ballooned during the global conflict. I suppose that the Marine Corps mission has been different throughout history: in it's early days, Marines would hang from the rigging of ships and distinguished themselves as expert marksman as they protected against the assault of men onto their ship; In the 1920's and 30's, the Marine Corps adopted a doctrine on beach landings and assaults that drastically changed their purpose and intent. With the onset of WWII and the island hopping campaigns, this provided the Marine Corps with a lot of work. But during those years of excess directly after the war the Marines did nothing extraordinary, in the eyes of congress and top military leaders, that the Army could not do also. And thus the battle for the Marine Corps' life had again come into jeopardy.



The first half of this book is, frankly, a dry read. The author, retired Major General Krulak discusses those early years after WWII and the struggle to get the Commandant in on the board of the Joint Chief of Staff, which includes the top Generals from the Army, Navy and what was to become the Air Force. He talks about court hearings and a lot of legal mantra that I just didn't understand. I got the point though: saving the Marine Corps was tough and a lot of people were against it.



He then breaks down the Marine Corps from specific angles that isolate it's strengths and how it is different and unique from other services. Examples from these chapters (the most interesting, by the way) are things like how thrifty and inventive Marines are. He uses anecdotes from his many years of service as illustrations of these traits that make Marines superior and builds an argument of why we need a Marine Corps.



Ultimately, he concludes that the purpose of the todays Marine Corps is a response force that can amass a great deal of proficient warriors in little time in order to "police" the world and it's atrocities. It is because of this reason that Marines need to be ready to fight at any time. I remember hearing a story of the 31st MEU in Okinawa, Japan that was told to prepare during a typhoon to board a ship soon after it had passed in response to the 9/11 attacks. The Marine Corps survives today because it's mission is made flexible to suit the needs of this great nation and we will continue in this manner until the fight for the Marine Corps life is put on the chopping block again.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all I have to say that the only reason I read this book is because all Marines are required to and I would look like a total douche on any promotion boards I went on if I had not.
That said, this book was surprisingly entertaining for the simple fact that it was not written like the average military history book, but took a rather more conversational tone. The kind you would hear if you had bumped into the author, (Lt Gen Krulak) at a bar and got to hear a few hours worth of war stories... Complete with all the self-aggrandizement that such stories typically contain. If this book is to be believed, one would get the impression that it was Lt Gen Krulak himself who had held the Marine Corps together during the sixties and seventies.
Anyway the writing style was easy to fallow, if a bit dry at some points and the technical explanation of some concepts was a bit too detailed for the layreader, but over all I found this book an enjoyable read and in fact wish that more required reading was like it.

[J. Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Tomas Ricks gives the reader a deeper understanding of the Marine Corps and its unique culture through the story of a single platoon at Parris Island, Krulak delivers an extraordinary tour of history responsible for the Corps' culture we see today. This book is populated by the heroes of the Marines, both on and off the bullet-ridden battlefield: Vandegrift, Ellis, and Edson fighting for the institutional survival of the Corps, Higgins and Roebling with their amphibious assault vehicles, William Hill with his extraordinary quatermastering, and (humbly) Krulak for his determination to make the Marines into an ever-ready fighting force. Through comical vignettes, battlefield accounts, and some reference to the intangibles, Krulak grounds the Marines today in their proud and challenging history.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Marine Corps has had to fight for its very existence over and over again. As long as we continue to keep our honor clean by doing what's right and locating, closing with and destroying the enemy with violence of action; the American public won't let us go.

[Aaron Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for all Marines!

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are into the back room politics the Corps had to deal with over the years, this is a great book but would recommend the biography Brute about Ike Krulak much higher. Way too much politics way too little Marine Corps. I could follow because I know some of the story but this is for hard core insiders.

[Kenneth Pauley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the book was very interesting to read and I wish I had done it while I was still in the service. The first chapter dragged as it was heavy in legislative, but valuable, content. After that, it was more entertaining.

[Davis Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dry (especially towards the beginning), but a good read if you are a young marine and want to learn more about our history.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

had to read this for the Marines at TBS school

[Christoffer Sorensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good PME. Not a huge fan.

[Dathan Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional look into why America has a Marine Corps.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely good introduction to the history of the USMC

[William Maverick · Rating 3 out of 5]

First part very dry. The rest enlightening and motivating.

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ordered to read this by my XO and it made for a wonderful sleeping aid on my deployment.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75. I’m definitely late to the party on this one (been out of the Marines for eight years now, per this review date), but better late than never. This was far more engaging and focused than I anticipated—better than I originally imagined.

I expected a full, start-to-finish history of the Marine Corps, but instead, it took deep dives into key areas and defining moments throughout its lifespan. Topics ranged from the Corps’ origins and fight for political protection under the Constitution to how it became America’s premier amphibious expeditionary force. It also explored the Marines’ reputation for frugality—how much they’ve accomplished with so little—and provided an insightful analysis of the Corps' actions during the Vietnam War, including why America ultimately failed to win it.

I thought I’d get a broader historical overview, but what I received was better than expected. That said, this is clearly a niche read—definitely not for everyone. It’s also dense, with tiny, compacted text that makes it feel longer than it looks.

Still, if you’re part of the American military machine in any capacity (especially the Corps), I can’t see why this wouldn’t be worth your time. Outside of that, I’m not sure it would hold much appeal.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thesis on the importance and soul of the USMC it hits in ways a lot of books don't. Not purely history, biography, or theory it mixes all 3 elegantly to tell the past and present of what makes a Marine a Marine and why the branch has taken on the persona it is associated with throughout the years.

The inside story of the Marine fight to not be absorbed (and the interesting perspective on the DoD reshuffle post-war) is something you rarely see talked about in the history books. Krulak uses his first-hand experience in times like this, the island-hopping campaign, and Vietnam to really augment the research and others accounts to build a picture.

Most impressive, and what really pushed this to a 5-star book from 4-star as it is really on the edge for me, is how all of that is very direct and focused. There is a clear layout on what philosophical aspect of the Marine Corps is being regarded and clearly shows the point the author intended. A must-read for military enthusiasts, historians looking to understand the US military of the 20th century, and those in the public who want an understanding of the Marines for whatever reason.

[Rick Barcenas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, this was required reading for work. We get tons of USMC history in boot camp but what they don't tell you is how close the Corps has come to being dissolved even after out performing our Army in winning battle after battle, the hardest battle the Corps has fought was for it's right to exist.

Written by Chuck Krulak's dad, it give you a peek into what it was like fighting through the beltways of Congress for survival, and gave me a sly smirk when we remained untouched and defiant. Makes me prouder to be "in".

[Travis]

This book is different than the title would suggest. While it does describe some of the conflicts in which Marines participated, these descriptions are used more to illustrate the development of the Corps' basic values.

They also hi-light how and why Marines have learned to improvise, overcome, and adapt. This book describes how a warrior service has sustained itself and ensured its survival, and in the process become the elite fighting force of the United States.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. Part history, part account, this is a great book written by a man who was there. He includes some of the history of the Marine Corps, interwoven with his own personal experiences that include helping to develop amphibious warfare in the 1930's, to fighting World War II, to trying to save the Corps from restructuring, to Vietnam. Very enlightening and inspirational read. Currently the Commandant of the Marine Corps recommended book.

[Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be a mandatory read for all new Marine Corps Officers at the Officers Basic Course and for any officers who have thus far made it to any career-level, Marine Corps professional development course but have somehow not yet read the book. As well, it should be mandatory reading for all career Marine and staff non-commissioned officers. It is one of the most historically significant books I have read about the missions, functions, and tasks of the United States Marine Corps.

[Keith Cavey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an informative (albeit dry) read. A lot of interesting tidbits on the struggles and history of the United States Marine Corps. I found the political and bureaucratic parts to be a bit boring, which sadly makes up a large chunk of the book. Still, as a Marine it's good information on how we view ourselves, our duty, and our sister services...and how they view us.

[Wachlin007 Hotmail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helps explain why the Marine Corps is different than the Army. It shows how the Marine Corps has handled challenges in the past and also discusses problems that it will face in the future. The author was a Lieutenant General in the Marine Corps and his son went on to become the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
This was a very informative book.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an interesting, introspective look at the tumultuous beginnings and history of the United States Marine Corps. It shines a not so favorable light on some of America's wartime icons and their distain for the Corps. A great book that I couldn't put down.

On the Commandants Professional Reading List for all Marines!

[David Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brute Krulak was a very influential USMC officer from the 1920's-1960's. He had much to do with the development of the Higgin's amphibious assault boat and the doctrinal development of the use of military assault helicopters. His ideas about how to fight in Viet Nam might have led to victory if they had been followed.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a U.S. Army officer getting ready to serve in a joint assignment with the Marine Corps. I found it a great resource to learn how the Marine Corps thinks and its history as a service. I recommend this book for anyone with a interest in military history or a curiosity about how the Marine Corps sees itself in the scope of the overall joint force.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised while reading this just how much the Corps had to fight to stay alive. Additionally, being a young person with no real knowledge concerning the Vietnam conflict this book whet my appetite to learn more about it.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile and enjoyable read for Marines/Marine Corps enthusiasts, Krulak shares stories of the Corps that are not often told, some of them from as he experienced them himself, all of them contributing to the legacy and culture of the Marine Corps.