US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

in connection with which they were in a position to witness events or to have
informed opinions.
Keeping in mind that the historian’s rule is that the pale ink of a contem-
porary record is better than the best memory, still there are some facts and
many important opinions never committed to that contemporary record. At
least that was this biographer’s own experience during service through three
wars in the United States Navy. So it is only fair to say that the contents of
this book are colored by the facts revealed and opinions expressed by those
consulted, as well as by the basic contemporary record.
Every major amphibious operation in the South and Central Pacific cam-
paigns was born and bred among strong men of strong professional opinions.
The student of amphibious warfare and of the Navy will benefit from men-
tion of those differing opinions, for he must prepare himself to operate
successfully in an atmosphere of strong professional judgments in any future
arena of war.
A/%zl 23, 1969
A +nq~ ? %5
GEORGE C. DYER
PENDENNIS MOUNT
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND