US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

HUDDLE Slowly Scuttled
the benefits sought with the Marines currently available in
Area but not on Guadalcanal, he reported to COMSOPAC:
. . . In order to prosecute promptly the operations required by prospective
tactical situations, the Commander Amphibious Force South Pacific, will,
451
the South Pacific
unless directed to contrary, proceed with the organization of Provisional
Raider Battalions in the Second, Seventh and Eighth Marines, and give these
already trained troops such additional specialized training as seems appropriate.’”
The Marine Officer on COMSOPAC Staff took a whack at the recommendation
and at its originator. The Marines had their eyes set not only on
divisions of Marines, but on corps of Marines, and Rear Admiral Turner
had really stuck his hand in the vice when he wrote:
The employment of divisions [in future operations} as a landing unit seems
less likely.
This was more than an overstatement in support of the proposal being
made. It was a poor judgment of the future, and few Marines forget to
mention a distortion of the statement when Admiral Turner’s name is
brought up.
The other error in connection with Admiral Turner’s proposal regarding
Raider Battalions was that COMPHIBFORSOPAC failed to consult the
Commanding General, First Marine Division, in the matter before going to
higher authority. But he did not, as General Vandegrift recalled that he was
later informed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, seek to limit
Marines to Raider Battalion-sized units. According to General Vandegrift:
ently.
. . . Turner’s attempts to break up certain regiments into battalion-size
raider units, recommending to Nimitz and King in the process that Marines
be limited to such size units in the future. . .“
The official letter from Rear Admiral Turner, in fact, reads quite differ-
[The originator] . . . recommends that Marine Corps Headquarters issue
directions for the permanent organization of Raider Battalions as integral
units of all the Marine Regiments now attached to, or ultimately destined
for the Amphibious Force, South Pacific. . .“
The letter was addressed to COMSOPAC, who readdressed it and sent it
to CINCPAC, who sent it direct to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
wCOMPHIBFORSOPACto cOMSOF’AC,
letter, FEz5/Al~h3(~) %r 0093 Of29 Aw. 1942.
‘1vandegrift, p. 183. Reprinted from Once ~ Matine with permission of w.~. Norton &
Co., Inc.
5’COMPHIBFORSOPACFOR to COMSOPAC, letter, 29 Aug. 1942.