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Prior to WW1, the Marines were a small part of the Navy. Although they had participated in many conflicts, they were still left as a small unit. When Commandant George Barnett heard of the war in France, he quickly moved to get his men into action. Motivated by the slogan, "First to Fight," Barnett got approval from both the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of War. General Pershing and the Army did not want any part of this. Their thought was that the Marines were nothing but a part of the Navy, and didn't want the Marines in France at all. Contrary to the beliefs of Pershing, 2 brigades were approved to go over seas but only one, the 4th Brigade, saw action. The Marines played a vital role in the war effort. They fought in an engagement almost every month they were in France, and they never lost ground that they gained. The Marines were changed forever, after the war, their size never returned to its small beginnings, and now the Marines are involved in almost any conflict that the U.S. is involved in. |
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