Well, guess the idea of a battle field commission and rifle platoon didn’t work out! Next! When one reads of these exploits it feels like the notion of special forces in the sense that there is a counter insurgency nature to the young corporal’s efforts. He sure seems more suited to an intelligence and interrogation unit than straight leg rifle company. At this point this guy is legend and it may be so, that as Company Commander you don’t get much say, as he is swept up by “higher” for the best use and “needs” of the Corps. As his CO, for sure he is getting some level of commendation. But would press, the Battalion CO that he be commissioned and pushed up and over to a recon unit. In many ways he reminds one of the early SAS in the North African desert. “Who Dares Wins!” Everything is on the table.
Yes the stakes in the Pacific were on the table. Yes “unorthodox” in war if it succeeds must he given its head.
WW2 was a nearer thing than people realize on 🇺🇸 our fronts. It’s probably not well understood but we were running out of money and the American people’s patience for further conflict was wearing thin.
Dodgy: We were in the classic long extended offensive lines and the defending Japanese compressed onto their base of the islands.
Absent the Atomic Bomb we 🇺🇸 did not have a real solution. The invasion of Operation Olympic was quite dodgy once the true strength of the defenders was known. A blockade would have been difficult to sustain in the Opinion of the Navy.
Dodgy in Europe - that our success on D-Day was closer than most realize and was a result of leaders on the ground improvising and attacking is known, just not widely enough.
In my universe, the young man is humping a mortar base plate, good luck with this one.
One, modern, Special Operator pointed out that before you can successfully colour outside the lines, you have to understand why the lines are there, and what they mean, and how to colour within them, THEN you can colour outside the lines, think outside of the box.
I'm leaving Guy behind on Saipan during the division's mop up phase as the main effort shifts to the invasion of nearby Tinian. In fact, I'm writing him up for an award (Silver Star). But I think he's reached the end of his contributions to mission accomplishment. His uniform (or lack thereof), trading out his weapon, and his own high estimation of his accomplishments have me worried that he's heading for a big mistake that could detract from our mission.
Given that the Saipan to Tinian attack is a relatively short shore-to-shore movement; I think I can make use of Guy in two ways. First, if we do capture any Japanese defenders, they can be sent back to Saipan for interrogation by Guy. Second, I could always ask to have him sent over if I really need him. Obviously, either of these options requires coordination with and consent by my chain of command. I'll get to work on that now.
As Kenny Rogers said, "you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" etc. In keeping with my "lone wolf" theory, Guy is going to do what he thinks is best, regardless of what is actually needed or what I say. I think he's headed for a big mistake which could cost either his life or the lives of other Marines. I'm trying to avoid that by keeping him on Saipan but keeping my options open in case I'm wrong and we need him.
Well, guess the idea of a battle field commission and rifle platoon didn’t work out! Next! When one reads of these exploits it feels like the notion of special forces in the sense that there is a counter insurgency nature to the young corporal’s efforts. He sure seems more suited to an intelligence and interrogation unit than straight leg rifle company. At this point this guy is legend and it may be so, that as Company Commander you don’t get much say, as he is swept up by “higher” for the best use and “needs” of the Corps. As his CO, for sure he is getting some level of commendation. But would press, the Battalion CO that he be commissioned and pushed up and over to a recon unit. In many ways he reminds one of the early SAS in the North African desert. “Who Dares Wins!” Everything is on the table.
Yes the stakes in the Pacific were on the table. Yes “unorthodox” in war if it succeeds must he given its head.
WW2 was a nearer thing than people realize on 🇺🇸 our fronts. It’s probably not well understood but we were running out of money and the American people’s patience for further conflict was wearing thin.
Dodgy: We were in the classic long extended offensive lines and the defending Japanese compressed onto their base of the islands.
Absent the Atomic Bomb we 🇺🇸 did not have a real solution. The invasion of Operation Olympic was quite dodgy once the true strength of the defenders was known. A blockade would have been difficult to sustain in the Opinion of the Navy.
Dodgy in Europe - that our success on D-Day was closer than most realize and was a result of leaders on the ground improvising and attacking is known, just not widely enough.
In particular at Omaha.
"You" have made a BIG mistake....
In my universe, the young man is humping a mortar base plate, good luck with this one.
One, modern, Special Operator pointed out that before you can successfully colour outside the lines, you have to understand why the lines are there, and what they mean, and how to colour within them, THEN you can colour outside the lines, think outside of the box.
I'm leaving Guy behind on Saipan during the division's mop up phase as the main effort shifts to the invasion of nearby Tinian. In fact, I'm writing him up for an award (Silver Star). But I think he's reached the end of his contributions to mission accomplishment. His uniform (or lack thereof), trading out his weapon, and his own high estimation of his accomplishments have me worried that he's heading for a big mistake that could detract from our mission.
Given that the Saipan to Tinian attack is a relatively short shore-to-shore movement; I think I can make use of Guy in two ways. First, if we do capture any Japanese defenders, they can be sent back to Saipan for interrogation by Guy. Second, I could always ask to have him sent over if I really need him. Obviously, either of these options requires coordination with and consent by my chain of command. I'll get to work on that now.
As Kenny Rogers said, "you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" etc. In keeping with my "lone wolf" theory, Guy is going to do what he thinks is best, regardless of what is actually needed or what I say. I think he's headed for a big mistake which could cost either his life or the lives of other Marines. I'm trying to avoid that by keeping him on Saipan but keeping my options open in case I'm wrong and we need him.