Posts Tagged ‘Marines’

OK.  I guess there is interest in the US Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC).  I’ve been off the net a few days, but received comments on Facebook and by email.

John Brown - Patriot or Terrorist?

This year our largest combined program was a two-weekend, back-to-back set of events at Harpers Ferry.  The first weekend was supporting the annual commemoration at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park of the famous John Brown Raid in mid-October 1859.  We presented “At All Times Ready,” the Brown Raid “through the eyes of a Marine,” several times each day.

In this presentation we walk the audience, usually over a hundred visitors, through the raid.  We explain what led to the Marines being called out from Washington, what they faced on arrival, the Marine assault on the engine house (Perhaps the first hostage rescue operation-and a complete success), the capture of Brown, freeing of the hostages, and the aftermath.  We use Park volunteers in period dress, and even some of the unsuspecting audience, as hostages, and some of our friends from “Sykes Regulars,” who volunteer in the Park, as the raiders.  The Marines, of course, are portrayed by Marines.

The audience is left to decide for themselves if John Brown is a “patriot,” in the anti-slavery movement, or, regardless of his motives, and based on his raid, his kidnapping of citizens, and the murdering of innocent civilians – a “domestic terrorist.”  I think you can guess where the Marines might fall on this issue.

The following weekend at the Park was dedicated solely to the US Marine Corps, in memory of Private Luke Quinn, the Marine who was killed during the raid.  After a year of planning, with the US Marine Corps, the USMCHC, and the Harpers Ferry NHP entering into a mutually supportive partnership, this full weekend program was brought together.

The Quantico Marine Band. They are in MarPat utilities because it rained most of the weekend.

We brought in around thirty active duty Marines, who we kitted as 1859 Marines, or who were in modern uniforms at our extensive display of the history of Marine weaponry, uniforms, and equipment.  These Marines augmented our own USMCHC staff.  We also brought in the Quantico Marine Band.  The displays and band were set up in a large NHP tent behind the famous engine house where the raid took place.

Talks were given visitors at the Marine Corps historical displays, the amazing Quantico Band played concerts, and the 1859 Marines presented “At All Times Ready,” at various times throughout the weekend.

The program culminated in a parade by the band and the 1859 Marines, followed by a moving commemoration and wreath dedication to Private Luke Quinn.  The Park Superintendent, Rebecca Harriett, and Dennis Frye, Chief of Interpretation and Education, spoke to introduce Lieutenant General G.R. Christmas, the keynote speaker, who gave a moving address to the crowd of hundreds present.

Wreath for Pvt Luke Quinn - Active duty SSgt Shane Lisowski, left, and MGySgt William Browne, Drum Major, President's Own Marine Band, right. SSgt Lisowski is wearing the 1859 Dress Blue uniform, and MGySgt Browne is wearing modern Dress Blues for the ceremony.

As an interesting high note: Present as a guest of the USMCHC during both these weekends was the Drum Major of the President’s Own Marine Band, Master Gunnery Sergeant William L. Browne.  In accordance with his wishes, he was dressed as a Sergeant of 1859 for most of the proceedings.  His reason was simple.  He was commemorating Sergeant John Roach.  Sergeant Roach, although appointed as the Drum Major of the Marine Band, volunteered to accompany the Marines sent to Harpers Ferry, and is reported to have been one of the Marines who hauled John Brown out of the engine house as a prisoner.  Hence in our presentations, MGySgt Browne filled the role of his predecessor, John Roach.

USMCHC's unbelievably efficient support team - They made it all work

USMCHC 1859 Marines on parade

USMCHC 1859 Marines marching

Sketch of Marines assaulting engine house - Harpers Ferry 1859

USMCHC walking the visitors through the assault on the engine house step-by-step

Park volunteers portraying Browne’s Raiders

Modern Marines in Combat Dress

The soldiers and Marines we see on the television today in Iraq and Afghanistan are the best equipped in history.  They carry all the paraphernalia necessary to fight a modern war.  Even in WWII, Marines landing on Pacific islands from Navy ships were pretty well equipped for their mission, and that was over sixty years ago.

WWII Navy Corpsman and wounded Marine.

Did you ever wonder what a soldier might have carried on landing from a ship in 1854, during the Crimean War?  Why I’ll bet that’s been a burning mystery for you for many years, or perhaps not.  Well, we folks obsessed with such military history minutia, we inquiring minds, want to know.  I know there’s at least one of you out there.

The British soldiers about to land in the Crimea and face “the Russian Hordes” were not in the best of shape.  Cholera and other illness had taken a toll.  Lord Raglan wanted his men to land with as light a load as possible.  A noble thought, to look out for his troops, but not a well thought out one.

He ordered that the men and officers were to carry specific items in their landing kit.  The rest was to be left behind and would catch up to them later.  Few of these professional soldiers believed that chestnut.  They were even to leave behind their knapsacks, the one place they could secret away personal items to enhance their standard of living on campaign.

They had the uniform on their backs, a spare pair of boots, a pair of socks, a cotton shirt, and a forage cap.  These things were to be rolled into a single blanket, and along with their greatcoats, they were kitted up for the fight.  This blanket roll was to be carried in their knapsack straps.  Any personal items went in their pockets, in their small haversack (which also carried rations), in the blanket roll itself, or fastened creatively to one of the above or their canteen strap.  That included their cup, mess tin and eating utensils.

Off they went.  Landing from wooden ships in long boats and barges, only to be confronted by rain and foul weather.  They had no tents, and were to sleep under the stars, which weren’t there because of the severe rain.

These gross miscalculations were only the beginning of a long, cruel, series of mistakes in judgement and conspicuous incompetence surrounding arguably the most mismanaged war in history.

Private soldier in the Crimea. Apparently a replacement later in the war, since he's wearing his knapsack

Crimean War soldiers as winter set in, heading for a cold night in the trenches before Sevastopol.

I am packing for our Christmas trip down New Orleans way to visit my stepson and his lovely wife, and I am reminded of a Christmas season during a simpler time in my life.  I only had a small rucksack.  My bulkier gear consisted of a poncho to be used as a ‘basha’ type shelter and for protection from the incessant rain, a poncho liner to ward off the night chill, and an extra pair of socks.  In rucksack, on belt, and in pockets went numerous smaller items such as maps, compass, homemade distance-counting beads, my trusty K- Bar knife, a complete swiss army knife (if I was lucky), the essential all-purpose Model M1A1 eating tool – - – a plastic spoon, tooth paste, tooth brush and one small towel.  Of course in those days I carried as much water as I could manage, rations, the clothes on my back, and little old me. I could go anywhere, do anything, and be perfectly content.  We also didn’t worry much about snow.

Not so today !

Now my toilet kit is full of things you have to plug in.  I am going south out of the snowbound Gettysburg area, so I need winter clothes for travel at the start, and fall type clothes as we near the 50-60 degree weather.  In case we might go out to eat at some point, I need slacks and a sport coat.  Then there’s sweats to lounge in, as well as extra socks, shorts, belts, and shirts. Add to that my computer and accessories so I can keep on a bloggin’ and I’m almost packed.  Oh, right, I forgot, saddle, bridle, and a pair of boots – just in case we run into stay horses we might ride.  Did I mention the dog, our wonderful Shelty, and all the paraphernalia that goes with traveling with an animal?

It’s a good thing we have a “BAT-mobile” (Big-A_ _ Truck).  I sound like I’m complaining, but I’m not – not really.  After all, in that simpler Christmas season I also carried ammunition and a weapon, and had to duck a lot.  This is much, much better.

Will and one of his Marines in simpler days - III MAF, Republic of Vietnam