When "cowards" cut and run
Everyone knows about Jean Schmidt's comments to John Murtha, but perhaps not everyone knows the famous Marine Corps quote about a "retreat" 55 years ago.
When the 1st Marine Division became surrounded by more than 100,000 Chinese and North Korean soldiers in 1950, its new mission became to get out of North Korea.
Someone referred to the withdrawal as a "retreat."
Major General Oliver P. Smith's response:
"Retreat hell. We're just attacking in a different direction."
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Update: I've previously mentioned on this blog the 1983 Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 Marines, sailors, and soldiers - mostly from the 1st Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment. After that tragedy, it was decided that the proper policy was indeed to withdraw. Or, "cut and run" as Rep. Schmidt says.
When the 1st Marine Division became surrounded by more than 100,000 Chinese and North Korean soldiers in 1950, its new mission became to get out of North Korea.
Someone referred to the withdrawal as a "retreat."
Major General Oliver P. Smith's response:
"Retreat hell. We're just attacking in a different direction."
###
Update: I've previously mentioned on this blog the 1983 Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 Marines, sailors, and soldiers - mostly from the 1st Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment. After that tragedy, it was decided that the proper policy was indeed to withdraw. Or, "cut and run" as Rep. Schmidt says.
posted by bp at
5:13 AM
2 Comments:
Or "attack in a different direction," as General Smith said.
What a great quote - that guy was a lawyer at heart.
By
t'su, at 9:52 PM
Yeah, definitely. The other side of the coin, though, is that another oft-repeated Marine quote is "Retreat, hell! We just got here!" I think that's WWI era.
So just like the Bible, you can use military quotes to support or oppose anything.
By
bp, at 6:49 AM
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