Preparing for victory : Thomas Holcomb and the making of the modern Marine Corps, 1936-1943 / David J. Ulbrich ; foreword by Charles P. Neimeyer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ulbrich, David J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Holcomb, Thomas, 1879-1965.

Holcomb, Thomas.

United States. Marine Corps--History--20th century.

United States.

United States. Marine Corps--Officers--Biography.

World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area.

World War, 1939-1945.

Generals--United States--Biography.

Generals.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (305 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press, c2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This is the first book to examine Thomas Holcomb s crucial role as commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps during the Great Depression and World War II. It blends biographical, institutional, and operational history with leadership studies, organizational theory, and social and cultural history to explain how and why Holcomb succeeded in expanding the Marine Corps from 18,000 officers and men in 1936 to 385,000 by 1943. David Ulbrich contends that Holcomb s abilities and achievements match those of Chester W. Nimitz and George C. Marshall. Despite Holcomb s success, however, he has been given short shrift in histories of the Marine Corps. To correct the oversight, this biography draws on a wide range of sources to tell the story of the Marine commandant who molded the Corps into a modern force-in-readiness that would not only led the way to victory in the pacific, but also would eventually help fight the Cold War and the war on terror. A Leatherneck Original, published with the Marine Corps Association. Foreword by Lt. Col. Charles P. Neimeyer, USMC (Ret.), Director and Chief of Marine Corps History. A Leatherneck Original, published with the Marine Corps Association.

Contents:

Holcomb's first thirty-six years in the Marine Corps, 1900-1936

Taking charge of the struggling Marine Corps, 1936-1939

Holcomb and the Marine Corps transition from peace toward war, 1939-1941

Marine mobilization in the first seven months of war, December 1941-June 1942

Guadalcanal : the first big test for Holcomb and the Marine Corps, July 1942-February 1943

Preparing the corps for a new commandant, July 1942-December 1943

From Marine Corps to diplomatic corps to retirement.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781612514109

1612514103

OCLC:

857079212