MAGAZINE OF THE MARINES L 2020 JANUARY eatherneck wwww.mca-marines.org/leatherneckww.mca-marines.org/leatherneck Flag Raiser’s Identity: Technology, Evidence Renders New Verdict International Students Bring Global Perspective To Marine Corps University Battle of Midway— Researchers Locate Enemy Shipwrecks Contents LEATHERNECK—MAGAZINE OF THE MARINES JANUARY 2020 VOL. 103, No. 1 Features 16 Midway Discovery: Underwater Researchers 36 “In Fairness to All Parties” The Marine Corps Locate World War II Japanese Aircraft Carriers Corrects the Historical Record By Nancy S. Lichtman The Japanese aircraft carriers, Akagi By Col Keil R. Gentry, USMC (Ret) This article is a and Kaga, two of the ships sunk during the Battle of Midway, condensed version of Chapter 13 from the Marine Corps were recently discovered 17,000 feet below the surface of the History Division’s “Investigating Iwo: The Flag Raising in P a c i fi c O c e a n . Myth, Memory, & Esprit de Corps” and discusses the latest correction to the identities of the Iwo Jima fl ag raisers. 22 Million Dollar Flight By GySgt Bruce Martin, USMC This article from the Leatherneck archives explains how the 54 Forgotten Battalion By Sgt Bill Miller, USMC Air Force, thanks to the effi ciency of their medical evacuation In this article from the Leatherneck archives, “The Forgotten fl ights, was responsible for saving the lives and limbs Battalion” rated fi ve battle stars and two unit citations after of thousands of Americans wounded on the battlefi elds of fi ghting on Tulagi, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Guam in Vietnam. World War II yet remained relatively unknown. 30 International Insights: Marine Corps University 60 “Do You Understand?” Managing Foreign Language Welcomes Students From Around the World Talent By John Durish, Kevin Johnston, and By Sara W. Bock For Marines and other U.S. servicemembers Maj G.M. Studer, USMC The Marine Corps demands a talent attending MCU’s various resident schools, the educational management system that aligns foreign language capabilities experience is enhanced by the presence of international with a wide array of mission requirements, but managing the military students from dozens of partner and allied nations. demand and the personnel needed to address that demand can be challenging. Departments 10 2 Sound Off 10 In Every Clime and Place 28 Leatherneck Laffs 44 We—the Marines 49 Crazy Caption 50 Corps Connections 52 Sea Stories 58 Passing the Word 64 Books Reviewed 66 In Memoriam 70 Reader Assistance 72 Saved Round COVER: Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, ride in an Amphibious Assault Vehicle during Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Exercise (MWX) 1-20 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 7, 2019. Photo by LCpl Shane T. Beaubien, USMC . Copies of the cover may be obtained by sending $2 (for mailing costs) to Leatherneck Magazine, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134-0775. LEATHERNECK AND MCA&F MEMBERSHIP PRICES: 1 year $42; 2 years $79; 3 years $119 Toll-free (866) 622-1775 • Email [email protected] SSoundound OOffff Compiled by Patricia Everett Letter of the Month growing up as the son of a Marine. Rifl es vs. Guns (Leatherneck will pay $25 for a “Sound “Yes” and “No” don’t exist. Only “Yes, In response to Carl Withey’s Sound Off Letter of the Month” submitted by an Sir” and “No, Sir.” Off letter titled, “Marines Don’t Have MCA&F member or provide a one-year I knew “The Marines’ Hymn” before I Guns,” in the November 2019 issue, I courtesy subscription to a non-member knew the alphabet. think Leatherneck and Col Woodbridge whose letter is selected.) “High and tight” was a punishment for gave the right answers. The word “gun,” a kid, not a fashion statement. as used in “The Marines’ Hymn,” refers My name is Austin Conway and I I have pictures of me at 5 years old to a Marine’s weapon in a broad sense. served as a U.S. Marine for four years as standing at attention. After all, those are lyrics to a hymn, not a young man. I spent two years of that The three most important winter paragraphs in a Marine Corps directive. time fi ghting in the Korean War. I returned dates are the Marine Corps Birthday, However, for the sake of anyone who in 1953 and used my G.I. Bill to fi nance Thanksgiving and Christmas. would rather take the lyrics of “The my college education. I did not realize at There is no such thing as ex-Marines, Marines’ Hymn” literally, rest assured that that time how well my Marine Corps only former Marines. line is 100 percent factually correct. As training would serve me throughout my “Semper Fidelis” was the fi rst Latin anyone who served in the Corps knows, business endeavors and in my relationships term I learned. Marines have both rifl es and guns, and through the years. I knew about Parris Island before Paris, we would never go off with our rifl es to On Oct. 26, 2019, I had the honor of France. fi ght our country’s battles in any clime traveling to Washington, D.C., as a guest “Chesty” Puller was the fi rst superhero or place without bringing our guns too. on the Space Coast Honor Flight. Honor I learned about. A rifl e is a shoulder-fi red, individually Flights throughout the United States are “Adapt and overcome” is more than just handled weapon. Guns are much bigger planned for veterans to have the oppor- a saying; it’s the key to life. weapons that are crew served or fi red from tunity to travel to our nation’s capital to All of these things have served me well a mount. Every Marine is a rifl eman, but visit our veterans’ memorials. This par- at some point in my life, Dad, but “adapt the Marine Corps also uses guns to fi ght ticular group was based in Melbourne, and overcome” has delivered me through our country’s battles in the air, on land, Fla. We traveled from Melbourne to all of life’s most diffi cult and challenging and sea, and that is why you fi nd guns Orlando International Airport to Balti- moments. Thank you for everything everywhere in the Marine Corps from more/Washington International Thurgood you’ve taught me. I’m proud of my Dad, weapons companies to artillery batteries Marshall Airport. From there, we had a the Marine. Your service and sacrifi ce and from tank companies to air squadrons. full police escort into Washington. We at such a young age are appreciated and The rifles versus guns argument is spent time at the National World War II through all that you learned and endured. actually a topic of Marine-speak, not Memorial, Korean War Veterans Me- You certainly earned your title of United Marine equipment. Marines refer to an morial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, States Marine. I’m so thankful you have M16 as a rifl e and an M240 as a gun, but Vietnam Women’s Memorial and the this Honor Flight so that others can see not vice versa. In [“Full Metal Jacket”] the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington and recognize my Dad. You deserve the scene Mr. Withey is referring to, Gunny National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., thanks and the experience. Hartman wasn’t teaching his recruits the paying our respects to the veterans of our Love, Brad difference between a rifl e and a gun. That Armed Services. lesson is given in a different classroom The trip included 25 veterans, escorts My daughter’s letter is also very special in boot camp. What he was doing was and staff members. One of the highlights to me. drilling into the recruits’ minds the cor- of the day was the packet of mail we re- Dear Pop, rect term Marines use for an M14. That ceived on our way to the airport to return Thank you for your service to our chant he made them do in the squad bay, home. It was a planned surprise as letters great country. There are so many things like the repetitive close order drill shown were presented to us as “Mail Call,” just you have taught me that I carry with throughout the movie, is part of a boot as we had received when we were serving me fondly each day. From “clean as you camp process that permanently transforms our country on foreign soil. Families and go” to rising at “fi rst light” to telling the recruits so that by the time they graduate friends of the veterans on the trip were truth and what’s right. From “cleaning from boot camp, they walk and talk like asked to write letters of gratitude and the my quarters” to a well-made bed with Marines. response was overwhelming. Each veteran hospital corners, I will always be a Marine 1stSgt Frank Furtado, USMC (Ret) now has those letters to keep as a reminder Corps father’s daughter. All these things Port Orchard, Wash. of the trip and of the gratitude that was and more, you’ve instilled in me and I expressed. strive hard each day to be all that I can In reference to the Sound Off letter in I received so many letters and have be. Thank you for teaching me discipline the November 2019 Leatherneck by Carl reread them since my return home. My and strength, determination and grace. I Withey asking about the guns versus rifl es children’s letters were especially precious will always be your loving devil pup and I in “The Marines’ Hymn,” I can offer what to me.