Quote:
Originally Posted by strelnik
There were, but a very small number of specialists. snipers, gunners and OSS hell-raisers. See below:
" Assigned to the secretive world of spies and saboteurs were 51 Marines who served with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services to engage in behind-the-lines operations in North Africa and Europe from 1941 to 1945.
These OSS Marines served with partisan and resistance groups in France, Germany, Yugoslavia, Italy, Austria, Albania, Greece, Morocco and Egypt; on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia; in Rumania; and in North and West Africa. Ten of these OSS Marines also served with forces in Ceylon, Burma, Malaya and China.
Marine Colonel Peter J. Ortiz was twice awarded the Navy Cross for heroism while serving with the French Resistance.
Shipboard detachments of Marines served throughout the landings in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Normandy invasion as gun crews aboard battleships and cruisers. A 200-man detachment was normally carried aboard a battleship, and 80 Marines served aboard cruisers to man the secondary batteries of 5-inch guns providing fire for the landing forces.
During the June 6, 1944, Normandy invasion, Marines, renowned as expert riflemen, played a vital role reminiscent of the days of the sailing Navy when sharpshooters were sent to the fighting tops. Stationed high in the superstructures of the invasion fleet, Marine riflemen exploded floating mines in the path of the ships moving across the English Channel to the beaches of Normandy.
On Aug. 29, 1944, during the invasion of southern France, Marines from the battleship USS Augusta and the cruiser USS Philadelphia went ashore in Marseilles harbor to accept the surrender of more than 700 Germans who had fortified island garrisons.
Although few, these proud Marines played a vital role in the Atlantic, African and European campaigns of World War II. "
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I stand corrected... and thanks for setting me straight.
You know, this week is a big one in US Naval history. The 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway passed quietly by on Monday June 4th. The Navy stopped Japan's eastward momentum and crippled their Naval Air power greaty.
On a sadder note.....
Friday, June 8th marks the 45th anniversary of the attack on the USS Liberty.
IMMEDIATE PRIORITY
DTG 062349Z JUN 67
FROM: COMSIXTHFLT
TO: LIBERTY
INFO: CINCUSNAVEUR/USCINCEUR/JCS/CNO/DIRNSA/CINCLANTFLT/
DIRNAVSECGRU/DIRNAVSECGRUEUR/ASSTDIRNAVSECGRU/
DIRNAVSECGRULANT/HQ NSAEUR/COMFAIRMED/COMSERVLANT/
COMSERVON EIGHT/
CTF 60/CTF 64/NFOIO/NAVCOMMSTA
MOROCCO/CINCLANT/CTF 63/CTF 67/
NAVCOMMSTA GREECE/NAVCAMS MOROCCO/NAVCOMMSTA SPAIN
C O N F I D E N T I A L
USS LIBERTY OPERATIONAL CONTROL
A. CINCUSNAVEUR 061357Z JUN 67 NOTAL
B. JCS 011545Z JUN 67 NOTAL
C. CINCUSNAVEUR 311750Z MAY 67 (MOVORD 7-67) NOTAL
D. CINCUSNAVEUR 011305Z JUN 67 NOTAL
E. COMSIXTHFLT OPORD 1-66 NOTAL
F. CINCUSNAVEUR P03120.5B NOTAL
1. UPON CHOP TO COMSIXTHFLT AT 070001Z, CONDUCT OPERATIONS IAW REF B,
C AND D.
2. IN VIEW PRESENT ARAB/ISRAELI SITUATION AND UNPREDICTABILITY OF UAR
ACTIONS MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE AGAINST ATTACK OR THREAT OF ATTACK.
REPORT BY FLASH PRECEDENCE ANY THREATENING OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS DIRECTED
AGAINST YOU OR ANY DIVERSION FROM SCHEDULE NECESSITATED BY EXTERNAL THREAT.
ADVISE IF LOCAL SITUATION DICTATES CHANGE IN AREA OF OPS ASSIGNED BY REF B.
3. KEEP COMSIXTHFLT AND CTF 63 INFORMED OF LOGISTIC NEEDS SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE
TO ENABLE ORDERLY LOGSUP PLANNING. MAIL DELIVERY WILL BE ARRANGED IF FEASIBLE.
4. INCLUDE COMSIXTHFLT AS INFO ADDEE ON REPORTS REQUIRED BY PARA 2 REF B
AS MODIFIED BY REF C AND D.
5. SUBMIT REPORTS OF CONTACT WITH SHIPS AIRCRAFT AND SUBMARINES WHICH ARE
UNIDENT, HOSTILE, OF INTELL INTEREST OR ENGAGE IN HARASSMENT, IAW REF
F. EMERGENCY PLAN CHARLIE NOW IN EFFECT IN SIXTHFLT.
6. COMSIXTHFLT OPERATIONAL DOCUMENTS ON ALERTS, EMERG ACTIONS AND NUCLEAR
RELEASE WILL NOT BE PROVIDED. THEREFORE, ACTION IS NOT REQUIRED ON NATIONAL
EXERCISE AND DRILL MSGS IDENTIFIED BY FLAG WORD WHITE OR BLUE DELTA.
NO ACTION REQUIRED ON NATO EXERCISE MSGS. IN EVENT OF ACTUAL ALERT
OR OTHER EMERGENCY,
COMSIXTHFLT WILL SEPARATELY DIRECT LIBERTY BY CLASSIFIED MSG.
7. COMMUNICATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANNEX CHARLIE REF E.
A. COPY KR BROADCAST. ADVISE IF CARDS AVAILABLE TO COPY XRA BCST.
B. IF PERMENANT TERMINATION REQUIRED WITH MED COMM STA SUBMIT REQUEST
IAW APPENDIX XVI TO ANNEX CHARLIE TO REF E.
C. ALTHOUGH NOT ASSIGNED TO TF 60 UTILIZE TF 60 TACTICAL CIRCUITS AS REQUIRED.
D. AUTRGRA TO ENTER SIXES ALFA AS REQUIRED.
8. ACKNOWLEDGE.
GP-4