THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
By James A. Donovan Jr. '39, Colonel,USMC (Ret.). New York: Frederick A.Praeger, 1967. 246 pp. $5.95.
This book is one of the new series of the PRAEGER LIBRARY OF U.S. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES. The publisher says that the book ". .. describes the origin, development, scope, operating methods, and structure . . ." of the Marine Corps, . . and examines its relationships with other agencies and with the Congress, the President, local and state governments, and the public. Written for the general reader concerned with making an intelligent assessment of the processes of the federal government ... of particular interest to high school and college students . . . [it] contains extensive information on career opportunities, as well as illustrative material and a selective bibliography."
The author adds, "Because much that has been written about the Corps tends to gild and glorify it, I have attempted to avoid a chauvinistic or sentimental approach." It is a common junior-officer trait to feel that many senior officers, particularly when they are commenting for the public record, do not express the same sentiments that we, at the lower level, keep to ourselves. I was somwhat surprised therefore to discover that although the author was my senior by about sixteen years, he describes the Marine Corps of today much the same way I would. While pointing out many strong points, he does not hesitate to expose weaknesses. Furthermore, he includes comments on such sensitive topics as the opportunities for a Negro, status of women Marines, inter-service rivalries, politics underlying senior officer promotions, Marine public relations, background for the Marine commitment in Vietnam, and the projected mission and position of the Marine Corps in the 1980s.
It appears that the publisher and the author have achieved their goals. For the reader described by the publisher, the book is the only one of its kind. For the general public, the book provides an accurate, easy- to-read description of the Marine Corps as it was, as it is, and as it will be.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy1955, now Assistant Professor of NavalScience at Dartmouth, Major Wieler hasserved in the Philippines and in Okinawa.From 1963-65 he taught at the U.S. Artillery and Missile School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
