Spearhead: A Complete History of Merrill's Marauder Rangers

Rating:
Summary: NOTE: THIS IS A REGIMENTAL HISTORY
Review: This book is a real gem and a tribute to all those to who served in "Gallahad" force -- 5037th (one has to hand it to the Americans for the most uninspiring numbered regiment systems in the world).

The book reads well and there is plenty of action here for people to sink their teeth into. The detail is gritty extending down to descriptions for just about every combat casualty the force experienced in Burma. It is strung together in a chronological dairy-like style with actions denoted over certain days. For those seeking detail on the battles like Shaduzup and Myitkyina this is indespensible. Like almost all military books, it does not contain enough maps.

The book however lacks a lot of what a straightforward narrative would include: there is little backgrounder on the unit or the political wrangling that surrounded it from start to finish. Also lacking is any real assessment of it in the general overall battle that was developing in the jungles aroung Imphal and which later extended to central Burman Plains. There is also no analysis on the intentions of the Japanese during the engagements, beyond a limited reference to tactical details.

Like most American military history this book does a great job at describing the individual triumphs and failures of the unit and also of individual men. The good and bad outcomes of undaunted American idealism and individualism (as opposed to British stoicism and regimentation) are described in the actions and the effects of this unit.

There has been a lot of finger pointing by mainly the Americans historians (started by Stilwell's pathological anti-British rhetoric) that they felt "let down" by their British Allies on occasion: Stilwell taking the Chindits to task for not seizing Muangok to support the siezing of Myitkyina by the Marauders. I used to think that it was really a fundamental American misunderstanding of how stretched the Chindits were after serving 6 months behind enemy lines without adequate food and supplies. I learned from "Spearhead" that the Americans were indeed deluded, but one cannot fault them since they were equally suffering from the elements, poor food and supplies and a general wasting that brought effectives for the regiment down to 200 men from 3000. That is the same level as the Chindits and you can see how misunderstandings develop when both sides are fighting at the end of their tether in chronic undernourishment...

In the end the Chindits were pulled and disbanded. Ditto for the Marauders. Some people see their abandonment as stab in the back by the US govt. From this and other histories it is difficult to see what other choice the US Govt. had in the matter since the force as a fighting unit had already ceased to exist.

For those that served in Gallahad force what a long, strange and brave trip, it must have been... I would recommend the book as a vital reference to all those who are studying the war in Burma or Elite Fighting Units.


Rating:
Summary: Excellant Unit History
Review: This is an extremely well written, detailed unit history of Merrill's Marauders that I highly recommend. Both the author and the collaborator were members of the unit and bring great authenticity to the book. The author was the battalion surgeon for the 3rd Bn and the collaborator was an intelligence officer. Their sources include first hand accounts, unit records ( what little there were ), and official documents and publications. The book covers the entire time period that the 5307th Composite Unit ( Provisional ) was on active status and encompasses recruitment, training and combat. One of the best sections of the book is the description of the siege of Nphum Ga. The authors descripted, detailed, day by day and unit by unit account of this little known horrific battle is the best I've ever read. The author also gives an excellant record of the medical support ( or lack of ),for the unit, ( which is to be expected considering the source ). He discusses the various health concerns the Marauders had to deal with, such as scrub typhus, malaria, dysentery and of course getting shot at. All in all this is a great book that not only informs but does it in a way that keeps you interested. This book is well worth the read.