Marine Corps 1955-1965
The Marine Corps of 2020 is staring down drastic changes within the direction of the National Defense Strategy and Force Design towards a new “great power competition” and true “peer adversaries.” The Marine Corps Gazette has collected articles from the “last time” the Corps (and the nation) were focused in this way, from 1955 to 1965 – a “pure cold war” post-Korea, pre-Vietnam escalation era- that dealt with containment strategy, the USSR, China, nuclear war, and the Corps’ changing role on the world stage.
1955-1960
Article Name | Author Name | Edition | Relevancy to Great Power Competition/China/Atomic Age |
“Who Said … Impossible?” | Col George C. Reinhardt, USA | January 1955 | Argues how amphibious operation (and Marine Corps) can remain relevant in atomic age |
“No Easy Way” | George K. Tanham, Ph. D. | July 1955 | Acknowledges the nature of Great Power Competition in the Cold War |
“Planning for Atomic War” | Maj John J. Reber | July 1955 | Overview of how Marine Corps should act in event of nuclear attack |
“The Rise of Russian Sea Power” | Col J. D. Hittle | September 1955 | Mostly historical, however it does provide an overview of the contemporary status of Russian sea power–implying the USMC will have to confront these developments |
“Defense of the Free World” | Capt B. H. Liddell Hart | September 1955 | Argues for how to check spread communism in the nuclear era. |
“New Warfare-New Tactics” | Capt B. H. Hart | October 1955 | Explains how USMC/Military needs to adapt to current threat (Russia) |
“A Rebuttal to Liddell Hart” | C.S. Roberts | January 1956 | A critique of “New Warfare-New Tactics” by Capt B. H. Hart |
“A Reorientation” | Col R.C. Cushman Jr | February 1956 | Addresses great power competition issues in Europe |
“Is Close Order Drill Necessary in Atomic Age?” | Col H.R. Williams | February 1956 | Discusses issues Marines face in Atomic Age |
“The Middle East Powder Keg” | Cdr H. B. Sein | July 1956 | Briefly discusses context of Middle East in terms of great power competition |
“Have Tactics Been Invaded by the Atom?” | LtCol J.M. Strawson | August 1956 | Discusses how Marine Corps can adapt to Atomic Age |
“The Company and the Atom” | Capt H.D. Fredericks | September 1956 | Discusses how Marine corps can adapt to Atomic Age at the company level |
“Time, Space, and Will” | Dr E. L. Katzenbach | October 1956 | Overview of China, relevant to great power competition |
“SEATO” | Maj D.K. Morton | October 1956 | Overview of SEATO, relevant to great power competition |
“Time for a Change” | Capt B.H. Murray | November 1956 | Suggest changes in USMC as a result of great power competition |
“China and Formosa” | Dr. Donald Meinig Col Charles Banks | January 1957 | Threat of China and stability in Asia |
“A Look at the Middle East” | Russell Hibbs | January 1957 | Situation of Middle East, hints at great power competition |
“Tactics of the Atomic Age” | Col R. E. Cushman | February 1957 | Addresses how Marine Corps should adapt to tactical changes brought on by Atomic Age |
“The Infantry in Atomic Warfare” | MajGen J.H. Harper | March 1957 | Explains how USMC infantry should act/adapt in Atomic Age |
“The Defense of the West” | Yn3 P.W. Johnson, USN | April 1957 | Describes challenges inherent with Cold War era great power competition |
“Limited War” | Col O.R. Simpson | May 1957 | Dictates nature of war in era of great power competition |
“Individual Atomic Defense” | Maj E. J. Kritter | May 1957 | Role of the individual Marine in Atomic Age |
“A Rebuttal to ‘Atomic Attraction'” | Capt R.C. Shulze | May 1957 | Response to “Tactics of the Atomic Age” by Col R. E. Cushman |
“U.S. Ideals Vs. Nuclear Concepts” | LtCol J.F. Donahoe, Jr. | July 1957 | Analyzes great power competition in Cold War era |
“Signposts for American Strategy” | Cdr Harvey Seim, USN | September 1957 | Overview of great power competition in Cold War era |
“War and the Atom” | Dr Anthony Sokol | November 1957 | Overview of great power competition in the Atomic Age, addresses what is required of U.S. military and USMC |
“Atomic Battalion” | Maj Nicholas Seminoff | January 1958 | Speculation of USMC battalion tactics in Atomic Age |
“The Cold Front” | Russell Hibbs | June 1958 | Great power competition issues in the Arctic |
“Basic Problems of European Defense” | B.H. Hart | September 1958 | Great power competition/defending Europe in Cold War/ role of USMC |
“The Enduring World of Halford Mackinder” | Col Victor Croizat | September 1958 | Overview of contemporary geopolitical concepts/great power competition |
“Naval Gunfire and the Atom | Maj Harold Fredericks | September 1958 | Naval gunfire/USMC in Atomic Age |
“Residual Radioactivity and the Grand Strategy of the United States” | Dr Edgar Parsons | November 1958 | Overview of potential issues of war in the Atomic Age/ great power competition |
“Why a Marine Corps?” | LtCol John Crown | November 1958 | Address role of USMC in Cold War era |
“Profile of a Dilemna” | 2ndLt Ronald Greathouse | January 1959 | Atomic Age issues and great power competition |
“A Reply to Alexander de Seversky” | Captain David Finne, Jr. | May 1959 | Response to “No More Little Wars” |
“The Great Danger War” | Dr Maurice Hellner | August 1959 | Atomic Age/ great power competition in Cold War era |
“Limits on the Atom” | Col J.O. Bell | October 1959 | Atomic warfare |
“Support By Fire” | LtCol T.N. Greene | November 1959 | How USMC will perform in Atomic Age |
“Small Atoms … A Big Problem” | Capt B.H. Liddell Hart | December 1959 | Atomic Age |
“Nuclear Restraint: A Two-Edged Sword” | Arnold Wolfers | May 1960 | Atomic age/ address great power competition and Chinese threats |
“Pattern for Limited War” | Col J.A. Donovan, Jr. | August 1960 | Great power competition in Cold War era |
“Our War Problems” | MajGen J.F.C. Fuller | November 1960 | Addresses issues of great power competition |
“Polaris and the North Flank” | George Eliot | December 1960 | Addresses role of USMC in cold War/great power competition |
1961-1965
Article Name | Author Name | Edition | Relevancy to Great Power Competition/China/Atomic Age |
Danger on the Flanks | Capt B.H. Liddell Hart | January 1961 | Addresses USMC’s role in NATO |
“Views, Design and Policies” | CMC Gen D.M. Shoup | February 1961 | Overview of role of USMC in great power competition and Atomic Age |
“Atoms Are No Answer” | Capt James K. McDonald | February 1961 | Atomic Age and role of USMC |
“Red China’s Military Revolution” | Capt Conway J. Smith | April 1961 | Development of China |
“Unlimited War” | Maj Michael Spark | April 1961 | Issues of great power competition, China, and Atomic age |
“Nuclear Weapons and Limited War” | Gen Frederic H. Smith, Jr., USAF | April 1961 | Issues of great power competition, China, and Atomic age |
“Some Chinese Thoughts on War” | BGen Samual B. Griffith | April 1961 | Examination of China and war |
“On the ‘Deeper’ Struggle” | President John F. Kennedy | June 1961 | Overview of great power competition |
“Sticks, Stones & Atoms” | James Burnham | June 1961 | Atomic Age and Great power competition |
“The Communist Strategy of Time” | Dr. Maurice Hellner | August 1961 | Overview issues of great power competition in Cold War era |
“Road to Disaster” | George Eliot | October 1961 | Issues of great power competition and Atomic Age |
“Deterrence or Defense” | President John F. Kennedy | November 1961 | Great power competition in Cold War era |
“Permutations of War” | MajGen J.F.C. fuller | December 1961 | Overview of great power competition and Atomic Age |
“Strategy in the Spectrum of War” | Maj Francis R. Hittinger, Jr. | April 1962 | Great power competition in Cold-War era |
“Nuclear Weapons and Tactical Objectives” | LtCol W.L. Bates, Jr. | April 1962 | Atomic Age warfare |
“Pacific Strategy” | Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison | September 1962 | Great power competition/China |
“CHICOM Small Arms and Tactics” | Jac Weller | December 1962 | Status/info of Chinese military capabilities |
“Internal War” | Roger Hilsman | January 1963 | Discusses guerilla warfare in relation to great power competition |
“Baltic Defense” | Theodore Dobbs | July 1963 | great power competition |
“What Giap Did Not Say” | Roger Hilsman | August 1963 | Briefly addresses great power competition/China |
“Good News from AFSOUTH” | Jac Weller | January 1964 | Issues of great power competition |
“The Defense of West Germany and the Baltic” | Capt B.H. Liddell Hart | February 1964 | Issues of great power competition |
“The Unknown Effect” | Maj R.D. Whitesell | February 1964 | Atomic Age |
“Target for Communist Conquest” | Adm Arleigh Burke, USN (Ret) | September 1964 | Issues great power competition in Cold War era |
“The Peninsula of Southeast Asia” | Col Victor Croizat | October 1964 | Issues of great power competition in Southeast Asia |
“The John A. Lejeune Forum: The New War” | Various | January 1965 | Addresses issues of great power competition in Cold War |
“Trends in the Use of the Sea” | SecNav Paul H. Nitze | March 1965 | Incorporates aspects of great power competition |
“The Nuclear Policy of Red China” | Nu Sien-Chong | June 1965 | Issues of China and Atomic Age. |
“Nuclear War or…” | Maj Edward J. Bronars | July 1965 | Issues of the AtomincAge |
“The United States and Latin America” | Sr. Maurice J. Mountain | September 1965 | Great power competition |
“An American Peace Keeping Force” | Col Don P. Wyckoff | September 1965 | Pertains to issues of great power competition |
“Soviet Political-Military Strategy” | Maj Richard Staar | October 1965 | Pertains to uses of great power competition |
“The John A. Lejeune Forum” | Various | October 1965 | Issues involving China |