10page

8 <a href="http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette">www.mca-marines.org/gazette</a> M a r i n e C o r p s G a z e t t e • M a y 2 0 0 9 LETTERS Utilities Are Not Business Suits I have recently attended several Ma- rine Corps and industry meetings where the government and contractor civilians showed the respect to wear coat and tie, while the Marine officers present showed less respect by wearing the combat utility uniform, described in Marine Corps Order P1020.34 (MCO P1020.34) as the working uniform. The MCO states ex- plicitly that the utility uniform is not ap- propriate for wear in a civilian environment, yet this is continually disre- garded by some field grade officers and those working for them in venues where they should know better. Our personal appearance is reflective of our standards, and for some this is a poor reflection. As a retired Marine officer I am disap- pointed that our uniform standards have become so lax. When I was on active duty in the 1970s through early 1990s, it was expected that we would wear the Service A uniform for significant business func- tions, those when our civilian counter- parts would be in coat and tie. It was an issue of mutual respect. Historically, Marines have seldom been so lax as to wear dungarees, herringbone utilities, sateen utilities, or similar work clothes to events where they interacted with civil- ians in a coat and tie setting. These earlier Marines were just as proud and had the same warrior spirit as today’s Marines. So what’s the excuse for the current need to wear the combat utility uniform for virtu- ally any occasion? Maj Stanley C. Owen, USMC(Ret) ________________________________ Chosin Heroes I really appreciated that you included “Extracts From a Letter of 17 December 1950 From the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, to the Commandant of the Marine Corps” in the April edition of the Marine Corps Gazette. Ever since I was a little Irish-Catholic kid growing up in upstate New York in the 1950s, the Marines who fought at the Chosin Reser- voir have always been my heroes. What the 1st Marine Division accomplished under the most severe of weather condi- tions is truly remarkable. The march out—from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri to Koto-ri to Hungnam—was, in my hum- ble opinion, the greatest chapter in our history. While teaching at Command and Staff College from 1983–86 while in uniform, and then again as a civilian professor from 1992–2005, I routinely volunteered to teach the case study of the Marines in Korea to each and every class of field grade officers. That was in my own quiet way a means of staying in touch with my heroes and passing on their exploits to another generation of Marines. In May 1995 Command and Staff College hosted the last of the DEWEY CANYON Symposiums. For the uniniti- ated, the panel for the symposium con- sisted of Gen Raymond Davis, who in 1969 was a major general and com- manded the 3d Marine Division for Op- eration DEWEY CANYON; Gen Robert Barrow, who was a colonel and com- manded the 9th Marine Regiment; Maj- Gen George Smith, who was a lieutenant colonel and commanded the 1st Battal- ion, 9th Marines (1/9); and Col Wes Fox, who at the time was a captain and com- manded Company A, 1/9 when he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Prior to the last symposium, Col Nick Pratt, Director, Command and Staff College, designated me as the moderator for the event. On a Thursday evening in May 1995 I was seated with Gens Davis and Barrow for dinner. It was just the three of us at that one table. It’s truly hard to describe what an honor that was. The generals wanted to get to know me and to ensure that I asked them the right questions and at the appropriate time the next morning. After we had attended to the business at hand concerning Operation DEWEY CANYON and near the end of the dinner, I asked both generals if we could talk about the Chosin Reservoir for a second. After they briefly reminisced about their respective experiences—in December 1950 Gen Davis commanded 1/7 and Gen Barrow commanded Company A, 1/1 during the Chosin campaign. I asked them what leadership attribute or quality they believed to be most important in combat. I can remember the evening like it was yesterday. Both generals looked at each other and then looked at me. With- out even hesitating, Gen Davis said, “Ag- gressiveness.” After he had given me that one word answer, Gen Barrow looked at me and said, “I agree with General Davis. In situations like we faced in Korea, it is most important that a Marine be aggres- sive.” I just wanted to share that and pass it on to today’s Marines. LtCol Jack Matthews, USMC(Ret) ________________________________ A New Sidearm In Maj G. John David’s article, “Time for a New Sidearm” ( MCG, Mar09), he lists the energy of the bullets as jewels. Energy in the MKS system is measured in joules. A jewel, of course, is a gem, not a unit of energy. Maj J. Wayne Neubauer, USMC(Ret) >Editor’s Note: Numerous writers pointed out our error. Maj David’s article correctly states the case for replacement of our current 9mm handgun with the time tried .45 auto- matic Colt pistol cartridge. Although ex- panding jacketed, hollow pointed ammo in 9mm has made great strides in the last 20 or so years, the military is limited to full metal jacket rounds, which are strong on penetration but relatively weak in stop- ping power. His suggestion to replace the Beretta with the Springfield Armory XD– 45 is also an excellent one. Unfortunately, in making his case for the Springfield the comment that the Glock pistols have durability “flaws” is way off the mark. The general consensus of opinion in the hand- gun community is that the Glock is the most reliable of all handguns. I loved our old Colt government model 1911 .45 and have owned four of Letters of professional interest on any topic are welcomed by the Gazette. They should not exceed 200 words and should be DOUBLE SPACED. <a href="mailto:gazette@mca-marines.org">Letters may be e-mailed to gazette@mca-marines.org. </a>Written letters are generally published 3 months after the article appeared. The entire Gazette <a href="http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette">is now online at www.mca-marines.org/gazette.</a> . . . Gen Barrow look- ed at me and said, “I agree with General Davis. . . .”
10page

www.mca-marines.org/gazette
10page

Letters may be e-mailed to gazette@mca-marines.org.
10page

is now online at www.mca-marines.org/gazette.