Ah, Marine Corps Mythology rears its head. You seem to forget that the US Army parachute riggers air dropped a fucking bridge to the Marines during the Chosin retreat; that’s how your guys were able to escape with their dead. And remember Carlson’s Raiders? During the Makin Raid, Carlson freaked out when the ex-fil submarine showed up late, and contemplated surrendering his whole Battalion. In the end, the Sub saved the Raiders — but not before they left behind an entire squad. That Marine squad surrendered to the Japanese, who promptly chopped off the Marine’s heads.

My point isn’t to belittle the USMC. I’ve worked with them in the past, and found them quite competent. But you have to get past all the rah-rah mythos they pound into your head in Boot Camp; most of it is bullshit.