Who doesn’t, right?
Some friendly early Marine readers pointed out important edits to Old Breed General that somehow we missed or needed to clarify.
Yes, despite our many editors’ keen eyes, including the publisher, and Don and I combing the manuscript line by line into the wee hours of the night!
We recognized them and sent them to our publisher. Luckily, thanks to readers, we are onto our second printing (arriving mid-March, 2022), and our publisher allowed us to include many of the edits. However, we cannot make changes that alter the page count or the over 90 photos and maps.
In addition, a Marine general pointed out Marine terminology we needed to fix. Ahh, when they say “Send in the Marines!” I should have called in the Marines earlier!
Those will have to wait for a third printing. However, I have posted them below. On the Higgins boats. We pictured the Marines jumping out because the coral around Tulagi. Normally, they would walk out.
Edits
The inside cover: My Rifle the Creed of a United States Marine was published March 14, 1942.
Page XIV Navy Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley. Remove (JG)
Page 23 Replace “GITMO” with Guantanamo Bay.
Page 29 Thomas was not the Div Chief of Staff on August 7. Say instead: “Vandegrift turned and saw Colonel Gerry Thomas.”
Page 38 At my order 1st Raider Battalion.
Page 56 the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division.
Page 59 Red Mike Edson fought in France and Germany. Replace “fought” with served.
Pages 73 and 74 Both Raider battalions ashore. Take out “Raider.” So it reads Both battalions.
Page 76 Mentions 1/2 and 2/2 striking on Gavutu as planned. Say instead: 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 2nd Marines.
Page 79 The Tulagi map seems to be in German in parts. *Can’t change.
Page 80 Says 2nd Battalion only and 5th Marines needs to be added.
Page 83 Major Kenneth Bailey, company commander for Charlie Company, 1st Raider Battalion.
Page 84 –Add: located near the base of Hill 281.
Page 84 The 60-millimeter shells could strike accurately up to 2,000 yards away. Eliminate: “between 200 and 325.”
Page 130 Mentions Japanese soldiers on Gavutu. Take out “soldiers.”
Page 137 Mentions Japanese machine gun batteries. Normally batteries are associated with artillery. Take out “batteries”
Page 146 – States Lt Col Rosecrans 2nd Raider Bn Commander Tulagi – Instead insert Rosecrans, the 2nd Bn 5th Marines commander.
Page 123: Map is partially in German. I can’t change.
Page 186 – Marines initially landed at Lunga Point – Replace “Lunga Point” with Beach Red.
Page 228: Replace Japanese “commandoes” with troops.
Page 240 PFC Joseph Champagne of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines both 3\1 and 3\7 fought at the Matanikau on the 24th, but Joseph D R Champagne was in M 3\1.
Page 244 Replace “stretched all along the lines” with “flanked the lines.”
Page 254 Replace « Staff » with Platoon Sergeant John Basilone.
Page 255: John Basilone joined the army in 1934. He came home and left the army. …. And he went to Baltimore and enlisted in the Marine Corps. Delete “again.”
Page 255 Basilone served as section leader with the C Weapons Company.
Page 256: Basilone’s group was dug in at the the jungle flat about 300 yards from Bloody Ridge.
Page 257 Basilone’s Machine Gun Section (not battery) opened up.
Page 258: Replace Japanese “squadron” with squad.
Page 260 – Replace “Enfield’s” with Springfield’s.
Page 262 Platoon Sergeant John Basilone.
Page 262 Mentions machine encampment. Should read machine gun position.
Page 262 – 263 Replace “Captain” for Second Lieutenant Francia T. Farrell.
Page 265 –Say instead, As the sun rose over Guadalcanal on October 25, casualties for Puller’s Battalion were 19 dead, 30 wounded, and 12 missing. Basilone’s Company C had nine dead, nine wounded.
Page 266 Replace US Army’s XIV Corps with: the US Army’s Americal Division.
Page 282 Lieutenant Colonel John Weber.
Page 284 Lieutenant Colonel Leonard B Cresswell.
Page 284 Rupertus pins medals on members of the 5th Marines.
Page 295 Captain William J Mcleod.
Page 323 Colonels Simms, Selden and Brigadier Gen. Lem Shepard to the right.
Page 326 General Krueger, Commanding General 6th Army under General MacArthur (remove MacArthur’s operation officer).
Page 328 Rupertus ordered Colonel Oliver P Smith (not general)
Page 343 USO Performers Replace Joe Corona with “Jerry Colonna.”
Page 351, The army’s 81st Infantry Division replace back in Pearl Harbor with “training in Hawaii.”
Page 355 Book says the 1st Mar Division had 9,000 infantry men and 11 Regiments. Should read there were 4 Regiments in the 1st Marine Division, 3 Infantry and 1 Artillery.
Page 358 We wrote about 3 Regimental Combat Teams (1, 5 and 7) then refer to them as the 3 infantry combat battalions.
Page 359 Pullers 1st Battalion -Should be 1st Marines (which was a Regimental Combat Team with 3 Battalions). Also the 60 new amphibious “trailers” should read amphibious “tractors.” Of course!!! #Autocorrect
Page 363 Smith attempted to communicate with the 5th and 7th “Battalions” should read 5th and 7th Regiments; Also on regarding growing increasingly concerned about lack of communications with his 3 Division commanders-should read 3 Regimental commanders (there was only 1 Division, the First!)
Page 364 Colonel Hanneken’s 7th Marines
Page 364 The 7th Marines would be happy. Take out “Division.”
Page 364 and 365 The Reserve “Division” should read the the 2nd Battalion, 7th Mar.
Page 366 In the photo of Rupertus marching ashore with the caption 2150 hours; Should read 21:30.
Page 369 Still, Puller’s decimated battalions. Add s for plural.
Page 381 1st Platoon A Company 710th Tank Battalion
Page 388 One for one of the War Dog Platoons tragically killed on Peleliu.
Page 393 General Geiger, commander III Amphibious Corps
Page 403: Sleepy received Admiral Forrestal’s letter in 1945. Not 1944.
References:
Page 413-414: Please add these references.
Basilone, John. Narrative. Office of Naval Records and Library. Recorded September 1, 1943.
Cozzens, Gary, The Legend of Suicide Charley, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, and the Battle for Henderson Field, 2-25 October 1942. Marine Corps History, Volume 3, Number 1, Summer 2017.
Farrell, Francis T. Photos. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usmcarchives/27127743631/in/photostream/
Marine Corps Times, June 29, 2018, https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-army/2018/06/29/valor-friday-the-legend-of-john-basilone/
Marine Corps University:
Thanks to these Marine readers for their time and input. Should readers find anymore edits, feel free to let me know so I can post them above.
We hope you enjoy this story, edits and all, as much as we did in researching and writing this fascinating history.
Onward.
