Marine Recon 1940-90

London: Osprey, 1994. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Trade paperback. Very good. Paul Hannon (Color Plates). 64 pages. Map. Footnotes. Illustrations (some in full color). References. Charles D. Melson, Maj. USMC (Ret.) served in several critical operations throughout his entire military career. He extended overseas to remain with his regiment in Vietnam and was cited for achievement and combat action, and augmented meritoriously into the regular Marine Corps. In 1986, he served with the Marine Corps Historical Center and developed a volume of official history, U.S. Marine Operations in Vietnam, 1971-1973, among other significant research and historical documentation. Paul Hannon is based in London and is a highly experienced military artist who has produced artwork for several Osprey volumes, including Marine Recon, Resistance Warfare and The Royal Marines. In 1976 Maj. James Capers Jr. welcomed new men and their families into a force reconnaissance company. 'Only the most capable Marines are selected for this duty due to rigid mental and physical demands. A very thorough screening of each applicant is conducted ... to test alertness and endurance. The result is a small elite unit with highly qualified Marines who are considered the best in the world'. Ex-Marine Charles D Melson examines the history, equipment and insignia of the Marine's amphibious and ground long-range patrol reconnaissance specialists in this volume which contains a wealth of photographs and 12 full page color plates by Paul Hannon. The historical roots of 'Force Recon' companies can be traced back to the antecedent Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, whose numerous pre-D-Day reconnoitering of enemy beaches during the Pacific campaigns of World War II proved the vitality of the Fleet Marine Force's amphibious reconnaissance doctrine. This unique unit reported directly to the landing force commander, providing him important intelligence at his disposal. Formed initially as a company-size element from the Observer Group, under the command of Major James L. Jones, they were amongst the first-along with the early Navy Combat Demolition Units-to embark from submarines; most of their missions complemented those of the NCDU and the UDT. The 'amphibious reconnaissance' doctrine clearly outlined that the recon Marines' duties consisted of scouting the littoral areas, or beachhead, and inland; to test the soil permeability for a possible beach landing; to clear any obstacles that may hinder an amphibious assault; and to observe any sign of enemy activity. Recon Marines scouted the Japanese-fortified beaches and observed the terrain, materials or other entities, primarily reporting to the force commander of any vital intelligence of mission-oriented importance. Although Jones's Marines were all skilled surface swimmers, they usually inserted by boats-mostly due to the multiple radios they carried, as relaying communication to the landing force commander was paramount, and as a timely means of sending in a platoon-sized element with heavy firepower at their disposal since they were greatly outnumbered and isolated from other major Marine forces, which were still embarked on the destroyer-transport ships. Many of the conceptual ideas for Force Recon were pioneered by Major Bruce F. Meyers, the test unit's "Reconnaissance/Pathfinder Project Officer" from MCTU #1's Plans and Development (P&D) Section. His position can be seen as a subsidiary to an 'operations' (G-6) and 'training' (G-7) officer. Major Meyers tested various innovative techniques for the 'Recon Platoon' and evaluated their results for use in parachuting and pathfinding missions, in addition to using its heliborne and aircraft wing assets to add 'deeper' reconnaissance penetration capabilities. This new-found capability gave reconnaissance Marines the advantage of operating further behind enemy lines. Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) is one of the United States Marine Corps' special operations capable forces (SOC), and supplies essential elements of military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF), by supporting their task force commanders, and their subordinate operating units of the Fleet Marine Force (FMF). Historically, the Force Recon companies, detachments and platoons performed both deep reconnaissance and direct action (DA) operations. Some missions are now shared by the Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT), due to the establishment of the U.S. Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in 2006.