Posted on Jun 3, 2020
CW3 Kevin Storm
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How much truth is their in the Marines taking Chapultepec? This Encyclopedia of Britanic article says they weren't alone, and the majority of the fighting was done by ...wait for it...the Army. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Chapultepec

More information can be found here on the bography of Major General Gideon Johnson Pillow: https://library.uta.edu/usmexicowar/item?bio_id=85&nation=US&ofst=33&sort=nameasc&ni=52
Posted in these groups: American history logo American HistoryF3af5240 Military History
Edited 4 y ago
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SFC Michael Hasbun
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Edited 4 y ago
A lot of Marine lore is actually urban legends. The "Devil Dog" story, blood stripes and the battle of Chapultepec, Mr. Rogers being a Marine Sniper, the Marines have never surrendered, Army stress cards, Chesty's "real Marines in the brig" comment, etc...

None of it is real, but it goes a long way to helping build espirit de corps...
It's not about the story, it's just about "Marine Superiority". When you have no budget, you have to make up for it in attitude. Legends help in that regard.
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LTC Trent Klug
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Since there were only 400 Marines there, it stands to figure their exploits wouldn't be as fully known.
The officer and NCO Corps suffered 90% casualties. They chose to commemorate those losses by stating the "blood stripe" was in their honor. No one has said they put the stripe on the uniform because of them.
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CW3 Kevin Storm
CW3 Kevin Storm
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This is from "Marines in the Mexican War"

It appears that Major Twiggs then attempted to regroup his party and advance toward the castle. As he stood up the gallant Major Twiggs was blown away by rifle fire from Chapultepec.
Conflicting stories exist as to the conduct of the Marines during the battle of
Chapultepec. One version claims that the Marines skulked in a ditch until the fighting
was over. Another states that the Marines had advanced too far before turning in the
direction of Chapultepec and had halted when they realized this. The truth appears to
lie somewhere in the middle. Reference:

https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Marines%20In%20The%20Mexican%20War.pdf?ver=2018-10-29-143813-560

Of the 400 Marines they were split up and were not one fighting force.
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SGT Herbert Bollum
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interesting
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