Why weren't Marines chosen for Normandy?

I think because while we are outstanding at amphib landing, the size and scope of the landing and how far inland was needed to be pushed quickly was more of an army job, whereas the rapid island hooping was more marine also the Japanese put up a fight only marines could win. :P

The US Marines were not chosen for Normandy or any other amphibious operation in the ETO/MTO as they were fully committed to the Pacific. Another big reason is that once firmly established ashore any landing force would be conducting land operations over great distances for which the US Army is more suited.

The Amphibious Doctrine used by all the US Armed Forces during WW II was based on what the US Marine Corps had developed between the WW I and WW II. The doctrine developed by the US Marines grew out of the Advanced Base concept where the US Marines would seize islands to be developed as bases for the advance of US Naval Forces. Looking at the World Situation well before WW II the US Navy and US Marine Corps saw that their war would be in the Pacific and most likely against Japan, the rising military and industrial power of East Asia.

There actually were US Marines at Normandy and every landing from North Africa to Southern France. They were serving in the Marine Detachments of the the US Battleships, Cruisers and Carriers that supported the landings in their traditional role as Soldiers of the Sea.

Jumpin jiminy cricket.

WWII was very good for one thing -- turning the Army loose on one target and the Navy loose on another.

The Marines were not used in France because that was US Army turf. The Navy supported ops against the Germans, but the Navy was very glad to have the IJN to defeat in the Pacific. It was all about turf.

With the war in the Pacific, and given the Corps was the smallest of the services, I'd guess this has more to do with logistics and personnel versus anything else.

Because the marines were fighting in the pacific theater.

That's a good question, not sure of the reasoning behind it.

Because the army knows how to shoot back not just run towards the bullets lol

Because we were fighting a two front war. The Army was fighting in Euorpe and the Marines were fighting in the Pacific. The Marines are obviously the small of the two branches so there wasn't enough to send over to Europe to help with the invasion.

Tha Marines and Navy were fighting in the Pacific. The Army and Air Corp were fighting in other theaters.

A fact I learned while reading some on the history of wars.

The D Day invasion was planned and performed by 80% non-combat MOS related soldiers.

YES It was planned that these soldiers were made available with even though they were not infantry. They were mechanics, signal, cooks and other support event soldiers. They knew there would be many casualties and it would severely weaken the number of infantry and would hurt the over all plan.

Why? Because the leaders knew this would be a long faught war so, they reserved the combat soldiers to come in after the others had cleared, opened the supply lines and provide for supporting the fresh infantry which would be brought in later to provide fresh 2nd wave to come in and relieve the initial forces.

So for all you out there that are in non combat related MOS's you like the Marines say "First You Are a Rifleman".

I was a Signal soldier with a technical MOS working half of my career working along civilian government employees and the Defense Communications agency. My first duty station we didn't even have weapons, chemical suits, formations or PT. we worked for DOD civilians. Needless to say it wasn't bad at all. Thought I was in a civilian job. The hardest duty we had was shift work.

Well after being indoctrinated into the service with this duty the Army decided to send me to the 101st Airborne Division and as a Sergeant with no leadership training or an understanding of anything Army except what I learned in basic. My sponsor asked me if I had my TA-50 and I asked him "What Form is That". He had a good laugh about that.

My chain of command beginning with the 1SG in down took me under their wing and taught me the meaning of bending an NCO and the importance of leadership and saving your assigned soldiers lives.

I learned that even though you are a non-combat MOS soldier you must be ready as a combat fighter.

The 101st was the best 7 years of my life! It taught me Leadership, Duty, Honor and what it means to be a NCO. I WAS ASSIGNED THERE AND FROM THERE I WENT TO KOREA! I faught DA to please send me back to the 101st and they did. I left my brothers the last time in 1984 and retired in 1995. I still serve that Division to this day!

Why do I say all of this is give a different perspective on this question.

Finally, I answered the original question in my first statement. A another reason the marines were in the pacific was because they were trained to Island Hopping and fighting from amphibious operations.

That is a really good question. I cannot say I know this answer, but I am very interested to know the answer.