Smith Versus Smith: US Army/Marine Relations in 1944 - WW2 Documentary Special

In the heat of the Battle of Saipan in 1944, Marine Corps General Holland Smith made a bold move by relieving Infantry General Ralph Smith of his command. This decision did more than spark controversy, could it have threatened the very Army-Marine unity that was so pivotal to securing victory?

Very interesting story. I wonder why he wasnt just fired.

This was a good episode. I hope that when Indy does his Korean War series, he also addresses the story about the 1st Cavalry Division and whether or not it actually deserves the reputation that some tried to stick it with and that many still parrot today.

Since WW1 the Cult of the Corp has been a petty organization only concerned with its own myth . We are long past including this secondary army in our modern service- it is just a waste of our resources.

Ironically there were 3 Medals of Honor awarded in the Battle of Saipan. All were awarded to Army Soldiers from the 27th. Pvt Thomas Baker, Lt. Col William O’Brien, and Cpt. Benjamin Salomon. The 27th has a total of 14 Medals of Honor awarded to its men

Holland Smith was the definition a egotistical crayon eater

You should also do a episode about the rivalery/war between the IJN and the IJA

I had a great uncle who served in the Army Signal Corps in the pacific in WW II. Pop always said he couldn't tell if if it was the Japanese or the Marines that Uncle Dick hated worse.

Like something Mark Felton would have covered

Well Holland Smith had a hard on for the Army. There is no place for this in war, and Nimitz made the right call. I bet he was mad when he got pushed out for Owikawa. Not on the Missouri either. Ralph Smith got to go France, not bad posting..

The pronunciation of the word “banzai” (a suicidal charge) should not be confused with “bonsai” (tending small trees)

This reminded me of US Air Force vs US Navy rivalry about the Top Gun Maverick's need for speed advertisement.

Great to see our old flag the Red Ensign in the background. I noticed it is beside the Polish flag. This is a good place for them as the Poles fought beside the Canadians in Italy and many Polish veterans immigrated to Canada after the War.

Can we get a video on the rivalry between the IJN and IJA!?

Wow, what a pissing contest between the army and marine advocates, about something that happened 80 years ago. Seems like you hit a nerve, TimeGhost.

Anybody else got a hint about Smith vs Smith movie title?

When I was in airborne school at the former benning there were half a dozen marines attending. During the first jump they felt it was necessary to purposefully disobey our orders and cause their chutes to end up in the tree line. Why? To show how tough marines are. We just shook our heads and keep training.

I like that part of the quote about the color of the uniforms "clear of the mud and the dust". Descriptions of the pacific front environments might as well be majority mud and dust. Out there, and under fire, the uniforms don't seem so different after all.

Thank you.

I’ll be Captain Obvious here, any commander that deep dive criticises the actions of one of his units without having seen these actions up close and personally is not fit to command them, let alone wear the uniform. Holland Smith was in the timeless sense of the word a dick.