Pros: An inspiring book, gives confidence in the caliber of Marines who are "First to Fight".
Cons: You'll want to read more by Woulfe-his next book won't be available until January 2003
The Bottom Line: Should be required reading for parents, sweethearts, and friends of Marine recruits. Captivating and lively, realistic and honest description of what it takes to earn the title of U.S. Marine.
conradd's Full Review: James Woulfe - Into the Crucible: Making Marines f...
In the field of metallurgy, a crucible is a container in which raw materials are heated to a high temperature and transformed into something more than the original contents. The necessary properties of a crucible are that it maintain its strength and structure under extreme stress and that it not react in an undesirable way with its contents.
In the Marine Corps, the Crucible Event tests the mettle of Marine recruits who have completed seventy-eight days of boot camp. Over a timespan of 54 hours, they march 40 miles while carrying 40-pound packs and wearing ammo pouches cartridge belts, and canteens. They overcome a series of obstacles through cooperation and collaboration. They endure increasingly demanding conditions while experiencing sleep deprivation and hunger. In the process, they are transformed into the few, the proud, the Marines.
"Into the Crucible: Making Marines for the 21st Century" takes the reader step-by-step through this event. Written by Captain James B. Woulfe, it provides a fascinating look at the history of the Corps and the service it has provided to this country. Even more interesting is the step-by-step journey that readers take with a platoon of Marine recruits as they complete each of the challenges. This book has special meaning to me on this 227th birthday of the Marine Corps. My son Shane entered Marine Boot Camp in San Diego on September 16, 2002. His platoon will begin the Crucible at 2 a.m. on November 26.
Captain Woulfe describes each of the 32 combat exercises in order. After marching six miles to the first station, the drill instructor, Sgt. Lee, provided background and framework for the recruits' mission.
Staff Sergeant Howard's Maze "This obstacle is named in honor of Jimmie E. Howard." he began. After reading through Gunnery Sergeant Howard's heroic actions during a fierce battle in Viet Nam, he finished with a description of the first obstacle that featured a log frame containing a web of quarter-inch rope:
"Your squad is observing enemy movement from the basement of an abandoned building. An enemy observer discovers your squad and calls in artillery fire on your position. The building collapses around you, but you suffer no casualties. The only route of escape is through a mangled array of ventilation ducts." He completed the briefing with instructions for completion, while giving no clues as to how the recruits were to carry out the task. After several tries, the squad conquered the obstacle, learning that trust and cooperation were essential elements of teamwork. Sgt. Lee complimented the squad on a "pretty good" performance and continued his retelling of Gunny Sergeant Howard's bravery under fire.
"Howard continued to direct the defense of the hill even after being severely wounded. He distributed his ammunition to his Marines and painfully crawled from position to position, motivating his men and dragging a radio to direct artillery fire and air strikes. By the time a relief force reached their position, the Marines had eight rounds of ammunition left. Everyone was wounded and six were dead, but the surviving twelve were still fighting. They were firing single shots at the enemy and throwing rocks."
As the recruits described their feelings of frustration about trying and failing, Sgt. Lee reminded them that each individual had little control over the success or failure; only by working as a team could they achieve the mission.
Moving on, Captain Woulfe takes his readers through obstacles named for past Marine Medal of Honor recipients (and one heroic woman Marine who sacrificed her life trying to save others from a fire), and six major field events that emphasize the importance of teamwork and adaptive problem solving in overcoming adverse conditions. This forging process is designed to turn a group of recruits into a team of warriors. It is an inspiring book, one that will give the reader confidence in the caliber of Marines that defend this country, on the shores of Kuwait and in the deserts of Afghanistan. They come from a proud history; Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima. They are a band of brothers. Woulfe describes the ordinary young adults who enter boot camp; individuals who enjoy extreme sports and loud music, sleeping late and self-expression. The boot camp process transforms them. It brings out hidden strength. It changes them, like heat changes coal, iron ore, and limestone, into steel. They are steeped in the Corps values of honor, courage, and commitment. And, the end product is bigger, stronger, better than the individual elements. They are the few, the proud, the Marines.
Into the Crucible is no dry historical tome. Captain Woulfe narrates the recruits' journey in a lively entertaining voice. The language is clear and free of military jargon. The reader feels as if he or she is standing on the sidelines, watching the trials and triumphs of the squad.
Recruit Shane Conrad finished the Crucible on Thanksgiving eve and his Warrior Breakfast eclipsed Thanksgiving dinner as the most meaningful holiday feast he will ever have. On December 12, I watched with pride as he received his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and was awarded the title of United States Marine. The next day, he graduated from boot camp as a trained warrior. He was forever changed by his boot camp experience and the change was good.
This write-off celebrates my son, Lance Corporal Shane Conrad who finished his own Crucible and graduated from Marine boot camp on December 13, 2002. The excellent training he received from his drill instructors was put to good use during his seven-month tour of duty in Southern Iraq during 2003. He'll return in September 2004, this time to Northern Iraq.
November 10 is the birthday of the US Marine Corps. In honour of this occasion, which is a big event for Marines, the following recruits have signed up to celebrate the event in style by posting a review that is related in some way to the Marine Corps or military history. Please stop and visit.
A grueling aftermath to basic training, the Crucible Event is the defining moment for young Marine recruits--55 hours of brutal exercises that tax the...More at Buy.com
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