Empire Marine - by Vernon L Williams (Paperback)

About the Book

"The grandson of a Virginia governor, Littleton W.T. Waller grew up during the post-Civil War years when his widowed mother struggled to provide for her sons. Unable to attend university or a professional military school, Waller elected to pursue a military career. He secured a commission in the Marine Corps in 1880 and began a successful military career, retiring in 1920 as a major general. Empire Marine examines the role that Waller played in the development and growth of the Marine Corps within the emerging empire of turn-of-the-century America. Waller's service corresponded with the growth of the Marine Corps and the exportation of American imperialism in the 1890s and beyond. During those years, his assignments included most of the military actions of his day. Particularly significant were the episodes of US political and military expansion in South America, the Philippines, China, Panama, Cuba, and Haiti. Waller's experiences reflected the emerging role that marines would play in the execution of American policy across the globe. As naval power became the accepted tool of expansion, it became apparent that new tactics and expertise would be required to manage the new responsibilities of imperialism. Increasingly, the marines were called upon to spearhead that policy of expansion and demonstrated the ability to achieve tactical and often, political goals. Gradually the Marine Corps began to compete with the army for budget, personnel, and mission capability. Empire Marine demonstrates these transitions and illustrates the emerging roles of the Marine Corps"--

Book Synopsis

Empire Marine examines the role that Littleton W. T. Waller played in the development and growth of the Marine Corps within the emerging empire of turn-of-the-century America. The grandson of the governor of Virginia, Littleton W.T. Waller grew up during the post-Civil War years when his widowed mother struggled to provide for her sons. Unable to attend university or a professional military school, Waller secured a commission in the Marine Corps in 1880 and began a long and successful military career. Waller's service corresponded with the growth of the Marine Corps and the exportation of American imperialism in the 1890s and beyond. Particularly significant were the episodes of U.S. political and military expansion in South America, the Philippines, China, Panama, Cuba, and Haiti. Waller's experiences reflected the new emerging role that marines would play in the execution of American policy across the globe.