“Gung Ho” is part of the vernacular though few understand its origins. Some say it means hard charging, enthusiastic, or willing. Although it does connote these things, Gung Ho is best translated as “work together.”
The term was coined by a Marine, Evans Carlson, known as the “Big Yankee.” He was the son of a congregational minister, and his exploits included a hitch in the army, a stint as a foreign correspondent, and a legendary career in the Marine Corps.
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In the early, desperate days of WW2, Carlson proposed a rapid strike force like the British commandos. President Roosevelt liked the idea. Eager to counterattack after Pearl Harbor, FDR saw a way to punish the enemy and raise badly shaken U.S. morale.
The Marine brass wasn’t interested, but FDR was adamant. Four Battalions were formed, and they were called Raiders. The first volunteers were handpicked and Carlson promised them nothing but hardship and possible death. He sought men who could travel long periods behind enemy lines, show initiative, and work together as a cohesive unit without the usual command structure. Carlson called this concept “Gung Ho.” He derived the idiom from “gong he,” which were Chinese Industrial Cooperatives.The first mission was a raid on Makin Island. Carlson, who was 46, led the assault, and Roosevelt’s son James, whose ulcers could have shielded him from active duty, was his executive officer. The Raiders engaged enemy soldiers, disrupted communications, and destroyed Japanese supplies. Some marines died, and others were captured and beheaded. But the attack boosted American morale. Like the Doolittle raid, it gave Americans pride and hope. Hollywood took notice and produced a film, “Gung Ho,” starring Randolph Scott. The title had a nice ring to it and it stuck.
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Other battles followed and the Raiders picked nasty ones, including Bougainville and Guadalcanal. In the Pacific no quarter was asked and seldom given. At age 90, Raider Ralph Burlingham’s legs still show the scars of battle. Grievously wounded by shrapnel, he lay under a tarp for hours, presumed dead, until a chaplain called to identify him saw faint signs of life. He spent over a year recovering in a Naval Hospital, and still can’t understand the fuss. After all, he says, “I was just doing my duty.” For these men, that is the usual attitude.
Their ranks have thinned, but the Raiders who are able continue to have yearly reunions, and this Month held their 71st in Wilmington, North Carolina. They were special guests of MARSOC (Marine Corps Forces Special Operational Command) at Camp Lejeune. The young marines listened intently as their older comrades told their stories. Major General Mark Clark, MARSOC commander, told the marines that the Raider concept now guides the philosophy of the today’s Special Forces.
The Raiders, however, are not content to sit on their laurels, though few would blame them for doing just that. They admire most the men and women who are in harm’s way today. The chance to associate with current service members, some of whom have served multiple tours, is an opportunity the Raiders cherish. At MARSOC, every marine, without exception, was courteous, well trained, and impressive.
The Raider’s last mission is to fund scholarships and build a school on Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. The people of the area where they served still have a special place in their hearts, especially the children. Working together, the Raiders, Raider families, and their supporters insure that their legacy of service will survive long after they have gone. In war and peace, the spirit of Gung Ho continues.
