What if, from the outset the Vietnam War was a predominately Marine operation, commanded by a USMC General using Marine tactics and operational strategy? As a POD, JFK decides to appoint a USMC General as commander of ground forces, with a Navy Admiral in overall command of US forces in Vietnam; he does so because:
a) the Corps has done counterinsurgency in Latin America during the Banana Wars; they're better suited to thinking about fighting and fighting the Viet Cong
b) by letting the Marines rather than the Army run the show, there's less chance of the Army pushing for a massive escalation in terms of troop strength
c) the terrain of Vietnam is significantly coastal, jungle, and riverine operations-areas that the Corps has a wealth of knowledge in from WWII
d) JFK believes the Army should stay focused on the main Soviet threat in Europe and Korea; Vietnam is a 'sideshow' better delegated to the Marines
When Kennedy dies, LBJ is now dealing with Marine General X instead of William Westmoreland (that alone might be a quantum leap forward for relative US success in Vietnam). How does this change the conduct of the Vietnam War?
a) the Corps has done counterinsurgency in Latin America during the Banana Wars; they're better suited to thinking about fighting and fighting the Viet Cong
b) by letting the Marines rather than the Army run the show, there's less chance of the Army pushing for a massive escalation in terms of troop strength
c) the terrain of Vietnam is significantly coastal, jungle, and riverine operations-areas that the Corps has a wealth of knowledge in from WWII
d) JFK believes the Army should stay focused on the main Soviet threat in Europe and Korea; Vietnam is a 'sideshow' better delegated to the Marines
When Kennedy dies, LBJ is now dealing with Marine General X instead of William Westmoreland (that alone might be a quantum leap forward for relative US success in Vietnam). How does this change the conduct of the Vietnam War?