Lieutenant General Victor Krulak

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 2, 2009 12:17:07 EST

SAN DIEGO - Lt. Gen. Victor Krulak, who headed all Marine forces in the Pacific during part of the Vietnam War, has died. He was 95.

Krulak died Monday at the Wesley Palms Retirement Community in San Diego, according to Edith Soderquist, a staff member at the facility. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Krulak commanded about 100,000 Marines in the Pacific from 1964 to 1968 - a span that saw the United States dramatically increase buildup in Vietnam.

Krulak, nicknamed "Brute" for his direct, no-nonsense style, was a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

After retirement, he often criticized the government's handling of the Vietnam War. He wrote that the war could have been won only if the Vietnamese had been protected and befriended and if enemy supplies from North Vietnam were cut off.

"The destruction of the port of Haiphong would have changed the whole character of the war," he said two decades after the fall of Saigon.

Krulak once summed up the U.S. dilemma in Vietnam by saying, "It has no front lines. The battlefield is in the minds of 16 or 17 million people."

Before assuming command of Fleet Marine Force Pacific, Krulak served as principal adviser on counterinsurgency warfare to then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and the joint chiefs of staff.

"I never got enthusiasm out of war, and I'm convinced that the true pacifists are the professional soldiers who have actually seen it," Krulak said many years after retiring from the post.

During World War II on the island of Choiseul, Krulak led his outnumbered battalion during an eight-day raid on Japanese forces, diverting the enemy's attention from the U.S. invasion of Bougainville.

Krulak's troops destroyed hundreds of tons of supplies, burning both camps and landing barges. He was wounded on Oct. 13, 1943, and later received the Navy Cross for heroism along with the Purple Heart.

At age 43 he became the youngest brigadier general in Marine Corps history up to that time. Krulak received the second of two Distinguished Service Medals when he retired from the military.

For the next nine years, he worked for Copley Newspapers, serving at various times as director of editorial and news policy and news media president of Copley News Service. He retired as vice president of The Copley Press Inc. in 1977 and contributed columns on international affairs and military matters for Copley News Service.

He also wrote the book "First to Fight," an insider's view of the Marine Corps.

His son Charles Krulak served as commandant - the Marines' top post - from 1995 to 1999.

Veteran's Day 2008

Today in honor of Veteran's Day, thank a veteran for the sacrifice of their service. Remember, all gave some, but some gave all.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SERVED!

Semper Fi!

Veteran Salutes

Veterans and active duty members that are out of uniform are now allowed to salute during the National Anthem.

The Defense Authorization Act of 2008 changed the United States Code allowing a salute during the raising, lowering, or passing of the flag. Congress realized that they forgot to include the National Anthem and has corrected that omission in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009.

Read more here.

Happy Birthday, Marines!

Happy 233rd! Semper Fi!

Watch the Commandant's video birthday message.


Birthday card from Bob Parsons, former Marine and founder of GoDaddy.com.

Helping Others

What do you know about energy deregulation?

How many people do you know that use electricity?

How many of those people you know would like to pay less or maybe even get free electricity?

If we were the first to market with that amazing opportunity, what do you think we could earn?

Watch a short online video and find out!

Imagine helping others save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year on their energy bill. Imagine those same people earning free travel benefits. Imagine getting paid to help them!

Stop imagining and start doing!

Semper Fi!

General Amos: New Assistant Commandant

HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS: General James F. Amos pinned on his fourth star, and assumed his new duties as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps during a ceremony at Marine Barracks Washington.

Amos relieved Gen. Robert Magnus, who served as the Assistant Commandant since September 2005. Magnus will retire later this month.

Amos graduated from the University of Idaho in 1970, and was designated a Naval aviator in 1971. He served numerous tours with Marine squadrons, flying both the F-4 Phantom II and the F/A-18 Hornet.

Amos has served with NATO, where he was the deputy commander, Naval Striking Forces, Southern Europe, and the U.S. deputy commanding general, Fleet Marine Forces, Europe, Naples, Italy. During this tour, Amos commanded NATO's Kosovo Verification Coordination Center, and served as chief of staff, U.S. Joint Task Force Noble Anvil during the air campaign over Kosovo.

Other highlights of Amos' career include: commanding various units from the squadron to the Corps' largest air-ground task force, the Marine Expeditionary Force. During the initial phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Amos commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He later served as the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force from 2004- 2006.

His previous duty assignment was the commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.

Support of our servicemembers

If you are not willing to stand behind our armed forces, feel free to stand in front of them.