Marine Recon 1940–90
In 1976 Maj. James Capers Jr. welcomed new men and their families into a force reconnaissance company.
'Only the most capable Marines are selected for this duty due to rigid mental and physical demands. A very thorough screening of each applicant is conducted … to test alertness and endurance. The result is a small elite unit with highly qualified Marines who are considered the best in the world'.
Ex-Marine Charles D Melson examines the history, equipment and insignia of the Marines' amphibious and ground long-range patrol reconnaissance specialists in this volume which contains a wealth of photographs and 12 full page colour plates by Paul Hannon.
Charles "Chuck" Melson was the Chief Historian for the US Marine Corps, at its headquarters in Washington, DC and its university in Quantico, Virginia. He also served as a joint historian with the US Central Command and Special Operations Command, and is a recipient of the General Edwin Simmons-Henry I. Shaw Award for public historians and the General Leonard F. Chapman Medal for professional military educators. Charles holds degrees from St. John’s College, Annapolis, Maryland and Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California.
Paul Hannon is based in London and is a highly experienced military artist. He has produced artwork for several Osprey books, including Men-at-Arms 169: Resistance Warfare 1940-45 and Men-at-Arms 156: The Royal Marines.