Hanshi McGrath
Proudly
Presents
The
DEVIL DOGS
This section is dedicated those many Sensei's and Masters, who day after day travel from their homes to a dojo, in order to bring the knowledge of the Martial Arts, to the adults and children of their area, in an attempt to bring a sense of security to their lives.
These women and men who for over a half century, in
the United States, have dedicated themselves to the protection of those within
their community, often engendering a sense of family intimacy and loyalty to the
teamwork and cooperation amongst the students, for the good of the group. Often,
their contribution goes unnoticed and in some areas with little compensation for
their time and effort.
However,
these knowledgeable and caring individuals, continue to teach, for the sake of
teaching, because they have dedicated themselves to the martial art of their
choice and wish to spread the word, so that others may walk through life secure
in the knowledge that they possess the ability to defend themselves, That simple
statement of freedom from doubt and fright is uplifting and extends to the
students, even the most timid beginners, a sense of pride and dignity. The
Martial Arts bring knowledge of your inner self and to those who are willing to
dedicate themselves to the Art it is an integral part of their life, which
changes subtly the meaning of every action and endeavor in their lives. It
brings a heightened sense of awareness to our surroundings, which bolsters the
sense of comfort and security. We walk in peace.
I have chosen to call the group that we will honor in this section of this site, Devil Dogs, because it has a symbolism within the Marine Corps and so many of those pioneers who brought the Martial Arts to the United States were Marines.
This is especially relevant to my art, of Isshin-Ryu. The term Devil Dogs has come to mean tenacity, dedication, unfailing loyalty and a do or die attitude.
The background for the term “Devil Dogs” began during World War I, when a Marine Expeditionary Group was sent to Europe. They were placed under the command of the famed West Point graduate, General “Black Jack” Pershing. He had little regard for the Marines, considering them a rough-hewn lot and questioned their discipline. Most of the “Dough Boys” of WWI had scant training and less skill with the rifle, than the enemy. As a result, the French, British and American soldiers had found little opportunity for victories and awaited good news. However, with things going against the Allies, despite his misgivings, Gen. Pershing sent the Marines into the front lines against a crack regiment of German battle-wise regulars, for whom victory was a common event, at a place called Belleau Woods. To make matters worse, the Germans believed in machine guns and had a higher average of these weapons amongst their troops, than the allies. At once, seeing the Marines filing into positions, the Germans attacked in great numbers, moving swiftly toward the Marines. When they were 600 yards from the Marines, the Leather Necks began to fire at them. This amused the Germans, since no one but green, untrained troops would fire their rifles at that distance. It was normal for all other units to fire when the enemy was within 300 to 250 yards from the line. However, the German troops suddenly realized that those around them were dropping, in increasing numbers. By the time that they reached 300 yards the Germans had been decimated and it was turning into a slaughter, the closer the Germans got to the Marines. It was then the German attack broke and their soldiers attempted in any manner to flee back to their lines. But it was of no use, because the Marines were finishers and counter-Attacked, into the face of the Machine guns hidden in the woods. Despite high casualties, the Marines pursued the Germans into the woods, wiped out the machine gun nests and broke the back of the Germans position. The Germans then retreated out of the woods and the area, defeated and demolished.
General
Pershing had an entirely different attitude regarding the Marines. In
jubilation, the French renamed Belleau Woods the “Wood of the Marine
Brigade” and it was later learned through the German Press, that the German
soldiers had called the Marines, “Teufel Hunden,” or Dogs from Hell, or
“Devil Dogs.”
This is a true story and is the reason that the Marines mascot is a Bull Dog, often depicted as a bulldog wearing a WWI helmet with the Marine Corps emblem on it. Oddly enough, I had a brush with this legend, on a personal level. In 1957, I graduated from St. John’s University and almost instantly enlisted in the Marines, as an Officer Candidate. At that time, I had several months before reporting and needed a job. I was hired by Chase Manhattan Bank, on the advise of one of their employees, who was a former Marine DI. He had seen me playing softball somewhere and he was the coach of the Bank’s team, in the Inter Bank League. I spent that summer, being paid $100.00 per week to play softball. We won the Championship that year. When I left the Corps, I returned to Chase Bank, since under the law, they had to take me back. I wound up working under a man named Bruno Albatt, who had a strong German accent. He knew that I had been a Marine Officer. For reasons I was unaware of, we did not get along. I finally confronted him about it and he told me that in WWI, he had been in charge of a machine gun squad at Belleau Wood. He recounted to me, how they thought the Marines were raw troops, not knowing that Marines qualify on the rifle at 500 yards. He said that we killed all of his troops and his friends from his area. I resigned shortly afterward and went into Sales. This is why I call this section of the site, “Devil Dogs.”
Questions or Comments? Please e-mail: thedojo@aokaincmcgrath.com