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Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak, U.S. Marine
From the earliest days of his thirty-four-year military career, Victor "Brute" Krulak displayed a remarkable facility for applying creative ways of fighting to the Marine Corps. He went on daring spy missions, was badly wounded, pioneered the use of amphibious vehicles, and masterminded the invasion of Okinawa. In Korea, he was a combat hero and invented the use of helicopters in warfare. In Vietnam, he developed a holistic strategy in stark contrast to the Army's "Search and Destroy" methods-but when he stood up to LBJ to protest, he was punished. And yet it can be argued that all of his these accomplishments pale in comparison to what he did after World War II and again after Korea: Krulak almost single-handedly stopped the U.S. government from abolishing the Marine Corps.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2010
About the author
Robert Coram
28 books88 followersRobert Coram is the author of three nonfiction books and seven novels. He lives in Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
November 1, 2023
The most effective peolple are not always the most well-adjusted. Coram gives Krulak his due as a driven officer whose vision served America and the Corps well, but also gives us the ambiguity -- the dissembling about background and war experiences. Krulak, for me, was ultimately redeemed by his willingness to confront LBJ with the bankruptcy of the Westmoreland approach to the war. This candor cost Krulak the prize he most desired. When the czars were running Krulak's ancestors out of Russia, you suppose they had any idea how much they were doing to build 20th century America?
January 23, 2011
A very complicated man, who left a complicated legacy. I am married to one of his grandsons. Amy danced the hula at our rehearsal dinner. I had heard stories of the "Moravian" heritage, but news of the first marriage came as very much a surprise to the family. I think that Coram presents a fair portrait.
March 4, 2011
The reader will probably not like General Victor Krulak, although one has to appreciate his dedication, competence, and focus on the Marines, especially the troops. Unlike Zelig, Brute is an active participant in the various points of history in which he is involved: Pre-WWII, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. His championing of the Higgins Boat influenced the outcome of WWII. However, Brute's is not the only story in the book. For example, the political intrigues described in the book make you wonder how anything gets done. The book also describes how ill-prepared the US was for the Korean War. Insights offered in the book, together with other readings, might confirm the belief, as it did me, that MacArthur stayed around too long. Further, the defeat of the Post-WWII service unification plan that was described as placing too much military power in one person is enlightening. Think "Seven Days in May". There are plenty of things not to like about General Krulack, but thank goodness he helped preserve the Marines.
December 10, 2016
Just couldn't get into this book at all. Robert Coram gives the impression of being a completely amateur author who can't decide whether he's writing history, biography, memoir, or some sort of technical guide to Marine Corp politics. There are nasty personal stories about Brute Krulak, but no sense of what really drove him. The history lessons are on the sixth grade level. And everything else comes across as written in a hurry with no direction.
May 21, 2017
As I mentioned in a note, the author's writing was not up to his subject. Gen. Krulak's career is an interesting story worthy of a biography but this book just didn't cut it. For someone really interested in a history of the USMC in the Twentieth Century this biography would be worth the read for background but probably more so for the bibliography.
July 25, 2014
BRUTE: A biography of Lt Gen Victor “Brute” Krulak by Robert Coram
Victor Krulak was an unlikely candidate for the Naval Academy. His family were of Russian Jewish stock ( a fact he hid all of his life) and he only stood 5’4” tall and weighed in at 116 lbs. Technically too short and too light weight for the academy. With an average score of 3.7 out of 4 on his entrance exams he was able to get waivers for his diminutive size,. This would come back to haunt him when in 1934 upon graduation he was denied a commission and ordered to tender his resignation, primary due to his size.
There is no clear evidence today as to why this decision was overturned, but Krulak was one of 25 midshipmen offered Marine Corps commissions. From early in his career Krulak found himself in positions that allowed him to exert more influence than a junior officer usually has. The book clearly outlines three areas where Krulak played major roles in three widely diverse areas that continue to impact the Marine Corps to this day.
In the 1930’s Krulak became painfully aware of the lack of suitable landing craft to put Marines on the beach. Exercises in the Caribbean convinced him that what the Marines needed was a totally new design. The navy board responsible proved incapable of designing and fielding a suitable craft. Krulak learned of a civilian named Higgins who had built a shallow draft flat bottom craft that might work for the Marines.
After suggested changes, including a hinged bow ramp and a protected propeller the Higgins boat was presented. After initial reluctance on the part of the Navy, the Higgins boat became one of the most significant technological factors allowing us to win the war. It is doubtful that without Krulaks’ dogged determination the Higgins boat would have been adopted by the Navy when it was.
The second area where Krulak played a major role in events that would shape the Marine Corps, occurred immediately after the close of the war when President Truman and generals in the Army and Air Corps set out to abolish the Marine Corps. Kulaks’ role in the “Chowder Society” was pivotal in garnering the necessary support in Congress to short circuit this effort and this book describes his role in great detail.
About this same time Krulak (now a Lt. Col) took an interest in helicopters. One of very few Marines who had any interest in this new fangled flying machine. Again the author describes his role in formulating the early doctrine for the employment of helicopters on the battlefield even before there were any suitable helicopters to fill this role.
The book takes you through his long and distinguished career up to when as a Lt General he was considered the far and away favorite for the position of Commandant to replace Gen. Wallace M. Greene. However, prior to the appointment Krulak met in the White House with President Johnson. The exact conversation was not disclosed but at the end of the meeting President Johnson literally pushed Krulak out of the Oval Office. The ultimate result being that Krulak was forced to retire and a dark horse candidate more willing to follow the administrations party line was appointed Commandant.
The book stands on its own as a “good read” but for anyone interested in the development of the Corps between the 1930’s and the 1960’s it should be at the top of your reading list.
Rock Lyons
Victor Krulak was an unlikely candidate for the Naval Academy. His family were of Russian Jewish stock ( a fact he hid all of his life) and he only stood 5’4” tall and weighed in at 116 lbs. Technically too short and too light weight for the academy. With an average score of 3.7 out of 4 on his entrance exams he was able to get waivers for his diminutive size,. This would come back to haunt him when in 1934 upon graduation he was denied a commission and ordered to tender his resignation, primary due to his size.
There is no clear evidence today as to why this decision was overturned, but Krulak was one of 25 midshipmen offered Marine Corps commissions. From early in his career Krulak found himself in positions that allowed him to exert more influence than a junior officer usually has. The book clearly outlines three areas where Krulak played major roles in three widely diverse areas that continue to impact the Marine Corps to this day.
In the 1930’s Krulak became painfully aware of the lack of suitable landing craft to put Marines on the beach. Exercises in the Caribbean convinced him that what the Marines needed was a totally new design. The navy board responsible proved incapable of designing and fielding a suitable craft. Krulak learned of a civilian named Higgins who had built a shallow draft flat bottom craft that might work for the Marines.
After suggested changes, including a hinged bow ramp and a protected propeller the Higgins boat was presented. After initial reluctance on the part of the Navy, the Higgins boat became one of the most significant technological factors allowing us to win the war. It is doubtful that without Krulaks’ dogged determination the Higgins boat would have been adopted by the Navy when it was.
The second area where Krulak played a major role in events that would shape the Marine Corps, occurred immediately after the close of the war when President Truman and generals in the Army and Air Corps set out to abolish the Marine Corps. Kulaks’ role in the “Chowder Society” was pivotal in garnering the necessary support in Congress to short circuit this effort and this book describes his role in great detail.
About this same time Krulak (now a Lt. Col) took an interest in helicopters. One of very few Marines who had any interest in this new fangled flying machine. Again the author describes his role in formulating the early doctrine for the employment of helicopters on the battlefield even before there were any suitable helicopters to fill this role.
The book takes you through his long and distinguished career up to when as a Lt General he was considered the far and away favorite for the position of Commandant to replace Gen. Wallace M. Greene. However, prior to the appointment Krulak met in the White House with President Johnson. The exact conversation was not disclosed but at the end of the meeting President Johnson literally pushed Krulak out of the Oval Office. The ultimate result being that Krulak was forced to retire and a dark horse candidate more willing to follow the administrations party line was appointed Commandant.
The book stands on its own as a “good read” but for anyone interested in the development of the Corps between the 1930’s and the 1960’s it should be at the top of your reading list.
Rock Lyons
February 17, 2017
A most important book that provides historical information for all U.S. Marines and any person interested in the Military History. "Brute" was a force to be reckoned with - successfully managing (though unintentionally) to peeve of LBJ for his handling of the Vietnam War in the micromanagement style - his suggestions of handling the Vietnam War were later adopted by General David Patreaus in handling both the Surge in Iraq and later Afghanistan. The additional importance here for me is the proof of how the popular books of the days during the Vietnam War are successfully countered by a more true and accurate account of lesser known authors because of the stance they took against the so called "counter culture" of the day.
A great book, objective, critical, and true to the historical information of the life of General Krulak who's son would later in the 1990s become the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
A great book, objective, critical, and true to the historical information of the life of General Krulak who's son would later in the 1990s become the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
March 29, 2014
I never knew history, especially military history could be so interesting. Reading the biography of one of the most prominent Marines of the 20th century gave me a look at wars I knew little about, including WWII and the wars in Korea and Vietnam. I never knew that the USMC seemed to be regularly under siege from the other military branches nor did I know how often they had to "fight for the right to fight." I'm grateful to Victor Krulak and his colleagues for keeping our elite military branch alive.
I was surprised to learn as much as I did about the evolution of the military helicopters (and why we have Marine I versus Army I--the Marines are there when you need them!). Krulak played an important role in the chopper's development, as well as in the Higgins' boats which were critical elements in a number of foreign conflicts.
"Brute" also discusses the role the media played during, for instance, the Vietnam War. For instance, it said the protests were less about idealism, then it was about avoiding the draft. Apparently shortly after Nixon ended the draft, the anti-war protests all but went away. (Perhaps there were others reasons, but perhaps not). Beyond the affects of the reporters, you also get some behind-the-scenes information about various presidents (e.g., Kennedy, Truman, & Johnson) and how their views nearly killed (or saved) the Marine Corps.
Yes, at times, the writing style was staccato in nature. A brief paragraph here or there about his wife or a story about his three sons. I found those snippets equally valuable. It was sad that his sons never got the empathy that Brute often gave to those under his command. I was pleased to see that despite his nickname Brute never seemed prone to brutality. It appeared that as long as you were giving it all you had that he knew that even Marines weren't infallible. (The story about the note attached to the wayward hat during a ceremonial performance was particularly moving.)
Quite happy to have read this book and I think it is making it easier to read "First to Flight"--a book about the Marines written by Brute. I had started it prior to "Brute" and it came across quite dry, but having read his biography it gives a more palatable flavor to "First to Flight," probably because I have a better sense as to the bigger USMC picture now.
I was surprised to learn as much as I did about the evolution of the military helicopters (and why we have Marine I versus Army I--the Marines are there when you need them!). Krulak played an important role in the chopper's development, as well as in the Higgins' boats which were critical elements in a number of foreign conflicts.
"Brute" also discusses the role the media played during, for instance, the Vietnam War. For instance, it said the protests were less about idealism, then it was about avoiding the draft. Apparently shortly after Nixon ended the draft, the anti-war protests all but went away. (Perhaps there were others reasons, but perhaps not). Beyond the affects of the reporters, you also get some behind-the-scenes information about various presidents (e.g., Kennedy, Truman, & Johnson) and how their views nearly killed (or saved) the Marine Corps.
Yes, at times, the writing style was staccato in nature. A brief paragraph here or there about his wife or a story about his three sons. I found those snippets equally valuable. It was sad that his sons never got the empathy that Brute often gave to those under his command. I was pleased to see that despite his nickname Brute never seemed prone to brutality. It appeared that as long as you were giving it all you had that he knew that even Marines weren't infallible. (The story about the note attached to the wayward hat during a ceremonial performance was particularly moving.)
Quite happy to have read this book and I think it is making it easier to read "First to Flight"--a book about the Marines written by Brute. I had started it prior to "Brute" and it came across quite dry, but having read his biography it gives a more palatable flavor to "First to Flight," probably because I have a better sense as to the bigger USMC picture now.
August 2, 2011
A one star review of book about a three star United States Marine Corps General. They both should have had 4 stars.
The life of Brute Krulak is fascinating and his role in the making of the modern Marine Corps is unquestioned. His son became commandant of the same and that alone could be viewed as a monumental contribution.
Unfortunately the author produced a well written cross between a journalistic/biographical hit piece and hagiography. It is all over the place. The subject is tough but that's the role of the biographer in finishing a work of this type. The flaws are all the authors and a worthy topic for reading is damaged.
The book at times is nothing more than precise faint damning praise. Love him or hate him because he was just another REMF that did what they do to a generation of soldiers, Krulak deserves a lot better. That he cared for the Marines, his command, and was about getting the job done is never questioned. How he achieved much that he did is brought in to question by Coram in a particularly unpleasant way.
Coram takes pot shots at every one from Presidents of the US, to the average Marine as being an obsessed sadistic killer, to out and out accusing some of the finest journalist in history of making up stories and lying on one page, and then on the next kissing up to some other group of the same type of characters.
I wanted to give this book no stars, but that does not figure in to the overall calculations of rating so I gave it one to lower the rating. Yes, it is that poor of a work. Deceptive at best and out and out cruel and unneeded on average.
The list of references are probably the truest thing in the book though I wonder how accurately they were used by the author.
The life of Brute Krulak is fascinating and his role in the making of the modern Marine Corps is unquestioned. His son became commandant of the same and that alone could be viewed as a monumental contribution.
Unfortunately the author produced a well written cross between a journalistic/biographical hit piece and hagiography. It is all over the place. The subject is tough but that's the role of the biographer in finishing a work of this type. The flaws are all the authors and a worthy topic for reading is damaged.
The book at times is nothing more than precise faint damning praise. Love him or hate him because he was just another REMF that did what they do to a generation of soldiers, Krulak deserves a lot better. That he cared for the Marines, his command, and was about getting the job done is never questioned. How he achieved much that he did is brought in to question by Coram in a particularly unpleasant way.
Coram takes pot shots at every one from Presidents of the US, to the average Marine as being an obsessed sadistic killer, to out and out accusing some of the finest journalist in history of making up stories and lying on one page, and then on the next kissing up to some other group of the same type of characters.
I wanted to give this book no stars, but that does not figure in to the overall calculations of rating so I gave it one to lower the rating. Yes, it is that poor of a work. Deceptive at best and out and out cruel and unneeded on average.
The list of references are probably the truest thing in the book though I wonder how accurately they were used by the author.
December 6, 2010
If you're already a fan of Krulak, or really into the Marines, you might enjoy this book. I'm neither, and I didn't. Krulak is colorful enough, but he's colorful in the way that all hard-bitten, opinionated tough-guy Marine-types are. This was boring to read, because Krulak is a caricature of a stereotype. Worse, Coram doesn't seem to recognize the lack of material he has to work with. He comes close to hagiography, expecting us to laugh over Krulak's sometimes mean-spirited nature and dismiss his racist remarks because "he was a patriot and a good man". Yeah, not so much.
On a more superficial level, it's just boringly and amateurishly written. Coram repeatedly breaks into directly addressing the reader, and it never works. It's awkward and unengaging- actually, a lot like the story itself. Not my sort of book.
On a more superficial level, it's just boringly and amateurishly written. Coram repeatedly breaks into directly addressing the reader, and it never works. It's awkward and unengaging- actually, a lot like the story itself. Not my sort of book.
May 24, 2011
While the life of Lieutenant General Victor Krulak may be an interesting one, I am not sure about this book. It is confusing as to whether Coram is exalting the career of General Krulak, or is giving him a hatchet job. I say this because all throughout the book the author points out inconsistencies, and character flaws that would seem to make the advancement through the Marine Corps by the General impossible. He is portrayed as a liar, a cheat, a conniving individual, a heartless man etc. Yet it tells of his unbelievable high fitness reports.
I think I will have to try to find an autobiography, if there is one, as the 3rd person book leave a lot to be determined.
I think I will have to try to find an autobiography, if there is one, as the 3rd person book leave a lot to be determined.
January 5, 2011
Enjoyed the book very much. Krulak was an amazing marine, but (as is often the case) his family (his three sons) benefited little from his greatness. The sub-plot concerning the jealousy and opposition to the USMC on the part of the other Army and Navy — if even half true — is disgraceful. Interesting to read of Krulak going nose-to-nose with President Lyndon Johnson over US strategy in Vietnam. Krulak called it as he saw it, and paid the price (he was not selected to be the Comandant of the Marine Corps).
April 7, 2013
Wow! Great book! Bio of an imperfect man that lived the perfect life. There must be something to the saying, the only difference between God and a Marine General, is that God doesn't think he is a General. A truly great man, even with his imperfections and idiosyncrasies.
March 12, 2022
Coram begins the begins his hagiography with an explanation of why Americans have an almost mythic view of the Marine Corps, a service that was close to extinction by the turn of the 20th century -- before Belleau Woods. The American Expeditionary Force under General Pershing was sent quickly to France to bail out the exhausted British and French. Ludendorf, the German General, was about to deliver a hammer blow in an attempt to break through the trench lines and reach Paris. Pershing had forbidden war correspondents from identifying individual Army units, but left an inadvertent loophole with the Marines. The Army despised the Marines, wondering why they even existed as a separate command. At Belleau Woods, however, the Marines, identified as such by Floyd Gibbons, the only correspondent, to go with them, magnificently held off and beat a substantially larger force of Germans, and soon all anyone could talk about was the glorious Marines.
Krulak was a Marine. How he got there was quite interesting, but inauspicious. He was a Jew (non-practicing who lied about his background--antisemitism was rife with signs on establishments reading, "no dogs or jews"), short (5'4"), been married (it lasted but 16 days before being annulled as both he and the bride lied about their names), lied about his age, and failed the entrance exam the first time. So why Annapolis? One reason was that his father realized that graduating from the Naval Academy would open many doors for his son.
At the academy, because of some "commercial" activity, expressly forbidden by Academy rules, he racked up a huge number of demerits, but thanks to his friendship and mentor, an instructor (and unrequited racist and anti-semite, but then that was the Marine ethos of the time), made it through. Krulak had invented an entire backstory for his biography wholly at odds with his Cheyenne, WY and Jewish reality. Had the Navy known of that fiction he probably would not have made it.
Ever since the British debacle at Gallipoli, it had become standard doctrine that amphibious landings were obsolete and would never be part of future actions. The Ellis Report, part of War Plan Orange, presciently predicted the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the island hopping strategy that made winning the war in the Pacific possible. That strategy required a multitude of amphibious landings but the Navy had no craft that would work. Krulak was to be instrumental in fixing that.
He and his pregnant wife had been posted to Shanghai, where, in 1937, he took the initiative to watch the Japanese amphibious landings in their conquest of the Chinese mainland. He was stunned to see the radical design of their landing craft and realized the flat-bottomed, ramp-equipped boats were just what the Navy needed. He whipped off a report (he was still a lowly 1st Lieutenant) to Washington anticipating swift action on their designing and building similar craft. The optimism of youth.
The story of the development of the famous landing craft and the role played by Krulak and, in particular, by a Louisiana boat builder named Higgins, is fascinating. Both Higgins and Krulak had to overcome Navy inertia and bureaucracy to get the boats built and approved. ( seeThe Boat That Won the War: An Illustrated History of the Higgins LCVP by Charles Roberts, Jr.) Inter-service rivalry also played a part and the Navy never did adopt the design. It was all Marines. Without the mentorship of General Holland Smith, whom Krulak knew from the Academy, however, he probably would have been drummed out of the Corps years before. He was later instrumental in developing tactics for the nascent Marine helicopter program.
Krulak was prominent participant in the inter-service rivalries following WW II and I was surprised at the vicious enmity that existed between the Army, which tried to get the Marines disbanded and molded into the Army, and even the Navy, envious of their reputation. The Marines never forgave the Navy for deserting them at Guadacanal. One might make a case that some of the "Chowder Gang's" (the name given to the Krulak led opposition to unifying the services) actions bordered on insubordination in their efforts to thwart Truman's wishes. He was, after all, the Commander -in-Chief. Krulak's certitude in himself spilled over into his treatment of their children, the eldest of whom described their childhood as resembling that of the Great Santini.
Reading this book, it's impossible not to come away with the feeling that the Marines won WW I, the Pacific in WW II, and Korea and that Krulak personally saved the Marines from the Marine-hating Army. Then again, Truman, got into a lot of trouble for complaining that the Marines had a propaganda campaign to rival Stalin's. Perhaps he was right.
P.S. My granddaughter was a Marine M.P.
Krulak was a Marine. How he got there was quite interesting, but inauspicious. He was a Jew (non-practicing who lied about his background--antisemitism was rife with signs on establishments reading, "no dogs or jews"), short (5'4"), been married (it lasted but 16 days before being annulled as both he and the bride lied about their names), lied about his age, and failed the entrance exam the first time. So why Annapolis? One reason was that his father realized that graduating from the Naval Academy would open many doors for his son.
At the academy, because of some "commercial" activity, expressly forbidden by Academy rules, he racked up a huge number of demerits, but thanks to his friendship and mentor, an instructor (and unrequited racist and anti-semite, but then that was the Marine ethos of the time), made it through. Krulak had invented an entire backstory for his biography wholly at odds with his Cheyenne, WY and Jewish reality. Had the Navy known of that fiction he probably would not have made it.
Ever since the British debacle at Gallipoli, it had become standard doctrine that amphibious landings were obsolete and would never be part of future actions. The Ellis Report, part of War Plan Orange, presciently predicted the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the island hopping strategy that made winning the war in the Pacific possible. That strategy required a multitude of amphibious landings but the Navy had no craft that would work. Krulak was to be instrumental in fixing that.
He and his pregnant wife had been posted to Shanghai, where, in 1937, he took the initiative to watch the Japanese amphibious landings in their conquest of the Chinese mainland. He was stunned to see the radical design of their landing craft and realized the flat-bottomed, ramp-equipped boats were just what the Navy needed. He whipped off a report (he was still a lowly 1st Lieutenant) to Washington anticipating swift action on their designing and building similar craft. The optimism of youth.
The story of the development of the famous landing craft and the role played by Krulak and, in particular, by a Louisiana boat builder named Higgins, is fascinating. Both Higgins and Krulak had to overcome Navy inertia and bureaucracy to get the boats built and approved. ( seeThe Boat That Won the War: An Illustrated History of the Higgins LCVP by Charles Roberts, Jr.) Inter-service rivalry also played a part and the Navy never did adopt the design. It was all Marines. Without the mentorship of General Holland Smith, whom Krulak knew from the Academy, however, he probably would have been drummed out of the Corps years before. He was later instrumental in developing tactics for the nascent Marine helicopter program.
Krulak was prominent participant in the inter-service rivalries following WW II and I was surprised at the vicious enmity that existed between the Army, which tried to get the Marines disbanded and molded into the Army, and even the Navy, envious of their reputation. The Marines never forgave the Navy for deserting them at Guadacanal. One might make a case that some of the "Chowder Gang's" (the name given to the Krulak led opposition to unifying the services) actions bordered on insubordination in their efforts to thwart Truman's wishes. He was, after all, the Commander -in-Chief. Krulak's certitude in himself spilled over into his treatment of their children, the eldest of whom described their childhood as resembling that of the Great Santini.
Reading this book, it's impossible not to come away with the feeling that the Marines won WW I, the Pacific in WW II, and Korea and that Krulak personally saved the Marines from the Marine-hating Army. Then again, Truman, got into a lot of trouble for complaining that the Marines had a propaganda campaign to rival Stalin's. Perhaps he was right.
P.S. My granddaughter was a Marine M.P.
July 24, 2021
I had heard a bit about Krulak, and as part of continuing my education about the Vietnam War, when I saw this book at my library, decided to grab it.
And, ye gads it was horrible. It had errors and stereotypes even before we got to Krulak’s story starting.
1. ignores wilson the fake neutral ppg 4-5
2. German stereotypes of Hindenburg & Ludendorff, 7 (292, he extends this stupidity, which comes off like 18th-19th century Brits, in talking about the dour countenance of Mountbatten giving away his Germanic birth.)
3. Petain was really NOT devoid of imagination (and earlier probably saved the French Army after the disastrous Nivelle Offensive) 7
Some later errors are connected to this.
4. Wrong about Prussian/German genl staff causing loss of WWI / II. Wilson the fake neutral caused loss of WWI, augmented by Genl Staff and Kaiser resuming sub warfare, but ... an understandable gamble. Hitler caused loss of WWII (setting aside Genl Staff toadyism).
5. Goes in in this wrongness, 160FF, to claim that JCS 1478 was a secret plot to remove civilian control of the military as well as unify all armed forces under the American equivalent of a German General Staff. Flat –out lies.
In this, he exemplies exactly what Harry Truman said: “They have a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin's.”
6. In reality, the “National Military Establishment” created by the National Defense Act of 1947, in its original form, still would have retained a civilian Secretary of Defense.
7. The new bill, in original form, might indeed have reduced CONGRESSIONAL oversight. But, that’s not the same as reducing CIVILIAN oversight. From the start, from what I know from my own reading, and what even Coram admits, a secretary of defense replacing/superseding the old Secy of War and Secy of Navy was part of the package. And, as a Cabinet secretary, of course subject to Congressional confirmation.
But wait! It gets worse.
Coram apparently things the US could have “won” Vietnam. He cites Lewis Sorley and Mark Moyar to this end. I looked at Sorley and Moyar on Amazon. “Revisionist history” is right and not in a good way. Sorley fellates the legend of Creighton Abrams, among other things. Moyar, by some of his screedish books about things like Obama’s drone warfare and “defense cuts,” appears to be a neocon wingnut. Plus, a lot of Vietnam vets say he’s full of shit. I say he’s full of shit if he claims with a straight face that Diem was an effective leader. Sorley was in Nam and retired a Light Colonel. I guess that, unlike Hackworth and others, it wasn’t for refusal to play military politics. He went on to work with CSIS, etc. He’s also refuted by better analysis of Abrams’ career in Nam, which says he changed little in actual operations from what Abrams did.
And, THAT is why, I guess, Coram wrote this book.
He’s full of shit, too, if he claims Vietnamese leaders were, “compared to other Asian leaders, men of relative probity.” Uncle Ho was MUCH more full of probity than Diem.
As for Brute’s ideas about Nam? He’s less than fully right on population dispersion; a fair amount of South Vietnamese lived in the central highlands. As for targeting the coast? South Vietnam’s coast is almost as long as California’s. Target it where?
As for some of the things he may have otherwise wanted? Later on, LBJ did step up bombing on Hanoi, but carefully selected, pseudo-precision targets. Nixon mined Haiphong. North Vietnam still won.
I was originally going to rate this book two stars, because of:
1. The truth it tells about Krulak, including how big a liar he often was.
2. The truth it tells about the author.
But by the time I got through the chapter on Vietnam, I couldn’t even do that.
Weirdly, though, Coram appears not to have been a Marine or even to have served in ANY branch of the armed services.
And, ye gads it was horrible. It had errors and stereotypes even before we got to Krulak’s story starting.
1. ignores wilson the fake neutral ppg 4-5
2. German stereotypes of Hindenburg & Ludendorff, 7 (292, he extends this stupidity, which comes off like 18th-19th century Brits, in talking about the dour countenance of Mountbatten giving away his Germanic birth.)
3. Petain was really NOT devoid of imagination (and earlier probably saved the French Army after the disastrous Nivelle Offensive) 7
Some later errors are connected to this.
4. Wrong about Prussian/German genl staff causing loss of WWI / II. Wilson the fake neutral caused loss of WWI, augmented by Genl Staff and Kaiser resuming sub warfare, but ... an understandable gamble. Hitler caused loss of WWII (setting aside Genl Staff toadyism).
5. Goes in in this wrongness, 160FF, to claim that JCS 1478 was a secret plot to remove civilian control of the military as well as unify all armed forces under the American equivalent of a German General Staff. Flat –out lies.
In this, he exemplies exactly what Harry Truman said: “They have a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin's.”
6. In reality, the “National Military Establishment” created by the National Defense Act of 1947, in its original form, still would have retained a civilian Secretary of Defense.
7. The new bill, in original form, might indeed have reduced CONGRESSIONAL oversight. But, that’s not the same as reducing CIVILIAN oversight. From the start, from what I know from my own reading, and what even Coram admits, a secretary of defense replacing/superseding the old Secy of War and Secy of Navy was part of the package. And, as a Cabinet secretary, of course subject to Congressional confirmation.
But wait! It gets worse.
Coram apparently things the US could have “won” Vietnam. He cites Lewis Sorley and Mark Moyar to this end. I looked at Sorley and Moyar on Amazon. “Revisionist history” is right and not in a good way. Sorley fellates the legend of Creighton Abrams, among other things. Moyar, by some of his screedish books about things like Obama’s drone warfare and “defense cuts,” appears to be a neocon wingnut. Plus, a lot of Vietnam vets say he’s full of shit. I say he’s full of shit if he claims with a straight face that Diem was an effective leader. Sorley was in Nam and retired a Light Colonel. I guess that, unlike Hackworth and others, it wasn’t for refusal to play military politics. He went on to work with CSIS, etc. He’s also refuted by better analysis of Abrams’ career in Nam, which says he changed little in actual operations from what Abrams did.
And, THAT is why, I guess, Coram wrote this book.
He’s full of shit, too, if he claims Vietnamese leaders were, “compared to other Asian leaders, men of relative probity.” Uncle Ho was MUCH more full of probity than Diem.
As for Brute’s ideas about Nam? He’s less than fully right on population dispersion; a fair amount of South Vietnamese lived in the central highlands. As for targeting the coast? South Vietnam’s coast is almost as long as California’s. Target it where?
As for some of the things he may have otherwise wanted? Later on, LBJ did step up bombing on Hanoi, but carefully selected, pseudo-precision targets. Nixon mined Haiphong. North Vietnam still won.
I was originally going to rate this book two stars, because of:
1. The truth it tells about Krulak, including how big a liar he often was.
2. The truth it tells about the author.
But by the time I got through the chapter on Vietnam, I couldn’t even do that.
Weirdly, though, Coram appears not to have been a Marine or even to have served in ANY branch of the armed services.
Read
February 1, 2021Brute is the biography of Victor Krulak, a man who probably had just about as much influence on the forming of the modern Marine Corps as anyone I've ever heard of. Although it's his personal story, the meat of the book is really more about inter-service rivalries between the Army, Navy and the Corps, and how Krulak played an integral part in shaping that fight.
Coram spends what I felt was an inordinate amount of time talking about the conflict between Krulak's personal and professional integrity when it came to the Corps, and the fact that he spent his entire life also denying or trying to escape his Jewish heritage, which was not really all that surprising, given the amount of animosity that Jews attracted while he was growing up, attending the Naval Academy, and building his career. Krulak certainly had his fair share of other faults which are mentioned more sparingly.
Though he was not physically imposing, barely making the height and weight requirements to join the military, Victor Krulak eventually lived up to his ironically assigned nickname, Brute, in ways befitting an honorable, loyal, and determined military officer. He was quite fortunate in that he achieved some early close associations with powerful senior officers, who gave him glowing fitness reports and put him on the fast track for promotions. But unlike some others, his promotions were based on hard work and the willingness to take on any task and complete it, no matter what the cost.
While serving as a junior officer in China, he witnessed the Japanese invasion and occupation, and took made copious drawings and notes about the landing craft that they used which allowed men and equipment to get ashore rapidly. At the time, US forces had boats with high bows and deep keels for landing craft, and it was in the first place awkward for men to get out of the boat, and in the second place they had to remain so far offshore that men would be swimming to the beach, subject to enemy gunfire, rather than already being ashore and able to fight.
He sent dispatches to the Department of the Navy containing his reports, but they were consigned to a filing cabinet without anyone reviewing them at the time. Later on, when it became apparent that there was a strong possibility that we could end up at war in the Pacific, Krulak was working for a general officer tasked with revising amphibious assault doctrine, and Krulak dug out his old files and tried again to get the Navy to look at them. They were too hung up in their bureaucracy to change what they already had on the drawing board, so Krulak and his Marine superiors contacted a man named Higgins, who turned those drawings into the Higgins boats later used in WWII to great effect.
Also, during the Vietnam War, Krulak spent most of his time out in the countryside, visiting his troops and those of our allies, paying attention to what really was going on, rather than making his judgements from an armchair somewhere in the rear. He ended up writing a counterinsurgency manual that was mostly ignored, and the politicians ended up paying more attention to the media reports of a lost cause than what men like Krulak were reporting, so we pulled out. Interestingly enough, Krulak's manual was strikingly similar to the counterinsurgency policy put in place by General Petraeus thirty years later in Iraq.
A great book for military history buffs and Marine Corps fans alike, this was a good read about a very interesting fellow.
Coram spends what I felt was an inordinate amount of time talking about the conflict between Krulak's personal and professional integrity when it came to the Corps, and the fact that he spent his entire life also denying or trying to escape his Jewish heritage, which was not really all that surprising, given the amount of animosity that Jews attracted while he was growing up, attending the Naval Academy, and building his career. Krulak certainly had his fair share of other faults which are mentioned more sparingly.
Though he was not physically imposing, barely making the height and weight requirements to join the military, Victor Krulak eventually lived up to his ironically assigned nickname, Brute, in ways befitting an honorable, loyal, and determined military officer. He was quite fortunate in that he achieved some early close associations with powerful senior officers, who gave him glowing fitness reports and put him on the fast track for promotions. But unlike some others, his promotions were based on hard work and the willingness to take on any task and complete it, no matter what the cost.
While serving as a junior officer in China, he witnessed the Japanese invasion and occupation, and took made copious drawings and notes about the landing craft that they used which allowed men and equipment to get ashore rapidly. At the time, US forces had boats with high bows and deep keels for landing craft, and it was in the first place awkward for men to get out of the boat, and in the second place they had to remain so far offshore that men would be swimming to the beach, subject to enemy gunfire, rather than already being ashore and able to fight.
He sent dispatches to the Department of the Navy containing his reports, but they were consigned to a filing cabinet without anyone reviewing them at the time. Later on, when it became apparent that there was a strong possibility that we could end up at war in the Pacific, Krulak was working for a general officer tasked with revising amphibious assault doctrine, and Krulak dug out his old files and tried again to get the Navy to look at them. They were too hung up in their bureaucracy to change what they already had on the drawing board, so Krulak and his Marine superiors contacted a man named Higgins, who turned those drawings into the Higgins boats later used in WWII to great effect.
Also, during the Vietnam War, Krulak spent most of his time out in the countryside, visiting his troops and those of our allies, paying attention to what really was going on, rather than making his judgements from an armchair somewhere in the rear. He ended up writing a counterinsurgency manual that was mostly ignored, and the politicians ended up paying more attention to the media reports of a lost cause than what men like Krulak were reporting, so we pulled out. Interestingly enough, Krulak's manual was strikingly similar to the counterinsurgency policy put in place by General Petraeus thirty years later in Iraq.
A great book for military history buffs and Marine Corps fans alike, this was a good read about a very interesting fellow.
November 19, 2016
I enjoyed this biography of Victor Krulak, which I read as past of a professional reading program at my place of employ. Not being a U.S. Marine, I was vaguely aware that a previous Marine Commandant was named Krulak, but had no idea that person (Chuck) was the son of the subject of this book (Victor). Thus, I came into the book as a blank slate; with no pre-conceived notions about either the author or the Marines. I discovered that Victor Krulak was an important Marine, who helped reinvent the Marines during WWII (amphibious assaults), and Korea/Vietnam (helicopter assaults); and was a great forward thinking military officers. I also learned that Victor Krulak was an extremely complicated person who perpetually told lies to hide his Jewish background (probably to survive and advance) and to needlessly embellish his already impressive accomplishments. Thus, he was a bit cold and calculating, rough on his family and subordinates, and superiors; this abrasiveness ultimately cost him the job of Commandant of the Marine Corps. I found the author's near worshipfullness of the Marines, and discounting of Army and Navy (and later Air Force) contributions to the various conflicts surveyed to be distracting. All in all, I learned much about the Marine Corps and Lt Gen Krulak, very interesting.
September 9, 2018
The book is a biography on Victor Krulak, which was a general in the Marine Corps.
My feelings on the character have been changing through the book. From the perception of him being a bootlicker flattering of his bosses, and hiding "secrets" in the closet (his parents immigrants, him being ashamed of his jew raising, the elopement and fraudulent marriage) to somebody demanding of the others because he also demands of himself.
Big contributor on the use of landing boats, helicopters, contrainsurgency doctrine on the Marines, defender of Marine Corps independence from the other branches in the military. But also with three kids that felt a failure themselves even when by other measures they were a success.
The book is irregular in my opinion, but it's able to show both a human and a genius. And that's a good symptom.
A few takeaways. First, on the importance of mentors. Second, the military can be agile (airstrip in a few weeks instead of 18 months), but also the risks of agile (airstrip no longer usable after a few years of heavy usage: technical debt). Third, the importance of telling the truth even if it costs you what you most wanted (Commander and fourth star)
My feelings on the character have been changing through the book. From the perception of him being a bootlicker flattering of his bosses, and hiding "secrets" in the closet (his parents immigrants, him being ashamed of his jew raising, the elopement and fraudulent marriage) to somebody demanding of the others because he also demands of himself.
Big contributor on the use of landing boats, helicopters, contrainsurgency doctrine on the Marines, defender of Marine Corps independence from the other branches in the military. But also with three kids that felt a failure themselves even when by other measures they were a success.
The book is irregular in my opinion, but it's able to show both a human and a genius. And that's a good symptom.
A few takeaways. First, on the importance of mentors. Second, the military can be agile (airstrip in a few weeks instead of 18 months), but also the risks of agile (airstrip no longer usable after a few years of heavy usage: technical debt). Third, the importance of telling the truth even if it costs you what you most wanted (Commander and fourth star)
January 22, 2021
This book was pretty good, it was about a marine who enlisted and quickly rose through the ranks in the marines. He was a smart man (Victor Krulak aka Brute) who was determined to change the Corps for the better. If he didn't like something he worked to get it changed, if he said he was going to do something he would. The book revolves around his successes and failures, (though not many fails) in his marine career. The book has some funny moments in it but is also very somber much the same. There wasn't much I didn't like about the book, it's kind of hard to criticize a non-fiction book thats all about the wars that America was involved in and what he did, maybe if the author took a less favorable stance towards Brute.
January 31, 2023
I listened to this book because I like Coram’s style and method of writing and history- mixing the bad and great in his figures. I really enjoyed it, couple takeaways:
1. Generoso goes a long way
2. Great public success brings personal sacrifice, especially to family
3. The Marines excite because they fulfill a high dream by Americans and if they fail they will be engulfed into the Army or Navy.
4. The Marines teach their history well to their cadets because it ensures they cannot be easily brainwashed - aka give your students and children a solid story of their past to ground them for the trials of life
1. Generoso goes a long way
2. Great public success brings personal sacrifice, especially to family
3. The Marines excite because they fulfill a high dream by Americans and if they fail they will be engulfed into the Army or Navy.
4. The Marines teach their history well to their cadets because it ensures they cannot be easily brainwashed - aka give your students and children a solid story of their past to ground them for the trials of life
March 5, 2019
This was an intrusively inspired book about a true legend of the Marine Corps. If the past is prologue knowing someone’s background can enlighten you to their actions and thought processes. The Krulak family are true patriots and an American dream come true. Immigrants who wore themselves deep into the fabric of the country and contributed significantly in every major conflict dating back to the Boxer Rebellion.
Robert Coram is a master story teller and provides well researched background and context. I look forward to reading about Boyd next.
Robert Coram is a master story teller and provides well researched background and context. I look forward to reading about Boyd next.
March 10, 2020
Great biography, pulls no punches
I enjoyed reading the book, mostly because I am a Marine, understanding the fight to keep the Marine Corps relevant. General Kirkland was a hard man who made hard decisions. It confirms that there is a balance in life. He had sacrificed family for the Marine Corps. Even though he scarred his sons for life, he made a positive impact on how America views her Marines.
I enjoyed reading the book, mostly because I am a Marine, understanding the fight to keep the Marine Corps relevant. General Kirkland was a hard man who made hard decisions. It confirms that there is a balance in life. He had sacrificed family for the Marine Corps. Even though he scarred his sons for life, he made a positive impact on how America views her Marines.
August 21, 2020
The story of General Victor Krulak, U.S. Marine is an interesting read. His saving of the Corps after WWII and Korea is nothing short of amazing and one that is just part of an illustrious career. His influence is still felt across not only the Corps but the military today. Not bad for an individual who really was not medically qualified to serve upon his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy because of his height. Well written and a joy to read this book is a must for military historians.
October 20, 2023
Kurlack had so much influence on the Marine Corps. Very interesting on the Chowder Club, saving the Marine Corps in the 1947 National Security Act. Did so many great things for the Marine Corps. Leadership focus: Disciplined, strict, and yet generous and loved his Marines and Marine Corps. More appreciative of how fragile the Marine Corps' existence is and what we have to do to maintain that existence.
September 27, 2022
At times, perhaps, a bit too honest about this Marine. Nevertheless, this was an amazing story. Men from that generation were a different breed of men. I'd like to have heard a little more if Brute had any crossings with Chesty, but that in no way diminishes the importance and value of this book. Highly recommended.
April 10, 2018
Well researched and very well written biography of one of the legends of the Corps. Coram does not whitewash any of Brute's failings. He simply explains the man and his times. This should be required reading at Quantico.
September 9, 2019
I really recommend this book for those interested in "modern" military history and one particularly ambitious person connected to it (specifically the Marines) in the person of Victor "Brute" Krulak. I wouldn't have thought I'd like this but the audio version was fascinating.
July 2, 2022
Well written biography of a "squared away Marine!"
Brute Krulak was the force behind the design of the landing craft that got the Marines on all the islands they landed on in the Pacific.
He was also the inspiration of the Marines use of helicopters.
Amazing story.
Brute Krulak was the force behind the design of the landing craft that got the Marines on all the islands they landed on in the Pacific.
He was also the inspiration of the Marines use of helicopters.
Amazing story.
January 15, 2023
I’ll give Brute his 4th Star here (but withhold his 5th on account of his questionable parenting). Honestly, a well written book with many many insights into the Marines, this man, and much of the 20th century.
August 14, 2024
Good storytelling of a great officer. Interesting insight on a complicated leader and a true warrior scholar. My main take away: the essence of success lies in training, however the description of the institutional infighting is an also harrowing.
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