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Has anyone read this classic by SLA Marshall? If so, what do you think about his fantastic claims that at most only 15% of US infantrymen fired their weapons in combat?I know the data has been refuted but this is one claim that has not gone away. His conclusions are especially useful to the pacifist lobby.
I do not really doubt his claims for the units and men that he interviewed. He found a similar statistic to be true for Army units in Korea, but found the number changed dramatically in Viet Nam.The flaw in his study, I believe, was in the types and numbers of units interviewed. If you've read Dick Winter's book "Beyond Band of Brothers" you know that he was infuriated by Marshall and his claims. The same can be said for any number of men with extended frontline combat experience (read George Wilson's "If You Survive") -- they'll lead you to believe that Marshall's claims were the exception, but they are basing their opinions on their own experiences. On another note, there are always stories of men from previous wars who would ram round after round down their muskets or who would empty their bolt action rifles completely, working the action but never firing a shot.It'd be interesting to see if there was ever a similar study for units in the Pacific theater.
I personally, doubt SLAM's numbers. I have never spoken to a WWII combat vet who says the numbers are anything but Garbage. The claims are about combat units. 15-20% is probably right if you include all the rear area personnel though I do not see how non-combat troops are expected to fire their weapons if they never come in contact with the enemy.My own personal combat experience tends to lead me to believe he is wrong as well. if anything, the problem is getting soldier to lay effective fire. Leadership is the key, not some bogus moral reluctance to kill. I only fell sorry for one of the people that I killed, and he just happened to be in the wrong place. I would do it again under the circumstances but I still feel bad. Do not misunderstand me, I am not wracked by remorse, it was simply the fortunes of war.As to the stories of multiply charged weapons and working the bolt on an empty weapon, that can easily be the result of excitement.There is nothing more exciting than combat. NOTHING!Actually, I think a similar study was done for the Pacific Theater, I would have to research it to find the title.
I knew I would find it and here it is. THE SECRET OF THE SOLDIERS WHO DIDN?T SHOOT:http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1989/2/1989_2_36.shtmlThis is one of the best Articles I have read yet exploding SLAM's myth. I remember reading it back in High School long before I had seen combat myself, much less got my first kill. Excellent article.
