Why were marines used in battles like fallujah and the like instead of regular army infantry ?

Question

Are the marines taking on roles that used to be designated to the army ?

I just happend to notice that in WWII the marines were used alongside the navy to take islands as they were intended to be used and the army was used against hitler on the ground and solid soil with no marines in sight. But now marines are in the dry doing what army infantery could do.

Relax, by "as intended" I mean alongside with the navy "to project power from the sea". Infantery was present but it looks more like they were more support rather than combat. And the bloodiest battles of WWII were on the eastern front. The Germans killed the us army 2 times over there, though I admit it probably were among the bloodiest for the us, yes.

Answer 1

"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea."
- Marine Corps Hymn

You need to brush up on your facts, Marines were the first in but the Army was right in the thick of Fallujah also. But you wouldn't know about Army 1st Cav. would you?
You just noticed Marines were used in WWII in the way they were intended? How do you propose "they were intended to be used"? Oh you mean in the Pacific Islands, the most bloody ground combat of WWII? Does Iwo Jima, Tarawa or the Guadalcanal ring a bell? Yeah right, according to you an island isn't ground right? I guess you forgot about Korea, Vietnam, Grenada and the Desert Storm, none of those were fought on land either huh? If the Army could do it they would.
We have this little concept going on in the Military right now, perhaps you've heard of it, it's called Joint Operations, you know everyone working together? A big issue with the US Military in the past was the lack of cross-service cooperation, now days we're working for a unified cooperative force, I guess you missed the boat.

Answer 2

If you look at Marine Corps history, you'll find that in the era of the "Banana Wars" the USMC was occasionally called (and not in a very complimentary manner) "state department troops" and used for counterinsurgency operations. It might be more accurate to say that the Army, having drawn all the wrong conclusions from Vietnam, have learned in Iraq to take on a traditional Marine role, and that the doctrine developed by General Petraeus' group is nothing but an update of the Marine doctrine developed in the 1920's and avoided for eighty years by the Army.

Answer 3

ever hear first to fight. Marines are almost always the first to be sent in. one reason is Marines can be sent in with out declaring war. Marines are usually better trained for combat situations. every Marine is trained in basic combat skills. The Marines are also usually sent in first because we are the most mobile of all the armed forces. but the army was also there too. and no Marines are not taking on extra roles. we are just doing our job. also Marines are the ones you send in to **** up the enemy, the army goes in and cleans up and does the police work.

Answer 4

I thought both were involved but I could be wrong, and the marines are doing what ever task they are set to its not like they are taking anything away from the Army, this is a strange question

Answer 5

The Naval Infantry (Marines) rotate into Iraq along with Army Infantry units.

We live in an era when the U.S. uses its, military in a Joint matter. Meaning the Services work together and interoperably. the days when any single service carries-out a major operation such as Iraqi Freedom are long over.

Answer 6

The Army was involved in the fight for Fallujah. Just ask anyone who was in the First Cavalry Division at the time.

The Marine Corps is responsible for the region of Iraq in which Fallujah is located.

Answer 7

They were both involved, Marines were the first into the battle though.