pt. 1. Soldiers at sea, 1775-1909: American marines in the War for Independence, 1775-1783. The new Corps, 1798-1815. Archibald Henderson preserves the Corps, 1815-1859. The Marine Corps survives its doldrums, 1859-1889. The Marine Corps and the new Navy, 1889-1909 -- pt. 2. Colonial infantry, 1899-1941: To sunny tropic scenes, 1899-1914. Hispaniola, 1915-1934. The Marines in China, 1905-1941. Nicaragua : end of an era, 1926-1933 -- pt. 3. Amphibious assault force, 1909-1945: The creation of the Advanced Base Force, 1900-1916. The World War, 1917-1919. Amphibious warfare and the Fleet Marine Force, 1919-1939. World War II : defeating Japan in the South Pacific, 1939-1944. World War II: amphibious drive across the Central Pacific, 1943-1845 -- pt. 4. Force in Readiness, 1945-1990s: Winning the right and means to fight, 1945-1950. The Korean War : fighting on two fronts, 1950-1953. Building the Force in Readiness : years of trial and accomplishment, 1953-1965. The longest war : the Marines in Vietnam, 1965-1975. The Marine Corps and American rearmament, 1975-1989. The once and future Corps, the 1990s.