In this episode of Why Wars Happened, award-winning historian Stephen Platt uncovers the forgotten story of Evans Carlson — the bold, unconventional Marine officer who helped create the legendary Marine Raiders, the foundation of today’s U.S. Special Forces.
👉 What you’ll discover:
🇨🇳 How Carlson fought alongside Chinese communist guerrillas before WWII
⚔️ The creation of the Marine Raiders and their daring tactics in the Pacific
🏛️ Carlson’s ties to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and political ideals
🚫 Why his unorthodox strategies clashed with military tradition
🔎 How his legacy influenced modern special operations forces
This is the dramatic, overlooked story of the Marine who changed U.S. warfare forever.
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:49 – Meet historian Stephen Platt
01:27 – Who was Evans Carlson?
03:00 – Early life & influences
04:58 – Fighting with Chinese communists
13:21 – Founding the Marine Raiders
14:55 – Why his tactics caused friction
21:22 – What happened after the war
28:24 – Final thoughts & book info
#WWII #MarineRaiders #SpecialForces #USMarines #WhyWarsHappened #MilitaryHistory
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