George Barnett transformed the United States Marine Corps from an antiquated afterthought to a modern force with an international reputation. After a long apprenticeship as a junior officer, Barnett emerged as a pioneer of amphibious warfare. Leading the experimental Advanced Base Force Brigade at Culebra in 1914, he secured the Corps' survival by establishing its amphibious mission. Appointed Commandant the same year, Barnett prepared the Marines for service in Europe, overcoming opposition from the Army and Navy. Without him, the Marines would not have served in France during World War I.

Barnett left the post of Commandant in 1920 and began dictating his recollections of 45 years of service, including his education at Annapolis, overseas service in Sitka, Samoa and Peking, and encounters with Robert Louis Stevenson, the Meiji Emperor and the Dowager Empress of China.

This edition of his memoirs includes chapter-by-chapter analysis by the editor and provides an unrivalled look at the Corps between the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Long mined by scholars, Barnett's memoir is now available to the public.