--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Marines in Korea never feared…" description: "\"The Marines in Korea never feared 'friendly fire' or artillery coming from the South Koreans - from their allies - like they did later in Vietnam, figh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/david-douglas-duncan-25715_allies_the-marines-in-korea-never-feared-friend_1287125.jpg" --- # The Marines in Korea never feared 'friendly fire' or… ![“The Marines in Korea never feared 'friendly fire' or artillery coming from the South Koreans - from their allies - like they did later in Vietnam, fighting with the South Vietnamese. The Koreans could be trusted.” quote by David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/david-douglas-duncan-25715_allies_the-marines-in-korea-never-feared-friend_1287125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/david-douglas-duncan-25715_allies_the-marines-in-korea-never-feared-friend_1287125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/david-douglas-duncan-25715_allies_the-marines-in-korea-never-feared-friend_1287125.jpg) > “The Marines in Korea never feared 'friendly fire' or artillery coming from the South Koreans - from their allies - like they did later in Vietnam, fighting with the South Vietnamese. The Koreans could be trusted.” [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He contrasts Korean and Vietnamese conflicts, noting that Korean allies were trusted, unlike later experiences with South Vietnamese forces. **In simple terms:** Allied trust varied between wars. Key Takeaway Recognize differing ally reliability. Themes trust military history alliances Mood critical analytical Type historical military When to use this quote - military planning - foreign policy - historical analysis Key Concepts geopolitics war dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What factors influence trust in wartime alliances? - How do historical perceptions affect current foreign relations? A Different Perspective Trust can be eroded by shifting political contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) [Artillery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artillery/) [Coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly/) [Friendly Artillery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly-artillery-4179745/) [Korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korea/) [Koreans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/koreans/) [Koreans Allies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/koreans-allies-4179743/) [Koreans Trusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/koreans-trusted-4179742/) [Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Marines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marines/) [Marines Korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marines-korea-4179744/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) [Trusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trusted/) [Vietnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam/) [Vietnamese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnamese/) ## Related quotes > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) > [Koreans stuck to their traditional way of life without knowing what was going on outside the country. We were like frogs in a well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-chung-hee/koreans-stuck-to-their-traditional-way-of-life-without-knowing-what/) [Park Chung-hee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-chung-hee/) > [I think the notion of getting the North Koreans to denuclearize is probably a lost cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/i-think-the-notion-of-getting-the-north-koreans-to-denuclearize-is/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) > [“Korean-made video games now constitute a quarter of the world market. Even most Koreans have no idea how big Korea’s gaming industry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/korean-made-video-games-now-constitute-a-quarter-of-the-world-market/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [In North Koreans, the moment we are born, we don't know there's another life existing outside of our country. The regime always told us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/in-north-koreans-the-moment-we-are-born-we-don-t-know-there-s-another/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [Some day, somebody is going to have to start talking about what happens to us all a decade from now if we let these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/some-day-somebody-is-going-to-have-to-start-talking-about-what/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [In the past, Koreans have mostly copied other countries' engines, and so there's been kind of a problem with quality and a real limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/in-the-past-koreans-have-mostly-copied-other-countries-engines-and-so/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [Yes, I don't believe that the inter-Korean relationship has, quote, 'deteriorated' since I assumed office. Rather I believe that the relationship between the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-myung-bak/yes-i-don-t-believe-that-the-inter-korean-relationship-has-quote/) [Lee Myung-bak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-myung-bak/) > [“Kim Jong-il also invented the hamburger. Almost touchingly, North Koreans have a lot of pride in their heritage, though it’s for absurd reasons. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/kim-jong-il-also-invented-the-hamburger-almost-touchingly-north/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [I respect the Japanese and especially like their execution and communication styles. Unlike the Koreans, they will not hit you from behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gou/i-respect-the-japanese-and-especially-like-their-execution-and/) [Terry Gou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gou/) > [“there’s some debate about whether he actually saw combat, but I think he did, because he sees them hiding in trees. I don’t think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-b-miller/there-s-some-debate-about-whether-he-actually-saw-combat-but-i-think/) [Derek B. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-b-miller/) > [The North Koreans or Chinese may have a million men in uniform but it's about how you perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/the-north-koreans-or-chinese-may-have-a-million-men-in-uniform-but-it/) [Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/) > [Again, I think we have much greater diplomatic weight by having all of us sit on the same side of the table wanting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/again-i-think-we-have-much-greater-diplomatic-weight-by-having-all-of/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [South Koreans who have seen and praised the mass games should remember the hardship of tearful children. Teachers drive them hard with curses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-il-sung/south-koreans-who-have-seen-and-praised-the-mass-games-should/) [Kim Il-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-il-sung/) ## More by David Douglas Duncan > [War is the easiest photography in the business. Just get close, be lucky, know how your camera works. There are subjects everywhere. Everyplace you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/war-is-the-easiest-photography-in-the-business-just-get-close-be/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [Photographer's advice: Stand in the right place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/photographer-s-advice-stand-in-the-right-place/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [The major economies are not American anymore. They are Asian and South American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/the-major-economies-are-not-american-anymore-they-are-asian-and-south/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and knowing nothing about Picasso, I had the audacity to knock on his door, became his friend, and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/born-in-kansas-city-missouri-and-knowing-nothing-about-picasso-i-had/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [There's nobody between you and the print. Nobody. It's you and the subject and the final print. And if you get it published that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/there-s-nobody-between-you-and-the-print-nobody-it-s-you-and-the/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [It's very simple... this banging around with a camera and typewriter as a business is just one helluva lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/it-s-very-simple-this-banging-around-with-a-camera-and-typewriter-as/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [War is in the eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/war-is-in-the-eyes/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [With Germany conquered, the Kremlin checkmated, Japan converted, it became easier - safer - to peek around looking for someone to fear... and maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/with-germany-conquered-the-kremlin-checkmated-japan-converted-it/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [Today, Japan is one of the few countries in the world where one hears laughter everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/today-japan-is-one-of-the-few-countries-in-the-world-where-one-hears/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [After I left the Marines in '46, I wanted to stay in the Marines; I was very happy - I loved that life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/after-i-left-the-marines-in-46-i-wanted-to-stay-in-the-marines-i-was/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [I don't think you can impose a social order from the top down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/i-don-t-think-you-can-impose-a-social-order-from-the-top-down/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [I was a war correspondent in Korea. I did a book on it: 'This is War.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/i-was-a-war-correspondent-in-korea-i-did-a-book-on-it-this-is-war/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [I have taken some hits here and there, but I've been most damaged carrying my little terrier to bed, and I broke my hip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/i-have-taken-some-hits-here-and-there-but-i-ve-been-most-damaged/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [My objective always is to stay as close as possible and shoot the pictures as if through the eyes of the infantryman, the Marine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/my-objective-always-is-to-stay-as-close-as-possible-and-shoot-the/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [I never felt in competition with anybody in war photography. You're lucky to get your ass in and out again. It's as simple as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/i-never-felt-in-competition-with-anybody-in-war-photography-you-re/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) [Explore all 22 David Douglas Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) ## More Allies quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) [Joseph Joffre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joffre/) > [As far as Japan is concerned, I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-far-as-japan-is-concerned-i-want-to-help-all-of-our-allies-but-we/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What would your life be like if your body were your friend and ally?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/what-would-your-life-be-like-if-your-body-were-your-friend-and-ally/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [There is an irreplaceable ally. It's called the United States of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/there-is-an-irreplaceable-ally-it-s-called-the-united-states-of/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [It would have been easier to fight alone with inadequate forces than to have to accept...responsibility for our ally's lack of fighting qualities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kesselring/it-would-have-been-easier-to-fight-alone-with-inadequate-forces-than/) [Albert Kesselring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kesselring/) > [It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you become really committed to winning and become a genuine ally of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/it-isn-t-until-you-begin-to-fight-in-your-own-cause-that-you-become/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul \[of Tarsus\], Teresa of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheists-who-write-off-religion-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [My own take on the word "transgender" is that it's an umbrella term for anyone who breaks any rules, laws, guidelines or protocol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/my-own-take-on-the-word-transgender-is-that-it-s-an-umbrella-term-for/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) [Browse all 1,053 Allies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Marines in Korea never feared 'friendly fire' or artillery coming from the South Koreans - from their allies - like they did later in Vietnam, fighting with the South Vietnamese. 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