"From personal papers and official documents, prominent historians of the U.S. Marine Corps present essays here on the twenty-seven Commandants who served the Corps between 1775 and 1983. Collectively, their essays trace the history of the Marine Corps through the experiences of the Commandants and their support staff. Each essay describes a Commandant's personality and analyzes his entire career with a focus on his term as Commandant. Frank assessments are offered of each Commandant's performance and historical significance." "From the appointment of Samuel Nicholas in 1776 to John A. Lejeune in 1920 and Robert H. Barrow in 1979, this anthology of original works is the first in terms of focus, research, and analysis to tell the story of the Corps through the performances of its Commandants."--BOOK JACKET.