Court-Martial at Parris Island: The Ribbon Creek Incident

by John C. Stevens, John C. Stevens

Overview

On the night of April 8, 1956, marine drill instructor Matthew McKeon led Platoon 71 on a forced march through the backwaters of Parris Island in an effort to restore flagging discipline. Unexpectedly strong currents in Ribbon Creek and an ensuing panic led to the drowning of six recruits. The tragedy of Ribbon Creek and the court-martial of Staff Sergeant McKeon became the subject of sensational national media coverage and put the future of the U.S. Marine Corps in jeopardy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570037030
Publisher:	University of South Carolina Press
Publication date:	12/13/2011
Pages:	218
Sales rank:	273,411
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

John C. Stevens III, a retired Massachusetts trial court judge, was a practicing attorney for more than twenty-five years. Judge Stevens is a graduate of Brown University and Suffolk University Law School and a contributing author for the Massachusetts Family Law Manual. He spent the summer of 1957 as a Parris Island recruit and experienced firsthand the aftermath of the Ribbon Creek drownings and the McKeon court-martial. He lives in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

It's hard to imagine a more qualified guide to the Ribbon Creek story. . . . At each point in the narrative, the author carefully explains the military background, legal relevance, and public relations significance of statements, events, and decisions. . . . The effort is so convincing that this work will certainly be the definitive statement on the facts of Ribbon Creek.

Armed Forces and Society

[A] fascinating look at the episode.

Boston Sunday Herald

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