Franklin D. Roosevelt Liibrary
Declassified
DOD DIR 5200.9 (9/27/58)
DATE 4-6-58
 
Washington, D. C.
 
August 29, 1941.
 
 
 
 
 
The President,
              The White House
 
My dear Mr. President:
 
 
                Troops of the United States Marine Corps are now serving
 in Iceland. A small Army force is at present there and a larger body of
 Army troops is expected soon to sail for that island. The military situation
 requires that the personnel of the several branches be under a single 
command; and it is most undesirable that there be two separate United
 States military forces in that island, each operating under a different
 department and different laws. Congress has provided a remedy for
 such a situation by the following statutes:
 
        a. The Marine Corps shall, at all times, be subject to the laws and
 regulations established for the government of the Navy, except when 
detached for service with the Army by order of the President; and when
 so detached they shall be subject to the rules and Articles of War prescribed
 for the government of the Army:***
 (Revised Statutes, sec. 1621; 34 U.S.C. 715)
 
      b. "ART. 2. Persons Subject to Military Law. -
The following persons are subject to these articles and shall be understood
 as included in the term ,any person subject to military law, or persons subject
 to military law,, whenever used in these articles:
                                    *                                *                                  *
        (c) Officers and soldiers of the Marine Corps when detached for service
 with the armies of the United States by order of the President:*** 
" (Article of War 2, 41 stat. 787, 10 U.S.C. 1473)
 
                It is therefore recommended that, pursuant to the statutes quoted,
 you sign the inclosed draft of an order, which will have the effect of making
 the Army and Marine forces in Iceland a single