Hupple’s Cat

hupplescat.bsky.social

01 Kasım 2026 13:21

Good point. It sounds like he was in and out of the hospital repeatedly for the last decade of his life.

B. A. Friedman

bafriedman.bsky.social

01 Kasım 2026 13:21

It also could have been feelings of guilt. Ellis’ nearly worked himself to death to produce Advance Base Operations in Micronesia and had to be hospitalized for a stretch. Lejeune pushed him really hard.

Hupple’s Cat

hupplescat.bsky.social

01 Kasım 2026 13:21

It's just a minor entry in Lejeune's memoir, and probably means nothing, but makes me wonder: Did Lejeune feel guilt for sending a sick man on a secret mission? Did he want to recognize a trusted subordinate without raising suspicion? Was it a case of "the Japanese know we know they knew"? Odd.

Hupple’s Cat

hupplescat.bsky.social

01 Kasım 2026 13:21

Lejeune's slight recognition of Ellis in his autobiography is a bit odd. He could have just avoided mention of Ellis altogether. By 1930, Japan remained a potential enemy in the Pacific, PLAN ORANGE remained classified, and no one besides Ellis's fellow Marines or family acknowledged his loss.

Hupple’s Cat

hupplescat.bsky.social

01 Kasım 2026 13:20

Despite Japanese knowledge of Ellis' mission and demise, and Ellis' family's suspicions about his death, the press never made much of this story. This was just as well for Lejeune, who was dealing with publicity from unpopular occupations of various Caribbean countries.