Being from Texas I don't have much of a problem with Spanish. It would have been different if you were in the 90th I guess.
Why Gen Smith wrote this I'm not sure. He had his fair share of amphibious experience in the Pacific but maybe there was a need for a European article in the Gazette.
And there were a few Marines in the OSS who parachuted into France. Check this out. By and large, you are right, of course. WWII is the example I give to people that ask what the difference between the Marines and Army is. The Marines are more objective oriented: here's your island, go get it from the bad guys. The army is more suited for protracted land campaigns: bludgeon your way onto the beach and go as far east as you can. Of course that still didn't stop us from bloodying the nose of the Hun in WWI!