First to fight Marines have been at the forefront of every war since the Revolutionary War,
conducting over 300 landings of foreign shores ranging from the tropics to the
poles.
Leatherneck From 1775 - 1875, the Marine uniform included a leather stock around the neck to
protect and keep head erect.
Devil Dog 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood, Germans called Marines Teufelhunden. 5th and 6th
Marine Regiments.
Esprit de corps Spirit of the Corps, Pride in unit and loyalty to USMC.
Uncommon valor was a common virtue Admiral Nimitz said this of Marines at Battle of Iwa Jima
Semper Fidelis Always Faithful, Adapted 1883
Retreat, Hell! We're attacking in a different direction. Battle of Chosin Resevior. General Oliver Smith, CG 1st MARDIV.
1775 Creation of the Corps, 10 Nov 1775 Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, 2 Battalions under
the command of Capt Samuel Nicholas.
1776 First Marine landing, Revolutionary War Providence Island, Bahamas to secure
ammunition.
1798 Congress makes Marines own Branch of service which brings it back into existence
1805 Marines storm Barbary coast pirates @ Derna, "shore of Tripoli", O'Bannon given
Mameluke sword. First raising of Colors in Eastern Hemisphere
1847 Mexican War, Battle of Chepulttepec, "Halls of Montezuma", NCO 'blood strip'
commemorates this battle.
1859 Army COL Robert E Lee leads Marines to put down John Brown's slave revolt at
Harpers Ferry
1861 Civil War, Limited engagement, Marines served mostly with Naval detachments at
sea, manning Naval guns.
1868 Eagle Globe Anchor adapted by Brigadier General Jacob Zelian, 7th Commandant,
as USMC symbol. Modified from Royal Marine's symbol.
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1883 Semper Fidelis Adapted as motto
1898 Spanish-American War, Marines conducted operations in Pacific, Cuba
1900 Boxer Rebellion, Peking, China, Defended Legation Quarters.
1901-1934 Banana Wars - engagements from Caribbean to Pacific, protected American
interest, lifes in unstable political areas.
1913 Marine Aviation est, Maj Alfred Cunningham first pilot.
1933 USMC reorganized to Fleet Marine Force; Marine Corps Equipment Board est at
Quantico, VA to develop/test new equipment
07 DEC 1941 Pearl Harbor, US enters WW2
08-23 DEC 1941 Battle Wake Island, Marines defended island until forced withdraw, major delay in
Japanese advance.
1950 Korean War: 1MARDIV lands Inchon; 1st combat test for Marine helicopters; Battle
of Chosin - Successful Tactical retrograde.
1958 Marines finalize reorganization of combat structure to Fleet Marine Force.
1965 Marines land in South Vietnam; Also land in Dominican Republic
1982 Marines land in Lebanon as a peace keeping force. Withdraw July 1984.
23 Oct 1983 suicide truck bomb hits HQ, Kills 241, wounded 70
1983 Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada, Marines sent during government instability to
protect US citizen and US interests
1989 Operation Just Cause, Panama, Marines sent to overthrow military government of
General Manuel Noriega
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1990 Operation Desert Shield - Iraqi forces invade Kuwait, Marines sent to halt advance,
validated USMC's Maritime Prepositioning Force and MAGTF
1991 Operation Desert Storm - Iraqi failed to comply with UN, Marine aviation followed by
Marine ground assault
1995 LTCOL SARAH DEAL BURROW - 1st female pilot - flew 53's
2001 OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
2003 OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
1stLt Presley O'Bannon 1805, Battle of Derna (Tripoli), displayed heroism. Awarded Mameluke by Prince
Hamlet Bey, gold halt, ivory handle, curved blade
BGen Archibald Henderson "Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps", 39 years as 5th Commandant from 1820-
1859. Introduced higher standards of training, appearance, discipline
SgtMaj John Quick Cuzco Well, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Awarded Medal of Honor for semaphoring (old
flag communication system) for emergency lifting of Naval Bombardment during
assault.
SgtMaj Dan Daly Medal of Honor for actions at (1) Boxer Rebellion (2) first Caco War in Haiti. During
Battle Belleau Wood, "Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"
MGen Smedley Butler Medal of Honor (1) First Caco War in Haiti (2) Veracruz
MGen John LeJeune 13th Commandant of USMC; 1st Marine to command Army Division in combat,
France, 1918
LtGen Lewis "Chesty" Puller "Tiger of the Mountains" served in Nicaragua, engaging in guerrilla warfare. Most
decorated Marine in history. USMC Mascot, English bulldog named "Chesty"
LtGen Holland Smith Lead largest force ever under Marine command @ 136,000 troops during Pacific,
WW2
Capt Joseph Fossa Marine Pilot, Awarded Medal of Honor for actions at Guadalcanal, 2nd highest kills
in WW2 @ 26
Maj Gregory "Pappy" Boyington Marine Pilot, #1 most kills in WW2 @ 28, Commanded VMH-214 Black Sheep
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Cpl Ira Hayes Pima Indian, participated 2nd flag raising on Mount Sirabachi after Battle of Iwo
Jima, 23Feb1945
Pvt Opha Mae Johnson 1st female to enlist in USMC reserve 13 August 1918
CWO Annie Grimes 1st female to retire after 20 yrs; 3rd black female Marine
Pvt Lucille McClarren 1943, 1st female enlist active Marine
Capt Anne Lentz 1943, 1st female commissioned officer
BGen Margaret Brewer 11 May 1978 fist female flag officer, served as 7th director Women Marines 1971-
1977
LtGen Carol Mutter 1996 first 3 star officer in US armed forces. Deputy Chief of Staff Manpower
Molly Marine Statue dedicated Marine Birthday 1943, New Orleans, to honor women Marines.
Joan of Arc, 1st female military statue in Orleans, France, the connection between
Orleans, New Orleans.
Battle of Bladensburg August 1814, Marines (500) stalled advance of British troops (2000) on Washington
DC. Defeated 3 charges of larger force before being outflanked.
Battle New Orleans January 1815, Gen Andrew Jackson defeated British troops. US lost 100 men vs
British lose of 2000 men
Battle Belleau Wood 1918, France, defeated German offensive. earned title of "Devil Dog", 5th, 6th
Marines Awarded French Fourier, Area named 'Woods of the Brigade of the
Marines"
Battle of Wake Island 08-23 DEC 1941, Marine defense of Wake Island after Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor. Caused significant delay in advance of Japanese forces.
Battle of Guadalcanal 07 AUG 1942, 1MARDIV lands Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands, 1st land offensive
of US in Pacific theater and 1st combat test of Marine Amphibious Doctrine.
Battle of Tarawa 20 NOV 1943, Marines land Tarawa Island in Gilbert Island, Japanese Commander
"It will take a million Americans 100 years to conquer it" due to heavy fortification.
Island secured 76 hours, Due to extended reef, Marines offloaded hundreds of
yards from beaches.
Battle of Mariana Islands June 1943, landings at Guan, Saipan, Tinian, Provided advanced navy and air force
bases
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