Happy 230th Birthday


United States Marine Corps

Nice Cake!

Happy Birthday Marines

From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of UNITED STATES MARINES.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze,
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job --
The UNITED STATES MARINES.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By UNITED STATES MARINES.

Funny!...They don't look that old...

Happy birthday to the "Old Breed".

On November 10, 1775, Robert Mullan, the proprietor of the Tun Tavern, was commissioned by an act of Congress to raise the first two battalions of Marines, under the leadership of Samuel Nicholas, the first appointed Commandant of the Continental Marines.

Nicholas's grandfather was also a member of the Tun Tavern Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and it is this relationship between Mullan, Nicholas and the Tavern which has resulted in Tun Tavern being acknowledged as the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps.

There are an estimated three million active and retired U.S. Marines worldwide who have been exposed in their military training to the historical significance of Tun Tavern.

Each year on November 10th, around the world Marines toast the Marine's birthplace on the most significant date in the history of the Corps.



MARINE CORPS ORDERS No. 47 (Series 1921)


MARINE CORPS ORDERS
No. 47 (Series 1921)
HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS
Washington, November 1, 1921

759. The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the 10th of November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it will be read upon receipt.

(1) On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "Marine". In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.

(2) The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and is the long eras of tranquility at home, generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.

(3) In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "Marine" has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.

(4) This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.



JOHN A. LEJEUNE,
Major General Commandant

75705--21



All U.S. Marines are gung-ho. But, few can match the vision and total commitment of the famous 13th Commandant, Major General John A. Lejeune. In 1921 he issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921.

General Lejeune's order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps. It further directed that the order be read to all Marines on 10 November of each year to honor the founding of the Marine Corps. Thereafter, 10 November became a unique day for U.S. Marines throughout the world.

Soon, some Marine commands began to not only honor the birthday, but celebrate it. In 1923 the Marine Barracks at Ft. Mifflin, Pennsylvania, staged a formal dance. The Marines at the Washington Navy Yard arranged a mock battle on the parade ground. At Quantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Marine baseball team played a Cuban team and won, 9 to 8.

The first "formal" Birthday Ball took place on Philadelphia in 1925. First class Marine Corps style, all the way! Guests included the Commandant, the Secretary of War (in 1925 the term "politically correct" didn't exist; it was Secretary of War, not Secretary of Defense), and a host of statesmen and elected officials. Prior to the Ball, Gen. Lejeune unveiled a memorial plaque at Tun Tavern. Then the entourage headed for the Benjamin Franklin Hotel and an evening of festivities and frolicking.

Over the years the annual Birthday Ball grew and grew, taking on a life of its own. In 1952 the Commandant, General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., formalized the cake-cutting ceremony and other traditional observances. For example, Marine Corps policy now mandates that the first piece of cake must be presented to the oldest U.S. Marine present. The second piece goes to the youngest Marine. Among the many such mandates is a solemn reading of the Commandant's birthday message to the Corps.

Like the U.S. Marine Corps itself, the annual Birthday Ball has evolved from simple origins to the polished and professional functions of today. Nonetheless, one thing remains constant, the tenth day of November! This unique holiday for warriors is a day of camaraderie, a day to honor Corps and Country. Throughout the world on 10 November, U.S. Marines celebrate the birth of their Corps -- the most loyal, most feared, most revered, and most professional fighting force the world has ever known.






Every year the Commandant of the Marine Corps issues a birthday message


ALMAR 051/05

Date signed: 10/31/2005 MARADMIN Number: 051/05
Subject: UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - 10 NOVEMBER 2005
R 310026Z OCT 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 051/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE - 10 NOVEMBER 2005//
POC/SGT K. PTAK/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/-/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL:PTAKKK@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 1775, THE SECOND CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS RESOLVED TO RAISE TWO BATTALIONS OF CONTINENTAL MARINES
MARKING THE BIRTH OF OUR UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. AS MAJOR
GENERAL LEJEUNE'S MESSAGE REMINDS US, THE ENSUING GENERATIONS OF
MARINES WOULD COME TO SIGNIFY ALL THAT IS HIGHEST IN WARFIGHTING
EXCELLENCE AND MILITARY VIRTUE. EACH NOVEMBER AS MARINES THE WORLD
OVER CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR CORPS, WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THAT LONG
LINE OF "SOLDIERS OF THE SEA" AND THE ILLUSTRIOUS LEGACY THEY HAVE
HANDED DOWN TO US.
2. THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF CONTINUOUS COMBAT OPERATIONS
OVERSEAS AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE HERE AT HOME - A YEAR OF
CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BROUGHT OUT THE VERY BEST IN OUR CORPS. IN
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, MARINE COURAGE AND MASTERY OF COMPLEX AND
CHAOTIC ENVIRONMENTS HAVE TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF
MILLIONS. MARINE COMPASSION AND FLEXIBILITY PROVIDED HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE TO THOUSANDS IN THE WAKE OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN TSUNAMI,
AND HERE AT HOME, MARINES WITH AAVS, HELICOPTERS, AND SOMETIMES WITH
THEIR BARE HANDS SAVED HUNDREDS OF OUR OWN FELLOW AMERICANS IN THE
WAKE OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA. ACROSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF
OPERATIONS, YOU HAVE SHOWCASED THAT MARINES CREATE STABILITY IN AN
UNSTABLE WORLD, AND HAVE REINFORCED OUR CORPS' REPUTATION FOR
SETTING THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.
3. THE SENSE OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND PATRIOTISM THAT EPITOMIZED
THOSE WHO ANSWERED THAT FIRST CALL TO ARMS 230 YEARS AGO IS STILL
INDELIBLY IMPRINTED ON OUR RANKS TODAY. IN COMMEMORATING OUR
ANNIVERSARY, LET US STRENGTHEN OUR TIES TO THE PAST BY PAYING HOMAGE
TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US. AS WE HONOR THE SACRIFICES OF OUR
WOUNDED AND FALLEN COMRADES, OUR COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER REMAINS
UNSHAKABLE. WE TAKE SPECIAL PRIDE IN THE ACTIONS OF THE MARINES NOW
SERVING IN HARM'S WAY, AND REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE SERVICE OF OUR
NATION AND OUR CORPS.
4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES, SEMPER FIDELIS, AND KEEP ATTACKING! M.W.
HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//




So to all Marines everywhere

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

p.s. Was gonna wait 'til just past midnight here, but since we got goin' early I just shot my whole wad, eh?

Happy Birthday Jarheads.

(My oldest brother had been born to be a Marine, and he died a Marine. Thing about it is that all of us who loved him are certain that if he had known how it would end......he would have done it all just the same. )

Happy Birthday to the Marines!

From Me and My Husband ( Marine)

At this time 35 years ago tonight I was standing on the yellow footprints in front of the receiving barracks at MCRD San Diego.

The following day was the Marine Corps Birthday and the following day was Veterans Day, both OBSERVED Holidays in the Marine Corps. My first two days in the Corps were totally unexpected and I thought "This isn't as tough as I was led to believe it would be".

All illusions I had that Marine Corps Boot Camp would be a rose garden were thoroughly dispelled on 12 November, 1970, the first day I was in the Corps which was not a Holiday.

Happy Birthday my beloved Marine Corps.

By the way, can anyone oldies in here tell why and when Semper Fi was adoptet by the marines?

PS on june.30 it is our royal guards birthday, but they are somewhat older raised in 1658 in the form it has today.

Methinks 'twas adopted in 1883, but why I can't say. They share their motto with I think the Devonshire Regiment.

Accordin' to the Marine Heritage site previous mottos of the Marine Corps were "To the Shores of Tripoli", adopted in 1805; "Fortitude", adopted in 1812; "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli", adopted in 1848; and "By Sea and by Land", adopted in the 1850's, eh?

For 230 years Marines have been bringing death and destruction to our enemies. We were born in a bar, and raised in the swamps. We are Warriors from the Sea, a true breed of amphibian, equally deadly on land or at sea. We dress like soldiers, talk like sailors, and slap the snot out of both of them when the mood fits us. Every day we are alive is another threat on our enemies lives and another day that they tremble in fear. We are lovers, Warriors, drunkards, MARINES by God!

Semper Fi and Happy birthday to all Marines everywhere

Here's a little somethin' for all you Marines, eh?


Happy 230th all you devil dogs!

O Lord, we have long known that prayer should include confession.
Therefore on behalf of the Marines, I confess their sins:

Lord, they're just not in step with today's society. They are unreasonable in clinging to old-fashioned ideas like patriotism, duty, honor and country. They hold radical ideas believing that they are their brother's keeper and responsible for the Marine on their flank. They have been seen standing when colors pass, singing the National Anthem at ball games, and drinking toasts to fallen comrades.

Not only that, they have been observed standing tall; taking charge and wearing their hair unfashionably short. They have taken Teddy R's and JFK's words too seriously and are overly concerned with what they can do for their service and country instead of what the country can do for them.

They take the Pledge of Allegiance to heart and believe that their oath is to be honored. Forgive them, Lord, for being stubborn men and women who hold these values as genuine. They are aware of the price for honor and with total command of their spirit,
they have been willing to pay that price.

After all, what more can you expect? They're Marines!

O Lord our God, bless these men and women of ideals, continue to raise up in this nation strong leaders and deliver us from "me first" managers and "don't ask me" followers.

Be our honored guest this day, Oh Lord, and join with us in laughter, good food, good drink, and the telling of tall tales and legends that occasionally exceed the truth.

We bow our heads to those who were lost in places that had names meaningless until the mud-Marines landed, and in that mud reaffirmed the one legacy that brings all Marines together, the blood and tears shed for service and each other. Watch over and keep safe all those who wear this nation's uniform with special attention to their families and loved ones everywhere.

With brandy and cigar in hand, I salute you all for through this day and all the following nights and days ahead.

God bless you, God Bless this great nation and God bless the Corps.
Amen

At the Vietnam War Memorial (The Wall) sets a flag pole. At the base of the pole are the seals of all the services: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Every day throughout the entire year, a group from Marine Barracks, Eight & I, Washington, D. C. march to the flag and polish the Marine Corps Emblem.

The other services have NEVER touched theirs.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps'
2005 Birthday Message

On November 10th, 1775, the Second Continental Congress resolved to raise two battalions of Continental Marines marking the birth of our United States Marine Corps. As Major General Lejeune’s message reminds us, the ensuing generations of Marines would come to signify all that is highest in warfighting excellence and military virtue. Each November as Marines the world over celebrate the birth of our Corps, we pay tribute to that long line of “Soldiers of the Sea” and the illustrious legacy they have handed down to us.

This past year has been one of continuous combat operations overseas and distinguished service here at home—a year of challenges that have brought out the very best in our Corps. In Iraq and Afghanistan, Marine courage and mastery of complex and chaotic environments have truly made a difference in the lives of millions. Marine compassion and flexibility provided humanitarian assistance to thousands in the wake of the South East Asian tsunami, and here at home, Marines with AAVs, helicopters, and sometimes with their bare hands saved hundreds of our own fellow Americans in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Across the full spectrum of operations, you have showcased that Marines create stability in an unstable world, and have reinforced our Corps’ reputation for setting the standard of excellence.

The sense of honor, courage, and patriotism that epitomized those who answered that first call to arms two hundred and thirty years ago is still indelibly imprinted on our ranks today. In commemorating our anniversary, let us strengthen our ties to the past by paying homage to those who have gone before us. As we honor the sacrifices of our wounded and fallen comrades, our commitment to one another remains unshakable. We take special pride in the actions of the Marines now serving in harm’s way, and rededicate ourselves to the service of our Nation and our Corps.

Happy Birthday, Marines. Semper Fidelis, and Keep Attacking!

M. W. Hagee
General, U.S. Marine Corps
__________________
Semper Fi!
All Marine! All The Time!
___________________

Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines, my loved ones and Thee without shame or fear. Protect my family. Give me the will to do the work of a Marine and to accept my share of responsibilities with vigor and enthusiasm. Grant me the courage to be proficient in my daily performance. Keep me loyal and faithful to my superiors and to the duties my country and the Marine Corps have entrusted to me. Make me considerate of those committed to my leadership. Help me to wear my uniform with dignity, and let it remind me daily of the traditions which I must uphold. If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and grant me wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer. AMEN


75 Reasons To Love Our Corps


Best haircut. You can't have a bad hair day with a high and tight.
Dress blues. They're the sharpest uniform in any military worldwide.
Bloused trousers, another distinctive Marine look that sets the proudest service members apart.
The rest of the Marine sea bag. From alphas to the camouflage utilities, uniforms just look better on a Marine.
Marines don't wear dungarees.
Most respected, when the Marines pulled out of Haiti and Somalia, the media reported the U.S. military was pulling out, as if tens of thousands of Army troops weren't still in the country.
Toughest mascot, Marine Corps has a bulldog. The Navy's: a goat.
Esprit de Corps, example: When sailors get tattoos, they do it to express their individuality, and their choices range from Betty Boop and Mickey Mouse to raging sea serpents. When Marines get tattoos, they do it to express their solidarity, and choose bull dogs, ``death before dishonor,'' and ``USMC.''
Best war monument: Iwo Jima
The Marines invade, then go home.
The Silent Drill Platoon.
Status: Sailors live and work on ships, Marines go for cruises.
Best fast attack vehicles: LAV's.
Best fighting knife: Ka-Bar.
Best duty assignments: Okinawa, Kaneohe Bay, Camp Pendleton, Diego Garcia, Moscow, North Carolina.
Worst duty assignments: Okinawa, Kaneohe Bay, Camp Pendleton, Diego Garcia, Moscow, North Carolina.
Best phone number. Call 1-800-MARINES.
Toughest DI's. They're so tough that when the Navy wants to train its officers, who do they call? 1-800-MARINES.
Toughest Boot Camp. When San Diego was still training Navy recruits, they occasionally would jump the fence and accidentally land in Marine boot camp. The Marines would keep them a couple of days, and when the recruits were sent back, they were ready to be sailors!
Best motivational cry: Ooh-rah!
Best emblem: Eagle, Globe and Anchor.
Best campaign covers: The Smokey Bear hat.
The only official, congressionally sanctioned hymn for any of the services: ``The Marines' Hymn.''
Best slogan I: ``Once a Marine, always a Marine''
Best slogan II: ``Tell that to the Marines''
Best slogan III: ``Send in the Marines.''
Best nicknames I: Jarhead
Best nicknames II: Leatherneck
Best nicknames III: Devil Dog.
Most remarkable aircraft: The Harrier.
Most dangerous aircraft: The Harrier.
You're a Marine. Not a soldier or a troop.
That's Marine, with a capital M.
Tradition! The Corps is older than the republic itself!
Marines symbolize: Discipline, Courage, Honor, Commitment, Valor, Patriotism, and Virtue.
Best recruiting gimmick I: Those darn Knights-in-Shining-Armor commercials.
Best recruiting gimmick II: ``We're looking for a few good men.''
Best recruiting gimmick III: ``If you have the mettle to be a Marine.''
The Commandant's House. It's the oldest occupied residence in Washington, D.C.
Chesty Puller. You got to love a service that has heroes with names like that.
Former Commandant and Mud Marine Al Gray (Anecdote I): His official portrait, in Cammies.
Former Commandant and Mud Marine Al Gray (Anecdote II): He drank from a four-star canteen cup.
Former Commandant and Mud Marine Al Gray (Anecdote III): Business leaders are so impressed with his ethic and style, they're using his Fleet Marine Force Manual 1, ``Warfighting,'' to hone their skills for boardroom battles.
Unity. Every Marine is a rifleman.
The Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Marines attack by land, by air and from sea , Simultaneously.
The ``docs,'' -- Marines' corpsmen-in-arms. They're sailors, but they're as tough as Marines.
Poetry in motion. They're weapons, not g-u-n-s. And if you don't know the pithy verse that explains that, don't ask us. We blush to tell.
Point Of The Spear, out in front, kicking down the door.
Leadership I. In the Corps, E-3s and E-4s get to do more than most E-6s in other branches.
Leadership II. Every Marine above the rank of corporal can tell you what it takes to be a leader. It's spelled out clearly and drilled in relentlessly.
Leadership III. Corporate America learns from the Corps' leadership curriculum.
Marines do more with less, and they like it that way.
Physical fitness. You've seen portly chiefs, but there are no fat Marines.
Everyone's a Marine -- officer and enlisted.
Most stickers spotted on America's highways on car bumpers and windows.
``The President's Own,'' the Marine Corps Band. John Philip Sousa, the world famous band master, was the first leader of the band.
Value for your tax dollar. The Corps does it all for less -- just 6 cents of every dollar spent on defense goes to the Marines.
Best motto, Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful.
Best slogan I. ``Nobody ever drowned in sweat.''
Best slogan II. ``Marines go where others fear to tread.''
First in orbit, John Glenn, that clean Marine, was the first human to orbit the planet.
Best personalized license plate I: ``1775.'' It's on The Commandant's car.
Best personalized license plate II: ``SM OF MC,'' Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Harold Overstreet's four-wheel drive Chevy Blazer truck.
Best Heroes I: Smedley D. Butler, with a name like Smedley, he had to be tough, in self-defense.
Best Heroes II: Chesty Puller, he retired in 1955 a lieutenant general, the most decorated Marine in history, and probably the most colorful as well.
Best Heroes III: Lewis Puller Jr., Chesty's son. He joined to follow in his father's footsteps, lost both legs in battle, and went on to become a Pulitzer Prizewinning author.
Best greeting. Semper Fi, Mac!
Best description: Soldiers of the Sea.
Best Marine quote from the Gulf War: ``I sure hope the Iraqis are good lovers, because they sure can't fight.''
Hollywood loves Marines. A few examples: ``Sands of Iwo Jima'', "The Wind and the Lion'', "Heartbreak Ridge'', "The Flying Leathernecks'', ``The D.I.'', and ``Death Before Dishonor''.
Television loves Marines: ``Baa Baa Black Sheep'', ``Gomer Pyle, USMC'' and ``Major Dad''
Scarlet stripe on NCO and officer trousers. They're not just sharp, they serve a point: The stripes represent blood shed in battle.
Global presence, global reach. As the Hymn notes, so spread out are Marines around the globe that some can watch the sun set while others are watching it rise.
Respect: Marines, not soldiers, to protect our embassies.
The Marines take care of their own. On the battlefield, nobody's left behind, dead or alive.

Famous Quotes

"Gone to Florida to fight. Will be back when the war is over." -- Col. Archibald Henderson, USMC (Comandant of the Marine Corps); in a note pinned to his office door, 1836

The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight!
MGen. Frank E. Lowe, USA; Korea, 26 January 1952

Why in hell can't the Army do it if the Marines can. They are the same kind of men; why can't they be like Marines.
Gen. John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, USA; 12 February 1918

Marines know how to use their bayonets. Army bayonets may as well be paper-weights.
Navy Times; November 1994

I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!
General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur; Korea, 21 September 1950

We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?
Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff
during the assault on Grenada, 1983

The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!
Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States, 1945

Don't you forget that you're First Marines! Not all the communists in Hell can overrun you!
Col. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, USMC
rallying his First Marine Regiment near Chosin Reservoir, Korea, December 1950

I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold.
1stLt. Clifton B. Cates, USMC
in Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918

My only answer as to why the Marines get the toughest jobs is because the average Leatherneck is a much better fighter. He has far more guts, courage, and better officers... These boys out here have a pride in the Marine Corps and will fight to the end no matter what the cost.
2nd Lt. Richard C. Kennard, Peleliu, World War II

You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is that they are.
Father Kevin Keaney
1st Marine Division Chaplain
Korean War

Being ready is not what matters. What matters is winning after you get there.
LtGen Victor H. Krulak, USMC
April 1965

I can't say enough about the two Marine divisions. If I use words like 'brilliant,' it would really be an under description of the absolutely superb job that they did in breaching the so-called 'impenetrable barrier.' It was a classic- absolutely classic- military breaching of a very very tough minefield, barbed wire, fire trenches-type barrier.
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, U. S. Army
Commander, Operation Desert Storm, February 1991

I am convinced that there is no smarter, handier, or more adaptable body of troops in the world.
Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Winston Churchhill

The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle.
Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing, U.S. Army
Commander of American Forces in World War I

Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army.
Orders given to Communist troops in the Korean War;
shortly afterward, the Marines were ordered
to not wear their khaki leggings.

The American Marines have it [pride], and benefit from it. They are tough, cocky, sure of themselves and their buddies. They can fight and they know it.
General Mark Clark, U.S. Army

A Ship without Marines is like a coat without buttons.
Adm. Farragut

Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary.
Gen. A. M. Gray, USMC
Commandant of the Marine Corps

If I had one more division like this First Marine Division I could win this war.
General of the Armies Douglas McArthur in Korea

Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?
GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly, USMC
near Lucy-`le-Bocage as he led the 5th Marines' attack into Belleau Wood, 6 June 1918

Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it was some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts to ungentlemanly lengths, worshipping their Commandant almost as if he was a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages. They'll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action, and are the cockiest SOB's I have ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man's normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and , generally speaking, of the United States Marines I've come in contact with, are the most professional soldiers and the finest men I have had the pleasure to meet.
An Anonymous Canadian Citizen

The Marines have landed, and the situation is well in hand.
-Richard Harding Davis, war correspondent (1885)

"I can never see a United States Marine without experiencing a feeling of reverence."
- General Johnson, U.S. Army

"The 1st Marine Division is the most efficient and courageous combat unit I have ever seen or heard of."
- Major General Frank E. Lowe , US Army , 1950

"No one can say that the Marines have failed to do their work in handsome fashion."
- Major General Hagood, U.S. Army

"The more Marines I have around, the better I like it."
- General Clark, U.S. Army

"Remember, whatever you write, this was no retreat. All that happened was that we found more Chinese behind us than in front of us, so we about-faced and attacked."
- Chesty Puller, USMC, speaking to reporters after the battle out of the Chosin Reservoir, Korean War

"They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us;
they can't get away from us this time."
- Chesty Puller, USMC, Chosin Reservoir, Korean War

"Casualties many; Percentage of dead not known; Combat efficiency; we are winning."
- Colonel David M. Shoup, USMC, Tarawa, 21 November 1943

"Retreat, hell! We just got here."
- Capt Lloyd Williams at the Battle of Belleau Wood

We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem of getting to these people and killing them."
- Chesty Puller at the Chosin Reservoir

"Panic sweeps my men when they are facing the American Marines!"
- Captured North Korean Major

"The American Marines are terribly reckless fellows...they would make very good storm troopers."
- Unidentified German officer at Belleau Wood

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps

Here's hopin' all you Marines have a wonderful time at the Ball tonight, eh? Be safe, stay well!

Just one more reason why she was the best first lady ever

By the way happy birthday, i forgot to be polite in my first post.

THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE MARINES
(A story of Creation):
In the beginning was the word, and the word was God. In the beginning was God, and all else was darkness and void, and without form. so God created the heavens and the Earth. He created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, so that light might pierce the darkness. The Earth, God divided between the land and the sea, and filled with many assorted creatures.

And the dark, salty, slimy creatures that inhabited the murky depths of the oceans, God called sailors. And he dressed them accordingly. They had little trousers that looked like bells at the bottom. And their shirts had cute little flaps on them to hide the hickeys on their necks. He also gave them long sideburns and shabby looking beards. God nicknamed them "squids" and banished them to a lifetime at sea, so that normal folks would not have to associate with them. To further identify these unloved creatures, he called them "petty" and "commodore", instead of titles worthy of red-blooded men.

And the flaky creatures of the land, God called soldiers. And with a twinkle in his eye, and a sense of humor that only he could have, God made their trousers too short and their covers too large. He also made their pockets oversized, so that they might warm their hands. And to adorn their uniforms, God gave them badges in quantities that only a dime store owner could appreciate. And he gave them emblems and crests...and all sorts of shiny thing that glittered...and devices that dangled. (When you're God you tend to get carried away).

On the 6th day, he thought about creating some air creatures for which he designed a Greyhound bus driver's uniform, especially for Air Farce flyboys. But he discarded the idea during the first week, and it was not until years later that some apostles resurrected this theme and established what we now know as the "wild blue yonder wonders."

On the 7th day, as you know, God rested. But on the 8th day, at 0730, God looked down upon the Earth and was not happy. God was not happy! So he thought about his labors, and in his divine wisdom God created a divine creature. And he called this creature a Marine. And these Marines, whom God had created in his own image, were to be of the air, and of the land, and of the sea. And these he gave many wonderful uniforms. Some were green, some were blue with red trim. And in the early days, some were even a beautiful tan. He gave them practical fighting uniforms, so that they could wage war against the forces of Satan and evil. He gave them service uniforms for their daily work and training. And he gave them evening and dress uniforms...sharp and stylish, handsome things, so that they might promenade with their ladies on Saturday night and impress everybody! He even gave them swords, so that people who were not impressed, could be dealt with accordingly.

And at the end of the 8th day, God looked down upon the Earth and saw that it was good. But was God happy? NO! God was still not happy! Because in the course of his labors, he had forgotten one thing. He did not have a Marine uniform for himself. But he thought about it, and thought about it, and finally satisfied in knowing that, well...not everybody can be a MARINE.

Any questions?


Happy birthday Marines!

I can tell a Marine did the math in that web site Joe. Every Marine knows 1775 to 2005 is 330 years

true and you are one off them old man

Sorry 'bout that, but it was the thought that counts (1775+230=2005)... joe e

1775 + 230 = 2005