Happy 228th Birthday Marines!

This year we celebrate the 228th anniversary of the founding of our Corps. As always, it is an occasion for remembrance, proud traditions, and joyful camaraderie. The events of the past year have called for great sacrifices from many Marines and their families. While the Global War on Terrorism will continue to demand the best from each of us, it is important that we join with our fellow Marines, families and friends to celebrate our Corps' special culture and unique warrior ethos.

This past year, Marines demonstrated once again that they are the most important entity on any battlefield. Lethal weapons and advanced technologies provide us unique advantages, but educated warriors ultimately determine victory in combat not machines. During Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, our small unit leaders' skills, adaptability and flexibility produced victory on uncertain and at times chaotic battlefields. We proved once again the power of integrated ground-air-logistics teams as well as the importance of every Marine being first and foremost a rifleman.

Our special spirit is evident not only in battle; it is evident in the faithful performance of demanding duties by countless Marines at home and abroad. Every Marine makes a vital contribution to the ability of our Corps to project and sustain credible combat power. Moreover, the willingness and readiness of all Marines to accept and accomplish any mission is central to our success and a hallmark of our warrior ethos. The culture that defines the Marine Corps is nurtured by our traditions. In celebrating our heritage, we strengthen the linkages to a glorious history and recommit ourselves to upholding the standards and values given to us by past generations.

In commemorating our 228th anniversary, remain true to the spirit of the occasion. Reflect on our fallen with deep respect, observe our traditions with justifiable pride, take care of one another, and of course, celebrate those special bonds that exist among United States Marines.

Though it's still 2 days away, this year I didn't want to be the last to wish the very best to "the very best!" Thought it would be nice to start getting in the mood a little early.

Note the link to Marine Corps Ball ceremonial music at the bottom of the Source link. The music is downloadable or you can play it directly from your Real Audio player so you can get in the mood as you listen to it.

My first ball was the 200th. The music breaks back memories of several balls, changes of commands, the sunset parade at 8th and I, etc.

A bit of Marine Corps lore - Origin of the Nickname “Leathernecks”

It is questionable whether the origin of the term “Leatherneck” can be accepted as a legitimate member of the family of legends. More like a tradition, it is. For there can be no doubt of the origin, considering that U. S. Marines of three generations wore leather collars. It is as obvious as the nickname “Red” for a recruit with carrot-colored hair and freckles.

Now accepted by Webster as a synonym for Marine, the term “Leatherneck” was derived from a leather stock once worn around the neck by both American and British Marines—and soldiers also. Beginning in 1798, “one stock of black leather and clasp” was issued to each U. S. Marine annually.

This stiff leather collar, fastened by two buckles at the back, measured nearly three and a half inches high, and it prevented the neck movement necessary for sighting along a barrel. It supposedly improved military bearing, by forcing the chin high, although General George F. Elliott, recalling its use after the Civil War, said it made the wearers appear “like geese looking for rain.”

The stock was dropped as an article of Marine uniform in 1872, after surviving through the uniform changes of 1833, 1839, and 1859. But by then it was a part of American vocabulary, a word preserved, like so many words, beyond its original meaning.

From - www.grunt.com

Can someone tell me why the Marines seem to be their own self-contained army? Is there a security reason for this?

Sure. It continues the Marine tradition of as much self-sufficiency as possible, their habit leftover from days when they provided the shore landing parties and guard forces for US Navy sailing ships and U.S. Embassies in remote locations. In the days in China following the Boxer rebellion, we maintained a number of oputposts in that country, the main one being the location of the 4th Marine Regiment [about a thousand men and offivers] in Shanghai, with a few smaller 4th Marine radio stations and other outposts reporting to the 4th Marines HQ in Shanghai. Obviously, they had to be as independent as possible, given the unliklihood of reinforcing or resupplying them by ship during operations. Likewise in Haiti and Central America, Marine detatchments were ordered to slow the tide of revolutions in Nicaragua, Guatemals, and Panama and provide a militaryforce capable of training and leading the local governmental forces, again, far removed from direct command and leadership from Marine HQ.

When in the 1920s, particularly vicious armed bandits were attacking and overwhelming US Mail shiipments, Marines were ordered to accompany the Mail, and the robberies ceased. Come the Pacific island-hopping efforts of WWII, small units of Marine Raiders made a few initial raids and provided early successes and failures in that theater, followed by larger formatuions that could be fielded with additional support elements attached. That sort of flexibility also flows from the Marine ways of conduicting their business.

So for any Marine unit from a four-man half-squad-sized fire team to full divisional and combined services task forces, the Marines are just building on their 228 years of experience in doing their business theior own way.

I'm no Marine or former Marine, though I've had the good fortune of having worked for and with them a couple of times. Those experiences were far from pleasant but were very much a privilidge, and I'm probably alive today because of prompt Marine action on two seperate occasions.

So Sempeer Fi, to the Marines, and a hand salute to you, from one who is outside your group, and aware of its limitations and a few failings- but retains the respect and admiration I've had for your Corps for most of my life. Your way of doing business is not my own, but there are points of similarity, and it suits you just fine.

Carry on.

-archy-/-

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