Posted on 11/10/2010 6:55:42 AM PST by jmaroneps37
Today we celebrate the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Happy birthday Marines, Semper Fidelis and May God bless you all.
On November 10, 1775 the fledgling Continental Congress passed a resolution that two Battalions of Marines be raised and maintained for purposes for fighting our British oppressors as a seagoing army. Since the times of Col. Samuel Nicholas the first Commandant of the Corps, Marines have always fought above and beyond expectation on the high seas, on land and more recently in the air.
Because we Americans are a peace loving people, the Marine Corps and the United States Navy were actually allowed to go out of existences at the close of the Revolutionary War. This state of unpreparedness existed until July 11, 1798 when the Corps was reestablished in preparation for a potential war with France. Soon the Marines were sailing off the foreign shores.
The Corpss first large scale assignment came at the dawn of the 19th century when President Thomas Jefferson sent them to smash the Barbary pirates who were kidnapping and terrorizing American merchant sailors.
These pirates were actually Islamist thugs who had to be given a clear message about Americas willingness to fight back and the Marines were just the fighting force to send that message.
The Corps distinguished itself throughout the rest of the 19th century in the Mexican War, the Civil War (on both sides) and the Spanish American War.
During World War I the ferocious fighting Marines earned the grudging respect of German troops who named them Devil Dogs a name still treasured by Marines today.
During World War II from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima, and finally on to Okinawa the United States Marine Corps fought won battle after battle until Japanese
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Ssgt. C-Btry 1Bn 11th Marines. GO ARTY!
God bless the Marines.
Semper Fi to one and all. Anyone who hasn’t read With The Old Breed on Peleliu and Okinawa should consider it. Great book written by a grunt on the ground.
Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.
Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985
God bless the Marines!
Happy Birthday Sarge!
Thank God for the Marines!
Happy Birthday.
To my Dad - A Marine Raider in WWII - a Lutheran School Teacher in civilian life. Thanks Dad - RIP.
Happy Birthday to all the awesome Marine Freepers. Thank you for your service to our country!!! May God bless and watch over all the men and women in our armed forces today.
A big thank you to all the Freepers who served this great nation!
“Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.”
Frederick II of Prussia
Happy birthday USMC
Rest in peace, dad.
VMFA 312, Chu Lai, 1969
Thank you for my freedom.
......and to you and to my brothers and sisters, Happy Birthday! Here’s to you and to our Corps!
“Happy Birthday Sarge!”
For those who are not Marines, “Sarge” is Dan Daly..... 1 of 2 Marines that was awarded the Medal of Honor twice, the other one being Smedley Butler....
Dan’s first award was for single handedly defending the Tartar Wall at the Peking Legation against an all night assualt by Chinese “Boxers.”
In hand to hand combat, he sent over 60 to be with their maker......He was a 19 year old private..... Major John “Handsome Jack” Meyers the Marine CO at the Legation said that throughout the night they could tell Dan was Ok from the periodic ferocious noise as the Boxers attacked Dans position at the top of a staircase in groups of 2 or 3.
Famous quote.....”Come on you Bastards, do you want to live forever!” (WWI at Belleau Wood by then Gunnery Sgt Dan Daley in leading an assault on German held Hill 142)
The Marines still make ‘em like Dan and Smedley to this very day!
Ping!
Happy Birthday USMC! Semper Fi!
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