Marine Corps Birthday

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[An Old Man]

 

HISTORY OF
MARINE CORPS DAY

(MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY)

 

The United States Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775, to augment naval forces in the Revolutionary War. The recruiting headquarters was set up by Capt. Samuel Nicholas in the Tun Tavern on Water Street in Philadelphia, which is considered to be the birthplace of the Marines.

After success in many campaigns, the Corps was abolished at the close of the Revolutionary War for reasons of economy. On July 11, 1798, Congress ordered the creation of the Corps, named it the United States Marine Corps and directed that it be available for service under the Secretary of the Navy.

The Corps celebrated its birthday, or Marine Corps Day, on July 11 from 1775 until 1921 when the date was permanently changed to November 10 to commemorate the establishment of the Corps to aid in the Revolutionary War.

The day is still observed by U. S. Marines worldwide. Special exhibits, parades, drill team performances, and speeches typically mark the occasion. The Birthday Ball, which culminates in the cutting of the birthday cake, is held that evening in Washington, D.C. It is not possible to determine precisely when the first cake ceremony was held, but the first on record took place at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., in 1937. Major General Thomas Holcomb, the Commandant, presided at an open house for Marine Corps officers, including the cutting of a huge cake in the shape of Tun Tavern.

[TrueBeliever9]

Happy Birthday to the Marines from an Recon Mom!

Special memories of the CHIEF who was a great source of encouragement to a Recon Mom!

[drew]

Happy birthday to the Corps! My Dad served in Korea. Semper Fi!

[NixNatAVanG InDaBurgh]

I posted this on the Canteen Thread. Billie suggested I post it here...so...here, and Semper Fi.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USMC!!!

HILL 88

Golf Company Second & Weapons Platoon October - November 1969

In October of 1969 the Second Battalion of the Twenty-Sixth Marines went on board ships of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet. Our company was berthed on the USS New Orleans (LPH11) pictured below.

By the Child of a Hill 88 Fallen Patriot
Written in 1979

Oh Country! My Country. These words I write
for men left in Viet Nam tonight.
I say they're men, because in war,
boys become men and nevermore
will they see this world through the eyes
of the very young. They've aged. Their cries
heard by mothers in the night,
as dreams relive a bloody fight.
They left as children, hearts aglow.
Adventure awaited. How could they know
until they were thrust into the arms
of that greedy war? No good luck charms
protect them now. They became afraid
Adventure revealed its masquerade.
They watched their friends as one by one,
they fell. They fell. Their war was done.
They saw faces, nameless, in every leaf
of that jungle's trees, and through their grief,
hatred turned their hearts to stone
and they felt they must fight on alone.
They were killed they were maimed, but heard the call,
no pity now for those who fall,
just a desperate will to stay alive.
Their hatred helped them to survive.
My Country, you did this to your Favorite Son;
then you left him with his war unwon.
They were captured. Some died. And some came come
to leers and jeers. They hadn't known
no one would care, or feel their pain.
Someday, Lord, may we right this shame.

I would like to extend a world of thanks to every Viet Nam Vet, but on this USMC birthday, and up until Thangsgiving Day, THIS IS Viet Nam for me and mine. It is the birthday that many, many of us will never forget and the Thanksgiving turkey dinner we have chosen not to have.

[SemperFi2]

Happy Birthday fellow Marines!

Semper Fi

[oldngray]

Thanks for the memories!

I so appreciate the posts from those who were not Marines. Birthday greetings from all Marines are expected and respected in a special way.

I celebrated my first Marine Corps Birthday while at Parris Island in the '40s. It would be very difficult to describe the inner thoughts and feelings of Marines regarding "their" birthday.

Have had the privilege and honor of celebrating the Birthday in more climes and places, including the midst of combat, than I care to recall. Every one has been special. It is the social event of the year at every command, worldwide.

Tomorrow, at every Marine command, and I especially think of those in the Arabian Sea, on every ship that has Marines embarked, there will be a cake and a formal celebration. The senior officer present will cut the cake with a saber and present the first and second pieces of cake to the oldest and youngest Marine present. The message from the Commandant will be read and a toast proposed with whatever beverage is at hand (even coffee). It's a wonderful tradition.

God bless the United States of America!

God bless the United States Marines!

God bless every member of the armed services of the United States!

[Sonar5]

First off,
Semper Fi

Happy Birthday to all of my fellow Marines...Always remember,

Once a Marine, Always a Marine

And one big.... Ooooh-Rahhhhh

Joe
Sonar5
PP-ASEL
Veteran-United States Marine Corps (1983-1987)

[Pete-R-Bilt]

ping

[usmcobra]

"The Marines have a better Propaganda department then Josef Stalin"----President Harry S. Trumen
When told that the only unit that he could personally order was the Marine Corps Band,
President John F. Kennedy replied "We shall defend the White House against any invader!"
Semper Fi

[real saxophonist]

[stumpy]

Race, You forgot to tell them that the chorus to that verse is Marine, Marine, Marine, and it is sung to the tune of "Ghostriders in the Sky". And it was around when I hit boot camp in '65

[ErnBatavia]

You got that right! Once and always. A couple of years ago, our sister in law's father died (Guadalcanal vet); our floral arrangment simply remarked, "Semper Fidelis, Rick".

Let's just say it went over well with the family.

All the best, fellow "Juggies" (that's what we called ourselves in the Viet era)

Batavia - 27Jul66 - 26Jul68, two year enlistee who got stuck with a damned leap year day. Screwed up the shorttimer's calendar.

[fnord]

keeping this bumped

[a_federalist]

bttt

[AMERIKA]

click her for Semper Fi Mac!

[RaceBannon]

I've heard the Marine Corps Hymn sung to the tune of 'Ghostriders in the Sky', but not the one I posted. In fact, I never heard of a title to that song at all!

[The KG9 Kid]

Semper Fi!

MOS 0331

[VaBthang4]

Happy Birthday.

[jwalsh07]

To my jarhead son-in-law and nephew and their comrades in arms, happy birthday.

[M Kehoe]

Semper Fi and HAPPY BIRTHDAY bump.

I know I'm a grunt, but ya gotta love the Jarheads (uppercase on purpose).

5.56mm

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the ping!

Anybody got a copy of the poem "Blues in the Attic" laying around? If not, I think I can scrounge it up - - it's up in my attic somewhere. (Sheesh.)

Anyways, Happy Birthday Marines, and Semper fidelis.

0311
USMC

Regards,
LH