Happy Birthday, Marines!

November 10th

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. The Marines don't have that problem."
Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985

On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines.

Nicholas set up shop that very day in Tun Tavern, Philadelphia. He appointed Robert Mullan, then the proprietor & barkeep of the tavern, to the job of chief Marine Recruiter.

Lured by the opportunity to serve in the new Corps of Marines - and the promise of cold beer - prospective recruits flocked to Tun Tavern.

The US Air Force Chief-of-Staff would never be called Airman.
The Chief-of-Naval Operations would never be called Sailor.
The Commanding General of The US Army would never be called Soldier.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is proud to be called United States Marine.

America, Home of the Free
Because of the Brave.

The Flag raising on Mt Suribachi, Iwo Jima, February 23, 1945
Iwo Jima was secured on March 26th after a 35-day battle.

Marines suffered 25,851 casualties.

Once a Marine, Always a Marine

The headstone of Lee Marvin, Academy Award-winning actor, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Note the epitaph.

This is what Marvin specified in his will.

Some Famous Names, Also Marines

Don Adams, Bea Arthur, Orville Burrell (aka 'Shaggy')Rod Carew, Drew Carey, Roberto Clemente, Mike Connors, Brian Dennehy, R. Lee Ermey, Don & Phil Everly, Glenn Ford, John Glenn, Scott Glenn, Gene Hackman, Gil Hodges, Harvey Keitel, Brian Keith, Bob Keeshan (Capt Kangaroo), Lee Marvin, Ed McMahon, Steve McQueen, Martin Milner, Ken Norton, Hugh O'Brien, George Peppard, Bum Phillips, Tyrone Power, Burt Reynolds, Robert Ryan, George C Scott, Leon Spinks, Leon Uris, James Whitmore, Montel Williams, Jonathan Winters

and Ted Williams, who served twice- WW II/1943-45 & Korea/1952-53

"I've always been proud of being a Marine. I won't hesitate to defend the Corps."
-- Jonathan Winters

and ... Bugs Bunny

The U.S. Marine Corps was so flattered that Bugs Bunny decides to become a Marine in the 1943 'Super Rabbit' film, they insisted Bugs be officially inducted into the Marines as a private, which was done, complete with dogtags. Bugs was regularly promoted until officially "discharged" as a Master Sergeant at the end of World War II.

"Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue"

296 Marines have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor -and of the 19 double MOH winners, 7 were Marines.

Including the youngest recipient since the Civil War:
PFC Jacklyn H. Lucas, Iwo Jima, 20 Feb 1945. He turned 17 just 5 days before the Battle for Iwo Jima began.


Uncommon valor is still a common virtue.



Corporal Jason Dunham

The latest Marine awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor, January 11 2007,

whose birthday is also November 10th.

Marine Lore:

All men are created equal, then some became Marines.
On the 7th Day God rested. Marines filled sandbags.
Death smiles at everyone, Marines smile back.
The most dangerous place is between a Marine and his country.
There is no better friend and no worse enemy than the U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. Marine. Your freedom. His life without complaint.
You will die. I will die a Marine.

Now Drop and Give Me 232 !