In celebration of the Marine Corps birthday I thought I would share a little history.
The USMC was formed by an act of the Continental Congress on Nov. 10, 1775.
The Corps' motto had been "Fortitudine"(with courage), until about 1883 when it became "Semper Fidelis"(always faithful).
"Leatherneck" is a long-standing nickname that goes back to the neck piece, which was part of the uniform from 1775-1875. It was intended to keep their heads erect. Marine legend says it was neck armor against fatal sword wounds.
The Marine emblem which consists of the eagle, globe, and anchor was adopted in 1868.
During the battle of Belleau Wood in 1918, the Germans recived indoctrination in the fighting ability of the U.S. Marines. The Marines fought their way throughwith unbelievable courage that the Germans started calling them "Teufel hunden"(Devil Dogs).
"Chesty" Puller(Jan 26, 1898-Oct 11, 1971) was awarded 5 Navy crossesand is the only Marine ever to have been so honored.
Last, but not least, the most famous image of the Marine Corps.
The morning of Feb. 23, 1945, the fourth day after the assault landing on Iwo Jima, Lieutenant Colonel Chandler W. Johnson ordered 1st Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier to take 40 men and secure Mount Surabachi. He handed him a small American flag. Schrier, Platoon Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas Jr., Sgt. Henry O. Hansen, Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg, and Privates First Class Luis C. Charlo and James Michels rigged the flag to a Japanese pipe and raised the colors. SSgt. Louis R. Lowery, a combat photographer for Leatherneck magazine, recorded the scene. Enemy soldiers emerged from hiding, and threw grenades. The Marines disposed of the opposition, and Lowery, trying to get out of the line of fire, tumbled down a slope and broke his camera. both he and the film survived the fall. The flag flying over Iwo Jima's highest point brought cheers from the beaches below. Ships sounded horns and whistles and many men choked up. Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal, present as an observer, saw the flag waving over this island on the path to Tokyo and predicted:"The raising of that flag on Suribachi means there will be a Marine Corps for the next 500 years."Johnson realized the flag was too small to be seen all across the island, so he sent a Lieutenant to obtain a larger flag from one of the landing ships. An officer of LST 779 gave the Marine the flag that flew on Sundays and holidays. When Johnson recived the folded colors, he passed them to PFC Rene A. gagnon, a runner about to head up Suribachi to deliver radio batteries to Schrier. Gagnon climbed with 4 other men of Company E who were laying communications wire to the top. Three photojournalists had heard that a flag was to be raised and they set out to record the event. Half way up they met Lowery coming down, who told them of the first flag raising. When the 3 photographers reached the summit, they found 5 Marines and a Navy corpsmen along the length of pipe, preparing the larger flag. All 3 photographers moved into position just in time to capture the moment. As the pipe rose, the strong wind caught the flag, unfurled it, and snapped it out into full extension. The recordings of the photographers has gone down into history as one of the most famous images of the Marine Corps and of WWll.
229 years and counting. God Bless the Marine Corps.

posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 1:09 AM  |  comments: