Posts

Service and Sacrifice – Happy Birthday USMC

Today marks the 245th birthday of the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES!

  • To the greatest fighting force on the planet.
  • To the faithful men and women who serve our country with bravery only they can fathom.
  • To the “Jarheads”, “Devil Dogs”, “Teufel Hunden”,  and “Leathernecks” who give all so others can have.

Quick History

The storied history of the USMC began on November 10th 1775, when Captain Samuel Nicholas gathered two battalions of Continental Marines in accordance with the Continental Marine Act of 1775. Less than six months after being formed, these brave men set out on their first amphibious assault, the successful Raid of Nassau (March 1–10, 1776).

Our beloved USMC has fought in (at least) twenty-eight armed conflicts including:

  • Revolutionary War
  • Quasi-War with France
  • Barbary Wars
  • War of 1812
  • Creek-Seminole Indian War
  • Mexican War
  • Civil War-Union
  • Spanish-American War
  • Samoa (1899)
  • Boxer Rebellion
  • Nicaragua (1912)
  • Mexico (1914)
  • Dominican Republic (1916-1920)
  • Haiti (1915-1934)
  • Nicaragua (1926-1933)
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Korean War
  • Dominican Republic (1965)
  • Vietnam War
  • Lebanon (1982-1984)
  • Grenada (1983)
  • Persian Gulf (1988) (Oil Platforms)
  • Panama (1989)
  • Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)
  • Somalia (1992-1994)
  • Afghanistan (2001-2015)
  • Iraq (2003-2016)

From 1775 to 2015, more than 41,000 Marines have made the ultimate sacrifice for us on the battlefield. Additionally, more than 200,000 have been wounded (Source: Marine Corps University). The fact that these numbers are as low as they are is a testament to Marine dedication, training, effectiveness and lethality. Regardless of the numbers, let’s not forget that each one of these soldiers was a father, mother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, and/or friend. It’s our duty as citizens of this great country to ensure their sacrifices were not made in vain; that their sacrifices might live on through our own acts of service to others.

My Marine Corps Story (brief)

I was born in the Naval Hospital Philadelphia to two Marine Corps parents. My father served in active duty from 1957/8 until retirement in 1978, and my mother also served. Although her active Marine Corps duty was not as long as my father’s, her duties (raising me and keeping my father in line) was a helluva lot more challenging. I’m an only child who grew up on base (Camp Pendleton and Quantico).

Although I didn’t serve directly in the Marine Corps myself, the Marine Corps culture is a huge part of who I am. The Marines, my mother and my father taught me so many good things about the right way to live. Things like respect, discipline, work ethic, drive, mission, etc. I am forever grateful!

Happy Birthday

So, Happy Birthday Marines!

There are no words to describe how grateful I am. Regardless of how many people express gratitude for your service consciously, the gratitude is in their subconscious every time they exercise a constitutional right, walk down a street, eat a warm meal, embrace a family member, or do anything made possible by your service. Thank you for standing guard day and night for me, my family, and all Americans. I don’t take you or your sacrifices for granted, and I pray I never will.

The USMC always serves faithfully, rightfully earning their motto, Semper fidelis. Saying you’re faithful is one thing, demonstrating it through blood, sweat, and tears for 245 years is something entirely different.