On this day, in 1775, the United States Marine Corps was born in Tunn Tavern, Philadelphia. The first Marine (and Commandant) Captain Samuel Nicholas formed two battalions of Continental Marines as naval infantry. Since then, the Marine Corps has served in every American armed conflict. It includes just over 203,000 active duty Marines (as of October 2009) and just under 40,000 reserve Marines. It is the SMALLEST of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense, but is larger than the armed forces of many significant military powers (e.g. IDF and the entire British Army).
The USMC traces its institutional roots to the Continental Marines of the American Revolutionary War, by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress to raise two battalions of Marines. At the end of the American Revolution, both the Continental Navy and Continental Marines were disbanded in April 1783, and it would not be resurrected until 1798. In that year, in preparation for war with France, Congress created the United States Marine Corps.
Under Commandant Jacob Zeilin's tenure, Marine customs and traditions took shape. The Corps adopted the Marine Corps emblem on 19 November 1868 and the Marines' Hymn was first heard. Around 1883, the Marines adopted their current motto, "Semper Fidelis." John Philip Sousa, the musician and composer, enlisted as a Marine apprentice at the young age of 13, serving from 1867 to 1872, and against from 1880 to 1892 as the leader of the Marine Band.
Since their birth, our Marines have acted in numerous actions, including the First Barbary War against the Barbary Pirates (immortalized in the Marines' hymn and Mameluke Sword carried by Marine officers), the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terrorism.
Commandant James F. Amos is currently the highest-ranking officer of the Marine Corps, is the symbolic and functional head of the Corps, and has the U.S. Code Title 10 responsibility to man, train, and equip the Marine Corps. He is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reports to the Secretary of the Navy.
On this day, we remember and respect all our Marine brethren, those who have fallen, those who fight for our freedoms, and those who have always stood true to our United States of America. If you come across a solder, thank him. Your freedom isn't free. May G-d watch over them, bless them, and keep them safe. They do the same for us every single day.
Happy birthday to our devil dogs, leathernecks, jarheads, gyrenes, and soldiers of the sea... and here's to many more!
Semper Fidelis and Oooorah!
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