Recruits with Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, march to the Peatross Parade Deck in their Dress Blues aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC, Dec. 9, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Blake Gonter)
The United States Marine Corps is celebrating 250 years of honor, courage, and commitment to our country.
The Marine Corps was founded on Nov. 10, 1775 during the Revolutionary War but was then disbanded at the conclusion of the war. Fifteen years later on July 11, 1798, Congress formally ordered the creation of the Corps as a permanent military service under the Secretary of the Navy. Philadelphia is the birthplace of the Navy and Marine Corps.
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VP JD Vance speaks at Marine Corps Ball in D.C.
Vice President JD Vance honored the United States Marine Corps with a speech at the annual Marine Corps Ball on Saturday evening in Washington, D.C. He was introduced by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith. The two later raised a toast as the Marines celebrate its 250th birthday.
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Legacy of the United States Marine Corps
1805: The Leathernecks arrive
At the Battle of Derna, the Marines rescued the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia on the shores of Tripoli. The nickname "Leatherneck" was bestowed on the Marines due to the high collar they wore as protection against the sabers of pirates.
1918: The Devil Dogs are born
At the Battle of Belleau Wood, Marine forces launch a last-ditch close-combat assault against German soldiers and prevail against the German defensive counterattack. The German soldiers who survived nicknamed the Marines "Devil Dogs," due to their relentless fighting spirit.
Photograph of Flag Raising on Iwo Jima, February 23, 1945. National Archives Identifier: 520748/Local Identifier: 80-G-413988 (National Archives)
1945: The Battle of Iwo Jima
A photo taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945, capturing six men raising an American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima became the most powerful symbol of World War II. Today the image serves as a permanent reminder of the fighting spirit found in Marines.
Rosenthal won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography for the photo in 1945 and served as the model for the United States Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA.
Marine Corps Values
The Marine Corps’ core values are honor, courage, and commitment and are the standards that guide every Marine’s actions. The core values bolster a Marine’s resolve and reinforce their innate resilience when they face physical, mental, and moral battles in combat.
Marine Corps Mottos
Semper Fidelis
Latin for "always faithful," Semper Fidelis symbolizes the lifelong commitment held by every Marine for the Corps and America, a promise reciprocated by the Corps to all Marines.
Ooh-rah
A battle cry among Marines, ‘Ooh-rah’ can be used as a greeting, a term of affirmation, or as a way of expressing enthusiasm.
Ductus Exemplo
Ductus Exemplo: A Latin term that means "lead by example," Ductus Exemplo is the official motto of Officer Candidates School (OCS). It means that being a Marine isn’t about giving or receiving orders; it’s about behaving in a manner that inspires others.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the U.S. Marine Corps website and The Naitonal Archives. This story was reported from Orlando.