The Few, The Proud, The Marines! Happy Birthday Jar-heads!
I declare that I will never tire of saying this as long as I am breathing and able to eek out a one more… OOORAH!
There are only 176,000 of us on active duty, the smallest of all the Armed Forces.
The United States Marine Corps traces its institutional roots to the Continental Marines of the Revolutionary War, formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on the 10th of November, 1775 at Tuns Tavern in Philadelphia, Pa.
One of the Marines more notable actions occurred during the First Barbary War, 1801-1805 against the Barbary Pirates. Some now say, the first terrorist attack. William Eaton and Lt. Presley O”Bannon led eight, imagine that, just eight Marines and approximately 500 mercenaries in an effort to seize Tripoli. This siege attempt only reached Derna, yet the action has been memorialized in the lyrics of the Marine Corps hymn and the Mameluke Sword adorned by Marine officers.
The whole Tripoli aspect of military history being re-visited again is a bit uncanny.
The values and discipline we learned in the Marine Corps travel with me like the calcium in my bones.
“Here’s health to you and to our Corps/ Which we are proud to serve/ In many a strife we’ve fought for life/ and never lost our nerve/ If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven’s scenes/They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.
With all due respect to Mr. Brewer there is one service that is smaller than the U.S. Marine Corps. It’s the U.S. Coast Guard. The service that I am proud to say I gave 20 years of service to, and to country.
But Happy Birthday Marine Semper Fi
Ted Ellis, CPO, USCG ret
You are correct Ted. In fact my neighbors in HIgh School, the Hefffilfinger family were all Coast Guard and encouraged me to join, which I nearly did right after Vietnam. I do not think the Coast Guard has to answer to the Department of Defense though. Yes?
As a proud son (together with my 4 equally proud siiblings) of a former Marine, I say Happy Birthday, U.S. Marines! And thank you. Thank you so very much.
Upon graduating from Tucson High at the ripe old age of 16, and in the throws of the Korean War, Dad snuck into the Corps. He felt a sense of belonging, was driven by a purpose as large as life itself, and knew his patriotism was calling him to perform his duty. This all would’ve been well and good, except my Grandma caught wind of what Dad had done. After a compromise on her part and a keeping to commitment on his part, Dad enlisted in the Air Force.
Happy and proud to serve his country in both branches, he always held his chin high, his smile broad, his eyes lit up when mention of the Marines would come up in conversation. That the Marine experience had this kind of affect on Dad I believe helped prepare him for all that he would face in life. I’ll always remember that as something very special.
That is really a heartwarming story. Thank you Carlos for sharing it with us.
We heard this little post got more hits than the sports for writers for the first time since the launching of TucsonCitizen,com. I understand it was the number one most read that morning. Gotta love dem Marines!