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History of the Marine Corps

You always hear about the Marine Corps and how much they do, but do you know their origins? Educate yourself on the history of the Marine Corps.

By Jacqueline HanikehPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Some of us know almost everything about the Marine Corps. What they do, how long they serve, etc. But, what about their history? Where did the Marine Corps really come from? Most of us don't know the history behind many of the United States Armed Forces, it's normal. But we should know the origins of these forces and how they came to be.

And this leads me to showing you exactly how the Marine Corps came to be. Because of their devotion and service to the country, fighting in battle, and being some of the most courageous individuals on the planet, people should know where they started. Read through the history of the Marine Corps and understand how it was all formed.

Operation

The Marine Corps was created in 1775 and its role was expanded drastically — marking the history of the Marine Corps. While they’re among the branches of the US Armed Forces, the Marine Corps "shall, at any time, be liable to do duty in the forts and garrisons of the United States, on the seacoast, or any other duty on shore, as the President, at his discretion, shall direct."

They are responsible for carrying out duties that are given to them directly by the President of the United States. They serve an all-purpose, fast-response task force that is capable of doing quick actions in areas that are in danger.

They possesss organic ground and air combat elements that rely on the US Navy to provide sea combat elements to fulfill missions. “The 1st Marine Division is based out of Camp Pendleton, California, the 2nd out of Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, while the third is based on Okinawa, Japan.” Air combats are similar to these groups.

The Marine Corps’ tactics and strategies are mainly aggressive and offensive. Their consistent use of essential elements during combat are air, ground, and seas — all three together. They are able to maintain integrated multi-element task forces through a single command and provide a special ability to respond to urgent requirements.

From the Beginning

The history of the Marine Corps started as the “Continental Marines” during the American Revolutionary War. They were formed by a resolution of the Continental Congress on November 10, 1775. They were even first recruited at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also, they originally only served as landing troops. However, the Continental Marines separated at the end of the war in April 1783, but they resurrected on July 11, 1798. Yet, November 10th will always be known as the Marine Corps birthday.

After the 19th Century, the Marine Corps only partook in a small role in the American military history. They should be placed in a bigger role, right? But they were viewed to have a small significant action during the American Civil War, but later became an important branch in the Armed Forces because their deployment in small wars around the globe.

They played a large role during World War II, especially in the Pacific. The Marine Corps were also part of the fierce battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa against the Imperial Japanese Army. During the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the First Marine Division was vastly outnumbered, but were better equipped and trained and fought off Chinese forces. The Marine Corps brought heavy Chinese casualties during their fighting withdrawal to the coast.

Aside from that, the Marines Corps played a significant role in the Vietnam War — battles such as Da Nang, Hue City, and Khe Sanh. They were among the first troops to be deployed to Vietnam and the last to leave during the evacuation of the American embassy in Saigon.

The Marine Corps did a lot after serving in Vietnam. They battled in Lebanon in 1983, liberated Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, and performed a successful mission in Bosnia in 1995. The most recent event that the Marines served in was during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and spearheading assaults on the city of Fallujah in April and November 2004.

Today's Marine Corps

The Marine Corps is known to have a widely-held reputation as a fierce and effective fighting force. They take pride in their tough attitude while serving in battle. They also receive different levels of fame and infamy from the enemies they fight — which isn’t surprising.

They’ve recently been trained in martial arts — the idea was borrowed from the South Korean Marines who were trained in martial arts during the Vietnam War, leveling them all to black belts.

While the Marine Corps’ reputation has been nothing but positive within the US, they still struggle with occasional negative press and assumptions. There are complaints that members of the Marine Corps boast about their skills at the expense of the of Army or Navy units that are nearby.

All in all, after all the accusations about the Marine Corps, they are undeniably strong and intelligent individuals who risk their lives fighting for the country.

Their motto "Semper Fidelis" means "Always faithful" in Latin — never handling an operating half-heartedly and always going at it to their fullest.

Now that you know the history of the Marine Corps, see the history of the US Navy SEALS. Then you'll be one step closer to knowing the entire history of the US Armed Forces.

marine corps
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About the Creator

Jacqueline Hanikeh

Reading good literature plays a huge role in my life — and so does online shopping and wine.

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