Happy Birthday Marines!
247 Years Young
10 November 2022
A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS
70 years ago, Army Major General Frank E. Lowe was quoted as saying, “The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight.” That testimonial rings as true now as it did then, and will remain so tomorrow. As we celebrate the 247th anniversary of our Corps’ founding, we reflect on nearly two and a half centuries of exceptional prowess, while also taking objective stock of where we are today and how we will prepare for future battlefields. Our birthday provides us a chance to focus on the one thing common to our success in the past, present, and future: the individual Marine. Victories are not won because of technology or equipment, but because of our Marines.
Since 1775, Marines have fought courageously and tenaciously in every conflict our country has faced. Through the Revolution, the Spanish-American War, World Wars in Europe and the Pacific, conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and operations in the Middle East, Marines consistently earned a reputation as the world’s elite fighting force. We inherit and take pride in this reputation, evolved over time by Marines acquitting themselves with honor and distinction on every battlefield in every clime and place. Battlefields change, and Marines have always adapted to the environment and the changing character of war – but the reason we fight and win is immutable. It’s the individual warfighters, and their love for each other, that makes our Corps as formidable a force today as it has been for the past 247 years. It’s our ethos and our unapologetic resolve to be the most capable and lethal fighting force that sets us apart from the rest.
Current events around the world remind us that peace is not guaranteed. While we are justifiably proud of our past and pay tribute to the remarkable warfighters who came before us, we understand that the stories of yesterday cannot secure our freedom tomorrow. We must be ready to respond when our Nation calls. It falls on Marines who are in uniform today to write the next chapter of our Corps. The solemn responsibility of maintaining our illustrious warfighting legacy rests upon your shoulders. I know that you are up to that task. The battlefields of tomorrow are uncertain. The future characteristics of warfare are uncertain. But one thing is certain – wherever Marines are called, they will fight and win – today, tomorrow, and into the future.
Happy 247th Birthday, Marines!
David H. Berger
General, US Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Happy Birthday. Devil Dogs. Glad you’re on our side.
“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!” Eleanor Roosevelt
Category: Bravo Zulu, Marine Corps, The Warrior Code, Valor
Happy Birthday Marines!
Semper Fidelis
To my Marine Corps son out there.
Happy Birthday, Devil Dog!
Crayon Cake for everyone!
Sempre Fidelis
Oh-rah!
First, happy Birthday, my Gyrine brethren. Hope you all can hoist a large tankard of your liquid of choice in honor of the occasion.
Second, since I retired in January of 2019, I’ve felt disconnected from the USMC and military community (TAH does help). I remember one time just flipping through my music and putting on a Marine Band album. I had to turn it off – it was just putting me in a melancholy mood. This time of year does it to me especially as this is now my fourth year that I won’t be going to a USMC ball after having been to God knows how many (several years there were multiple) from 1995-2018.
Just asking the retired/separated folks here what their experience was like. I do sleep soundly in my DD-214 blanket and I don’t regret getting out when I did, but I do miss it. Of course, I realize that may just be because I don’t have to deal with all of the chicken shit one has to on a daily basis. I sure as hell was glad to not be in during the COVID overreaction.
[Is there a text limit I never noticed before? I hit a block typing all of that.]
As I was saying, perhaps it’s like the dog you miss just because you don’t think about all the times it shit on the floor.
Yep, there is a text limit. Best of luck today Fuze, too bad Tun Tavern is now under I-95… Would love to be able to experience that history..
OOoh, and Happy Birthday to Uncle Sams Misguided Children! Red crayons all around!
I was in Publix yesterday before the storm that never was and I see this guy in the veggy section with a USMC Cap and I say to him, Uncle Sams Misguided Children and he didn’t know what I was talking about so I asked him what year he was in and says in the 70’s. I could have sworn he said 1970 but I forgot and I explained to him that we used the phrase back when I was in the Navy. Wondering now if he was just wearing the cap that maybe he bought or for another reason.
Yes, Virginia, there is a text limit of 1000 letters/spaces/characters. Look in the upper right corner of the block where you’re typing, you’ll see the countdown.
And yes, even though I was a member of Uncle Sam Ain’t Released Me Yet, and not a Devil Dog, when I retired, it took a long time to shake many of those military habits (ask my long-suffering wife). Yes, I still miss “the life”. Yes, even now, 20+ years after, there will still be that little “thing” that will shake me out of my civilian reverie.
It’s one of those, “if you’ve been there/done that, then no explanation is necessary. if not, then no explanation is enough”. Ya’kno’whad’I’mean?
Welcome to the fraternity (and sorority – can’t forget our sisters-in-arms) of retired military……….
(damn! now ya got me allergic. Where’d that dust come from? Pass me a damned kleenex!) Too bad it’s winter. I need some gunpowder therapy.
Absolutely. . .
Thanks for your perspective.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday to the Corps and my two Misguided Children family members.
Happy 247th Birthday USMC.
Happy Birthday USMC!!!
SOUSA Semper Fidelis – “The President’s Own” US Marine Band – Bing video
Very apropos since I just found out that a cousin once removed recently graduated from Basic Recon Course. I do have one question, what wine pairs best with Crayolas 🖍?
Depends on the color of the crayon.
Reds should pair best with a hearty red wine.
Pastels should taste best with a white wine.
😉😎
Happy Birthday, Devil Dogs!
🥳🎂🎊🎈
Happy Birthday Marines!!!
Happy Birthday to Uncle Sams Mightiest Critters. So apropos that you share a birthday with Badlands National Park in Dakota. Bad Lands and Bad Mans (&Womans).
https://www.bing.com/search?q=badlands+national+park+history&form=hpcapt&filters=HpDate:%2220221110_0800%22
Semper Fidelis. You As$&:@es!