The Senior Military Service Sends Its Regards . . .
. . . to the youngest of the original three US military services on the occasion of its 239th birthday. Specifically: Happy Birthday, United States Marine Corps.
The USMC was first established on Friday, 10 November1775. On that date, the Second Continental Congress resolved
That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of privates as with other battalions, that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to offices, or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies; unless dismissed by Congress; that they be distinguished by the names of the First and Second Battalions of Marines.
Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia, PA, is often regarded as the “birthplace” of the USMC; the first Marines reputedly enlisted there. However, the truth of that claim is unclear; some accounts say that the first recruiting took place not in Tun Tavern but in a tavern called the Conestoga Waggon – owned by none other than the family of the first Commandant of Marines, Samuel Nicholas.
Like the US Navy, the USMC was disestablished after the American Revolution. It was reestablished on 11 July 1798.
Initially, 11 July was regarded as the USMC’s birthday. However, in 1921 Major Edwin North McClellan – then OIC of the USMC History Section – convinced the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Maj Gen John Lejune, to declare the original date of 10 November as the USMC’s birthday. It has been so celebrated since. The first USMC Ball was held four years later, in 1925.
Born in a bar? That figures – and explains much. (smile)
All kidding aside: you Marines may be a bit “off” from our perspective, but you’re certainly damn good at what you do. We love ya like brothers and sisters.
Again: best birthday wishes to the finest Marines in the world.
Category: Historical, Marine Corps
Drafted today 1966 at Ft. Hamilton. We were told that because it was the USMC birthday, we would be lined up and a Marine Corps Drill SGT. would select one out of every ten of us, since their enlistment quotas were low.
It never happened….
I was also drafted on this day in 1966 in Richmond, VA…and told the same thing. A USMC NCO came into the room and asked for volunteers, and got a few of the good men there. Where have the 48 years gone?
Well thanks Hondo. I think. 😉
The Marines had balls this weekend.
Seriously, great tradition and Happy Birthday!
Damn right we are a little off our rocker! Thats what makes us Marines.
Semper Fi Hondo. Thank you for all that you do.
SJ–The Marines have balls every day. God bless them.
Even the females. Amen on the Blessing of them.
Happy Birthday, USMC! To the few and the proud, enjoy the day.
The Army says “we were soldiers once” but Marines are Marines until they die. Thanks Hondo. Semper Fi to all Marines and FMF Corpsmen.
Dana. No need to swipe at the Army when an old soldier is kind enough to remember the USMC’s birthday. That ain’t nice. What you quoted was part of the name of a book, not an expression. The full title is, “We Were Soldiers Once…And Young.” Or is it your contention that Marines don’t age?
I don’t think there was any intended disrespect, Air Cav. Just the usual bravado we Marines tend to put forth. For the record, we do age. Like a fine bourbon, I’d say. We mellow with age, and are great for any occasion…
Actually, it is now “Soldier for Life” and when they need a new marketing ploy to create lapel pin sales for AAFES, it will be “Soldier Forever”. Just think of the money the Marine Exchange would make if the Marines changed their lapel pin. Every Marine would purchase four pins. One to wear and one each for their road guards and cadence counter.
Sales of the Marine pins would be twice as high… every Marine would need two, one for himself and one to show to the person who could read to him what it said.
And a shout out to my favorite Marine, my son-in-law.
The honeymoon night must have been bothersome to your daughter to have two road guards and someone to count cadence with them in the bedroom.
See that goes to show how F-ed up the Marines are. They have to rely on their little brother for a paycheck and a job.
Semper Fi
Happy birthday, Jarheads!
Live long and shoot straight.
We are Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children and very proud of it.
Semper Fi, Do or Die!
You may be a bit “off” by the civilian’s world standards, but this retired US Army commo SSG is sure glad you have our backs.
Happy Birthday!!
Happy 239th Birthday, Marines!
To all you Devils, I raise my glass. Semper Fi!
Thanks, Doc! Good day for a tot of Navy Strength Rum I’d say. 😉
Thanks Hondo.
I like how mystery about where the Marine Corps started. It’s agreed that it was a bar, we just don’t know which bar.
Semper Fidelis…don’t be jealous.
How many bars between Constoga Waggon and Tun Tavern? I’m sure we hit them all.
Happy Birthday, my brothers.
Semper Fi!
Happy birthday to all my brothers and sisters, especially those forward deployed doing God’s work. Stay safe.
So I was talking to a friend who was a rotary wing aviator in the Corps (SuperCobra). And I said to him:
“Ok, so the Marine Corps was founded in a bar, right?”
“Yep, Tun Tavern November 10, 1775”
“And one of the Corps’ initial duties was to serve as boarding parties during naval engagements, right?”
“That’s right, take the fight directly to the enemy”
“So, in other words that would make you drunken pirates, right?”
“Well….”
“Hey, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing! Right on, Marines!”
Happy Birthday, Marines. Fair winds and following seas!
If you had said that to a grunt, there would have been no hesitation in agreeing with that assesment. More than likely, a flask would appear out of nowhere and there would be drinks all around as some wild ass sea story, with a plethora of embellishments, was shared.
To the Marine Corps and all of you Marines out there, a very Happy Birthday indeed. I thank each of you for serving and giving so much to our country.
Happy B-day, USMC. May you have many more in Honor and Courage.
Happy Birthday, Marines. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of you along the way and observing even more of you as you went about your business. It was frequently amusing and almost always interesting. I’m just glad you’re on our side.
Happy 239th Birthday to all my fellow Jar Heads past and present.
And thank you to all of you for your continued support of our outstanding current generation of Marines who continue to keep the wolves at bay!
Semper Fidelis!!
Happy Birthday, Marines. And a shout-out to my oldest son, who will retire from the USMC on 31 December 2014, as a Master Sergeant, with 25 years and two weeks of service.
For all of us who served in the Men’s Department of the Navy! haha
Happy Birthday!
Semper Fi!!
I enlisted in 1965 in PLC program and was commisioned in 1968. One of the best things I ever did. Proud to be a Marine. Served with some of the best people in the world. Semper Fi.
Any Marine found sober today while not posted on duty will be up on charges for dereliction of duty!
Happy Birthday USMC.
@Hondo:
You all at this site prove that Semper Fi ain’t just a Marine thing, nor is it just a slogan.
Keep up the outstanding work. We all appreciate it.
And I will second that!
SEMPER FI forever
Happy Birthday Marines from the youngest service. (Though in our defense you can’t have an Air Force without powered flight which wasn’t invented until Dec 14 1903.)
Well, maybe somebody should have adapted and overcame. 🙂
Semper Fi,
Happy Birthday.
Regards,
Semper Paratus
I was always told that the Marines are the junior of the 3 services because they were too busy killing redcoats to worry about getting the paperwork done……
And just for the record, I don’t FEEL 239!
Somebody obviously made a mistake and tasked a machinegunner with doing the paperwork. Turns out, it is really hard to type with your fists.
Happy Birthday,Marines. I wanted to go into the Corps,but my hopes were dashed when the recruiter found out my Mom and Dad were legally married to each other at the time of my birth.(Smile)
How’s the veal and how long will you be here?
Veal is good and I guess I’ll be here till the cows do a drive by shooting or Jonn blocks me for too much bull.
I bet the real kicker was when he found out they were brother and sister.
Oorah.
He did,but by that time I had already been inducted into the Army. Just trying to help him roll a doughnut.
Oorah, Devils!
Even at 239 still hookin’ and jabbin’ and looking good doing it.
Semper Pie
Happy Birthday to all Marines and may we celebrate another 239 more! Semper Fi till I die. Joe
Happy Birthday to all Marines, but especially to my 2 favorites, my husband (1978-1982) and my son (1998- Currently). I love you both and thank you all for your service.
Marines, because somebody’s got to buy all the almost expired geedunk from the ship’s store during deployments.
Yeah, yeah, I’m a little late to the festivities but I’m working night shift.
Happy Birthday to my big, loud, violent and playfully psychotic extended family.