Happy 235th Birthday Marine Corps – 16 Famous Marines and Some History Too

With our armed forces numbering under 2 million folks, it’s not as common as it was even 40 years ago to know someone who serves in any branch of the service, let alone the Marines.    

If you have a family member who served or is serving – thank them. If you’ve served – thank you.

Here’s a little history of the Corps from “The American Patriot’s Almanac” by William Bennett and John T.E. Cribb (revised edition 2010, Thomas Nelson Publishing, ISBN 978-1-59555-260-0, pg 449). Also included are some famous Marines you might recognize and some interesting facts about the Marines.

During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress ordered two battalions of what were called “Continental Marines” to be formed. The recruiting office was in Philadelphia’s Tun Tavern.

They were to be the security forces for the Navy’s ships, carry out ship-to-ship fighting, and were the first to land during missions.

The first landing was led by Captain Samuel Nicholas in March 1776 in the Bahamas where they found British ordnance.

After the war ended, they were disbanded until 1798.

The Marine Corps flag, designed in 1939, has a scarlet background with a yellow and gray globe, to represent the service to any part of the world and an anchor which reminds us of their partnership with the Navy and the amphibious missions they undertake. The globe is held up by an eagle that holds in its beak a scroll with the words “Semper Fidelis” on it. Semper Fidelis is the Marine Corps motto and means “Always Faithful.” At the bottom of the flag is a scroll that says “United States Marine Corps.”

By the way, on this date in 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the Marine Corps War Memorial at Arlington, Virginia. That’s the one with the soldiers raising up the American flag.

Some famous Marines (from the www.usmchangout.com website)

Don Adams, Actor from “Get Smart”

Drew Carey, Host of “The Price is Right”

Brian Dennehy, Actor

Ronald Lee Ermey – Actor best known as the drill sergeant in “Full Metal Jacket” and now the commercial where he calls his patient “jack wagon”

John Glenn, Astronaut/politician

Scott Glenn, Actor

Lee Marvin, Actor

Ed McMahon, TV co-host, who achieved the rank of Colonel

Oliver North, Lieutenant Colonel

George C. Scott, Actor most famous for portraying General Patton

Bernard Shaw, CNN Anchor

Thomas Sowell, Professor and brilliant writer

Larry Wilcox, Actor most famous for his role on “CHIPS”

Montel Williams, TV Talk show host, served 15 years

Ted Williams, Baseball player

Jonathan Winters, Actor/Comedian

Also according to this website, the English Bulldog is the mascot of the Marines.

 The origin of the nickname “Leatherneck” is most likely from the heavy leather collars early Marines wore to protect their jugular veins from saber blows. The nickname “Jarhead” comes from World War II when the Marines wore dress blues with white collars that made them resemble Mason jars.

The site also says the motivational phrase “Oorah” stems from the 1950s with Marines stationed in Korea. They often heard the familiar alarm “Aarugha” when they dove in their submarines, and the term “Oorah” morphed from that sound because it was shorter and easier to say. Now it is a call to action and a motivational phrase used when Marines run or train.

Happy Birthday Marine Corps – thanks for helping keep us safe! Oorah – Semper Fi.