10/31/2007

From the Halls of Montezuma…
By Bob Lassahn

Marine Corps Flag

The United States Marine Corps, The Marines or simply The Corps, is a fighting force that has distinguished itself in virtually every conflict since the American Revolution. This resulted from a resolution passed on November 10, 1775 by the Continental Congress that "two Battalions of Marines be raised." They conducted their first amphibious raid in the Bahamas in March 1776 under the command of Captain (later Major) Samuel Nicholas, often considered the first Marine Commandant.

In April 1783 when the Treaty of Paris brought the American Revolution to an end, both the Continental Navy and Marines also effectively ended their existence. But on July 11, 1798 the Marines Corps was reborn and soon thereafter saw action in the war with France.

The Marines participated in naval operations against the Barbary pirates and in April 1805 Marine Lieutenant Presley N. O'Bannon raised the American flag over the walled city of Derna, Tripoli.  For this action the colors of the Corps were thereafter inscribed with the words "To the Shores of Tripoli."

During the War of 1812 the Marines engaged in numerous naval operations as well as participating in the defense of Washington and fought along with Andrew Jackson or "Old Hickory" in the defeat of the British at New Orleans. The decades following the War of 1812 sent the Marines to the Caribbean, the Falkland Islands, Sumatra and the coast of West Africa.

During the Mexican War (1846 - 1848) Marines seized seaports on both the Gulf and Pacific coasts. A battalion of Marines also joined with General Scott's army to participate in the capture and occupation of Mexico City and the Castle of Chapultepec, otherwise known as the "Halls of Montezuma." The Colors of the Corps were then changed to read "From the Shores of Tripoli to the Halls of Montezuma." Following the Mexican War the first verse of the Marine’s Hymn appeared, allegedly written by a Marine on duty in Mexico. Probably for artistic purposes the author transposed the phrases on the Colors to "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli."

Marines were primarily engaged in naval operations during the American Civil War. In the Spanish-American War (1898) they saw action in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. During the period 1899-1902 they served in the Philippine Insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion in China and numerous other nations including Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Mexico and Haiti. World War I sent the Marines to the battlefields of France where the 4th Marine Brigade earned the title "Devil Dogs" for their heroic action at Belleau Wood and other engagements. Marine aviation was born in 1912.

World War II and the Pacific campaign including Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Guam, Okinawa and of course Iwo Jima furthered the Marines' reputation as an elite fighting force. The battle for Iwo Jima or more simply "Iwo" was a particularly bloody conflict that resulted in more than 28,000 U.S. casualties and a total of 6,821 Americans lost their lives during 36 days of intense fighting. It went into the record as the largest all-Marine battle in history and one in which a total of 22 Marines and five sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor. Admiral Chester Nimitz paid tribute to those who fought on Iwo with the statement, "uncommon valor was a common virtue." The quote has been adopted by the Corps as a motto.

The Marines at Iwo have also given us "Old Glory goes up Mt. Suribachi, Iwo, Jima"…a photo that became an American icon defining heroism, love of country and determination to rise above the conflict for millions during World War II. The image captured what was actually the second flag raising on the peak of Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal snapped the picture as a larger American flag was being set into place because the original, placed there earlier on that day was too small to be readily visible.

Mount Suribachi

The Mt. Suribachi photo became the inspiration for the Marine Corps War Memorial located on the northern edge of Arlington National Cemetery and overlooking Washington, DC. The memorial, standing 78 feet high, honors all Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States since the Corps was established. The memorial was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 10, 1954.

Then came Korea and Changjin (Choson) Reservoir, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 1862 when the Medal of Honor (MOH) was established it has been awarded to 297 Marines. The most recent Marine MOH recipient, Corporal Jason L. Dunham of New York, received the nation's highest award posthumously for a selfless act of bravery on April 14 2004 in Iraq, when the 22 year old used his helmet and body to cover a grenade, saving the lives of at least two fellow Marines.

The USMC will celebrate its 232nd birthday on November 10. During those years the "leathernecks," a term relating to the leather neckpiece of the Marine uniform from 1775 to 1785 or "jarheads," a slang term possibly drawing on the resemblance of the Marine dress blue uniform and its high collar to a Mason jar, have provided Americans with many reasons to be proud of their warriors.

The Corps motto, "Semper Fidelis" (most often shortened to "Semper Fi") is Latin for "always faithful." A Marine will tell you this means faithful to God, country, family and to the Corps. Their battle history has inspired the phrase "the Marines have landed" indicating the resolution of a bad situation.

The motto of the Marine Corps League is "Once a Marine, Always a Marine." The men and women who have served in the Corps find the term "former Marine" objectionable and explain that for those who have earned the title of Marine it becomes a part of who they are, instilling values and beliefs that remain with them throughout their lives.

Steeped in tradition they are "The few, the proud, the Marines."