To most folks, Monday will just be another day… but to a select few of us, it’s something very special. This year, it’s even more so — the United States Marine Corps turns 250 years old.
For those who might not know, the Marine Corps was founded in a bar — Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, 1775. Leave it to Marines to start the greatest fighting force in the world where they could grab a beer between sign-ups. To this day, we’re still the only branch of the military founded in a bar — which probably explains a lot.
We’ve also been accused (accurately, I might add) of having the best-looking dress uniforms — those legendary Dress Blues. Not only that, but we’re also the most modest branch… and the best looking. (It’s a burden we’ve learned to carry with pride.)
At the Battle of Iwo Jima, 22 Marines were awarded the Medal of Honor, a record unmatched in a single battle. As Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said, “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” That says it all.
I had the honor of serving just eight of those years. I left southern Illinois on a cold January morning and did my boot camp in sunny San Diego — yes, I admit it, I’m one of those Hollywood Marines. (Don’t hold that against me — we still earned the title the same way!) After that, I joined the Air Wing — yep, I was one of those “Swing with the Wing” Marines.
The lessons I learned in those years have served me well my whole life — whether it was as a college professor wrangling students and administrators, or as a safety director working with truck drivers and management. The Marine Corps builds character… and patience. Lots of patience.
Marines have given the world countless memories — from the iconic flag raising on Iwo Jima, to heroes like Kyle Carpenter, who was awarded (not won) the Medal of Honor. Even Hollywood got it right sometimes — one of the best NCIS episodes ever was Call of Silence, about a WWII Marine Medal of Honor recipient from Iwo Jima.
There’s no shortage of famous Marines either — Drew Carey, R. Lee Ermey, Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen, Gene Hackman, Shaggy, and John Glenn, just to name a few. And of course, the legends: Chesty Puller, Dan Daly (who was awarded the MOH twice), and thousands of others whose names may never be famous but whose service mattered just as much.
So here’s to all Marines — past, present, and future. May your coffee always be strong, your boots always dry, and your sense of humor intact.
Semper Fi — here’s to another 250 years of the finest fighting force the world has ever seen!
Leave a Reply