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| "Come on, you sons of bitches - do you want to live forever" (Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, USMC, Belleau Wood, June 1918) |
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| Nov. 10, 1775 -- Continental Congress establishes Marine Corps On 10 November 1775, the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia passed a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This resolution, sponsored by John Adams, established the Continental Marines and marked the birth date of the United States Marine Corps. Serving on land and at sea, these first Marines distinguished themselves in a number of important operations, including their first amphibious raid into the Bahamas in March 1776, under the command of Captain (later Major) Samuel Nicholas. Nicholas, the first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines, remained the senior Marine officer throughout the American Revolution and is considered to be the first Marine Commandant. The Treaty of Paris in April 1783 brought an end to the Revolutionary War and as the last of the Navy's ships were sold, the Continental Navy and Marines went out of existence. Nov. 28, 1775 -- John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, authorizes captain's commission for Samuel Nicholas, which tradition holds, was the first Commandant of the Marine Corps. March 3, 1776 -- First amphibious raid: New Providence, Bahamas July 4, 1776 -- Declaration of Independence signed April, 1783 -- Treaty of Paris; Marine Corps disbands shortly after treaty signed. Formal re-establishment of Marine Corps doesn't occur until 11 July, 1798. April 25-27, 1805 -- Capture of fortress at Derne, Tripoli -- Lt. Presley N. O'Bannon presented "Mameluke" sword for actions at Derne War of 1812 -- Corps' strength reads 10 officers, 483 enlisted 1820 -- Archibald Henderson becomes Commandant of the Marine Corps; "Grand old Man" Henderson held CMC billet for 39 years Sept. 13, 1847 -- Battle of Chapultepec, Mexico 1861-1865 -- Civil War; nearly half of Marine Corps' officers resign their commissions to join the New Confederate States Marine Corps -- Confederate Marines' roster reads 539 -- A resolution introduced to Congress was one of the first attempts to disband the Corps; idea was tabled but the thought continued 18 June, 1866 -- Another resolution to disband the Corps studied and dropped (21 Feb., 1867) Nov. 19, 1868 -- Marine Corps Emblem adopted (usually credited to CMC Jacob Zeilin; emblem nearly unchanged since that time) -- The Marines' Hymn first begins to be heard; no author credited. 1883 -- Marine Corps' motto -- "Semper Fidelis" or "Always Faithful" adopted, replacing other well-known motto's of "Fortitudine" (early 1800's) and "By Sea and By Land" (1876). 1888 -- John Phillip Sousa's "Semper Fidelis" composed. 1898 War with Spain -- June 14, Sgt. John H. Quick at Cuzco Well, Cuba, wigwags (signals) USS Dolphin to direct ships' fire; Quick awarded Medal of Honor for his action. -- National Press pounce on story of Marines in action at Cuzco Well; this begins recognition of the name "Marine." 1900 -- China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion) 1901 - Pvt. Dan Daly awarded his first Medal of Honor for actions while in China (Battle of Peking July, 1900) 1907 -- "Horse Marines" -- China Marines guarding Legation Quarter organized this small detachment, mostly for ceremonies and crowd control, riding Mongolian Ponies. Marines who served in China were often referred to as "Horse Marines." 1912 -- Nicaraguan Campaign 1912 -- Birth of Marine Corps Aviation -- Lt. A.A. Cunningham 1st Marine Aviator; Cunningham, designated Naval Aviator #5, Sept. 17, 1915 1914 -- Maj. Smedley Butler awarded his first Medal of Honor for actions at Vera Cruz 1915-1924 -- Occupation of Haiti 1915 -- Maj. Smedley Butler and Gunnery Sgt. Dan Daly awarded their second Medals of Honor for actions while in Haiti Battle of Bouresches -- June 6-7, 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood -- June 6-26, 1918 -- Legend has it that Germans began referring to Marines as "Teufelhunden" or Devildog; Marines rated as "storm troops" -- Belleau Wood renamed "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" wood of the Marine Brigade. Battle of the Aisne-Marne (Soissons) -- July 18-20, 1918 -- 28 July, 1918 -- Gen. John A. Lejeune, assumed command of the Second Division (Army), marking the first time that a Marine officer would lead an Army Division -- Aug. 13, 1918 -- Opha Mae Johnson, first female enlisted Marine; Women Marines were known as "skirt Marines" or "Marinettes." Battle of St. Mihiel -- Sept. 12-16, 1918 Battle of Blanc Mont -- Oct. 2-9, 1918 -- 5th and 6th Marine regiments awarded French Fourragere; to this day, members of those regiments still authorized to wear the award. Battle of Meuse-Argonne -- Nov. 1-11, 1918 -- 305 "Reservists (Female)" entered the Marine Corps as clerks to "Free a Marine to Fight"; 1919 -- all women ordered out of the Reserve Corps 1923 -- Lt. Col. Earl H. "Pete" Ellis dies under mysterious circumstances in Palau Islands; his research and prescient thinking on war in the Pacific, contained in "Marine Corps Operations Plan 712, Advanced Base Operations in Micronesia," of 1921, forecast requirements for war in the Pacific, including sizes of forces necessary to take objectives, and the future of amphibious warfare. 1927-1933 -- Occupation of Nicaragua -- Marines gained a fighting reputation during this time; Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller a.k.a. "Tiger of the Mountains," awarded Navy Cross for actions while in Nicaragua; was awarded five Navy Crosses before retiring in 1955 as a Lt. Gen. Wake Island -- Dec. 8-23, 1941 Bataan & Corregidor -- Dec. 8, 1941- May 6, 1942 Guadalcanal capture and defense -- Aug. 7, 1942-Feb. 8, 1943 Makin Island Raid -- Aug. 17-18, 1942 New Georgia Occupation June 20, to Aug. 31, 1943 *Tarawa Operation -- Nov. 20 to Nov 23, 1943 Cape Gloucester Operation -- Dec. 26, 1943 to March 1, 1944 Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls Occupation -- Jan. 31 to Feb. 8, 1944 Eniwetok Atoll Occupation Feb. 17 to March 2, 1944 Saipan Capture and Occupation -- June 15 to Aug. 10, 1944 Guam Capture and Occupation -- July 21 to Aug. 15, 1944 Tinian Capture and Occupation -- July 24 to Aug. Aug. 10, 1944 Peleliu Capture and Occupation -- Sept. 15 to Oct. 14, 1944 Leyte Landings (Philippines) Oct. 20, 1944 *Iwo Jima Operation -- Feb. 19 to March 16, 1945 Okinawa Capture and Occupation -- April 1 to June 21, 1945 --There were 1, 556 officers and 26, 369 enlisted in 1940; by 1945, 37,664 officers and 447,399 enlisted were in six Marine divisions. -- From 1941-1945, nearly 20,000 Marines were killed in action or died of wounds; more than 67,000 were wounded in action. -- 81 Marines would be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in WWII. -- 18 June, 1945 -- Gen. Roy S. Geiger became commanding general, 10th Army; on Okinawa; first time a Marine would command a field army Korean War -- June 25, 1950 N. Korean forces invade S. Korea; America sends troops Inchon Landing -- Sept. 15, 1950 *Chosin Reservoir Campaign -- Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, 1950 *-- "Vertical Envelopement" -- First use of helicopters in a combat theater -- The strength of the Corps in 1953 listed at 18, 718 officers and 230, 488 enlisted, up from the 1950 figures of 7,254 officers and 67,025 enlisted. Defense of Pusan Perimeter August 7 - September 7, 1950 Amphibious Landings at Inchon September 15, 1950 Amphibious Landings at Wonsan & Advance to Chosin October 26, 1950 Breakout from Chosin November 27 - December 11, 1950 Amphibious Withdrawal from Hungnam December 11, 1950 Final Peacetalks Begin at Panmunjom Abril 6, 1953 Cease Fire Signed at Panmunjom July 27,1953 Lebanon Landing -- July 15 to Sept. 30, 1958 Cuban Missile Crisis -- Oct. 24 to Dec. 31, 1962 Vietnam War Advisory Campaign -- March 15, 1962 to March 7, 1965 March 8, 1965 -- 9th MEB lands on beaches of Da Nang Operation Starlite -- Largest ground offensive of the Vietnam war for Marines begins, Aug. 15, 1965 *Siege of Khe Sanh -- Jan. 21 - March 30, 1968 -- longest and most notable enemy siege of entire war. Tet Offensive begins - Jan. 29, 1968 -- Battle for Hue City; 30 days of house-to-house combat Operation Eagle Pull -- Evacuation of US Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia April 12, 1975 Operation Frequent Wind -- Evac. of American Embassy, Saigon, April 29-30, 1975 USS Mayaguez Rescue Operation -- Koh Tang, Cambodia May 15-21, 1975 -- In 1964, the Corps' strength was 189,000; In 1969, it was 314,000 officers and enlisted; by 1975, 196,000. -- 12,983 Marines were killed in action from 1961-1975; 88, 591 were wounded. Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt (Desert One, Iran) -- April 24, 1980; 3 Marines killed when helicopter collides with KC-130 during refueling. Marines' role was to fly eight helos (carrying rescue team from the Army Delta Force) to the Tehran Embassy. Iranian Hostage Crisis -- Nov. 4, 1979; 13 Marines taken hostage. Lebanon Deployment -- Aug. 25, 1982 to Feb. 26, 1984 -- Bombing of 24 MAU HQ, Beirut International Airport, Oct. 23, 1983; 241 Americans died, 220 Marines dead in addition to 18 Sailors and 3 Soldiers. Grenada Landing -- Oct. 25 to Nov. 2, 1983 -- Grenada; joint US operation to restore order and evacuate American citizens and foriegn nationals Operation Just Cause -- Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990 -- Panama; joint operation to overthrow Noriega regime in order to restore order and democracy. Operation Sharp Edge -- Evacuation of Monrovia, Liberia and protection of American embassy, Monrovia -- Aug. 5, 1990 to Jan. 9, 1991 Operation Desert Shield -- Aug. 7, 1990 -- Aug. 2; Marines deploy to Saudi Arabia after Saddam Hussien's forces invade Kuwait Operation Desert Storm-- Jan. 17, 1991/ Air War begins -- Jan. 17, 1991 -- 94,000 regulars, 13,066 reserves participated (Marines) -- 22 Marines lost their lives; 2 died of wounds; 88 wounded in action Ground War begins -- Feb. 24, 1991 End of hostilities -- Feb. 28, 1991 Ceasefire declared -- April 11, 1991 Operation Eastern Exit -- Jan. 2, 1991 -- evacuation of American Embassy, Mogadishu, Somalia. Operation Provide Comfort -- April 9, 1991-July 1991 -- humanitarian operations for refugees in Northern Iraq and Turkey Operation GITMO -- Nov 1991- May 1993 -- humanitarian assistance to Haitian refugees fleeing to Cuba; security operations Operation Provide Promise -- July 1992-March 1996 -- Search and Rescue operations (26th MEU (SOC)) in Bosnia-Hercegovina region (Adriatic Sea) in support of Provide Promise. Operation Sharp Guard -- Dec. 1992- Dec. 1995 -- Adriatic Sea; operations in support of U.N. Decisive Enhancement (Sharp Guard transitioned into this) Dec. 1995- present -- Adriatic Sea; involving deployed MEUs Operation Southern Watch -- Aug 1992 -present -- Enforcement of Southern Iraqi no-fly zone. Operation Restore Hope -- Dec. 1992- May 1993 -- Somalia, humanitarian assistance, Marines land Dec. 9, 1992. Operation Able Manner/Able Vigil -- Jan 1993- Oct. 1994 -- Windward passage (Cuba)/ Straits of Florida; support interdiction of Haitian and Cuban migrants. Operation Deny Flight -- April 1993- Dec. 1995 -- Bosnia-Hercegovina; enforcement of no-fly zone over Bosnia-Hercegovina Decisive Edge (Deny Flight transitioned into this) -- Dec. 1995- present -- (same as Deny Flight) Somalia -- May 1993- March 1994 -- Humanitarian and Security Assistance (formerly Oper. Restore Hope). Operation Support Democracy -- Oct. 1993- Oct. 1994 -- Haiti; enforcement of U.N. sanctions. Operation Distant Runner -- April 1994 -- Off the coast of Kenya and Bujumbura, Burundi; security forces for evacuation of American citizens from Rwanda. Operation Sea Signal -- May 1994-Feb. 1996 -- Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; processed Cuban and Haitian migrants and provided security in support of JTF-160. Operation Support Hope -- Aug.- Sept. 1994 -- Mombasa, Kenya, and Burundi; relief operations. Operation Uphold Democracy -- Sept. 1994 -- Haiti; secured Cape Haitian as part of the US forces restoring democracy in Haiti. Operation Vigilant Warrior -- Oct. 1994 -- Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; rapid deployment of US forces to counter Iraqi military buildup south of 32nd parallel. Operation Safe Passage -- Jan.- Feb. 1995 -- Carribean Sea; security support for the transfer of Cuban migrants from Panama to GITMO. Operation United Shield -- Jan.- March 1995 -- Somalia; provided security for the withdrawal of UN operations (UNOSOM) forces. Operation Full Accounting -- March- April 1995; Oct. 1995-present -- Thailand; supported ongoing national efforts for the accounting of POWs/MIAs from the Vietnam War. TRAP mission -- June 8, 1995 -- Bosnia; 24th MEU(SOC) Marines conduct tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel mission to rescue downed Air Force pilot Capt. Scott O'Grady. Operation Deliberate Force -- Aug.- Sept. 1995 -- Bosnia; 2nd MAW conducted air strikes into Bosnia in support of UN resolutions. Operation Vigilant Sentinel -- Aug. 1995-present -- Persian Gulf; Deployment in support of CENTCOM deterence of Iraqi aggression. Operation Fairwinds -- Nov. 1995- May 1996 -- Haiti; security provided for Navy Mobile Construction Bn. and USAF engineer unit. Operation Joint Endeavor -- Dec. 1995- present --- Adriatic Sea and Bosnia; theater reserve for USCINC EUR and SACEUR in support of NATO operations to implement the military tasks of the Dayton Peace Accords. Operation Assured Response -- April-Aug. 1996 -- Liberia; noncombatant evacuation operations at the embassy in Monrovia; security mission. Chemical/Biological Incident Response Force formed -- April 1996 -- formed for crisis response to chemical/biological incidents, provide training to DoN personnel, and function as a testbed for new equipment, techniques and procedures for Chem/Bio. agent use. 14 July- 6 Aug. 1996 -- CBIRF deployed to Olympic Games Operation Quick Response -- May-Aug 1996 -- Bangui, Central African Republic; embassy security operations and NEOs Operation Desert Focus -- July 1996-present -- Southwest Asia; utilized in the aftermath of Khobar bombings in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; counterintelligence operations as part of JTF-SWA. |
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Last Update: 07/29/99
