Marine Corps Timeline
1776: Fort Nassau (Innovation)
The first amphibious raid
Just weeks after banding together, the Continental Marines successfully executed their first amphibious landing on a hostile shore.
The British were storing large supplies of gunpowder at Fort Nassau in the Bahamas for use in battle against the thirteen colonies. Captain Samuel Nicholas and 234 Marines sailed with the Continental Navy on a mission to capture the supply.
Within minutes of the Marines' arrival, the British troops surrendered. Capt Nicholas successfully acquired cannons and other military stores.
The Marines' first challenge and success paved the way for greater operations to come.
1775: Founding of the Marine Corps (Mission)
A legacy is born
During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.
A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.
The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.
As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.
Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines.
1805: Battle of Derna (Mission)
To the shores of Tripoli
In 1805, the United States government refused to continue paying Barbary Coast pirates to refrain from raiding American merchant ships.
When negotiations for a treaty failed, President Thomas Jefferson assembled an expeditionary force of Marines to respond.
Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon and his Marines marched across 600 miles of the Libyan Desert to successfully storm the fortified Tripolitan city of Derna and rescue the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia.
The Marines’ victory helped Prince Hamet Bey reclaim his rightful throne as ruler of Tripoli. In gratitude, he presented his Mameluke sword to Lt O’Bannon.
This famous sword became part of the officer uniform in 1825, and remains the oldest ceremonial weapon in use by United States forces today.
The Battle of Derna was the Marines' first battle on foreign soil, and is notably recalled in the first verse of the Marines’ Hymn: "From the Halls of Moctezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea."
1820: Col (Brevet BGen) Archibald Henderson (Leader)
Leader of the Marine Corps
for 39 years At the age of 37, Colonel Archibald Henderson became the fifth Commandant of the Marine Corps. He held this position for more than 39 years, outlasting nine presidents.
Henderson is remembered for his personal commitment to his Marines and his straightforwardness. In 1836, Henderson went in person to fight alongside his Marines in the Florida Indian War, leaving a simple note on his door: "Have gone to Florida to fight Indians. Will be back when war is over."
1847: The Battle of Chapultepec (Mission)
The Halls of Montezuma
The Mexican-American War played a critical role in defining the border between the two nations that remains in place today.
In 1847, knowing that the capture of the Palacio Nacional would greatly disarm the Mexican army, the Marines stormed the enemy fortress during the Battle of Chapultepec.
After two days of battle, the Marines gained control of the castle, better known as the “Halls of Montezuma.”
The Marines were then given the honor of raising the Stars and Stripes over the palace to mark their victory. Upon returning home, the same Marines presented their flag to the commandant.
The victory at the “Halls of Montezuma” remains a part of Marine Corps tradition, immortalized in the opening line of the famed Marines’ Hymn.
1862: Cpl John Mackie (Leader)
The first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor
Corporal John F. Mackie was the first Marine to be awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military award.
Onboard the USS Galena at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff during the Civil War, heavy fire from Confederate forces killed or wounded much of the crew. Cpl Mackie bravely risked his life to lead the gun operation for the remainder of the battle.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to a person who distinguishes him or herself "...by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States..."
At Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, a marker indicates the location
of Mackie's bravery.
1880: John Philip Sousa (Leader)
A musical heritage
Long before his music inspired the nation, John Philip Sousa took an apprenticeship with the Marine Band at age 13.
He officially became head of the Marine Corps Band in 1880, conducting "The President's Own" under five presidents. Sousa was a gifted composer and became known as "The March King."
His music continues to bring honor to the Marine Corps today.
Many of his well-known compositions, including "The Stars and Stripes Forever," the National March of the United States and "Semper Fidelis," the Official March of the Marine Corps, are still widely recognized.
1898: Sgt John Quick (Leader)
Risking his life in the crossfire
In the midst of fighting enemy forces during the Battle of Guantanamo Bay, deadly fire against Marines increased dramatically. In the chaos, the USS Dolphin misinterpreted a signal and opened fire on Marines.
In order to save the lives of his fellow Marines, Sergeant John Quick risked his own. Exposing himself to the crossfire, he signaled a cease-fire to the USS Dolphin. This courageous act earned Sgt Quick our nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor.
1901: Pacific Operations (Mission)
A presence in the Pacific
At the end of the 19th century, a secret society took hold in China; the "Boxers" fueled anti-Western attitudes in the nation and began burning foreign homes and businesses.
When the Chinese government refused to step in, Western foreign ministers pleaded for relief. Five-hundred sailors and Marines, who had just successfully calmed insurrection in the nearby Philippines, joined international forces to quell the Boxer Rebellion.
In the Philippines and China, the Marines proved indispensable. They deployed at a moment’s notice and fought admirably.
These two triumphs established America’s military presence in the Pacific, and laid the groundwork for the role of the Marine Corps in the upcoming world war.
1912: First Marine Aviation (Innovation)
The birth of Marine Corps aviation
When the Navy opened the nation's earliest aviation camp in Annapolis, Maryland, First Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham was the first Marine to receive training. With this action, the rich legacy of Marine Corps aviation began.
1stLt Cunningham, after only two hours and 40 minutes of instruction embarked on the Marine Corps' first solo training flight. After this, Marine Corps aviation operations grew to successfully support ground and amphibious assaults during World War I and beyond.
The date of Cunningham's solo flight and the original date of his assignment are both recognized as "birthdays" of Marine Corps aviation.
1914: America's First Armored Vehicle (Innovations)
Preparing vehicles for battle
After the British army's Rolls Royce armored vehicle succeeded in wartime efforts, the Marine Corps quickly developed similar equipment to transport men and supplies from ship landing ramps to interior regions
The Armor Motor Car Company of Detroit built the first armored cars for American military use, each fully equipped with a powerful V-8 engine and revolving machine gun turrets.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, purchased two of these vehicles for testing. After many successful tests, a total of eight armored cars were acquired and assigned to the 1st Armored Car Squadron of the 1st Marines at Philadelphia.
While America's first armored vehicles never actually saw battle, they were the first step toward the armored vehicles in use today.
1915: SgtMaj Dan Daly (Leader)
Two Medals of Honor,one fearless Marine
During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, Sergeant Major Dan Daly fought off Chinese snipers and single-handedly defended the Marines' position until reinforcements arrived. This bravery earned him a Medal of Honor.
In 1915, SgtMaj Daly earned the prestigious medal a second time during the Haitian Occupation. He gallantly fended off Haitian bandits all through the night to ultimately defeat them in the morning.
A courageous leader, Daly is well known for his fearlessness in battle. He was highly respected by his fellow Marines; Major Smedley Butler described him as "the fightinest Marine I ever knew." Daly and Butler are the only Marines who have been awarded two Medals of Honor.
1915: MajGen Smedley Butler (Leader)
Bravery in back-to-back campaigns
Not only did Major General Smedley Butler distinguish himself as one of two Marines to earn two Medals of Honor, he earned the prestigious medals in back-to-back campaigns.
MajGen Butler earned his first Medal in 1914, commanding Marine forces during the United States’ occupation of Vera Cruz. A year later, he earned his second Medal for "bravery and forceful leadership" as a commanding officer during the Haitian Occupation.
Butler served for 34 years before retiring from duty. Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, in Okinawa, Japan, is named in his honor.
1915: Parris Island Established (Innovations)
Where Marines are made
Marine Corps training is legendary, but the recruit training that exists today didn't begin until 1911. Major General William P. Biddle, the 11th Commandant of the Marine Corps, formalized and intensified the training, raising the bar for what it takes to become a United States Marine.
In 1915, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island became the first base dedicated to the sole purpose of training. It has been in continuous use since then, and is now one of only two bases where enlisted Marines are made.
As WWI broke out, 41,000 recruits trained at Parris Island, and the base has accommodated as many as 250,000 recruits during the Vietnam War. Parris Island began training female recruits in 1949.
Marine Corps recruits are still trained and transformed at Parris Island today, where approximately 20,000 Marines graduate each year.
1918: Opha Mae Johnson (Leader)
Breaking barriers, winning battles
On August 13, 1918, Opha Mae Johnson became the first female Marine when she enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Although women weren't allowed in war zones during World War I, Johnson and more than 300 other women served proudly in the United States, helping their male counterparts win in France.
Less than 100 years after Johnson's service and courage,
women fill many key roles in the Marine Corps, in both the
officer and enlisted ranks.
1918: Battle of Belleau Wood (Mission)
The relentless “Devil Dogs”
Deep in Belleau Wood, just outside of Paris, the Marine Corps fought relentlessly against German soldiers in World War I. Four days into battle, Marines had suffered heavy casualties and were pinned down by machine-gun fire.
On 7 June 1918, with few grenades and no signal flares left, Marine forces launched an assault with fixed bayonets, seizing enemy positions. Marine riflemen demonstrated their firing skills, shredding the lines of an oncoming German counterattack.
After 20 days of intense fighting, the Marines had won the Battle of Belleau Wood. The German survivors, exhausted and wounded, gave a fitting nickname to their relentless opponent: Teufelhunden, or “Devil Dogs.”
1941: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (Leader)
The beginning of a legacy in the air
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) is an aviation unit that supplies the Marine Corps with a wide range of aircraft and equipment to support any Marine Corps mission.
Activated in Quantico, Virginia, in 1941, the 1st MAW aided Marine forces for the first time during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The MAW has been awarded five Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry in wartime, including WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Today the famed unit is stationed at MCB Butler in Okinawa, Japan, and continues to be an integral part of air operations in the Marine Corps.
1941: LVT-1 (Innovation)
The Marine Corps’ first amphibious vehicle
With welded steel, padded treads and room for 4,500 pounds of cargo, the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) was the Marine Corps' first amphibious vehicle to aid in battle on both land and sea.
The LVT-1 transported men and equipment from ships across fringing reefs and beaches into battle with great versatility and mobility. The Marine Corps adapted the LVT-1 from an amphibious tractor originally used in post-hurricane rescue missions. The transformation from tractor to amphibious vehicle demonstrated the Marines' persistence in finding technological solutions to strategic problems.
The LVT-1 saw its first combat action during World War II, moving Marines and thousands of tons of supplies to the front lines. It was later thrust into more strategic situations, becoming an important element for transporting artillery, holding defensive positions and aiding Marines in machine-gun attacks.
1941: Higgins Boat (Innovations)
A new tool to storm the beaches
The transportation of Marines and equipment from anchored ships to docks and beaches proved difficult during the first half of the twentieth century. But the resolve and persistence of Marines soon led to the adaptation of a new invention by Andrew Higgins, a New Orleans-based boat builder.
Originally built for trappers along the Gulf Cost, Higgins’ barge-like boat featured a special bow that enabled it to ascend up a beach for a dry landing. After several tests and design modifications, the Higgins Boat seamlessly carried men, heavy machinery and weapons without requiring Marines to debark into water. With its safe and effective transportation, the Higgins Boat has become an icon of the World War II era.
1942: Montford Point Marines (Leaders)
The first African-American recruits become proud Marines
In 1942, as desegregation in America progressed, the Commandant
of the Marine Corps issued formal instructions to recruit qualified
African-American men.
The men who enlisted in response completed recruit training at Montford Point in North Carolina. Between 1942 and 1949
approximately 20,000 African-American men completed recruit training and became known as the “Montford Point Marines.”
The efforts of the Montford Point Marines proved their courage and paved the way for integrated armed forces. By 1949, training was desegregated, and all recruits trained side-by-side at Parris Island and San Diego.
Montford Point was renamed Camp Johnson in 1974 and is now home to the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools at Camp Lejeune.
1942: Navajo Code Talkers (Leader)
An uncracked code
During World War II, coded radio transmission was the fastest way to deliver commands to units oversea. Cryptographers on both sides became adept at intercepting and decoding their opponents' transmissions. In 1942, the Marine Corps found a new way to keep their communications secure with the Navajo Code Talkers.
Marines from the Navajo tribe began to send secure voice transmissions based on their native language. Since only a small group of Americans spoke Navajo, it was impossible for the enemy to gain intelligence from any intercepted messages. Additionally, the Navajo Code Talkers proved faster and more accurate than Morse Code or any machine.
The unique Navajo language gave the Marines a strategic advantage during the Battle of Iwo Jima and countless other World War II battles. The program was highly classified for 25 years and, to this day, there's no indication any intercepted Navajo code was successfully deciphered.
1943-1948: Marine Corps Women's (Leader)
Reserve Female Marines step forward
Women have been proving their strength as Marines since Opha Mae Johnson enlisted in 1913, but it wasn't until 1943 that the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was officially established.
By the end of World War II, more than 20,000 women had served in the Marine Corps. While their predecessors did mainly clerical work these Marines took on additional roles including parachute riggers, mechanics, mapmakers and welders.
In 1948, women were officially integrated into all United States Armed Forces. Today, regardless of gender, every Marine serves proudly and capably in whatever capacity the Marine Corps requires.
1943: SSgt Norman T. Hatch (Leader)
Bringing battle to the screen
Marine photographers, led by senior cinematographer Staff Sergeant Norman T. Hatch, captured images of the first successful amphibious assault against a heavily fortified beach during the Battle of Tarawa, in Japan.
Along with two other photographers, SSgt Hatch used his 35mm black-and-white camera to record the action. His work was some of the greatest combat footage ever shot, and was sent to Los Angeles for editing.
Soon after, the film With the Marines on Tarawa was released, and it won the 1944 Academy Award for Most Outstanding Documentary Short Subject. For his extraordinary work, Hatch was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.
1944: 4-Man Fire Team (Innovation)
More leadership, more firepower
As a relatively small force, Marines have always had to be more adaptable than other military branches. In 1944, to increase the combat power of their rifle squads, the Marine Corps began using 13-man squads consisting of a squad leader and three 4-man fire teams. The new formation proved more flexible than the previous 12-man squad, which lacked subdivisions.
Each fire team was led by a corporal, and included two riflemen carrying M1 Garands, as well as an automatic rifleman with the Browning Automatic Rifle. The rifle squad leader may use one or two of these teams to fire, while another team maneuvered to gain ground.
This efficient, high-firepower tactic was used successfully in World War II, and its core strategy is still used today.
1945: Battle of Iwo Jima (Mission)
One of the Marine Corps' greatest triumphs
When the United States sent the Marines to capture the Japanese airfields at Iwo Jima, the Marines showed the world the full strength of their determination.
Japanese soldiers had turned the volcanic island into a trap, fighting from a maze of tunnels and steel bunkers built beneath Mt. Suribachi.
Four days into the battle, a team of Marines and one Navy Corpsman reached the summit and raised the American Flag to encourage troops below. Within days, a photo of the moment became front page news, summing up the Marines’ struggle and victory to Americans at home.
The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted 36 days with heavy casualties before the Marines secured the island.
The flag raising at Iwo Jima has become iconic of the Marine Corps. It symbolizes a heritage as brave warriors, and a band of brothers.
The monument of the Marine Corps War Memorial is cast in its image, inspiring each generation of Marines to strive for greatness.
1945: PFC Jack Lucas (Leader)
Superior courage to save fellow Marines
Eager to become a Marine, Private First Class Jack Lucas forged his mother's signature on a waiver form to enlist at age 14.
While fighting at the Battle of Iwo Jima at barely 17 years old, PFC Lucas shielded three fellow Marines from two grenades. Although he survived, the blast embedded more than 250 pieces of shrapnel into his body.
For his actions, Lucas earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. In an interview minutes before getting the award, Lucas said, "I did a Superman dive at the grenades. I wasn’t a Superman after I got hit." Lucas wasn't Superman — he was a Marine.
1946: Vertical Envelopment (Innovation)
Transforming the Amphibious Operation
The Marine Corps first realized the potential of the helicopter during World War II, but it wasn’t until 1946 that they realized how radically it could improve amphibious strategies. Lieutenant General Roy Geiger was the first to suggest using helicopters in amphibious landings in order to disperse the landing force and reduce the impact of a potential nuclear attack.
LtGen Geiger’s proposal led to the creation of research boards in 1946 and 1947, which combined helicopters and ships to create a doctrine of amphibious vertical envelopment.
Two missions tested the new strategy: Operation Summit proved the effectiveness of helicopters in transporting troops and supplies into combat zones, while Operation Starlite successfully combined a helicopter with an amphibious landing.
When both helicopter operations proved successful, the Marine Air Wing rapidly expanded, supporting multiple missions on land and sea. The vertical envelopment concept shaped the basic structure of similar Marine operations carried out today, and illustrates the technological foresight of Marine Officers past and present.
1950: 1stLt Baldomero Lopez (Leader)
Courage under fire
When the Marines landed at Inchon, South Korea, First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez was ready to storm the shores; he began the attack and was the first man to scale the 10-ft. seawall.
During the battle, he raised his arm to throw a grenade just as an enemy bullet hit his shoulder. Injured but determined, 1stLt Lopez smothered his grenade, shielding his fellow Marines from the blast.
He gave his life for his Marines and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honorfor his exceptional courage.
A famous photograph of the Inchon landing captured Lopez scaling the seawall moments before his death. Newspapers back home ran the story, describing Lopez as having "died with the courage that makes men great."
1950: Inchon Landing (Mission)
A surprise attack and spectacular landing
The Cold War escalated when communist North Korea invaded South Korea in what was seen as a global military challenge. As the head of U.N. forces, Army General Douglas MacArthur relied on the amphibious capabilities of the Marine Corps to reclaim South Korea's occupied capital, Seoul.
In a surprise attack, Marines landed behind enemy lines on the heavily defended shores of Inchon. Moving from landing craft, they climbed the seawall with close air support from warplanes above.
Within hours, the Marines cleared the beach and began moving toward Seoul. In two weeks, they reclaimed the capital and put the North Korean army on the run.
More than a battle victory, the landing at Inchon is considered one of the most spectacular amphibious assaults in history. The planning and landing became the model for the Marine Corps’ Operational Maneuver from the Sea strategy.
1950: Chosin Reservoir (Missions)
Overcoming the worst weather, terrain and odds
Following the successful Inchon landing, U.N forces had North Korean troops on the run, but communist China's unexpected entry into the Korean War threatened that progress.
At Chosin Reservoir, the 1st Marine Division found itself surrounded and outnumbered eight to one by the Chinese army. The worst weather in 50 years cut off air support and assaulted the Marines with snow, wind and temperatures of -40 degrees F.
Even so, the "Chosin Few," as they would come to be called, decimated 10 Chinese infantry divisions and fought their way back to the sea to rejoin the American forces.
No Marines have ever faced worse weather, terrain, or odds than those who fought at Chosin Reservoir. But to anyone familiar with the Marines’ spirit of determination, there was no doubt the 1st Marine Division would prevail.
1951: Operation Summit (Innovations)
The first combat helicopter assault
After years of field tests, Operation Summit proved that delivering troops by helicopter could improve operations on enemy shores.
In just four hours, an HMR-161 helicopter squadron completed 65 flights while transporting a total of 224 Marines and 17,772 pounds of supplies to an outpost in Korea.
This was the first ground attack assisted by helicopter transport in military history.
The overwhelming success of the mission proved the indispensable quality and power of helicopters, and this innovation became the center of strategic operations in subsequent conflicts.
1952: Improved Body Armor (Innovations)
Strong and flexible protection
In times of war, Marines need to be quick, flexible and accurate in returning fire, which requires highly reliable equipment. In the early 1950s, Marines realized that their current body armor was too heavy, and requested a more lightweight and mobile solution.
The Naval Medical Research Laboratory developed an armored vest made of heavy nylon cloth with a new plastic compound.
At a series of rigorous tests, 2,500 new vests were sent to the frontline units of the 1st Marine Division in Korea.
In the years since, Marines' body armor has been continually updated and advanced. Improvements like these illustrate the Marine Corps' ongoing commitment to the safety of each Marine
1955: LtGen Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller (Leaders)
"They can’t get away this time."
Fourteen personal decorations in combat, five Navy Crosses, aPurple Heart, and a long list of campaign medals, unit citation ribbons and other awards: Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller's heroics earned him more military decorations than any Marine who served before or since.
His service in the Marine Corps spanned four decades. He led Marines in 19 campaigns and some of the most critical battles of the 20th century, including the Battle of Inchon and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
LtGen Puller is best remembered by fellow Marines for his quick-witted encouragement in the midst of combat, including "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time."
1965: Operation Starlite (Innovations)
A test of courage
When Marine commander, Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt, received intelligence that the Viet Cong were hiding in a village south of the Marine base at Chu Lai, he didn’t wait to be attacked.
LtGen Walt and his commanders devised "Operation Starlite," a combined helicopter and amphibious landing assault that would protect the base and neutralize the approaching unit.
The operation lasted six days, and was a true test of courage. In the end, the Marines dealt the Viet Cong their first major defeat.
The success of Operation Starlite not only proved the capabilities of combined amphibious vertical operations in combat, it renewed the Marines’ faith in their ability to triumph in "ev’ry clime and place."
1968: PFC James Anderson, Jr. (Leaders)
A gallant self-sacrifice
While advancing through the dense Vietnamese jungle, a platoon from the 3rd Marine Division came under intense enemy fire. The platoon moved together protectively as they returned fire.
An enemy grenade landed in the midst of the platoon and rolled next to Private First Class James Anderson, Jr. Selflessly, he reached for the grenade, pulled it to his chest and wrapped his body around it
as it exploded.
PFC Anderson saved his platoon from serious injury and death, sacrificing his own life for his Marines and his country.
For this courageous act, he became the first African-American Marine to be awarded our nation’s highest military decoration, theMedal of Honor.
1968: North Vietnam Offensive (Missions)
The 77-day siege
During the war in Vietnam, Marines defended a base at Khe Sanh, a remote but strategic outpost near the Laotian border.
The North Vietnamese army attacked the base, predicting overwhelming victory. The base remained under siege for 77 days, but Marines prevented the enemy from penetrating United States defenses.
The victory was a morale boost for U.S. forces in what proved to be a long struggle for peace.
1970: Combined Action Program (Innovations)
Combining forces for greater strength
During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps devised an alternative to the existing “search and destroy” strategy: the Combined Action Program (CAP).
By pairing a Marine rifle squad with a group of South Vietnamese Popular Forces, CAP platoons were able to secure conflict areas and battle powerful indigenous forces.
Every Marine received CAP training, including intelligence procedures, small unit tactics, education in Vietnamese customs and basic language skills.
This integration between Marines and local forces built the trust needed to win critical battles on foreign land.
This program successfully provided security for people and villages, threatened guerrilla forces and gave governing power to local leaders.
1972: Col John W. Ripley (Leaders)
Bravery under extreme adversity
Holding a bomb detonator between his teeth, Colonel John W. Ripley swung across the underside of the Dong Ha Bridge. For three hours, Col Ripley attached the explosives with one hand while gripping the bridge with the other.
When finished, he returned to shore and destroyed the bridge, allowing his unit to hold off several thousand North Vietnamese forces.
His courage and determination at the bridge earned him a Navy Cross and a place in Marine Corps history. Ripley demonstrated extraordinary courage throughout his 35-year career.
By the time he retired, he had also earned the Silver Star, two Legion of Merit awards, two Bronze Stars with Combat "V," a Purple Heart and the Cross of Gallantry.
1986: Maritime Prepositioning Force (Innovations)
Stocked and ready for deployment
The Marine Corps distinguishes itself by maintaining a constant state of readiness. Since 1986, the Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) has been stationed around the world.
These ships are stocked with everything Marines need for initial military operations: tanks, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, and enough food and water to last 15,000 Marines for 30 days.
Before the MPF, it took upwards of a month for a Marine Expeditionary Force to assemble its ships, load supplies and reach a location to support the Marine Expeditionary Unit. With the MPF, that time was cut to less than a week.
The MPF maintains three squadrons in a state of forward deployment, stationed as needed across the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Guam/Saipan area of the Pacific Ocean.
The combination of the MPF and amphibious warships is a critical aspect of the Marines’ rapid response and self-sustaining capabilities.
1989: Operation Just Cause (Missions)
Bringing an end to a destructive dictatorship
Conflict in Panama began escalating when Dictator General Manuel Noriega came to power. During his reign, he broke international treaties, allegedly supported drug trafficking, and declared war on the United States.
He openly encouraged attacks on Americans, and when a Marine was killed by Panamanian forces, the United States decided Noriega would no longer be tolerated.
The United States launched Operation Just Cause with the goal of deposing the dictator and returning order to Panama.
The Marine Corps Security Force, infantry, and a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) played a critical role in the short but complex operation.
Within just two weeks they had achieved success. Noriega surrendered, and the people of Panama began to restore their nation.
1991: Operation Desert Storm (Missions)
One of the most successful assaults in modern warfare
After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the United Nations intervened with a stern resolution warning Iraq to withdraw or United States and UN forces would drive them out. Iraq refused, and Operation Desert Storm began.
During the operation, Marines accomplished a wide range of missions:
From the air, Marine pilots used fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to destroy Iraq’s air and naval forces, anti-air defenses and ballistic missile launchers.
The 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions broke through Iraq’s southern border while 8,000 Marines kept the Iraqi army distracted in the north.
On Iraqi soil, Marines crossed minefields, barbed-wire obstacles, booby traps, and fire trenches while under attack from Iraqi artillery.
With precise air operations, tenacious amphibious assaults, and versatile land tactics, the Marines led one of the most successful assaults in modern warfare.
1992-1997: African Humanitarian Missions (Missions)
Peacekeeping in a turbulent region
With warring factions ravaging Somalia, Rwanda, and Zaire in the 1990s, the Marine Corps used its resources to provide vital humanitarian aid. When widespread violence and famine escalated in these countries, global support was needed, and the Marine Corps led the way.
In these peacekeeping missions, Marines occasionally came under fire while providing security and distributing food, water, and medical supplies.
These missions reasserted the role of the United States Marines as defenders with the courage to take action in the face of injustice.
1995: Bosnia Intervention (Missions)
Bringing relief to a troubled region
After the signing of the Dayton Agreement in November 1995, which ended war in former Yugoslavia, NATO troops arrived in the war-torn region. These troops included 22 Marines who were among the first American relief forces to arrive, immediately providing much-needed security.
Sarajevo, the nation’s capital, fell into collapse after years of violence and genocide. Other regions appeared in ruins. Marine forces took on the task of bringing peace to the turbulent country.
1995: Capt Scott O'Grady Rescue (Missions)
Marines come to the rescue
During a peacekeeping mission over Bosnia, Air Force pilot Captain Scott O’Grady was shot down in enemy territory.
Undetected, he survived by sleeping under camouflage netting during the day and moving at night. Capt O’Grady avoided patrolling Serbs until he made contact with NATO forces six days later.
Military leadership debated who would lead the rescue, and chose the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) to conduct a TRAP (Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel) mission. The unit was chosen for its rapid deployment capabilities and extensive training prior to the assignment.
After pulling O’Grady aboard their helicopter and flying low to the ground, the unit dodged two shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles. Forty-five minutes later, they landed safely on USS Kearsarge.
1996: Chemical and Biological Response (Innovations)
Ready to respond to an invisible threat
The Marine Corps was among the first organizations to address the growing concern of chemical and biological threats with the creation of the Marine Corps Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) in 1996.
Despite a relatively short history, CBIRF’s track record is impressive. Marine Corps experts provided a critical response to the anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill in 2001, and supported the United States Capitol Police in responding to the 2004 ricin incident on Capitol Hill.
The CBIRF remains a leader in preparing the United States to respond to any chemical or biological attack.
2001: Global War on Terrorism (Missions)
The ongoing mission to eliminate terrorism
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government declared a “Global War on Terrorism.”
In response to the Taliban government's refusal to respond to known terrorist activities within their borders, Marines were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2003, Iraq became a second front in the war on terrorism with Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both operations are ongoing, with Marine responsibilities ranging from combat and security operations to humanitarian efforts.
2002: MARPAT Camouflage (Innovations)
Camouflage gets a digital upgrade
Marines wore the same camouflage as other armed forces for years—until identifying a need for concealment from new surveillance technology.
In 2002, the Marine Corps developed a new pixelated camouflage pattern for use in utility uniforms.
The Marine Pattern (MARPAT), is made of a computer-generated pattern of overlapping squares. The green and brown woodland pattern provides the best concealment for forest areas; the khaki desert pattern works best in urban or sandy environments. Both feature the Eagle, Globe and Anchor insignia embedded within the pattern.
This patented innovation represents the most significant change to the Marine Corps uniform in more than 30 years. It is the first military camouflage designed to avoid detection by both human eye and digital lens, and has become the standard for all Marine Combat Utility uniforms and gear.
In recent years, other forces have begun to develop their own versions of the digital pattern.
2002: Designated Marksman (Innovations)
A new kind of sniper
During ground combat missions, sniper teams cover long-range targets, while rifle squads provide short-range fire. In 2002, the Marine Corps found a way to increase the effectiveness of the team with the addition of a Designated Marksman to cover mid- to short-range targets.
The best rifleman in each squad is assigned to the Designated Marksman position. This Marine uses an M14 automatic rifle or M16 assault rifle with telescopic sight to provide fire on mid-range targets at two to five hundred yards.
With the accuracy of a sniper, and the rapid-fire capabilities of a rifleman, the Designated Marksman is able to adapt to various conditions and increase the efficiency of the ground combat team.
2003: Col Matthew Bogdanos (Leaders)
Recovering History
As a Marine, Colonel Matthew Bogdanos did more than just make history - he helped preserve it.
After several years in the Reserves, Col Bogdanos returned to active duty following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2003, when the National Museum of Iraq was looted, he was chosen
to lead the investigation.
Bogdanos and his team are responsible for recovering approximately 5,500 artifacts from humanity's earliest civilizations. They also exposed the link between the black market art world
and terrorist funding.
In 2005, Bogdanos received a National Humanities Medal for his leadership in recovering the stolen artifacts. He returned to his previous work for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and published a book about the looting in Iraq. Proceeds from the book go to the Iraq Museum.
2003: Operation Iraqi Freedom (Missions)
Toppling a Harmful Regime
One of the key strategies of Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2003 was the capture of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad. A convoy of thirty thousand Marines advanced five hundred miles from the border of Kuwait in just ten days.
On April 9, 2003, Marines secured the center of Baghdad. That same day, Coalition forces declared an end to the dictator’s rule.
2004: Cpl Jason Dunham (Leaders)
Modern courage
During a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, Corporal Jason Dunham and his men heard gunfire erupt nearby.
Cpl Dunham ordered his squad toward the fighting, receiving enemy fire as they moved.
At the scene, they discovered seven vehicles scrambling to depart. As they halted the vehicles to search for weapons, an insurgent leapt out. He attacked Dunham, and then released a grenade. Without hesitation, the corporal tore off his Kevlar helmet and used it to cover the grenade. He bore the full force of the fatal explosion, saving the lives of at least two other Marines in his squad.
Dunham’s brave actions distinguished him as the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honorsince the Vietnam War.
2004: Indonesia Tsunamis (Missions)
Providing for recovery
Hundred-foot waves swept the shores of Indonesia, Thailand and India in a series of tsunamis that proved to be one of the deadliest natural disasters ever. While the world was in shock, the Marines mobilized.
Along with a number of United States and international relief efforts, three Marine Corps disaster relief assessment teams were immediately deployed to the region.
Seven ships from the Expeditionary Strike Group arrived to help produce critically needed fresh water. Marines also provided additional supplies for survivors.
After providing much-needed supplies and assistance, the Marines left the region, allowing local governments to take over.
The first amphibious raid
Just weeks after banding together, the Continental Marines successfully executed their first amphibious landing on a hostile shore.
The British were storing large supplies of gunpowder at Fort Nassau in the Bahamas for use in battle against the thirteen colonies. Captain Samuel Nicholas and 234 Marines sailed with the Continental Navy on a mission to capture the supply.
Within minutes of the Marines' arrival, the British troops surrendered. Capt Nicholas successfully acquired cannons and other military stores.
The Marines' first challenge and success paved the way for greater operations to come.
1775: Founding of the Marine Corps (Mission)
A legacy is born
During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.
A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.
The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.
As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.
Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines.
1805: Battle of Derna (Mission)
To the shores of Tripoli
In 1805, the United States government refused to continue paying Barbary Coast pirates to refrain from raiding American merchant ships.
When negotiations for a treaty failed, President Thomas Jefferson assembled an expeditionary force of Marines to respond.
Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon and his Marines marched across 600 miles of the Libyan Desert to successfully storm the fortified Tripolitan city of Derna and rescue the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia.
The Marines’ victory helped Prince Hamet Bey reclaim his rightful throne as ruler of Tripoli. In gratitude, he presented his Mameluke sword to Lt O’Bannon.
This famous sword became part of the officer uniform in 1825, and remains the oldest ceremonial weapon in use by United States forces today.
The Battle of Derna was the Marines' first battle on foreign soil, and is notably recalled in the first verse of the Marines’ Hymn: "From the Halls of Moctezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea."
1820: Col (Brevet BGen) Archibald Henderson (Leader)
Leader of the Marine Corps
for 39 years At the age of 37, Colonel Archibald Henderson became the fifth Commandant of the Marine Corps. He held this position for more than 39 years, outlasting nine presidents.
Henderson is remembered for his personal commitment to his Marines and his straightforwardness. In 1836, Henderson went in person to fight alongside his Marines in the Florida Indian War, leaving a simple note on his door: "Have gone to Florida to fight Indians. Will be back when war is over."
1847: The Battle of Chapultepec (Mission)
The Halls of Montezuma
The Mexican-American War played a critical role in defining the border between the two nations that remains in place today.
In 1847, knowing that the capture of the Palacio Nacional would greatly disarm the Mexican army, the Marines stormed the enemy fortress during the Battle of Chapultepec.
After two days of battle, the Marines gained control of the castle, better known as the “Halls of Montezuma.”
The Marines were then given the honor of raising the Stars and Stripes over the palace to mark their victory. Upon returning home, the same Marines presented their flag to the commandant.
The victory at the “Halls of Montezuma” remains a part of Marine Corps tradition, immortalized in the opening line of the famed Marines’ Hymn.
1862: Cpl John Mackie (Leader)
The first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor
Corporal John F. Mackie was the first Marine to be awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military award.
Onboard the USS Galena at the Battle of Drewry's Bluff during the Civil War, heavy fire from Confederate forces killed or wounded much of the crew. Cpl Mackie bravely risked his life to lead the gun operation for the remainder of the battle.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to a person who distinguishes him or herself "...by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States..."
At Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, a marker indicates the location
of Mackie's bravery.
1880: John Philip Sousa (Leader)
A musical heritage
Long before his music inspired the nation, John Philip Sousa took an apprenticeship with the Marine Band at age 13.
He officially became head of the Marine Corps Band in 1880, conducting "The President's Own" under five presidents. Sousa was a gifted composer and became known as "The March King."
His music continues to bring honor to the Marine Corps today.
Many of his well-known compositions, including "The Stars and Stripes Forever," the National March of the United States and "Semper Fidelis," the Official March of the Marine Corps, are still widely recognized.
1898: Sgt John Quick (Leader)
Risking his life in the crossfire
In the midst of fighting enemy forces during the Battle of Guantanamo Bay, deadly fire against Marines increased dramatically. In the chaos, the USS Dolphin misinterpreted a signal and opened fire on Marines.
In order to save the lives of his fellow Marines, Sergeant John Quick risked his own. Exposing himself to the crossfire, he signaled a cease-fire to the USS Dolphin. This courageous act earned Sgt Quick our nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor.
1901: Pacific Operations (Mission)
A presence in the Pacific
At the end of the 19th century, a secret society took hold in China; the "Boxers" fueled anti-Western attitudes in the nation and began burning foreign homes and businesses.
When the Chinese government refused to step in, Western foreign ministers pleaded for relief. Five-hundred sailors and Marines, who had just successfully calmed insurrection in the nearby Philippines, joined international forces to quell the Boxer Rebellion.
In the Philippines and China, the Marines proved indispensable. They deployed at a moment’s notice and fought admirably.
These two triumphs established America’s military presence in the Pacific, and laid the groundwork for the role of the Marine Corps in the upcoming world war.
1912: First Marine Aviation (Innovation)
The birth of Marine Corps aviation
When the Navy opened the nation's earliest aviation camp in Annapolis, Maryland, First Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham was the first Marine to receive training. With this action, the rich legacy of Marine Corps aviation began.
1stLt Cunningham, after only two hours and 40 minutes of instruction embarked on the Marine Corps' first solo training flight. After this, Marine Corps aviation operations grew to successfully support ground and amphibious assaults during World War I and beyond.
The date of Cunningham's solo flight and the original date of his assignment are both recognized as "birthdays" of Marine Corps aviation.
1914: America's First Armored Vehicle (Innovations)
Preparing vehicles for battle
After the British army's Rolls Royce armored vehicle succeeded in wartime efforts, the Marine Corps quickly developed similar equipment to transport men and supplies from ship landing ramps to interior regions
The Armor Motor Car Company of Detroit built the first armored cars for American military use, each fully equipped with a powerful V-8 engine and revolving machine gun turrets.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, purchased two of these vehicles for testing. After many successful tests, a total of eight armored cars were acquired and assigned to the 1st Armored Car Squadron of the 1st Marines at Philadelphia.
While America's first armored vehicles never actually saw battle, they were the first step toward the armored vehicles in use today.
1915: SgtMaj Dan Daly (Leader)
Two Medals of Honor,one fearless Marine
During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, Sergeant Major Dan Daly fought off Chinese snipers and single-handedly defended the Marines' position until reinforcements arrived. This bravery earned him a Medal of Honor.
In 1915, SgtMaj Daly earned the prestigious medal a second time during the Haitian Occupation. He gallantly fended off Haitian bandits all through the night to ultimately defeat them in the morning.
A courageous leader, Daly is well known for his fearlessness in battle. He was highly respected by his fellow Marines; Major Smedley Butler described him as "the fightinest Marine I ever knew." Daly and Butler are the only Marines who have been awarded two Medals of Honor.
1915: MajGen Smedley Butler (Leader)
Bravery in back-to-back campaigns
Not only did Major General Smedley Butler distinguish himself as one of two Marines to earn two Medals of Honor, he earned the prestigious medals in back-to-back campaigns.
MajGen Butler earned his first Medal in 1914, commanding Marine forces during the United States’ occupation of Vera Cruz. A year later, he earned his second Medal for "bravery and forceful leadership" as a commanding officer during the Haitian Occupation.
Butler served for 34 years before retiring from duty. Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, in Okinawa, Japan, is named in his honor.
1915: Parris Island Established (Innovations)
Where Marines are made
Marine Corps training is legendary, but the recruit training that exists today didn't begin until 1911. Major General William P. Biddle, the 11th Commandant of the Marine Corps, formalized and intensified the training, raising the bar for what it takes to become a United States Marine.
In 1915, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island became the first base dedicated to the sole purpose of training. It has been in continuous use since then, and is now one of only two bases where enlisted Marines are made.
As WWI broke out, 41,000 recruits trained at Parris Island, and the base has accommodated as many as 250,000 recruits during the Vietnam War. Parris Island began training female recruits in 1949.
Marine Corps recruits are still trained and transformed at Parris Island today, where approximately 20,000 Marines graduate each year.
1918: Opha Mae Johnson (Leader)
Breaking barriers, winning battles
On August 13, 1918, Opha Mae Johnson became the first female Marine when she enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Although women weren't allowed in war zones during World War I, Johnson and more than 300 other women served proudly in the United States, helping their male counterparts win in France.
Less than 100 years after Johnson's service and courage,
women fill many key roles in the Marine Corps, in both the
officer and enlisted ranks.
1918: Battle of Belleau Wood (Mission)
The relentless “Devil Dogs”
Deep in Belleau Wood, just outside of Paris, the Marine Corps fought relentlessly against German soldiers in World War I. Four days into battle, Marines had suffered heavy casualties and were pinned down by machine-gun fire.
On 7 June 1918, with few grenades and no signal flares left, Marine forces launched an assault with fixed bayonets, seizing enemy positions. Marine riflemen demonstrated their firing skills, shredding the lines of an oncoming German counterattack.
After 20 days of intense fighting, the Marines had won the Battle of Belleau Wood. The German survivors, exhausted and wounded, gave a fitting nickname to their relentless opponent: Teufelhunden, or “Devil Dogs.”
1941: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (Leader)
The beginning of a legacy in the air
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) is an aviation unit that supplies the Marine Corps with a wide range of aircraft and equipment to support any Marine Corps mission.
Activated in Quantico, Virginia, in 1941, the 1st MAW aided Marine forces for the first time during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The MAW has been awarded five Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry in wartime, including WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Today the famed unit is stationed at MCB Butler in Okinawa, Japan, and continues to be an integral part of air operations in the Marine Corps.
1941: LVT-1 (Innovation)
The Marine Corps’ first amphibious vehicle
With welded steel, padded treads and room for 4,500 pounds of cargo, the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) was the Marine Corps' first amphibious vehicle to aid in battle on both land and sea.
The LVT-1 transported men and equipment from ships across fringing reefs and beaches into battle with great versatility and mobility. The Marine Corps adapted the LVT-1 from an amphibious tractor originally used in post-hurricane rescue missions. The transformation from tractor to amphibious vehicle demonstrated the Marines' persistence in finding technological solutions to strategic problems.
The LVT-1 saw its first combat action during World War II, moving Marines and thousands of tons of supplies to the front lines. It was later thrust into more strategic situations, becoming an important element for transporting artillery, holding defensive positions and aiding Marines in machine-gun attacks.
1941: Higgins Boat (Innovations)
A new tool to storm the beaches
The transportation of Marines and equipment from anchored ships to docks and beaches proved difficult during the first half of the twentieth century. But the resolve and persistence of Marines soon led to the adaptation of a new invention by Andrew Higgins, a New Orleans-based boat builder.
Originally built for trappers along the Gulf Cost, Higgins’ barge-like boat featured a special bow that enabled it to ascend up a beach for a dry landing. After several tests and design modifications, the Higgins Boat seamlessly carried men, heavy machinery and weapons without requiring Marines to debark into water. With its safe and effective transportation, the Higgins Boat has become an icon of the World War II era.
1942: Montford Point Marines (Leaders)
The first African-American recruits become proud Marines
In 1942, as desegregation in America progressed, the Commandant
of the Marine Corps issued formal instructions to recruit qualified
African-American men.
The men who enlisted in response completed recruit training at Montford Point in North Carolina. Between 1942 and 1949
approximately 20,000 African-American men completed recruit training and became known as the “Montford Point Marines.”
The efforts of the Montford Point Marines proved their courage and paved the way for integrated armed forces. By 1949, training was desegregated, and all recruits trained side-by-side at Parris Island and San Diego.
Montford Point was renamed Camp Johnson in 1974 and is now home to the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools at Camp Lejeune.
1942: Navajo Code Talkers (Leader)
An uncracked code
During World War II, coded radio transmission was the fastest way to deliver commands to units oversea. Cryptographers on both sides became adept at intercepting and decoding their opponents' transmissions. In 1942, the Marine Corps found a new way to keep their communications secure with the Navajo Code Talkers.
Marines from the Navajo tribe began to send secure voice transmissions based on their native language. Since only a small group of Americans spoke Navajo, it was impossible for the enemy to gain intelligence from any intercepted messages. Additionally, the Navajo Code Talkers proved faster and more accurate than Morse Code or any machine.
The unique Navajo language gave the Marines a strategic advantage during the Battle of Iwo Jima and countless other World War II battles. The program was highly classified for 25 years and, to this day, there's no indication any intercepted Navajo code was successfully deciphered.
1943-1948: Marine Corps Women's (Leader)
Reserve Female Marines step forward
Women have been proving their strength as Marines since Opha Mae Johnson enlisted in 1913, but it wasn't until 1943 that the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was officially established.
By the end of World War II, more than 20,000 women had served in the Marine Corps. While their predecessors did mainly clerical work these Marines took on additional roles including parachute riggers, mechanics, mapmakers and welders.
In 1948, women were officially integrated into all United States Armed Forces. Today, regardless of gender, every Marine serves proudly and capably in whatever capacity the Marine Corps requires.
1943: SSgt Norman T. Hatch (Leader)
Bringing battle to the screen
Marine photographers, led by senior cinematographer Staff Sergeant Norman T. Hatch, captured images of the first successful amphibious assault against a heavily fortified beach during the Battle of Tarawa, in Japan.
Along with two other photographers, SSgt Hatch used his 35mm black-and-white camera to record the action. His work was some of the greatest combat footage ever shot, and was sent to Los Angeles for editing.
Soon after, the film With the Marines on Tarawa was released, and it won the 1944 Academy Award for Most Outstanding Documentary Short Subject. For his extraordinary work, Hatch was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.
1944: 4-Man Fire Team (Innovation)
More leadership, more firepower
As a relatively small force, Marines have always had to be more adaptable than other military branches. In 1944, to increase the combat power of their rifle squads, the Marine Corps began using 13-man squads consisting of a squad leader and three 4-man fire teams. The new formation proved more flexible than the previous 12-man squad, which lacked subdivisions.
Each fire team was led by a corporal, and included two riflemen carrying M1 Garands, as well as an automatic rifleman with the Browning Automatic Rifle. The rifle squad leader may use one or two of these teams to fire, while another team maneuvered to gain ground.
This efficient, high-firepower tactic was used successfully in World War II, and its core strategy is still used today.
1945: Battle of Iwo Jima (Mission)
One of the Marine Corps' greatest triumphs
When the United States sent the Marines to capture the Japanese airfields at Iwo Jima, the Marines showed the world the full strength of their determination.
Japanese soldiers had turned the volcanic island into a trap, fighting from a maze of tunnels and steel bunkers built beneath Mt. Suribachi.
Four days into the battle, a team of Marines and one Navy Corpsman reached the summit and raised the American Flag to encourage troops below. Within days, a photo of the moment became front page news, summing up the Marines’ struggle and victory to Americans at home.
The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted 36 days with heavy casualties before the Marines secured the island.
The flag raising at Iwo Jima has become iconic of the Marine Corps. It symbolizes a heritage as brave warriors, and a band of brothers.
The monument of the Marine Corps War Memorial is cast in its image, inspiring each generation of Marines to strive for greatness.
1945: PFC Jack Lucas (Leader)
Superior courage to save fellow Marines
Eager to become a Marine, Private First Class Jack Lucas forged his mother's signature on a waiver form to enlist at age 14.
While fighting at the Battle of Iwo Jima at barely 17 years old, PFC Lucas shielded three fellow Marines from two grenades. Although he survived, the blast embedded more than 250 pieces of shrapnel into his body.
For his actions, Lucas earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. In an interview minutes before getting the award, Lucas said, "I did a Superman dive at the grenades. I wasn’t a Superman after I got hit." Lucas wasn't Superman — he was a Marine.
1946: Vertical Envelopment (Innovation)
Transforming the Amphibious Operation
The Marine Corps first realized the potential of the helicopter during World War II, but it wasn’t until 1946 that they realized how radically it could improve amphibious strategies. Lieutenant General Roy Geiger was the first to suggest using helicopters in amphibious landings in order to disperse the landing force and reduce the impact of a potential nuclear attack.
LtGen Geiger’s proposal led to the creation of research boards in 1946 and 1947, which combined helicopters and ships to create a doctrine of amphibious vertical envelopment.
Two missions tested the new strategy: Operation Summit proved the effectiveness of helicopters in transporting troops and supplies into combat zones, while Operation Starlite successfully combined a helicopter with an amphibious landing.
When both helicopter operations proved successful, the Marine Air Wing rapidly expanded, supporting multiple missions on land and sea. The vertical envelopment concept shaped the basic structure of similar Marine operations carried out today, and illustrates the technological foresight of Marine Officers past and present.
1950: 1stLt Baldomero Lopez (Leader)
Courage under fire
When the Marines landed at Inchon, South Korea, First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez was ready to storm the shores; he began the attack and was the first man to scale the 10-ft. seawall.
During the battle, he raised his arm to throw a grenade just as an enemy bullet hit his shoulder. Injured but determined, 1stLt Lopez smothered his grenade, shielding his fellow Marines from the blast.
He gave his life for his Marines and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honorfor his exceptional courage.
A famous photograph of the Inchon landing captured Lopez scaling the seawall moments before his death. Newspapers back home ran the story, describing Lopez as having "died with the courage that makes men great."
1950: Inchon Landing (Mission)
A surprise attack and spectacular landing
The Cold War escalated when communist North Korea invaded South Korea in what was seen as a global military challenge. As the head of U.N. forces, Army General Douglas MacArthur relied on the amphibious capabilities of the Marine Corps to reclaim South Korea's occupied capital, Seoul.
In a surprise attack, Marines landed behind enemy lines on the heavily defended shores of Inchon. Moving from landing craft, they climbed the seawall with close air support from warplanes above.
Within hours, the Marines cleared the beach and began moving toward Seoul. In two weeks, they reclaimed the capital and put the North Korean army on the run.
More than a battle victory, the landing at Inchon is considered one of the most spectacular amphibious assaults in history. The planning and landing became the model for the Marine Corps’ Operational Maneuver from the Sea strategy.
1950: Chosin Reservoir (Missions)
Overcoming the worst weather, terrain and odds
Following the successful Inchon landing, U.N forces had North Korean troops on the run, but communist China's unexpected entry into the Korean War threatened that progress.
At Chosin Reservoir, the 1st Marine Division found itself surrounded and outnumbered eight to one by the Chinese army. The worst weather in 50 years cut off air support and assaulted the Marines with snow, wind and temperatures of -40 degrees F.
Even so, the "Chosin Few," as they would come to be called, decimated 10 Chinese infantry divisions and fought their way back to the sea to rejoin the American forces.
No Marines have ever faced worse weather, terrain, or odds than those who fought at Chosin Reservoir. But to anyone familiar with the Marines’ spirit of determination, there was no doubt the 1st Marine Division would prevail.
1951: Operation Summit (Innovations)
The first combat helicopter assault
After years of field tests, Operation Summit proved that delivering troops by helicopter could improve operations on enemy shores.
In just four hours, an HMR-161 helicopter squadron completed 65 flights while transporting a total of 224 Marines and 17,772 pounds of supplies to an outpost in Korea.
This was the first ground attack assisted by helicopter transport in military history.
The overwhelming success of the mission proved the indispensable quality and power of helicopters, and this innovation became the center of strategic operations in subsequent conflicts.
1952: Improved Body Armor (Innovations)
Strong and flexible protection
In times of war, Marines need to be quick, flexible and accurate in returning fire, which requires highly reliable equipment. In the early 1950s, Marines realized that their current body armor was too heavy, and requested a more lightweight and mobile solution.
The Naval Medical Research Laboratory developed an armored vest made of heavy nylon cloth with a new plastic compound.
At a series of rigorous tests, 2,500 new vests were sent to the frontline units of the 1st Marine Division in Korea.
In the years since, Marines' body armor has been continually updated and advanced. Improvements like these illustrate the Marine Corps' ongoing commitment to the safety of each Marine
1955: LtGen Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller (Leaders)
"They can’t get away this time."
Fourteen personal decorations in combat, five Navy Crosses, aPurple Heart, and a long list of campaign medals, unit citation ribbons and other awards: Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller's heroics earned him more military decorations than any Marine who served before or since.
His service in the Marine Corps spanned four decades. He led Marines in 19 campaigns and some of the most critical battles of the 20th century, including the Battle of Inchon and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
LtGen Puller is best remembered by fellow Marines for his quick-witted encouragement in the midst of combat, including "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time."
1965: Operation Starlite (Innovations)
A test of courage
When Marine commander, Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt, received intelligence that the Viet Cong were hiding in a village south of the Marine base at Chu Lai, he didn’t wait to be attacked.
LtGen Walt and his commanders devised "Operation Starlite," a combined helicopter and amphibious landing assault that would protect the base and neutralize the approaching unit.
The operation lasted six days, and was a true test of courage. In the end, the Marines dealt the Viet Cong their first major defeat.
The success of Operation Starlite not only proved the capabilities of combined amphibious vertical operations in combat, it renewed the Marines’ faith in their ability to triumph in "ev’ry clime and place."
1968: PFC James Anderson, Jr. (Leaders)
A gallant self-sacrifice
While advancing through the dense Vietnamese jungle, a platoon from the 3rd Marine Division came under intense enemy fire. The platoon moved together protectively as they returned fire.
An enemy grenade landed in the midst of the platoon and rolled next to Private First Class James Anderson, Jr. Selflessly, he reached for the grenade, pulled it to his chest and wrapped his body around it
as it exploded.
PFC Anderson saved his platoon from serious injury and death, sacrificing his own life for his Marines and his country.
For this courageous act, he became the first African-American Marine to be awarded our nation’s highest military decoration, theMedal of Honor.
1968: North Vietnam Offensive (Missions)
The 77-day siege
During the war in Vietnam, Marines defended a base at Khe Sanh, a remote but strategic outpost near the Laotian border.
The North Vietnamese army attacked the base, predicting overwhelming victory. The base remained under siege for 77 days, but Marines prevented the enemy from penetrating United States defenses.
The victory was a morale boost for U.S. forces in what proved to be a long struggle for peace.
1970: Combined Action Program (Innovations)
Combining forces for greater strength
During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps devised an alternative to the existing “search and destroy” strategy: the Combined Action Program (CAP).
By pairing a Marine rifle squad with a group of South Vietnamese Popular Forces, CAP platoons were able to secure conflict areas and battle powerful indigenous forces.
Every Marine received CAP training, including intelligence procedures, small unit tactics, education in Vietnamese customs and basic language skills.
This integration between Marines and local forces built the trust needed to win critical battles on foreign land.
This program successfully provided security for people and villages, threatened guerrilla forces and gave governing power to local leaders.
1972: Col John W. Ripley (Leaders)
Bravery under extreme adversity
Holding a bomb detonator between his teeth, Colonel John W. Ripley swung across the underside of the Dong Ha Bridge. For three hours, Col Ripley attached the explosives with one hand while gripping the bridge with the other.
When finished, he returned to shore and destroyed the bridge, allowing his unit to hold off several thousand North Vietnamese forces.
His courage and determination at the bridge earned him a Navy Cross and a place in Marine Corps history. Ripley demonstrated extraordinary courage throughout his 35-year career.
By the time he retired, he had also earned the Silver Star, two Legion of Merit awards, two Bronze Stars with Combat "V," a Purple Heart and the Cross of Gallantry.
1986: Maritime Prepositioning Force (Innovations)
Stocked and ready for deployment
The Marine Corps distinguishes itself by maintaining a constant state of readiness. Since 1986, the Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) has been stationed around the world.
These ships are stocked with everything Marines need for initial military operations: tanks, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, and enough food and water to last 15,000 Marines for 30 days.
Before the MPF, it took upwards of a month for a Marine Expeditionary Force to assemble its ships, load supplies and reach a location to support the Marine Expeditionary Unit. With the MPF, that time was cut to less than a week.
The MPF maintains three squadrons in a state of forward deployment, stationed as needed across the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Guam/Saipan area of the Pacific Ocean.
The combination of the MPF and amphibious warships is a critical aspect of the Marines’ rapid response and self-sustaining capabilities.
1989: Operation Just Cause (Missions)
Bringing an end to a destructive dictatorship
Conflict in Panama began escalating when Dictator General Manuel Noriega came to power. During his reign, he broke international treaties, allegedly supported drug trafficking, and declared war on the United States.
He openly encouraged attacks on Americans, and when a Marine was killed by Panamanian forces, the United States decided Noriega would no longer be tolerated.
The United States launched Operation Just Cause with the goal of deposing the dictator and returning order to Panama.
The Marine Corps Security Force, infantry, and a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) played a critical role in the short but complex operation.
Within just two weeks they had achieved success. Noriega surrendered, and the people of Panama began to restore their nation.
1991: Operation Desert Storm (Missions)
One of the most successful assaults in modern warfare
After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the United Nations intervened with a stern resolution warning Iraq to withdraw or United States and UN forces would drive them out. Iraq refused, and Operation Desert Storm began.
During the operation, Marines accomplished a wide range of missions:
From the air, Marine pilots used fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to destroy Iraq’s air and naval forces, anti-air defenses and ballistic missile launchers.
The 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions broke through Iraq’s southern border while 8,000 Marines kept the Iraqi army distracted in the north.
On Iraqi soil, Marines crossed minefields, barbed-wire obstacles, booby traps, and fire trenches while under attack from Iraqi artillery.
With precise air operations, tenacious amphibious assaults, and versatile land tactics, the Marines led one of the most successful assaults in modern warfare.
1992-1997: African Humanitarian Missions (Missions)
Peacekeeping in a turbulent region
With warring factions ravaging Somalia, Rwanda, and Zaire in the 1990s, the Marine Corps used its resources to provide vital humanitarian aid. When widespread violence and famine escalated in these countries, global support was needed, and the Marine Corps led the way.
In these peacekeeping missions, Marines occasionally came under fire while providing security and distributing food, water, and medical supplies.
These missions reasserted the role of the United States Marines as defenders with the courage to take action in the face of injustice.
1995: Bosnia Intervention (Missions)
Bringing relief to a troubled region
After the signing of the Dayton Agreement in November 1995, which ended war in former Yugoslavia, NATO troops arrived in the war-torn region. These troops included 22 Marines who were among the first American relief forces to arrive, immediately providing much-needed security.
Sarajevo, the nation’s capital, fell into collapse after years of violence and genocide. Other regions appeared in ruins. Marine forces took on the task of bringing peace to the turbulent country.
1995: Capt Scott O'Grady Rescue (Missions)
Marines come to the rescue
During a peacekeeping mission over Bosnia, Air Force pilot Captain Scott O’Grady was shot down in enemy territory.
Undetected, he survived by sleeping under camouflage netting during the day and moving at night. Capt O’Grady avoided patrolling Serbs until he made contact with NATO forces six days later.
Military leadership debated who would lead the rescue, and chose the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) to conduct a TRAP (Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel) mission. The unit was chosen for its rapid deployment capabilities and extensive training prior to the assignment.
After pulling O’Grady aboard their helicopter and flying low to the ground, the unit dodged two shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles. Forty-five minutes later, they landed safely on USS Kearsarge.
1996: Chemical and Biological Response (Innovations)
Ready to respond to an invisible threat
The Marine Corps was among the first organizations to address the growing concern of chemical and biological threats with the creation of the Marine Corps Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) in 1996.
Despite a relatively short history, CBIRF’s track record is impressive. Marine Corps experts provided a critical response to the anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill in 2001, and supported the United States Capitol Police in responding to the 2004 ricin incident on Capitol Hill.
The CBIRF remains a leader in preparing the United States to respond to any chemical or biological attack.
2001: Global War on Terrorism (Missions)
The ongoing mission to eliminate terrorism
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government declared a “Global War on Terrorism.”
In response to the Taliban government's refusal to respond to known terrorist activities within their borders, Marines were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2003, Iraq became a second front in the war on terrorism with Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both operations are ongoing, with Marine responsibilities ranging from combat and security operations to humanitarian efforts.
2002: MARPAT Camouflage (Innovations)
Camouflage gets a digital upgrade
Marines wore the same camouflage as other armed forces for years—until identifying a need for concealment from new surveillance technology.
In 2002, the Marine Corps developed a new pixelated camouflage pattern for use in utility uniforms.
The Marine Pattern (MARPAT), is made of a computer-generated pattern of overlapping squares. The green and brown woodland pattern provides the best concealment for forest areas; the khaki desert pattern works best in urban or sandy environments. Both feature the Eagle, Globe and Anchor insignia embedded within the pattern.
This patented innovation represents the most significant change to the Marine Corps uniform in more than 30 years. It is the first military camouflage designed to avoid detection by both human eye and digital lens, and has become the standard for all Marine Combat Utility uniforms and gear.
In recent years, other forces have begun to develop their own versions of the digital pattern.
2002: Designated Marksman (Innovations)
A new kind of sniper
During ground combat missions, sniper teams cover long-range targets, while rifle squads provide short-range fire. In 2002, the Marine Corps found a way to increase the effectiveness of the team with the addition of a Designated Marksman to cover mid- to short-range targets.
The best rifleman in each squad is assigned to the Designated Marksman position. This Marine uses an M14 automatic rifle or M16 assault rifle with telescopic sight to provide fire on mid-range targets at two to five hundred yards.
With the accuracy of a sniper, and the rapid-fire capabilities of a rifleman, the Designated Marksman is able to adapt to various conditions and increase the efficiency of the ground combat team.
2003: Col Matthew Bogdanos (Leaders)
Recovering History
As a Marine, Colonel Matthew Bogdanos did more than just make history - he helped preserve it.
After several years in the Reserves, Col Bogdanos returned to active duty following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2003, when the National Museum of Iraq was looted, he was chosen
to lead the investigation.
Bogdanos and his team are responsible for recovering approximately 5,500 artifacts from humanity's earliest civilizations. They also exposed the link between the black market art world
and terrorist funding.
In 2005, Bogdanos received a National Humanities Medal for his leadership in recovering the stolen artifacts. He returned to his previous work for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and published a book about the looting in Iraq. Proceeds from the book go to the Iraq Museum.
2003: Operation Iraqi Freedom (Missions)
Toppling a Harmful Regime
One of the key strategies of Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2003 was the capture of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad. A convoy of thirty thousand Marines advanced five hundred miles from the border of Kuwait in just ten days.
On April 9, 2003, Marines secured the center of Baghdad. That same day, Coalition forces declared an end to the dictator’s rule.
2004: Cpl Jason Dunham (Leaders)
Modern courage
During a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, Corporal Jason Dunham and his men heard gunfire erupt nearby.
Cpl Dunham ordered his squad toward the fighting, receiving enemy fire as they moved.
At the scene, they discovered seven vehicles scrambling to depart. As they halted the vehicles to search for weapons, an insurgent leapt out. He attacked Dunham, and then released a grenade. Without hesitation, the corporal tore off his Kevlar helmet and used it to cover the grenade. He bore the full force of the fatal explosion, saving the lives of at least two other Marines in his squad.
Dunham’s brave actions distinguished him as the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honorsince the Vietnam War.
2004: Indonesia Tsunamis (Missions)
Providing for recovery
Hundred-foot waves swept the shores of Indonesia, Thailand and India in a series of tsunamis that proved to be one of the deadliest natural disasters ever. While the world was in shock, the Marines mobilized.
Along with a number of United States and international relief efforts, three Marine Corps disaster relief assessment teams were immediately deployed to the region.
Seven ships from the Expeditionary Strike Group arrived to help produce critically needed fresh water. Marines also provided additional supplies for survivors.
After providing much-needed supplies and assistance, the Marines left the region, allowing local governments to take over.