Basic Marine Corps Knowledge
Marine Corps Birthday
10 November 1775
Marine Corps Birthplace
Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, PA
Marine Cops Motto
“Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful)
– Faithful to yourself, your comrades, your Corps, and your county
Marine Corps Colors
Scarlet and Gold
Marine Corps Emblem
Eagle, Globe and Anchor
First Commandant of the Marine Corps
Captain Samuel Nicholas
First Amphibious Landing by Marines
Providence Island in the Bahamas
First Marine Corps Aviator
1st Lt Alfred Cunningham (1912)
First Woman Marine
Opha Mae Johnson (1918)
Marines With Two Medals of Honor
Sgt. Maj. Daily and Maj. Butler
Type of sword worn by Marine Officers
Mameluke Sword first presented to Lt. Presley N. O’Bannon as a gesture of respect and praise for bravery exhibited at the battle of Derne fortress in Tripoli in 1805
The “Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps”
General Archibald Henderson (Commandant for 39 years)
“Blood Stripe” – Red strip worn on dress blue trousers
Represents bravery by Marines at the battle of Chapultepec during the War with Mexico
Most famous Marine (Awarded 5 Navy Crosses)
LtGen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller
Marine Mascot
English bulldog named “Chesty”
Marine Nicknames
- “Leathernecks”
For collar worn on uniforms years ago - “Devil Dogs” (TEUFELHUNDEN)
The name given to Marines by German soldiers during World War I because they fought so bravely
Famous Battles
- Mexican War (1848)
Veracruz and Mexico City (Montezuma and Chapultepec) - World War I (1914-1918)
Belleau Woods in France - World War II (1941-1945)
Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Saipan, Tarawa - Korean War (1950-1953)
Chosin Reservoir - Vietnam (1965-1972)
Hue City; Khe Sahn - Urgent Fury (1983)
Grenada - Beirut (1982-1984)
Lebenon - Desert Storm (1991)
Kuwait - Enduring Freedom (2003-Present)
Afghanistan - Iraqi Freedom (2003-Present)
Iraq