FMF 101 History, Rank, & Courtesies

Question 1

1776

Answer 1

Marine Corps was created on November 10th 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Tun Tavern.

Captain Samuel Nicholas became commander of 2 battalions. Considered the first Commandant of the Marine Corps’.

Question 2

1776

Answer 2

First marine landing during the Revolutionary War. Invaded New Providence Island in the Bahamas and seized guns and supplies.

The uniform had a stiff leather stock which gave them the nickname “leathernecks”.

Question 3

18 “Arrggh” 5 (1805)

Answer 3

Marines stormed the barbary pirates’ stronghold at Derna on the “Shores of Tripoli”.

Raised the “Stars and Stripes” for the first time in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Question 4

1834

Answer 4

Marines comes under The Department of the Navy

Question 5

1847 (Mexicans Go to Heaven)

Answer 5

Marines occupied the “Halls of Moctezuma” during the Battle of Chapultepec in Mexico City.

Royal palace fell to invading Marines and the Marines helped take California.

Question 6

1859 (Slaves are Mine)

Answer 6

Under the Command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, Marines stormed the United States arsenal at Harper’s Ferry to put down an attempted slave revolt led by abolitionist John Brown.

Question 7

1868 (EGA is Great)

Answer 7

Emblem consisted of an eagle, a globe, and an anchor.

Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin, 7th Commandant, modified by the British (Royal) Army Marine Emblem to depict the Marines as both American and maritime.

Globe and anchor signify worldwide service and sea traditions. Spread eagle is a symbol of the nation itself.

Question 8

1883

Answer 8

Official motto, “Semper Fidelis”, Latin for “Always Faithful” or commonly known as Semper Fi.

Question 9

1900

Answer 9

Marines defended the American Legation in Peking, China during the Boxer Rebellion.

A small defense force held out against the Boxers until a relief force was able to reach Peking and end the rebellion.

Question 10

1912

Answer 10

-First LT Alfred Cunningham becomes the first Marine Aviator.

-Major Smedley Butler leads marines ashore, beginning interventions in Nicaragua.

Question 11

1917

Answer 11

Marines landed as part of the American force in France. Marines participated in 8 distinct operations and were awarded a # of decorations, among them the French Fourragere still worn by members of the 5th and 6th Marines.

Question 12

1933

Answer 12

Marine Corps reorganized the Fleet Marine Force.

Marine Corps Equipment Board was established at Quantico, Virginia and Marines began to devote long hours to testing and developing materials for landing operations and expeditionary service.

Question 13

1965

Answer 13

Marines landed in South Vietnam, and conducted numerous large-scale offensive operations.

Also, participating in the pacification program designed to win the support of the local populace.

Also, in response to an attempted coup of the local government, Marines landed in the DR to evacuate and protect U.S. citizens. Marines formed the core of a multinational force that quickly restored the peace.

Question 14

1982

Answer 14

Marines deployed to Lebanon as part of a multinational peacekeeping force in an effort to restore peace and order.

This action displayed a concept of a, “Force in Readiness”. On October 23rd 1983, a suicide truck bomb attack on the HQ bldg killed 241 Americans and wounded 70 others. Last marine unite withdrew in July of 1984.

Question 15

1991

Answer 15

Operation Desert Storm launched after the Iraqi government refused to comply with United Nations resolutions.

Marine Aviation heavily used when the air phase commenced January of 1991. When massive bombing failed to dislodge Iraqi forces, Marine ground forces swept into Kuwait and liberated the country, causing severe damage to the Iraqi military capability.

Question 16

2001

Answer 16

Operation Enduring Freedom on 9/11.

-Series of terrorist attacks on the U.S. The attacks targeted the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

-October 7th, U.S. and British forces began airstrikes in Afghanistan after the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin laden leader of the al-Qaida terrorist organization.

Question 17

2003

Answer 17

Dictator Saddam Hussein and his sons refused to surrender or exile Iraq.

March 20th 2003, Marines from I MEF crossed Kuwait border into Southern Iraq in the first push to Baghdad.

April 5th 2003, Marines enter Baghdad and expanded northward on the eastern edge of the city to secure major roads leading out of the capital.

Question 18

Battle of Belleau Wood

Answer 18

France during WWI, Marines helped to crush German offensive at Belleau Wood that threatened Paris.

French renamed the area “The Wood of the Brigade of Marines”. German intelligence evaluated the Marines as “Storm Troops”- the highest rating on the enemy fighting scale.

German troops called their new enemy, “Teufelhunden” or “Devil Dogs”.

Question 19

Battle of Guadacanal

Answer 19

August 7th, 1942, Marines landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and launched the first land offensive of WWII.

Battle marked the first combat test of the new amphibious doctrine, and provided a crucial turning point by providing a base to launch further invasions of Japanese-held islands.

Question 20

Battle of Tarawa

Answer 20

Gilbert Islands were the first in the line of advance for the offensive in the Central Pacific.

The prime objective was the Tarawa Atoll and Betio Island which had been fortified to the point that the Japanese Commander proclaimed that it would take a million Americans 100 years to conquer it.

November 20th, 1943: Marines landed and secured the island within 76 hours but paid a heavy price.

The extended reef made it difficult for landing craft and they could not cross. Marines were offloaded hundreds of yards from the beaches.

Question 21

Battle of Mariana Islands

Answer 21

Need for airfields by the Air force and advanced bases for the Navy, Mariana Islands were invaded.

Landings on the islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian accomplished this.

During June & July of 1943, LT Gen Holland M. Smith led a combined invasion force of Mariens and soldiers totalled over 136,000. This was the greatest # of troops under Marine Command.

Question 22

Battle of Okinawa

Answer 22

March 3rd 1945, Marines landed in Okinawa. They attempted to push North and completed their objective April 20th.

They then moved south to assist the Army troops in taking Shuri Line by taking Sugar Loaf Hill. The casualties resulting from the attack and counterattacks by the Japanese led to ownership of the hill changing many times (10 total). Marines fully occupying and finally owning it on May 18th.

All major combat operations ending on June 23rd.

More than 12,000 American service members killed and more than 38,000 wounded or missing,

Question 23

Battle of Iwo Jima

Answer 23

February 19th 1945, largest and bloodiest all-Marine battle in history, & suffered over 23,000 casualties.

Capture of Iwo Jima greatly increased air support and bombing operations against the Japanese home islands.

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said, “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

Question 24

Battle of Chosin Reservoir

Answer 24

After pushing into North Korea in November 1950, Marines were cut off after the Chinese Communist Forces entered the war.

They faced a 10-division force and smashed 7 of them in their march to Chosin Reservoir.

Marines brought out all operable equipment, properly evacuated their wounded and dead, and maintained tactical integrity.

Question 25

Battle of Hue City

Answer 25

January of 1968, Communist forces infiltrated large numbers of their troops into Hue City, South Vietnam. A near division sized unit of NVA troops occupied the city of Hue and Citadel.

Marines fought in built-up areas for the first time since the Korean War foregoing the application of heavy arms to minimize civilian casualties. Fighting house to house with progress measured in yards.

City was secured on February 25th 1968.

Question 26

First Battle of Fallujah

Answer 26

Operation Vigilant Resolve

-In response to the killing of 4 Blackwater guards in Fallujah. I MEF ordered to conduct an offensive operation against insurgents located in Fallujah.

-April 4th: U.S. forces launched a major assault in an attempt to “re-establish security.”

-Brigadier General Mark Kimmit, deputy director of operations for the US military in Iraq promised an overwhelming response to the Blackwater deaths, stating “We will pacify the city.”

Question 27

Second Battle of Fallujah

Answer 27

Operation Al-Fajr “The Dawn” and Operation Phantom Fury with the goal of retaking Fallujah.

Marines moved into position to assault the western and eastern part of the city from the north where a stronghold of 4000-5000 insurgents were.

November 7th operations begun and by November 13th, US and coalition force controlled most of the city. Next several days, moved house to house eliminating insurgent resistance.

November 16th, city was cleared. Largest military operation since opening days of Iraqi Freedom.

Question 28

Operation Strike of the Sword (KHANJAR)

Answer 28

July 2009, MEB-Afghanistan, led by BGen Nicholson, operated in 3 separate and austere provinces that had been bereft of government efficacy for years.

MEB constructed expeditionary bases and airfields and struck decisively at the heart of the Taliban insurgency.

Question 29

Battle of Marjah (MOSHTARAK)

Answer 29

February 2010, MOSHTARAK reclaimed Marjah, a strategic agricultural hun and narco-terrorist safe haven in the Helmand River Valley.

The MEB improved the geo-political landscape of Southwestern Afghanistan.

Question 30

Archibald Henderson

Answer 30

Brevet Brigadier General Archibald Henderson was Commandant in 1820 and held his command for 39 years until his death in 1859.

Led through the Indian Wars, Wars with Mexico, the Opening of China, and the disorders in Central America.

Grand old man of the Marine Corps

Introduced higher standards of personal appearance, training, discipline.

Question 31

John Quick

Answer 31

Sgt Major Quick is remembered for his performance at Cuzco Well (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) in an operation to seize an advanced base for the Atlantic Fleet Battalion of Marines.

Medal of Honor for semaphoring for an emergency lift of the naval bombardment while under Spanish and American shellfire.

The landing at Guantanamo demonstrated the usefulness of Marines as assault troops. Marines gave added strength for the capture and defense of advanced bases, becoming a primary mission of the Marine Corps (1898).

Question 32

Dan Daly

Answer 32

2 Medal of Honors: (1) Chinese Boxer rebellion and (2) First Caco War in Haiti.

At Battle of Belleau Wood, he yelled, “Come on, you sons of a bitches, do you want to live forever?”

Question 33

Louis B. “Chesty” Puller

Answer 33

LT Gen Puller served in Nicaragua through several periods of political unrest and rebellious activity.

Puller and a force of 32 marines famous for ability to engage rebel groups and bandits while scouring the jungles in a wide area of Nicaragua to the Honduran border.

Became known as TIger of the Mountains (1930)

Question 34

Gregory R. “Pappy” Boyington

Answer 34

Major Boyington recognized for Marine prowess in aerial dogfights. He commanded VMH-214, the “Black Sheep” during WWII.

Top ranking flying ace with 28 victories (“kills”).

Question 35

Ira H. Hayes

Answer 35

Corporal Hayes, a Pima Indian, was one of the marines immortalized in the now famous photo taken of the second flag-raising incident on Mount Surabachi shortly after the Japanese stronghold was taken on February 23rd, 1945.

Question 36

Opha Mae Johnson

Answer 36

Private Johnson became first enlisted woman August 13th 1918.

Skirt marines or Marinettes.

Question 37

Margaret A. Brewer

Answer 37

Brigadier Brewer, then Colonel, was Director of Women Services from 1973-1977.

She was the seventh and last director of WM, the only post-World war woman to hold the position.

Became the Marine Corps’ first woman general officer on May 11th, 1978.

Question 38

Robert E. Bush

Answer 38

Served as rifle company HM against Japanese enemy forces on Okinawa Jima, Ryuku Islands, May 2, 1945.

He moved from one casualty to another to attend the wounded falling under the enemy’s murderous barrages.

He advanced to administer blood plasma to a Marine officer lying wounded when Japanese launched a savage counterattack.

Bush drew his pistol with the other and fired into the enemy’s ranks until he was out of ammo. Loss one eye; was awarded the Medal of Honor and was the youngest WWII Navy Man to recieve the MOH.

Question 39

John H. Bradley

Answer 39

Pharmacist mate 2nd Class Bradley took part in the iconic battle that led to raising of the American flag on Mt. Surabachi on Feb. 23rd 1945.

During Iwo Jima he ran through intense fire to the side of a fallen marine placing himself in a position to shield the wounded man, he then tied a plasma unit to a rifle planted upright in the sand and continued his life-saving mission. Afterward, he pulled a man 30 yards through enemy fire to safety.

He was awarded the Navy Cross & Purple Heart.

Question 40

Robert R. Ingram

Answer 40

HM3 awarded MOH.

His company battled the Vietnamese on March 28th, 1966. Ingram crawled across the battlefield to reach a downed marine.

As he administered aid, a bullet went through the palm of his hand. Calls for “corpsman” repeatedly, he collected ammo from the dead and administered aid to the wounded. Receiving two more wounds, with the third wound being life-threatening.

While dressing the head of another wounded corpsman, he sustained his fourth bullet wound. From sixteen hundred hours until sunset, he took care of his marines.

Question 41

Jason L. Dunham

Answer 41

Awarded MOH for his service on April 14th, 2004.

He discovered seven Iraqi vehicles attempting to depart. Cpl Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles when an insurgent leaped out and attacked him.

CPL wrestled the insurgent to the ground and saw the said insurgent release a grenade. CPL immediately alerted his fellow marines to the threat.

He covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. He saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines.

Question 42

Dakota Meyer

Answer 42

His patrol was ambushed by more than 50 enemy fighters firing rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and machine guns from houses and fortified positions. Heard over the radio four US team members were cut off.

He took the exposed gunner’s position in a gun-truck as they drove down the steeply terraced terrain to attempt to disrupt the enemy attack and locate the trapped U.S. team. Killed a # of enemy fighters with the mounted machine guns and his rifle; he and his driver made three solo trips.

When the machine gun became inoperable he switched to another truck for a third trip into the ambush area.

Despite shrapnel in the arm, he made two more trips in a third gun truck accompanied by four other Afghan vehicles to recover more wounded and search for the missing US members. He dismounted the 5th vehicle and moved on foot to locate and recover the bodies of his team members.

Question 43

When/How to salute:

Answer 43

Begin salute in ample time (at least 6 but no more than 30 paces away).

Hold salute until returned or acknowledged.

Accompany salute with proper greeting.

Look squarely at the person or colors.

Render salute only if senior remains in immediate vicinity.

Render salute again if conversation takes place.

Question 44

Salute in a group IF..

Answer 44

Your group IS NOT in formation THEN first person to notice calls group to attention and salutes for the group or everyone salutes individually.

Your group IS in formation THEN Senior person calls the formation to attention salutes for the group.

Question 45

DO NOT salute when…

Answer 45

-At work indoors
-A prisoner or guarding prisoners
-Under battle conditions
-In ranks, at games, or part of a working detail
-At crowded gatherings, public conveyances, or in congested areas.
-Doing so would physically interfere with your performance of assigned duty.
-While blouse or coat is unbuttoned
-WIth a smoking device in your hand