Sec 101 Flashcards
Navy and Marine Corps History, Customs, and Courtesies Fundamentals
Describe the Origin of the term “First to Fight.”
Marines have been in the forefront of every American war since the founding of the Corps. They entered the Revolution in 1775, even before the declaration of Independence was signed!
Describe the Origin of the term “Leather Neck.”
Leather stock or neck piece that was worn on the uniform between 1775-1875, Was designed to protect the jugular vein from Sabor slashes. It also insured that Marines kept their heads erect and maintained military bearing.
Describe the Origin of the term “Devil Dog.”
IIn 1918, during the battle of Belleau Wood near the Marne River in France, the Germans received a thorough indoctrination on the Marines fighting ability. The Marines persistent attack had the Germans calling them “Teufelhunden” translated “Devil Dogs.”
Describe the Origin of the term “Esprit de corps”
Loyalty to the Maine corps pride in their unit
Who said, “Uncommon valor was a common virtue”??
Refers to the victories during WW2, especially Iwo Jima, the largest all-Marine battle in history. Admiral Nimitz’s ringing characterization of Marines fighting on Iwo Jima was applied to the entire Marine Corps in World War Two: “Uncommon valor was a common virtue”.
1775
The Marine Corps was created on 10 November 1775, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, at Tun Tavern. Continental Congress “authorized the formation of two battalions of Marines” under Captain Samuel Nicholas, who is traditionally considered the first Commandant of the Marine Corps.
1776
Revolutionary war, first Marine landing invaded New Providence island in the Bahamas
1798
Congress created the marine corps as a separate military service
1805
Marines stormed the Barbary pirates’ stronghold at Burma on the “Shores of Tripoli.” Marines raised the “Stars and Stripes” for the first time in the Eastern Hemisphere.
1847
The Mexican war, marines occupied the “halls of Montezuma” during the battle of Chapultepec in Mexico City.
1859
Under command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, U.S. Arm stormed the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry to put down an attempted revolt let by abolitionist John Brown
1868
Eagle, globe and anchor was adopted. Brigadier General Jacob Zeilian, 7th Commandant, modified the British emblem to show marines both American and maritime.
1883
The offical motto of the marine corps was established “Semper Fidelis” always faithful.
1898
declaration of war against Spain. Marines conducted operations in the Pacific and Cuba. Led to several naval installations overseas.
1900
Peking, China the boxer rebellion.
What did the marines protect during the boxer rebellion?
Marines, a part of the multinational defense forces, protected the legation quarter against attack.
1901
1901-1934 Marine Corps increasingly quell disturbances in the Caribbean known as the “banana wars”
1913
Marine Corps established its first aviation unit. Major Alfred A. Cunningham was the first pilot.
1917
Marines landed as part of the American force in France and were awarded the French Fourragere. Still worn by the 5th and 6th Marines.
1933
Established “command and administrative relations” between the fleet and the marine corps. Marine corps equipment board was established at Quantico.
1941
The Marine Corps was the principal force utilized by the allies in execution of the strategy of “island hopping” campaigns. Reached nearly 500,000 strong during WWII.
1950
Korean War First Marie Provisional Brigade, amphibious landing in Inchon, and helicopters for the first time in battle
1958
reorganized into Fleet Marine Force
1965
Marines landed in south Vietnam, which committed the Marine Corps to the longest war in its history. Marines landed in Dominican Republic to evacuate and protect US citizens.
1982
Deployed to Lebanon. On 23 October 1983 a suicide truck bomb attack on the headquarters building killed 241 Americans and wounded 70. Withdrew in 1984
1983
Assassination of the prime minister in Grenada participated in Urgent Fury
1989
Over throw General Manuel Noriega operation Just Cause in Panama
1990
Invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces, Operation Desert Shield was launched. This operation validated the Marine Corps’ Maritime Propositioning Force (MPF) and MAGTF
1991
Operation Desert Storm was launched after the Iraqi government refused to comply with United Nations resolutions. Marine aviation was heavily used when the air phase commenced in 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
2001
OEF
2003
invasion of Iraq, March 20 to May 1, 2003
2004
The first battle of Fallujah, codenamed operation vigilant resolve. April 2004
2004
The second battle of Fallujah, codenamed Operation Al-Fajr and operation Phantom Fury. Joint US-Iraqi-British offensive NOv-DEC 2004
Presley Neville O’Bannon
First Lieutenant O’Bannon is remembered for heroism in the battle for the harbor fortress of Derna (Tripoli) in the Mediterranean.
“O’Bannon’s Marines were the first U.S. forces to hoist the flag over territory in the Old World.”
The “Mameluke” sword, carried by Marine officers today, was presented to O’Bannon in 1805.
Archibald Henderson
Brevet Brigadier General Archibald Henderson became Commandant in 1820 and held his command for 39 years. The “Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps,”
John H. Quick
Sergeant Major Quick is remembered for his performance at Cuzco Well (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba) where he participated in an operation to seize an advanced base for the Atlantic Fleet battalion of Marines. The Sergeant Major won the 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. When employed with the fleet, Marines gave added strength for the capture and defense of advanced bases, becoming a primary mission of the Marine Corps (1898).
Daniel Daly
Sergeant Major Daly is recognized for earning two Medals of Honor: (1) Chinese Boxer Rebellion and (2) First Caco War in Haiti. When his unit had been pinned down and their attack was stopped during the Battle of Belleau Wood, then Gunnery Sergeant Daly yelled to his men, “Come on, you sons of a b—–, do you want to live forever?”
Smedley D. Butler
Major General Butler is recognized for earning two Medals of Honor: (1) Veracruz and (2) First Caco War in Haiti.
John A. Lejeune
Major General Lejeune served as 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1920-1929. Lejeune was the first Marine officer ever to command an army division in combat, in France during World War I (1918).
Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller
Puller and a force of about 32 Marines became famous for their ability to engage rebel groups and bandits. known as the “Tiger of the Mountains” (1930). The Marine Corps’ mascot, an English bulldog named “Chesty,”
Joseph L. Foss
Captain Foss was a Marine pilot instrumental in taking, the Japanese airfield at Guadalcanal. For his participation, the Captain was awarded the Medal of Honor. By the end of World War II, Foss was the second-ranking Marine ace, with 26 victories (“kills”) to his credit (1942).
Gregory R. “Pappy” Boyington
Major Boyington is recognized for Marine prowess in aerial dogfights. “Pappy” commanded VMH-214, the “Black Sheep,” during World War II. By the end of the War, the Major was recognized as the Marine Corps’ top ranking flying ace with 28 victories (“kills”) (1945)
Ira H. Hayes
Corporal Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian, was one of the Marines immortalized in the now famous photograph (not shown) taken of the second flag raising incident on Mount Suribachi
Opha Mae Johnson
Marine Corps’ first enlisted woman on 13 August 1918
Annie L. Grimes
CWO Grimes was the third black woman to become a Marine and the first black woman officer to retire after her “full 20.”
Margaret A. Brewer
Brigadier General Margaret Brewer became the Marine Corps’ first woman general officer on 11 May 1978
Molly Marine
“Molly,” a monument in New Orleans to women who serve and have served as Marines, was dedicated on the Marine Corps birthday in 1943
The Battle of Bladensburg
In August of 1814, 103 Marines and 400 sailors made a vain attempt to block a force of 4,000 disciplined British troops from advancing on Washington.
Battle of New Orleans
Janurary 1815, General Andrew Jackson defeated British forces that were attacking the city of new Orleans.
Battle of Belleau Wood
Marines fought one of their greatest battles in history at Belleau Wood, France during World War I. Marines helped to crush a German offensive at Belleau Wood that threatened Paris. In honor of the Marines who fought there, the French renamed the area “the Wood of the Brigade of Marines.” in reference to the Marine’s ferocious fighting ability, German troops called their new enemy “Teufelhunden” or “Devil dogs,” a nickname in which Marines share pride.
Battle of Wake Island
1941: Following the attack on Pearl harbor, the Japs went on an offensive too attack the outnumbered marines, the marines caused an extraordinary amount of casualties before falling.
Battle of Guadalcanal
On 7 August 1942, the 1st Marine Division landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and launched the first United States land offensive of World War II. This battle marked the first combat test of the new amphibious doctrine, and also provided a crucial turning point of the war in the Pacific by providing a base to launch further invasions of Japanese-held islands. Amphibious landings followed on the remaining Solomon Islands including New Georgia, Choiseul (Feint), and Bougainville.
Battle of Tarawa
The 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. On 20 November 1943, Marines landed and secured the island within 76 hours, but paid a heavy price in doing so. Because of an extended reef, landing craft could not cross it and Marines were offloaded hundreds of yards from the beaches. This led to heavy losses from enemy fire. Additionally, many Marines drowned while attempting to wade ashore.
Battle of Mariana Islands
Due to the need for airfields by the Air Force and advanced bases for the Navy, the Marianas were invaded. Landings on the islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian accomplished this. During June and July of 1943, Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith led a combined invasion force of Marines and soldiers that totaled over 136,000. This was the greatest number of troops up to that time to operate in the field under Marine command
Battle of Bougainville
Was key island in nuetralizing Rabual, a hud for Japanese air power in the south Pacific.
Battle of Iwo Jima
19 Feb 1945, largest all-marine battle in history. Bloodist in Marine corps history. Suffered 23,300 casualties,
Battle of Okinawa
In April of 1945, Marines and soldiers landed and secured the island of Okinawa. This marked the last large action of WwII
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
November of 1950, Marines were cut off after the Chinese Communist Forces entered the war. Marines smashed seven enemy divisions in their march from the Chosin Reservoir.
Second Battle of Khe Sanh
January 1968, Marines defended the firebase at Khe Sanh from an attack force of two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) divisions. Despite heavy bombardment, the Marines held out for over two and a half months before finally forcing the enemy forces to withdraw
Battle of Hue City
During the Vietnamese holiday of Tet in January of 1968, Communist forces launched a surprise offensive by infiltrating large numbers of their troops into the major population centers of Hue City, South Vietnam. A near division-size unit of NVA troops occupied the city of Hue and the 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 was house-to-house with progress measured in yards. The city was secured on 25 February 1968.
Montford Point Marines
From 1942-1949 President Roosevelt signed order No. 8802 to get rid of discrimination in the armed forces. During the first 7 years African americans were segregated from other recruits at Montford Point North Carolina. Approx. 20,000 marines were trained during those years
Navajo Code Talkers
Native Americans from the Navajo tribe used their own language to make a code for the U.S. military that the Japanese could not decipher
Women Marines
First woman to enlist, Pvt Opha Mae Johnson 13 Aug 1918; Initially primarily clerical duties; 12 Jun 1948 Congress passed Women’s Armed Services Integration Act making women permanently part of active Marines. 1975, all MOS open to women expect Infantry, artillery, armor, pilot/crew. 2012, women are 7.11%
Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
Adopted in 1868 by Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin. The anchor represents its ties to maritime services with the navy, the glove represents global service, The eagle represents the nation itself and the mottos is semper fidelis.
State the significance of the scarlet trouser stripe
First appeared on the trousers in 1798, reappeared in 1840 and 1859. The red stripe commemorates the blood shed by marines in the battle of Chapultepec in 1846.
Significance of the Quatrefoil
Worn by marine officers, shape of a cross of figure eights, on top of barricks cover. Used for sharpshooters in the ships rigging to identify their own people when fighting on the deck of ships.
state the significance of the mameluke sword
Mamelukes were elite muslim military force from eastern and Northern Africa. In recognition of LT Presley O’Bannons’s heroic action s in Tripoli expedition, prince Hamet Bey presented him a mameluke sword
State the significance of the NCO sword
NCO officers of the Marine Corps are the only NCOs in any branch of the armed forces who still have the privilege of carrying what is considered to be a commissioned officer’s weapon.
State the significance of the French Fourragere
