Section 101 Flashcards
Gregory R. “Pappy” Boyington
Maj Boyington commanded the Black Sheep during WWII
Recognized for his aerial dogfights
Top ranking flying ace with 28 victories (1945)
Battle of Guadalcanal
Aug 1942
1st US offensive of WWII
1st MARDIV landed on beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands
1st combat test of new amphibious doctrine
Opha Mae Johnson
Marine Corps’ first enlisted woman, 13 Aug 1918
Known as Marine Reserve (F), “Skirt Marine” or “Marinettes”
John A. Lejeune
LtGen Lejeune served as the 13th Commandent of Marine Corps (as MGen Lejeune) from 1920-1929
First Marine Officer to command an Army Div (during WWI in France)
Joseph L. Foss
Capt Foss was a Marine pilot
Awarded Medal of Honor for taking a Japanese airfield in Guadalcanal
2nd ranking ACE w/ 26 Victories to his credit at end of WWII
Daniel Daly
During the Battle of Belleau Wood (1918), Sgt Major Daly said “Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”
2 Medals of Honor:
1) Chinese Boxer Rebellion
2) First Caco War in Haiti
Battle of Wake Island
Dec 1941
Japanese offensive of WWII. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese struck Wake Island on 8 Dec.
Despite being heavily out numbered, the Marines mounted a courageous defense before finally falling on 23 Dec.
The battle resulted in an extraordinary number of Japanese casualties.
Archibald Henderson
BGen
“Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps”
Commandant from 1820 to 1959
Battle of Okinawa
April 1945
Marines and soldiers landed and secured the island of Okinawa
This marked the last major action of WWII.
Esprit de Corps
Devotion and loyalty to the USMC with deep regard for its history, traditions, and honor.
State the significance of the scarlet trouser stripe.
According to Marine Corps tradition, the “blood stripe” commemorates the blood shed by Marines in the Battle of Chapultepec in 1846.
2nd Battle of Khe Sanh
Jan 1968
Marines defended the fire base at Khe Sanh from two North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Divisions. The Marines endured heavy bombardment for two and a half months before finally forcing the enemy to withdraw.
Quatrefoil
Interwoven braid in the shape of a cross of figure eights found on top of Marine officers’ barracks covers.
Authorized in 1859.
Quatrefoil was worn on the caps of Marines fighting on the decks of ships so they were easily recognized by Marine sharpshooters.
Mameluke sword
Cross-hilted, curved, scimitar-like sword derived from the sabres used by Mamluk warriors
According to Marine Corps legend, Prince Hamet Bey presented the sword to LT O’Bannon for his heroic actions at the Battle of Derna.
“Mamelukes” were an elite Muslim military force from Eastern and Northern Africa.
Fourragère
Braided rope worn over the left shoulder with the left arm passing through. The rope is only worn in dress and service uniforms when ribbons are prescribed.
5th and 6th Marine Regiments were awarded the fourragère at the Battle of Belleau Wood and are only US Marines authorized to wear it.
State the significance of the NCO sword.
Noncommissioned officers of the Marine Corps are the only NCOs in any branch of the regular United States Armed Forces who still have the privilege of carrying what is considered to be a commissioned officer’s weapon.
Montford Point Marines
20,000 African Americans enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 at Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, NC.
They were trained separately and were segregated within the USMC.
They fought professionally and proudly in many battles paving the way for the diversity in the Marine Corps today.
Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller
LtGen Puller served in Nicaragua where he received the nickname “Tiger of the Mountains”.
Puller and his force of 32 Marines became famous for their ability to engage rebel groups and bandits while scouring the jungle of Nicaragua.
Maine Corps mascot (bulldog) is named after him
Battle of Bladensburg
Aug 1814
103 Marines and 400 Sailors made a vain attempt to block 4,000 British Troops from advancing on Washington
Stopped 3 charges before being driven back
British moved down Bladensburg Rd to Washington burning a number of public buildings along the way
John H. Quick
SgtMaj Quick is remembered for Cuzco Well in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Won Medal of Honor for semaphoring for an emergency lift of the naval bombardment while under Spanish and American shellfire.
Landing showed usefulness of Marine Assault troops and capture and defense of advance bases becoming primary mission of USMC.
Battle of the Mariana Islands
Jun-Jul 1943
American offensive in WWII intended to attain forward operating bases in the Pacific
LtGen Smith led a combined invasion force of Marines and Soldiers that totaled over 136,000, the greatest number of troops to operate under Marine Command.
Presley Neville O’Bannon
Lt1 O’Bannon is remembered for heroism in the battle for the Harbor Fortress of Derna.
O’Bannon’s Marines were the first U.S. forces to hoist the flag over territory in the old world.
Mameluke sword, carried by Marine officer’s today, presented to O’Bannon in 1805
Guidons
Small rectangular flags made in Marine Corps colors carried by companies, batteries or detachments
Battle of Tarawa
Nov 1943
Japanese said it would take 1,000,000 Americans 100 years to take the atoll. Marines secured it within 76 hrs, but at no small cost.
Due to the extended coral reef, landing craft were forced drop Marines off hundreds of yards from the beaches, which led to many casualties from drowning and enemy fire.
Marine Corps Emblem
Eagle with the USMC motto in its beak, globe (western hemisphere), and fouled anchor
Eagle = Nation's Freedom Globe = Worldwide Service Anchor = Maritime Traditions
Adopted from British Royal Marines and modified by BGen Zeilin in 1868
Ira H. Hayes
Cpl Hayes was one of the Marines at the Battle of Iwo Jima who was immortalized in the now famous photo taken of the second flag raising on Mount Suribachi, shortly after the Japanese stronghold was taken on 23 Feb 1945.
Battle of New Orleans
Jan 1815
Marines under command of Gen Andrew Jackson soundly defeated British forces that were attacking the city of New Orleans.
British lost 2,000 men while American losses were less than 100.
Battle of Belleau Wood
Jun 1918
WWI battle at Belleau Wood, France in which Marines helped crush a German offensive that threatened Paris.
Germans classified Marines as “Storm Troops” and gave them the name the name “Devil Dogs”
Annie L. Grimes
CWO
3rd African American female in USMC.
First black female officer to retire after her “full 20”.
Margaret A. Brewer
BGen Brewer, was the 7th and last director of Women Marines and was the only post-WW woman to hold that position.
First woman to become a General in the Marine Corps in May 1978.
Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
Chinese offensive in the Korean War in Nov 1950.
After pushing far into North Korea, Marines were cut off by Chinese Communist Forces. Marines smashed 7 of the 10 enemy Divisions sent to annihilate them before being forced to retreat. This was a pyrrhic victory for the Chinese forces.
The major significance of the Marines’ retrograde movement was that Marines brought out all operable equipment, properly evacuated their wounded and dead, and maintained tactical integrity.
Battle of Hue City
During the Vietnamese holiday of Tet in January 1968, Communist forces launched a surprise offensive on Hue, South Vietnam. A near division-size unit of NVA troops occupied Hue and the Citadel.
This was the first time since the Korean War that Marines had fought in urban areas, and they were forced to forego the application of heavy arms to minimize civilian casualties.
Over the course of a month, Marines slowly drove the NVA forces out and secured the city on 25 February 1968.
