Celebrating 251 Years of Honor, Courage, and Commitment

The Marine Corps describes honor as the basis of character. And that’s what the Marines demonstrated following the Battle of Belleau Wood in France in 1918.

The battle lasted from June 6 to June 26, and the Marines suffered over a thousand casualties on the first day alone. But after enduring some of the fiercest fighting of all of World War I, the Marines earned the admiration of their allies, the respect of their enemies, and their famous nickname: Devil Dogs.

While the Marines' determination to seize the woods is now the stuff of legend, what happened after the battle is less celebrated but no less important. Marines captured approximately 1,600 Germans during the fighting.

Despite the terrible toll on the Marines, the enemy soldiers who were captured or surrendered became prisoners, not targets. Even before the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war, the Marines acted with honor toward captured foes.

That continues today. Honor, not just the law, requires Marines to maintain their standards, even when it comes to treatment of an enemy they were just fighting.

Belleau Wood is rightfully famous, but the broader lesson from Marines’ actions after the fight is an often-overlooked example of honor.

Courage is the mental, moral, and physical strength to do what is right. That means courage doesn't always look like a single dramatic charge at the enemy. Sometimes it looks like doing the mission that needs to be done day after day.

In 2016, Marines from Battery E, Battalion Landing Team 2/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to northern Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Their artillery was crucial to the Iraqi and Kurdish security forces fighting ISIS.

ISIS forces knew the importance of Battery E, and the Marines came under regular attack. When a rocket barrage wounded four Battery E Marines at their position near Makhmur, the mission continued. Not because the Marines didn’t fear the ISIS rockets, but because they refused to let fear cloud their ability to make sound decisions and destroy their willingness to fight.

The Marines held their position and refused to stop supporting their local allies, even with the rockets exploding around them. Their courage became an example to their allies, and the four Marines hurt by the rocket attack later received Purple Hearts at the site where they had been wounded.

Commitment is the determination and dedication to maintain a standard of excellence, no matter the pressure they face. Perhaps nowhere in history is this better defined than during World War II on the island of Guadalcanal.

During a daring action Marines captured an unfinished airfield from Japanese defenders. Keeping it turned out to be another matter.

Japanese forces repeatedly attacked the American perimeter in an effort to retake the airfield. Over the course of four months, Marine units absorbed heavy casualties while reorganizing their defenses and continuing to hold the area they had previously captured.

On the night of October 24–25 1942, an understrength Marine company endured at least six separate attacks south of the airfield. Named Henderson Field, the airstrip now serves as a reminder of what commitment looks like.

Holding the airfield wasn't about one spectacular moment. It required Marines to remain focused through exhaustion, uncertainty, and repeated attacks. They held because the mission still mattered, and they refused to compromise their standards as warriors.

Throughout history, Marines have been in the thick of America’s toughest fights. Some of these are taught in history books. Some are largely forgotten.

But no matter how famous or obscure, the thread of honor, courage, and commitment passes through each Marine and their actions up to the present day. These values aren't abstract ideals belonging to another generation. They are practical standards for how Marines make decisions, lead, treat others, and accomplish things that other people would think impossible.

For someone considering becoming a Marine, the question isn't whether you already have these qualities perfected. The Marine Corps exists to develop them. The challenge is deciding whether you're ready to live by them.

Happy birthday, United States Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis.