History of the Marine Corps

Captain Samuel Nicholas sets up the first Marine Corps recruiting headquarters at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA, looking for "a few good men." The "Few and the Proud" who make up today's ranks are comprised of men and women who have the resolve to fight and win for our Nation's common cause.

Five companies of Marines carry out the Corps’ first amphibious landing on foreign soil, successfully seizing stockpiles of British gunpowder and munitions at Fort Nassau in the Bahamas.

The Marines rescue the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia in North Africa during the Battle of Derna. The location of the battle is commemorated in the Marine Corps Hymn as "the shores of Tripoli." They receive the nickname “Leatherneck” due to the high collar they wore as protection against the sabers of pirates.

During World War I, Marine forces launch a last-ditch close combat assault against German soldiers at the Battle of Belleau Wood that completely shredded the defensive counterattack. Surviving German soldiers nicknamed their adversaries “Devil Dogs,” due to their relentless fighting spirit.

During World War II, several innovative tactical strategies were used by the Marines to capture the Japanese airfield on the South Pacific Island of Guadalcanal, including intense Close Air Support for Marine ground forces. The tactics would be used again and again during the Marines' "Island Hopping" campaign.

The flag raising on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, was a vital moment at the Battle of Iwo Jima, propelling the U.S. to victory on the tiny volcanic island. Today, this symbol serves as a permanent reminder of the fighting spirit found in our Marines and the resiliency shared by our entire Nation.

During the Korean War, the 1st Marine Division at Chosin Reservoir was outnumbered eight to one and cut off from air support. Over 17 days they battled 10 Chinese infantry divisions through snow, -40ºF temperatures, and dangerous terrain, managing to escape encirclement and rejoin the main body of American forces.

The Battle of Huế during the Vietnam War was an intense, unrelenting ground battle that deployed block-by-block street fighting strategies. After 33 days of fighting, Marines managed to secure the entire city.

Combining precise air operations, tenacious amphibious assaults, and grueling ground tactics, Marines push back Iraqi forces that had invaded Kuwait. Then, in concert with UN forces, invade southern Iraq and lead one of the most successful modern military operations.

Within two months of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Marines were the first major ground forces in Afghanistan, focused on defeating Al-Qaeda. By mid-December Marine forces had captured Kandahar Airport, creating one of the first coalition command centers.

Using street-level ground tactics first deployed during Vietnam, Marines in dense metropolitan areas like Fallujah breached, searched, and cleared areas, building by building, to root out insurgents.

"The Marine Corps will be the 'force of choice' for the President, Secretary, and Combatant Commander. No matter what the crisis, our civilian leaders should always have one shared thought—send in the Marines." —General Berger, 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps