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Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a [[celebration]] of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend the [[country]] as United States Marines.

Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a [[celebration]] of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend the [[country]] as United States Marines.

= History =

== History ==

=== Founding of the Marine Corps ===

=== Founding of the Marine Corps ===

During the [[American Revolution]], some of the most important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of [[Philadelphia]]. To support the 13 colonies in the struggle for [[independence]], a committee of the [[Continental Congress]] met at [[Tun Tavern]] to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.<ref>http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_heritage.htm</ref>  

During the [[American Revolution]], some of the most important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of [[Philadelphia]]. To support the 13 colonies in the struggle for [[independence]], a committee of the [[Continental Congress]] met at [[Tun Tavern]] to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.<ref>http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_heritage.htm</ref>  

Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines, and Tun Tavern’s owner and popular [[patriot]], Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began recruiting to gather support and were ready for action by early 1776. Since then, the Marine Corps has been winning battles and defending the [[United States of America]].

Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines, and Tun Tavern’s owner and popular [[patriot]], Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began recruiting to gather support and were ready for action by early 1776. Since then, the Marine Corps has been winning battles and defending the [[United States of America]].

== Famous Battles ==

=== Famous Battles ===

=== The First Amphibious Raid ===

==== The First Amphibious Raid ====

In 1776, just weeks after banding together, the Continental Marines successfully executed their first amphibious landing on a hostile shore. The [[British]] had stored large supplies of [[gunpowder]] at Fort Nassau in the [[Bahamas]] for later use against the thirteen colonies; Captain Samuel Nicholas and 234 Marines sailed with the Continental Navy on a mission to capture the supply. Within minutes of the Marines arrival, the British troops were outmatched and quickly surrendered. Captain Nicholas successfully acquired cannons and other military equipment, and the newly organized Marines completed their first amphibious raid.

In 1776, just weeks after banding together, the Continental Marines successfully executed their first amphibious landing on a hostile shore. The [[British]] had stored large supplies of [[gunpowder]] at Fort Nassau in the [[Bahamas]] for later use against the thirteen colonies; Captain Samuel Nicholas and 234 Marines sailed with the Continental Navy on a mission to capture the supply. Within minutes of the Marines arrival, the British troops were outmatched and quickly surrendered. Captain Nicholas successfully acquired cannons and other military equipment, and the newly organized Marines completed their first amphibious raid.

=== To The Shores of Tripoli ===

==== To The Shores of Tripoli ====

In 1805, the United States government refused to meet the monetary demands of Barbary Coast [[pirates]] - a threat made by the pirates to refrain from raiding American merchant ships. Negotiations for a treaty failed. Thus, President [[Thomas Jefferson]] assembled an expeditionary force of Marines to respond. Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led his Marines across 600 miles of the Libyan Desert and successfully stormed the fortified Tripolitan city of Derna. Notably recalled in the first verse of the Marines Hymn, "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli; we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea,"<ref>{{cite web |title=The Marines Hymn |url=http://www.tricitymarines.com/hymn.htm }}</ref> the Battle of Derna was the Marines first battle on foreign soil and is a legendary expedition.  

In 1805, the United States government refused to meet the monetary demands of Barbary Coast [[pirates]] - a threat made by the pirates to refrain from raiding American merchant ships. Negotiations for a treaty failed. Thus, President [[Thomas Jefferson]] assembled an expeditionary force of Marines to respond. Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led his Marines across 600 miles of the Libyan Desert and successfully stormed the fortified Tripolitan city of Derna. Notably recalled in the first verse of the Marines Hymn, "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli; we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea,"<ref>{{cite web |title=The Marines Hymn |url=http://www.tricitymarines.com/hymn.htm }}</ref> the Battle of Derna was the Marines first battle on foreign soil and is a legendary expedition.  

=== The Halls of Montezuma ===

==== The Halls of Montezuma ====

The Mexican-American War played a critical role in defining the border between the two nations that remains in place today.  

The Mexican-American War played a critical role in defining the border between the two nations that remains in place today.  

In 1847, the Marines strategically chose to capture Mexico's "Palacio Nacional," knowing that a takeover would greatly disarm the Mexican army. Now known as the Battle of Chapultepec, the Marines stormed the enemy fortress during a 48 hour battle. After two days of continued fighting, the Marines gained control of the castle - better known as the "Halls of Montezuma." Victory at the Halls of Montezuma remains a part of Marine Corps tradition, immortalized in the Marines Hymn.  

In 1847, the Marines strategically chose to capture Mexico's "Palacio Nacional," knowing that a takeover would greatly disarm the Mexican army. Now known as the Battle of Chapultepec, the Marines stormed the enemy fortress during a 48 hour battle. After two days of continued fighting, the Marines gained control of the castle - better known as the "Halls of Montezuma." Victory at the Halls of Montezuma remains a part of Marine Corps tradition, immortalized in the Marines Hymn.  

=== Battle of Belleau Wood ===

==== Battle of Belleau Wood ====

During World War I, 1918, the Marine Corps fought relentlessly against German soldiers located deep in Belleau Wood, just outside of [[Paris]]. Four days into battle, Marines had suffered heavy casualties and were pinned down by machine-gun fire.  

During World War I, 1918, the Marine Corps fought relentlessly against German soldiers located deep in Belleau Wood, just outside of [[Paris]]. Four days into battle, Marines had suffered heavy casualties and were pinned down by machine-gun fire.  

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On 7 June 1918, with few grenades and no signal flares left, Marine forces launched an assault with fixed bayonets, seizing enemy positions. After 20 days of intense fighting, the Marines had won the Battle of Belleau Wood. Marine riflemen demonstrated their firing skills and resolve during the continuous oncoming of German troops. After the battle, the exhausted and wounded German survivors gave a fitting nickname to their relentless opponent: Teufelhunden (meaning, "Devil Dogs").<ref>{{cite web |title=The Relentless "Devil Dogs" |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/belleau_wood |publisher=marines.com }}</ref>

On 7 June 1918, with few grenades and no signal flares left, Marine forces launched an assault with fixed bayonets, seizing enemy positions. After 20 days of intense fighting, the Marines had won the Battle of Belleau Wood. Marine riflemen demonstrated their firing skills and resolve during the continuous oncoming of German troops. After the battle, the exhausted and wounded German survivors gave a fitting nickname to their relentless opponent: Teufelhunden (meaning, "Devil Dogs").<ref>{{cite web |title=The Relentless "Devil Dogs" |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/belleau_wood |publisher=marines.com }}</ref>

=== Battle of Iwo Jima ===

==== Battle of Iwo Jima ====

In 1945, the United States sent the Marines to capture the Japanese airfields at Iwo Jima. Fortified in a defensive maze of tunnels and steel bunkers, Japanese soldiers had turned the island into a trap.<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle of Iwo Jima |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/iwo_jima |publisher=marines.com }}</ref> The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted 36 days with heavy casualties before the Marines secured the island. Only four days into the battle, however, a team of Marines and one Navy Corpsman managed to reach the top of the summit and raised the [[American Flag]] to encourage troops below. A photo of the moment was taken, and since then the flag raising at Iwo Jima has become iconic with the Marine Corps showing their courage and determination.

In 1945, the United States sent the Marines to capture the Japanese airfields at Iwo Jima. Fortified in a defensive maze of tunnels and steel bunkers, Japanese soldiers had turned the island into a trap.<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle of Iwo Jima |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/iwo_jima |publisher=marines.com }}</ref> The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted 36 days with heavy casualties before the Marines secured the island. Only four days into the battle, however, a team of Marines and one Navy Corpsman managed to reach the top of the summit and raised the [[American Flag]] to encourage troops below. A photo of the moment was taken, and since then the flag raising at Iwo Jima has become iconic with the Marine Corps showing their courage and determination.

=== Inchon Landing ===

==== Inchon Landing ====

In 1950, [[communist]] North Korea invaded South Korea. In return, in a surprise attack and amphibious assault, the Marines were sent in and landed behind enemy lines on the heavily defended shores of Inchon. Within hours, the Marines cleared the beach and began moving toward [[Seoul]]. In two weeks, they reclaimed the capital and put the North Korean army on the run.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inchon Landing |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/inchon_landing |publisher=marines.com }}</ref>

In 1950, [[communist]] North Korea invaded South Korea. In return, in a surprise attack and amphibious assault, the Marines were sent in and landed behind enemy lines on the heavily defended shores of Inchon. Within hours, the Marines cleared the beach and began moving toward [[Seoul]]. In two weeks, they reclaimed the capital and put the North Korean army on the run.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inchon Landing |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/inchon_landing |publisher=marines.com }}</ref>

== Marine Corps Mission ==

== Size ==

The mission of the Marine Corps was set forth in the National Security Act of 1947 as amended (1952). Historically, Marine Corps preparedness has been characterized by the phrase, "The First to Fight," and the mission of a Marine rifle squad is "To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy..."<ref>{{cite news |title=Denying the Enemy Anonymity |url=http://www.marinecorpsgazette-digital.com/marinecorpsgazette/200904/?pg=30&pm=2&u1=conservapedia |publisher=Marine Corps Gazette |author=USMC |date=April 2009 }}</ref> There are the seven elements of the Marine Corps Mission:<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Marine Corps (USMC) Mission and Organization Fundamentals |url=http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dfssg/med/files/103.htm |publisher=Camp Lejeune  |author=USMC }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marine Corps Mission |url=http://www.tricitymarines.com/marinemis.htm }}</ref>

 

 

 

= Size =

The U.S. Marine Corps, with 186,500 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2007, is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense (the [[United States Coast Guard]], about 1/5th the size of the Marine Corps, is under the [[Department of Homeland Security]]). The Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers.{{fact}}

The U.S. Marine Corps, with 186,500 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2007, is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense (the [[United States Coast Guard]], about 1/5th the size of the Marine Corps, is under the [[Department of Homeland Security]]). The Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers.{{fact}}

= Rank and Pay Grade =

== Rank and Pay Grade ==

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

!colspan=11| '''Commissioned Officers'''

!colspan=11| '''Commissioned Officers'''

|}

|}

==External links==

==External links==