Core values

Card given to recruits bearing the Core values

The Marine Corps Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment have gained increased prominence in recent years.[4][5] As an emphasis on performing morally on and off duty, the concept of core values has infiltrated into many aspects of marine life, beginning in recruit training and continuing into combat.[6] This "warrior ethos" provides guidance to marines in difficult ethical situations and acts as a reminder to provide good order and discipline.[7]

Marines' Hymn

The Marines' Hymn dates back to 1919 and is the oldest official song in the U.S. Armed Forces.[8] It embraces some of the most important battles of the Corps at that time, including Chapultepec and Derna.[9] Subtle changes and unofficial verses have been added as the history of the Corps grew.[10]

Eagle, Globe, and Anchor

A rendition of the emblem on the flag of the U.S. Marine Corps

The official Marine Corps emblem is the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, sometimes abbreviated "EGA". Adopted in its present form in 1868 by Commandant Jacob Zeilin, it derives partially from ornaments worn by the Continental Marines and the British Royal Marines and is usually topped with a ribbon reading "Semper Fidelis". The original eagle was a crested eagle found in the Americas, not the bald eagle that appears in the current emblem. The eagle stands on the Western Hemisphere and holds in its beak a scroll bearing the motto "Semper Fidelis", though the scroll is sometimes omitted from uniform insignia. An anchor fouled with rope stands behind the globe, and while it generally points to the viewer's left, it can be found reversed when paired so that the anchors continually face the other.[11] The eagle stands for a proud country, the globe signifies worldwide service, and the fouled anchor signifies naval tradition. The use of the emblem became official when the seal was adopted in 1955.[12]

Seal and colors

United States Marine Corps seal

On 22 June 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an executive order which approved the design of an official seal for the United States Marine Corps. The seal had been designed by Felix de Weldon at the request, and with the assistance, of the Commandant Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.[13]

The seal consists of the traditional Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem in bronze; however, a bald eagle replaced the crested eagle depicted on the 1868 emblem and is depicted with wings displayed, standing upon the western hemisphere of the terrestrial globe and holding in his beak a scroll inscribed with the Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" with the hemisphere superimposed on a fouled anchor. The seal is displayed on a scarlet background encircled with a navy blue band edged in a gold rope rim and inscribed "Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps" in gold letters.[12]

Coincident with the approval of this seal by the president, the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor emblem centered on the seal was adopted in 1955 as the official Marine Corps Emblem. The blue signifies naval ties, while the scarlet and gold are the official Marine Corps colors.[14][15] They appear ubiquitously in the Marine Corps, particularly on signage. They also form the base colors of the flag of the United States Marine Corps.

Motto

Semper Fidelis March

4:16

John Philip Sousa's "Semper Fidelis March", performed by the U.S. Marine Band in June 1909.

Problems playing this file? See media help.

The Marine motto "Semper Fidelis" means "always faithful" in Latin.[15] This motto often appears in the shortened form "Semper Fi" /ˌsɛmpər ˈfaɪ/. It is also the name of the official march of the Corps, composed by John Philip Sousa. It was adopted in 1883 when Commandant Charles McCawley added it to the seal, before which the traditional mottos were "Fortitudine" (With Fortitude); "By Sea and by Land", a translation of the Royal Marines' "Per Mare, Per Terram"; and "To the Shores of Tripoli", which was later revised to "From the Halls of the Montezumas to the Shores of Tripoli" and formed the first lines of the Marines' Hymn.[16]

The recruiting slogan of "A Few Good Men" (as opposed to the play and film) derives from a Continental Marines recruiting poster:

The Continental ship Providence, now lying at Boston, is bound on a short cruise, immediately; a few good men are wanted to make up her complement." (Marine Captain William Jones, Providence Gazette, 20 March 1779.)[17]

The modern recruiting slogan is "the few, the proud, the Marines."[17] The Rifleman's Creed is a similar concept as the motto but offers a more modern look at doctrine. It explains to a recruit the importance of his or her weapon but also emphasizes the moral motivations behind using it.

Though the Marines have a lot of mottos and slogans. Their unofficial slogan is, "Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome." They are trained with this slogan to be able to deal with all obstacles and serious situations they must face. [10]

Swords

Main article: United States Marine Corps noncommissioned officer's sword

Two styles of swords are worn by marines. The Marine Corps officers' sword is a Mameluke sword, similar to the Persian shamshir presented to Lt. Presley O'Bannon after the Battle of Derna during the First Barbary War.[9] After its adoption in 1825 and initial distribution in 1826, Mameluke swords have been worn by Marine officers ever since, except during the period 1859–1875, when they were required to wear the Army's Model 1850 Foot Officers' Sword. Upon returning to the traditional sword, many officers gave their Army swords to their senior non-commissioned officer (NCO), creating the basis for the NCO sword.[18] Generally, marines are the only branch where enlisted members regularly carry a sword (the Army authorizes platoon and first sergeants to carry a Model 1840 sword during some ceremonies,[19] while the Chief of Naval Operations authorized chief petty officers and above to carry an optional ceremonial cutlass with dress uniforms in 2010[20]).

Birthday

Main article: United States Marine Corps birthday ball

The Marine Corps birthday is celebrated every year on 10 November, when on this date in 1775, the Second Continental Congress raised two battalions of marines. Tun Tavern is regarded as the location of the first marines to enlist under Commandant Samuel Nicholas.[21] Prior to 1921, marines celebrated the 11 July 1798 recreation of the Corps (it having been disbanded following the end of the Revolutionary War) with little fanfare. Then, Marine Corps Order 47 was published by Commandant John A. Lejeune:[22]

MARINE CORPS ORDERS

No. 47 (Series 1921) HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS Washington, November 1, 1921

759. The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the 10th of November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it will be read upon receipt.

On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "marine". In memory of them it is fitting that we who are marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.

The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home, generation after generation of marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.

In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "marine" has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.

This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.

JOHN A. LEJEUNE, Major General Commandant

75705--21

The celebrations were formalized by Commandant Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. in 1952, outlining the cake cutting ceremony, which would enter the Marine Drill Manual in 1956. By tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the oldest marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest marine present, symbolizing the old and experienced marines passing their knowledge to the new generation of marines. Lejeune's message is also republished annually.

Drill and ceremonies

Close Order Drill is heavily emphasized early on in a marine's training. Formal ceremonies, such as the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, a change of command, or a retirement, will almost always incorporate some form of close order drill. The Marine Corps uses close order drill to teach discipline by instilling habits of precision and automatic response to orders, increase the confidence of junior officers and noncommissioned officers through the exercise of command and give marines an opportunity to handle individual weapons.[23]

The Mess Night is a borrowed tradition of ceremonial dining.[24] Originally a British Army tradition, it has become an honored tradition of enjoying drink, good food, and fellowship with a marine's comrades,[25] as well as honoring those who have perished in battle.[26]

Except for the annual celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday, no social function associated with the smaller of America's naval services is more enjoyed, admired and imitated than the mess night."[27]

History

Main article: History of the United States Marine Corps

Marine at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Marines have a high reverence for their history, indoctrinating recruits and continually expanding the topic in the professional education marines attend throughout their careers. The History Division, a subunit of the Training and Education Command, records, archives, researches, analyzes, and presents the history of the Corps.[28]

Several Marine Corps museums have been established, most notably the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Additional Marine history can be found at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, the MCRD San Diego Command Museum, the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum, the Marine Corps Legacy Museum, the Parris Island Museum, the WWII/Korea LVT Museum, and the Waterhouse Museum.

Memorials also serve as a way to preserve history. One of the most iconic memorials is the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, a statue recreated from the iconic photo Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. Other memorials to marines (sometimes including other services) include the two of the many statues named Iron Mike (Belleau, France and Parris Island, South Carolina), the USS Arizona Memorial, Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at the United States Naval Academy, as well as many period specific military memorial around the country where marines participated in fighting, such as the National World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Unofficial traditions and customs

The Corps has many unofficial traditions, promulgated by many marines and some marine-based organizations (such as the Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Association, and Young Marines) or media (such as the Marine Corps Gazette, Leatherneck Magazine, or Marine Corps Times). Each service refers to their servicemembers differently (e.g., Army has soldiers, Navy has sailors, Air Force has airmen, Space Force has guardians). Although "soldiers" (and to a lesser extent, "sailors") are thought to be a catch-all for servicemembers, servicemembers in the Marine Corps are referred to as "marines".[29]

Nicknames

A recruiting poster makes use of the "Teufel Hunden" nickname.

Marines have been given many generic nicknames:

Devil Dog is an oft-disputed term. Most Marines learn that the term comes from "Teufel Hunden", a corrupted version of the German "Teufelshunde" awarded to Marines after the Battle of Belleau Wood. The German high command classified Marines as stormtrooper-quality elite troops.[30] The bulldog has also been closely associated with the Marine Corps as a result, and some units keep one as a mascot.[18] Despite the proud history of the nickname, internally it is often used in a dismissive manner from senior NCOs towards junior Marines during verbal reprimanding or assigning of menial tasks. Generally this takes place in the form of "Hey Devil Dog" followed by the reprimand or menial task. The practice has been so deeply established that the nickname is sometimes perceived as an insult when used within the organization.

Jarhead has several oft-disputed explanations, including how the "high and tight" haircut allows the head to resemble a jar lid, as well as pejoratives about empty heads. However, the term "jarhead" was well established in the 1950s, while the term "high and tight" did not yet exist; marines who chose to trim their hair closely on the sides were said to have "white sidewalls."

Gyrene has dropped out of popular use and is speculated to be a portmanteau of GI and marine.

Leatherneck refers to a stiff leather collar used to protect the neck from slashing blades that was formerly part of the Marine uniform during the Revolutionary War period.

A bulldog mascot

Mottos and battle cries

Oorah is a common battle cry among marines, being similar in function and purpose to the Army, Air Force, and Space Force's hooah and the Navy's hooyah cries (to include an affirmative, a display of enthusiasm, and a greeting). Many possible etymologies have been offered for the term.[31]

Semper Fi, Mac was a common form of greeting in times past.

Gung-ho became a common slogan; from Chinese gōnghé, "China Marines" took it to mean ‘work together’ and used it during World War II.

Improvise, Adapt and Overcome has become an adopted mantra in many units[32]

Semper Gumby is a play on semper flexibilis. Purported to mean "always flexible", the true Latin translation is semper flexibilis;[32] "gumby" is taken from the cartoon character Gumby. Semper Gumby is also popular among Navy personnel.

Veteran marines

The ethos that "Once a marine, Always a marine" has led to the objection to the use of the term "ex-marine", leading to a myriad of forms of address for those no longer on active duty:

"Veteran marine" or "Prior service Marine" can refer to anyone who has been discharged honorably from the Corps.

"Retired marine" refers to those who have completed 20 or more years of service and formally retired or have been medically retired after less than 20 years service.

"Sir" or "Ma'am" is appropriate out of respect.

According to one of the "Commandant's White letters" from General Alfred M. Gray, Jr., referring to a marine by their last earned rank is appropriate.[33]

Marines that have left service with a less than full honorable discharge might still be considered marines (depending on the view of the individual), however that title is also in keeping with a stigma, and many will avoid the issue altogether by addressing the individual by name with no other title.

Physical fitness and martial arts

A marine performs pull-ups

Main articles: United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, Combat Fitness Test, and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

The Marine Corps places a high institutional value on physical readiness, preparing the individual's body for the rigors of combat.[34] Mandatory participation in three hours weekly of physical exercise, termed "Physical Training" or PT, is considered a minimum starting point; further fitness is rewarded by better evaluation scores, which increase promotability, as well as benefits for winning athletic competitions. In addition, height and weight standards and body fat percentage ensure that marines are fit and present a good military appearance. Chronic lack of physical fitness can be grounds for administrative punishment and even discharge in extreme situations. The Physical Fitness Test is performed annually to assess a marine's fitness, and higher scores weigh in his or her favor for promotions.

To encourage physical training, Commandant James T. Conway authorized a new physical training uniform based on a tracksuit and the development of the Combat Fitness Test to better simulate the specific stressors of combat.[35][36]

For decades, marines learned a variety of martial arts and other methods of hand-to-hand combat, but these were irregular processes that varied greatly between units and eras. Eventually, the Corps solidified its various teachings into the LINE combat system, but its inherent inflexibility was evident. In 2001, the Marine Corps initiated a new program, called Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Because of an expectation that urban and police-type peacekeeping missions would become more common in the 21st century, placing marines in even closer contact with unarmed civilians, MCMAP was implemented to provide marines with a larger and more versatile set of less-than-lethal options for controlling hostile but unarmed individuals. It is also a stated aim of the program to instill and maintain the "warrior ethos" within Marines.[7] The Marine Corps Martial Arts program is an eclectic mix of different styles of martial arts melded together and consists of boxing movements, joint locking techniques, opponent weight transfer, ground grappling, bayonet, knife and baton fighting, non-compliance joint manipulations, and blood restriction chokes. Marines begin MCMAP training in boot camp, earning the first of five belts.

Marines in the public eye

The Marine Corps, like any other branch of the military, is most visible by the public through public affairs organizations and several presentation units. Dedication to proficiency in drill is a hallmark of the Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Band, and the Drum and Bugle Corps. In addition, the Corps released periodic recruiting commercials, often about one annually. The traditional tagline for the commercials is "The Few, The Proud, The Marines." While Marines do not have installations across the United States (unlike the Army and Air Force, Marine installations are concentrated in California, North Carolina, and the national capitol region), the direct link for most Americans to the Corps is the Marine recruiter, often recognizable in the Dress Blue uniform.

Marines make popular subjects for works of fiction. The Marine Corps has been depicted on many films, television shows, innumerable books, and even video games. Much of the Marines image is the result of carefully crafted public relations; President Harry S. Truman said the Marines have "a propaganda machine that is almost equal to Stalin's."[37]

Since 2001, Gallup polls have asked "Which of the four major branches of the armed forces are the most prestigious?." Every year of the Gallup poll has shown that the American public regards the Corps as the most prestigious of the four branches of the armed forces of the Department of Defense.[38] However, when ranked by importance, it did not score well until it tied the Army and Air Force in 2004, with the increase being attributed to the Iraq War.[39]

The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) occurred during the German spring offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. 2nd (under the command of Major General Omar Bundy) and 3rd Divisions along with French and British forces against an assortment of German units including elements from the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th Divisions.[2] The battle has become a key component in the lore of the United States Marine Corps.

Background

Main article: German spring offensive

In March 1918, with nearly 50 additional divisions freed by the Russian surrender on the Eastern Front, the German Army launched a series of attacks on the Western Front, hoping to defeat the Allies before U.S. forces could be fully deployed. A third offensive launched in May against the French between Soissons and Reims, known as the Third Battle of the Aisne, saw the Germans reach the north bank of the Marne River at Château-Thierry, 95 kilometres (59 mi) from Paris, on 27 May. On 31 May, the 7th Machine Gun Battalion[3] of the U.S. 3rd Division supported the Senegalese Tirailleurs[3] in holding the German advance at Château-Thierry, in hard house-to-house fighting,[3] and the German advance turned right towards Vaux and Belleau Wood.[4]: 106–107 

On 1 June, Château-Thierry and Vaux fell, and German troops moved into Belleau Wood. The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division—which included a brigade of U.S. Marines—was brought up along the Paris-Metz highway. The 9th Infantry Regiment was placed between the highway and the Marne, while the 6th Marine Regiment was deployed to their left. The 5th Marine and 23rd Infantry regiments were placed in reserve.[4]: 107 

Battle

U.S. Marines in Belleau Wood (1918).

On the evening of 1 June, German forces punched a hole in the French lines to the left of the Marines' position. In response, the U.S. reserve—consisting of the 23rd Infantry Regiment under Colonel Paul B. Malone, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines under Major Julius S. Turrill, and an element of the Marine 6th Machine Gun Battalion—conducted a forced march over 10 km (6.2 mi) to plug the gap in the line, which they achieved by dawn. By the night of 2 June, the U.S. forces held a 20 kilometres (12 mi) front line north of the Paris-Metz Highway running through grain fields and scattered woods, from Triangle Farm west to Lucy and then north to Hill 142. The German line opposite ran from Vaux to Bouresches to Belleau.[4]: 107–108 

Map showing location of the battle of Belleau Wood (U.S. Military Academy)

German advance halted at Belleau Wood

German commanders ordered an advance on Marigny and Lucy through Belleau Wood as part of a major offensive, in which other German troops would cross the Marne River. The commander of the Marine Brigade, Army General James Harbord, countermanding a French order to dig trenches further to the rear, ordered the Marines to "hold where they stand". With bayonets, the Marines dug shallow fighting positions from which they could shoot from the prone position. In the afternoon of 3 June, German infantry attacked the Marine positions through the grain fields with bayonets fixed. The Marines waited until the Germans were within 100 yd (91 m) before opening deadly rifle fire which mowed down waves of German infantry and forced the survivors to retreat into the woods.[4]: 108 

Having suffered heavy casualties, the Germans dug in along a defensive line from Hill 204, just east of Vaux, to Le Thiolet on the Paris-Metz Highway and northward through Belleau Wood to Torcy.[4]: 109  After Marines were repeatedly urged to turn back by retreating French forces[citation needed], Marine Captain Lloyd W. Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines uttered the now-famous retort "Retreat? Hell, we just got here."[5][6] Williams' battalion commander, Major Frederic Wise, later claimed to have said the famous words.[4]: 109 

On 4 June, Major General Bundy—commanding the 2nd Division—took command of the American sector of the front. Over the next two days, the Marines repelled the continuous German assaults. The 167th French Division arrived, giving Bundy a chance to consolidate his 2,000 yards (1,800 m) of front. Bundy's 3rd Brigade held the southern sector of the line, while the Marine brigade held the north of the line from Triangle Farm.[4]: 109 

Attack on Hill 142

At 03:45 on 6 June, the Allies launched an attack on the German forces, who were preparing their own strike. The French 167th Division attacked to the left of the American line, while the Marines attacked Hill 142 to prevent flanking fire against the French. As part of the second phase, the 2nd Division were to capture the ridge overlooking Torcy and Belleau Wood, as well as occupying Belleau Wood. However, the Marines failed to scout the woods. As a consequence, they missed a regiment of German infantry dug in, with a network of machine gun nests and artillery.[4]: 109 

At dawn, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines—commanded by Major Julius S. Turrill—was to attack Hill 142, but only two companies were in position. The Marines advanced in waves with bayonets fixed across an open wheat field that was swept with German machine gun and artillery fire, and many Marines were cut down.[4]: 110 [7] Captain Crowther commanding the 67th Company was killed almost immediately. Captain Hamilton and the 49th Company fought from wood to wood, fighting the entrenched Germans and overrunning their objective by 6 yards (5.5 m). At this point, Hamilton had lost all five junior officers, while the 67th had only one commissioned officer alive. Hamilton reorganized the two companies, establishing strong points and a defensive line.[4]: 110–111 

In the German counter-attack, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson—who was serving under the name Charles Hoffman—repelled an advance of 12 German soldiers, killing two with his bayonet before the others fled; for this action he became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in World War I. Also cited for advancing through enemy fire during the counter-attack was Marine Gunner Henry Hulbert who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.[4]: 111 

Painting of marines in a field

Painting by Frank Schoonover "Wheat Field" charge of 6th Marines—around Belleau Wood—to town of Bouresches. 250 started 19 finished

The rest of the battalion now arrived and went into action. Turrill's flanks lay unprotected, and the Marines were rapidly exhausting their ammunition. By the afternoon, however, the Marines had captured Hill 142, at a cost of nine officers and most of the 325 men of the battalion.[4]: 111 

Marines attack Belleau Wood

On the night of 4 June, the intelligence officer for the 6th Marines, Lieutenant William A. Eddy, and two men stole through German lines to gather information about German forces. They gathered valuable information showing the Germans were consolidating machine gun positions and bringing in artillery. While this activity indicated an attack was not immediately likely, their increasing strength was creating a base of attack that raised concern about them breaking through to Paris.[8]

At 17:00 on 6 June, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5)—commanded by Major Benjamin S. Berry—and the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines (3/6)—commanded by Major Berton W. Sibley, on their right—advanced from the west into Belleau Wood as part of the second phase of the Allied offensive. Again, the Marines had to advance through a waist-high wheat field into machine gun fire. One of the most famous quotations in Marine Corps history came during the initial step-off for the battle when First Sergeant Dan Daly, a recipient of two Medals of Honor who had served in the Philippines, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Peking, and Vera Cruz, prompted his men of the 73rd Machine Gun Company forward with the words: "Come on, you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever?"[4]: 99–100 

The first waves of Marines—advancing in well-disciplined lines—were slaughtered; Major Berry was wounded in the forearm during the advance. On his right, the Marines of Major Sibley's 3/6 Battalion swept into the southern end of Belleau Wood and encountered heavy machine gun fire, sharpshooters, and barbed wire. Marines and German infantrymen were soon engaged in hand-to-hand fighting. The casualties sustained on this day were the highest in Marine Corps history up to that time.[7] Some 31 officers and 1,056 men of the Marine brigade were casualties. However, the Marines now had a foothold in Belleau Wood.[4]: 102 

Fighting in Belleau Wood

Map showing location of Marine push to secure Belleau Wood, 25 June 1918

Location of U.S. Marine forces in Belleau Wood and surrounding areas, 6 June 1918.

The battle was now deadlocked. At midnight on 7–8 June, a German attack was stopped cold and an American counter-attack in the morning of 8 June was similarly defeated. Sibley's battalion—having sustained nearly 400 casualties—was relieved by the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. Major Shearer took over the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines for the wounded Berry.[4]: 112  On 9 June, an enormous American and French barrage devastated Belleau Wood, turning the formerly attractive hunting preserve into a jungle of shattered trees. The Germans counter-fired into Lucy and Bouresches and reorganized their defenses inside Belleau Wood.[4]: 112 

In the morning of 10 June, Major Hughes' 1st Battalion, 6th Marines—together with elements of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion—attacked north into the wood. Although this attack initially seemed to be succeeding, it was also stopped by machine gun fire. The commander of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion—Major Cole—was mortally wounded. Captain Harlan Major—senior captain present with the battalion—took command. The Germans used great quantities of mustard gas.[9]: 17  Next, Wise's 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines was ordered to attack the woods from the west, while Hughes continued his advance from the south.[4]: 112–113 

At 04:00 on 11 June, Wise's men advanced through a thick morning mist towards Belleau Wood, supported by the 23rd and 77th companies of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, and elements of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Engineers[9]: 17  and were cut to pieces by heavy fire. Platoons were isolated and destroyed by interlocked machine gun fire. It was discovered that the battalion had advanced in the wrong direction. Rather than moving northeast, they had moved directly across the wood's narrow waist. However, they smashed the German southern defensive lines. A German private, whose company had 30 men left out of 120, wrote "We have Americans opposite us who are terribly reckless fellows."[4]: 113 

Overall, the woods were attacked by the Marines a total of six times before they could successfully expel the Germans. They fought off parts of five divisions of Germans, often reduced to using only their bayonets or fists in hand-to-hand combat.

On 26 June, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, under command of Major Maurice E. Shearer, supported by two companies of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion and the 15th Company of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, made an attack on Belleau Wood, which finally cleared that forest of Germans.[9] On that day, Major Shearer submitted a report simply stating, "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely",[10]: 3  ending one of the bloodiest and most ferocious battles U.S. forces would fight in the war.

Aftermath

Main article: Devil Dog

A recruiting poster by Charles B. Falls makes use of the "Teufel Hunden" (Devil Dog) nickname

United States forces suffered 9,777 casualties, included 1,811 killed.[1]: 32  Many are buried in the nearby Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. There is no clear information on the number of German soldiers killed, although 1,600 were taken prisoner.[11]

The Bulldog fountain

Shell-torn trees in Belleau Wood following the nearly month-long battle.

After the battle, the French renamed the wood Bois de la Brigade de Marine ('Wood of the Marine Brigade') in honor of the Marines' tenacity. The French government also later awarded the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments and the 6th Machine Gun Battalion the Croix de guerre. An official German report classified the Marines as "vigorous, self-confident, and remarkable marksmen ..."[10]: 4  General Pershing—commander of the AEF—said, "The deadliest weapon in the world is a United States Marine and his rifle."[12] Pershing also said "the Battle of Belleau Wood was for the U.S. the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy."[10]: 4 

Legend and lore has it that the Germans used the term Teufelshunde ('devil dogs') for the Marines. However, this has not been confirmed, as the term was not commonly known in contemporary German. The closest common German term would be Höllenhunde which means 'hellhound'. Regardless of the term's origin, ten years after the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Ernst Otto, from the Historical Section of the German Army, wrote of the Marine Corps: "Their fiery advance and great tenacity were well recognized by their opponents."[13]

Legacy

Marines actively serving in the Fifth and Sixth Marine regiments were authorized to wear the French fourragère on the left shoulder of their uniform to recognize the legacy and valor of their regimental predecessors.[14]

In June 1923, the Marine Band performed a new march called "Belleau Wood" for the first time during the annual Belleau Wood anniversary celebration. Composed by then Second Leader Taylor Branson, who would later lead the Marine Band from 1927 to 1940, it was dedicated to Army Major General James. G. Harbord, who commanded the Marines during the battle.[15]

In July 1923, Belleau Wood was dedicated as an American battle monument. Major General Harbord was made an honorary Marine and attended the event. In his address, he summed up the future of the site:

U.S. Marines and French soldiers at the 92nd anniversary memorial service of the battle

Now and then, a veteran, for the brief span that we still survive, will come here to live again the brave days of that distant June. Here will be raised the altars of patriotism; here will be renewed the vows of sacrifice and consecration to country. Hither will come our countrymen in hours of depression, and even of failure, and take new courage from this shrine of great deeds.[5][16]

White crosses and Stars of David mark 2,289 graves, 250 for unknown service members, and the names of 1,060 missing men adorn the wall of a memorial chapel. Visitors also stop at the nearby German cemetery where 8,625 men are buried; 4,321 of them—3,847 unknown—rest in a common grave. The German cemetery was established in March 1922, consolidating a number of temporary sites, and includes men killed between the Aisne and the Marne in 1918, along with 70 men who died in 1914 in the First Battle of the Marne.[5][17]

German Cemetery in Beaulieu-Ecuvilly

On 18 November 1955, a black marble monolith with a bronze relief of a fighting Marine was dedicated at a road clearing near the site of the battle. Simply entitled The Marine Memorial, it was sculpted by Felix de Weldon, the artist who had also formed the Marine Corps War Memorial outside of Washington, D.C. The memorial honors the 4th Marine Brigade for their bravery here in June 1918, and is the only memorial in Europe dedicated solely to the United States Marines. Below the statue is a commemorative plaque with a large Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. The plaque includes a brief history of the battle, with text in both English and French. Officiating at the monument's dedication ceremony was then Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., who had fought and was twice wounded at Belleau Wood, and later awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross for his gallantry in action, 37 years earlier.[18][19]

In New York City, a 0.197-acre (800 m2) triangle at the intersection of 108 Street and 51st Avenue in Queens is dedicated to Marine Private William F. Moore, 47th Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.[20]

In Boston, a square at the intersection of E Street and 6th Avenue in South Boston is dedicated to Marine Private Thomas Henry Joyce, 47th Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Joyce was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre with bronze star for his actions at Belleau Wood: "A most audacious liaison agent. Killed on the night of June 24, 1918, after having on five successive occasions carried messages to the company post of command under violent fire of machine guns and artillery."

Two U.S. Navy vessels have been named for the battle. The first USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) was a light aircraft carrier active during World War II in the Pacific Theater, from 1943 to 1945. From 1953 to 1960, she was loaned to the French Navy under the name Bois Belleau and served in the First Indochina and Algerian Wars. The second USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) was active from 1977 to 2005.

A shortened version of Lloyd Williams' famous quote is the basis for the motto the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, his unit during the battle. Williams himself has been honored with a building on the campus of his alma mater Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University named in remembrance of him.[6]

In April 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron presented to the United States a sessile oak sapling from Belleau Wood as part of his state visit.[21]

BRIEF HISTORY OF U.S. MARINE CORPS ACTION IN EUROPE DURING WORLD WAR I

The achievements of the 4th Brigade on the battlefields of Europe, as one of the two infantry brigades of the Second Division, US Army, comprised the major effort of the Marine Corps in Europe during World War I. The 5th Regiment had landed in France with the first expedition of American troops in June 1917, and by February 1918, with the arrival of the 6th Regiment and 6th Machine Gun Battalion, the 4th Brigade was brought up to full strength.

On 14 March 1918, the 4th Brigade commenced movement into subsectors of the Verdun front, the first units entering the front line during the night of 16-17 March. The Marines remained on this relatively quiet front until 14 May, when the 4th Brigade relocated to the vicinity of Chaumont en Vixen, where intensive training was undertaken in anticipation of being assigned to an active front. It was here that the Marines received sudden orders to move to the Chateau-Thierry sector.

In late May 1918, the Germans launched their third offensive, crossed the Chemin-des-Dames, captured Soissons, and on the last day of May, were advancing down the Marne Valley in the direction of Paris. The startling success of this German attack caused the Allies to throw the Second Division, including the 4th Brigade, into the front lines, blocking the German advance in the Chateau-Thierry sector.

The fighting in this sector was divided into two parts, one a stubborn defensive action lasting a week, and the other a vicious offensive. The end of the Aisne defensive operation (31 May – 5 June) found the front line well established at that point of the Marne salient nearest to Paris. On 6 June the Allies took the initiative away from the Germans and started an offensive that did not end until 1 July.

On the first day of the attack, the 4th Brigade captured Hill 142 and Bouresches in bitter fighting. By 26 June, the Marines had finished clearing the Germans out of Bois de Belleau (Belleau Wood). During these 31 days of constant fighting, the Marines suffered 9,063 casualties, 1,062 battle deaths and 7,253 wounded. The French Army in appreciation of the valor of the 4th Brigade, officially renamed Belleau Wood as the “Bois de la Brigade de Marine.”  After being relieved during the night of 5-6 July, the Marine Brigade moved to an area in the rear of the front lines and occupied the Line of Defense, or Army Line, with headquarters at Nanteuil-sur-Marne. It remained until 16 July.

On 17 July 1918, the Marines along with other Allied units, were hurriedly and secretly led on forced night marches over jammed roads, through rain and mud, to a point near Soissons. Early on the morning of 18 July, the 5th Marine Regiment, in coordination with other Allied units, began a major offensive. Sweeping the Germans through the woods before them, the Marines soon captured Translon and Verte Feuille Farms, halting their onward rush only after the enemy managed to reinforce their defense line running south through Vierzy.

The attack had succeeded so well that another advance was ordered the same afternoon. When the advancing Marines finally stopped for the night, the front lines had pushed to nearly a mile east of Vierzy. By this time, the 5th Regiment was so completely exhausted that it could make no further effort.  The 6th Regiment, from its initial position in reserve, had moved to the front. When a continuation of the attack was made on 19 July, the 6th Regiment moved out in attack on a front of about 2,500 yards, with the first battalion leading on the right, the second on the left, and the third in support. The objective was still the same, the Soissons-Chateau-Thierry road, and the Germans were making every effort to strengthen the line to stop the Allies’ advance before it reached this strategic position.

The Marines, with insufficient artillery support, advanced across the level ground without any concealment and in perfect view of the enemy. The German artillery, with ample air observation, promptly put down a destructive fire upon the advancing Marines, which, together with machine gun fire, virtually slaughtered the ranks of the leading battalions. The enemy’s strongly organized position in Tigny soon stopped the advance of the first battalion. The second battalion managed to reach the shelter of the woods about five hundred yards west of Villemontoire.

The losses to the original front line battalions averaged more than 50 percent. Since it was hopeless for the decimated regiment to attempt further advance without reinforcements, the Marines were ordered to dig in during the early afternoon. That night, the entire 4th Marine Brigade was relieved from their positions on the front lines.

Remaining in a reserve position until 22 July, the 4th Brigade, after final relief from this active sector, billeted in an area around Nateuil-le-Haudouin. It remained there until 31 July.

On 5 August, the Marine Brigade began movement for the occupation of the Marbache subsector, near Pont-a-Mousson, on the Moselle River. The movement was completed on 8 August. The sector was quiet and the Marines’ stay on the front line was uneventful except for an enemy raid which was successfully repulsed.  The relief of the Marines from the Marbache sector was completed on 18 August, and the brigade moved to an area about 20 kilometers southeast of Toul, where intensive training for the impending St. Mihiel offensive took place. Starting the night of 2 September, the brigade relocated itself outside of Manonville in a series of night marches.

During the period 12-16 September, the Marines were engaged in the St. Mihiel offensive in the vicinity of Remenauville, Thiaucourt, Zammes, and Jaulny. On the evening of the 13th, the Marine Brigade took over the entire front line of the advance. During the rest of the operation, the task of the Marines was to drive back the German outposts in front of the St. Mihiel position. Marine losses in this offensive totaled 132 killed and 574 wounded.

In September, the brigade moved to an area south of Toul, with headquarters at Chaudenay. It remained in this area until 25 September, when it moved by rail to an area south of Chalons-sur-Marne, with headquarters at Barry.

At the urgent request of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, the Second Division, including the 4th Brigade, was now temporarily placed at the disposal of the Fourth French Army to assist in breaking through the powerful German defenses. On 28 September, the 4th Brigade moved by bus and foot to the Souain-Suippes area. The general plan provided for an attack by the whole French Army between the Argonne and the Suippes River. On 1 October, the Marines, along with the rest of the Second Division, marched to the front line near Somme-Py and relieved elements of a French Division.

The Second Division had been given a front of more than three miles on which to attack early on the morning of 3 October. It put both of its infantry brigades on the line, with the 4th Brigade on the left, with sectors covering Blanc Mont Ridge. The 6th Regiment led the advance for the brigade in a column of battalions on a front of approximately one mile. The 2d Battalion led the assault with the 1st and 3d Battalions following. During the attack, the 1st Battalion had to assault a strongly organized German machine gun nest, called the “Essen Hook,” in the French sector, which the Marines captured and turned over to the French.

On 4 October the 5th Regiment passed through the 6th Regiment to continue the attack. The advancing Marines were subjected to extremely severe casualties as a result of flanking machine gun and harassing artillery fire; over 1,100 Marines were casualties that day. Early the next morning, the 6th Regiment passed through the lines held by the 5th Regiment and continued the attack. Finally, on the morning of the 6th, the 1st Battalion, 6th Regiment captured the ridge.

By this time, the Second Division had again expended its utmost effort and was overdue for relief, but the 1st Battalion, 6th Regiment was now assigned the task of capturing St. Etienne. On 8 October, its 76th Company succeeded in taking the town, and despite reduced numbers, managed to hold this advanced position during a German counterattack that night. The relief of Marine units on the Champagne sector was finally completed on 10 October. During the week of almost continuous combat in this sector, the Marine Brigade suffered 494 killed and 1,864 wounded.

After a brief period of rest, the 4th Brigade, again as part of the Second Division, moved into the front lines just south of Landres-et-St. George on the night of 30-31 October, to participate in the immense Meuse-Argonne offensive, which had started on 26 September. Early on the morning of 1 November, the Brigade, following a terrific artillery barrage, began an assault for its final operation of the war. At the conclusion of hostilities at 1100 hours on the morning on 11 November 1918, Marines were firmly established on the heights of the far bank of the Meuse River, after an advance of 30 kilometers.

After the formal signing of the Armistice, the Marines participated in the march to the Rhine, where they became part of the Army of German Occupation. Their stay on the Rhine was uneventful, except for an incident in June 1919. At this time, serious friction in the Peace Conference resulted in the Marines, along with other units of the Second Division, advancing two days march to the east. They were soon withdrawn, however, to their former positions along the Rhine after final agreement with the German delegates was made. The Marines began their return to the States in the middle of June 1919, arriving home in August.

The 5th Marine Brigade, organized at Quantico in September of 1918 and consisting of the 11th and 13th Regiments and the 5th Machine Gun Battalion, also served in France, but did not engage in combat. The 13th Regiment arrived at Brest, France, on 25 September 1918; all units of the 11th Regiment were in France by 25 October, and the 5th Machine Gun Battalion arrived at Brest on 9 November.

Upon arrival in France, the 5th Marine Brigade was assigned to the Service of Supply, which was in need of dependable troops for guard duty. The 13th Regiment soon found itself scattered, and doing guard duty along with the western coast of France, while the 11th Regiment was stationed in the general area of Tours. There it performed similar duties, such as guarding the aviation training center at Issouden, and furnishing some companies for military police duty. The brigade machine gun battalion was stationed at Camp Pontanezan, Brest. The units of the 5th Marine Brigade continued to perform these general duties until July 1919, when they assembled at Brest and returned to the United States early in August.

Although the battle record of the 4th Brigade, as part of the Second Division, overshadowed all other activities of Marine Corps personnel in Europe during World War I, officers and men of the Marine Corps participated in the conflict in other ways. Marine detachments served on all battleships and cruisers operating in the European theater. In addition, from early August 1918 to the date of demobilization, the Commanding General of the Second Division and several officers on his staff were Marines. At various times, Marine officers were attached to the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Twenty-Sixth, Thirty-second, Thirty-fifth, Ninetieth, and Ninety-second Divisions, and in some cases engaged in operations with them.

Marine aviation personnel also served in France as the Day Wing of the Northern Bombing Group of the Navy. The Day Wing carried out 14 independent raids far behind the enemy lines, and brought back valuable information. A few Marine officers and enlisted men engaged in Army aviation operations, and about 20 Marine officers were sent to France as observers, and participated in operations with American, French, and British forces. While in Europe, the Marine fliers served with Squadrons 217 and 218 (bombing squadrons), Royal Air Force of England..

On “land, air, and sea,” the American people could be justifiably proud of the performance of their Marine Corps in World War I.

The Marine Corps Emblem: Elements and Meaning

by jeremiah

Marine Corps EmblemFor Marines, the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor is a hallowed symbol. It’s a badge of honor. Marines wear the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor on their uniforms; it’s a central part of the Marine Corps flag; and many Marines get it tattooed on their body. Earning the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor is what makes a Marine…a Marine.

 

New Marine receives the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor

New Marine receives the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor

The Eagle, Globe, & Anchor consists of three parts. The top part is the Eagle.

USMC Enlisted Emblem

USMC Enlisted Emblem

The eagle signifies the Marines’ commitment to support and defend the Constitution. It also represents the fact that we fight ‘in the air.’ Our aviation heroes include such figures as the Honorable John H. Glenn, Jr (Marine fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut, and U.S. Senator).

Honorable John H. Glenn, Jr

Honorable John H. Glenn, Jr.

The Eagle carries a banner in his beak, which is embroidered with our motto, Semper Fidelis. On the Marine Corps flag, there is another banner underneath the whole emblem that says, ‘United States Marine Corps.’

United States Marine Corps

The central part is the Globe. It depicts the Western hemisphere, because that’s where the bulk of the Corps’ action took place in its early history. The Globe also represents our global reach. If you pay close attention to the Marine Corps flag, you’ll notice that the Globe consists of two colors, and shows some lines of latitude.

USMC Officer Emblem

USMC Officer Emblem

Behind the Globe is the Anchor, which stands for our ties to the U.S. Navy. Since the earliest days, the Marines have worked with the Navy to be an amphibious fighting organization, able to project force ashore. The Anchor is ‘fouled,’ meaning it has rope (or line) wrapped around it. The Anchor’s fouling does not have a ‘bitter end,’ or a loose end; it is essentially perpetual. This shows that we aren’t going to disappear anytime soon; our time as a fighting force won’t come to an end.

"The raising of that flag on Mt. Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years." - James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, 1945

“The raising of that flag on Mt. Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.” – James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, 1945

Whether in a full color tattoo, on a t-shirt, on a Marine’s uniform, on a bumper sticker, or on any of the Marine Corps flags that fly across the globe, the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor is an important symbol of the Marine Corps’ culture and history.