Happy Belated Birthday, US Marine Corps, etc.!

Greetings!:

In the name of the House of Old-School, I extend my heartiest belated congratulations and best wishes to the United States Marine Corps on its 231st birthday!
 I would have written this sooner, but was busy attending events related to this over the just-concluded weekend, including the dedication of the new National
Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, of which hopefully more later.

As I wrote in my post saluting the Navy's birthday, the Continental Congress initially established a navy when General Washington arranged for the acquisition
of a few ships.  Further, on 10 November, 1775, they authorized the establishment of two battalions of Marines.  During the Revolution, these Marines supported
naval operations as well as fought on land.  As had been done with the Continental Navy, these battalions were disbanded after the Revolutionary War ended
in 1783.  Then, on 11 July, 1798, the same day on which the Marine Band, discussed in my post of that day in this year, was established, the US Congress
established the United States Marine Corps!  During the years prior to the War of 1812, Marines served in several places, notably against the Barbary Pirates
along the "shores of Tripoli" later to be immortalized in the "Marines' Hymn."  During that second war with England begun in 1812, Marines continued to
assist in Naval operations, one notable land engagement being assisting in the defense of our then-rather-new Nation's Capital by engaging at nearby Bladensburg,
Maryland.  They further notably fought with General Jackson in the famous Battle of New Orleans.  The Corps would see further action between then and the
War Between theStates, that other reference in the "Marines' Hymn" being from the Mexican War, in which Marines fought into Mexico City where were "the
halls of Montezuma."  Marines continued to work with the Navy during the Civil War, but used their infantry skills in a number of land battles as well.
 Throughout the remainder of the 19th Century and up to the First World War, the Corps was called upon to serve in various foreign locales, notably those
near seacoasts as one might expect.  Then, near the end of what was supposed to have been "the war to end all wars," Marines showed particular bravery
in a battle of which I did not yet know or had forgotten about, Belleau Wood, along with certain others throughout 1918 prior to the Armistice.  Marine
Aviation began initially in 1912, and the amphibious capabilities for which the Corps is now so well known were developed between the two World Wars.
As is also well known, Marines fought prominently in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, their two most famous engagements probably being Guadalcanal
and, of course, Iwo Jima, where a contingent of Marines raised American flags on Mt. Seribachi.  The raising of the second, larger flag was famously photographed,
and this, at least one of the widest-circulated photographs in history, formed the basis of the design of both the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington,
Virginia, where a ceremony takes place each Marine Corps Birthday and which I have attended numerous times, and the afore-mentioned new National Museum
of the Marine Corps, which opened to the public on 13 November, 2006, the day on which I am now writing.  By the bye, the photographer who took that photograph,
one Mr. Joseph Rosenthal, made an Honourary Marine some years ago, died just recently.  Something which interested me when I read it was that the Corps'
strength jumped from between 100,000 and 200,000 to just under 500,000 at the peak of the War.  I was told today that it is currently at about 181,000,
though it would probably be at least desirable to increase it to around 200,000.  Following World War II, the Corps began to develop another capability
for which it is justly famous, the use of helicopters.  Marines would again figure prominently in the next two wars, Korea and Vietnam.  Both had their
frustrations, especially the latter, though Marines would fight valiantly as per their tough nature.  The last Marine ground forces were pulled out of
Vietnam in 1971, though other Marines would help embassy personnel and others to leave Saigon and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 1975.  A major activity in the
late 1970's was development of the Rapid Deployment Force, a multi-service unit designed to help do just that, _MOST_ important, it would seem, in our
time!  It further seems that there is now more inter-service co-operation than at any previous point in our history.  The 20th Century, for the Corps and
other service branches, would close with engagements such as in Beirut, Grenada and, of course, the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield and certainly
one of the swiftest wars in our history, Operation Desert Storm.  Humanitarian aid was also offered at home, the latest major manifestation of this being
from last year's two major hurricanes.  9-11-2001 brought the beginning of the current Global War On Terror, and while there is much controversy surrounding
the present war in Iraq, and while our tactical approach _MAY_ require some re-assessment, I for one hope that we will _NOT_ leave there in humiliation!

As has been my custom over recent service birthday posts, I would like to offer a birthday message for the Marine Corps, belated on two accounts.  The first
of these, as already related, is that the birthday itself, 10 November, was this past Friday, and I was out attending events related to it and Veterans
Day over the weekend (I was home yesterday, but doing other things).  But the latter is that the man who wrote the below, General Michael W. Hagee, passed
command of the Corps to its new Commandant, General James T. Conway, in a ceremony held on the parade deck at Marine Barracks Washington at mid-day to-day,
a ceremony which I was also privileged to attend.  So here is one of outgoing Commandant Hagee's last acts in that position:

Daily Media Report

10 NOVEMBER 2006

A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS

On November 10th, 1775, our Corps was born as the Continental Congress raised the “first and second battalions of American Marines.” Each year as we celebrate
our birthday, we pause to reflect on the Marines of yesteryear who fought in our touchstone battles and forged the modern Marine Corps with their courage,
integrity, and undying commitment to their fellow Marines. Each of our storied battles is a link in the long chain that binds all Marines together – from
the Continental Marines at Bunker Hill to the Teufelhunden crossing the wheat fields of Belleau Wood. This chain binds us to the Marines on the crest of
Mount Suribachi; it passes through the ice and snow of the Chosin Reservoir and the steaming jungles of Vietnam, and it anchors firmly today in the desert
sands of Iraq.

This year’s celebration again finds many from ranks serving with distinction in harm’s way. As we have for the past 231 years, our Corps is answering the
Nation’s call. I can report first hand that our Marines fighting on the front lines of the Long War on Terror are performing brilliantly, acquitting themselves
with honor, dedication, and dignity in difficult and dangerous environments.

All Marines are making a difference. Regardless of where you are serving, you are adding new chapters to the legacy that was earned with sweat and blood
on old battlefields. Just as previous generations of Marines shaped today’s Marine Corps, your deeds are molding the Corps of tomorrow. Our Corps has never
been stronger, and all Americans are extremely proud of your magnificent performance and unwavering commitment to serve our Corps and country. With high
caliber Marines like you, our future has never been brighter.

Another irreplaceable element of our success as Marines is the terrific support we receive from our families. Through the long hours, the exercises, and
the combat deployments, their support is unconditional and firm. They give us love and devotion, providing us with the strength to drive on when duty calls.
Today we should all acknowledge our loved ones for their patient, steadfast service.

To all who have earned the title Marine, to the superb Sailors who serve with us in every clime and place, and to our precious families – I wish each of
you a heartfelt Happy 231st Birthday.

I _VERY_ much thank Captain Manuel Delarosa of the Marine Corps Public Affairs Office for providing me with the above birthday greeting from Former Commandant
Hagee, and am additionally _MOST_ indebted to the Website of the Marine Corps History and Museums Division, hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Home_Page.htm, for
the historical information given prior to that message.  As you saw, only highlights were sketchily given, so my visitors are _STRONGLY_ recommended, if
this subject interests them, to visit that Site where, among numerous other things, they may read the birthday message of the legendary Commandant, General
Lejeune, which established the current custom of observing 10 November as the Corps' official birthday, as well as about customs related to the observance
thereof over the years.  I further thank the Department of Defense Website,
www.dod.mil,
for admittedly refreshing me on the new Commandant's name and another name to follow soon.

That other name is of the late Corporal Jason Dunham, who lost his life in Iraq recently as the result of falling on a grenade to save the lives of his
fellow-Marines.  At the dedication of the Museum this past Friday, the President informed us that Corporal Dunham would be the second Medal of Honour winner
to come out of the current Iraq War, _EMINENTLY_ deserved as far as I am concerned!!!  Another highlight for me from that ceremony was the speech given
by Dr. Jim Lehrer from PBS and a Former Marine.  He told us that, at his first drill session, the Drill Instructor mispronounced his name.  Recruit Lehrer
impulsively, yet seemingly respectfully, corrected him, whereupon the Instructor came, got in his face, and told him that if he said that his name was
Little Bo Peep, then Little Bo Peep was his name!  He _NEVER_ forgot it, and, in the tradition of the Corps, "once a Marine, always a Marine," he has been
a loyal Marine ever since, bringing this fact into his equally-_SUPERB_, again in my opinion, address he gave at Harvard's Commencement/Alumni Meeting
this past June!  As for the Museum itself, which I was privileged to tour the following day, much of it is visual, and thus I cannot comment as fully as
I would wish.  Yet I _CAN_ tell you that at least two of its exhibits are simulators, the first being a booth in which one simulates being yelled at by,
yes, a Drill Instructor, the other being landing under fire in a Vietnam-Era helicopter and then quickly deploying onto rough terrain to serve in what
I recall being a sort of suicide mission.  Those who _CAN_ see the structure tell me that it is _INDEED_ beautiful/impressive!  After the 3:00 p.m. Museum
tour, we went outside to what is called Semper Fidelis Memorial Park (as many of you hopefully know, the Corps' motto is "semper Fidelis," Latin for "always
Faithful") for its initial dedication.  When fully developed, it will be more fully landscaped, and one of its features will be a hill representing the
hill which a Marine Recruit must climb in order to, at its top, receive the Eagle, Globe and Anchor of a United States Marine.  If I am not mistaken, a
chapel is planned for the top of that hill.  There are, or again eventually will be if all goes well, memorial bricks for which the Marine Corps Heritage
Foundation, which operates the Museum and Park, raised private funds.  I would like to eventually return to Quantico to visit the Marine Corps University,
etc.  Despite much requiring vision, these events, along with the annual ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial and today's Passing-Of-Command Ceremony,
were _MOST_ meaningful for me!  By the bye, having mentioned that, of course, Naval and other Officers have served as astronauts, it was good that one
of their pioneers and a Former Marine, Senator John Glenn, was at least in attendance at the Museum Dedication!

The man who conducted me on the tour of the Museum, one Sergeant Jones, told me that new amphibious landing craft are being developed for the Corps, and
he showed me a new tractor-like vehicle which can take men and materials unloaded from a ship somewhat farther inland than previous amphibious landing
craft might have allowed.  These, along with presumably other technological advances, should keep the Corps in good stead in the coming days and years
along with hopefully the best men and women that can be mustered!

Once again I extend my best wishes and congratulations to the Corps on yet another meaningful birthday, and conclude this series of birthday tributes to
all five branches of our Armed Forces by thanking _ALL_ our Veterans, both past and present, for the loyal and dedicated service they have provided, this
past Saturday having been, as we all know, Veterans Day.  _SEMPER_ _FI_, Marines, and the _VERY_ best to the rest!!!

Gratefully and joyfully submitted,

J. V.