USMC Believe It Or Not
A Sampler of Marine Recruiting
Slogans Since 1775
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First to Fight
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A Few Good Men
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Tell it to the Marines
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Let's go, U.S. Marines
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An Opportunity to see the world
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The, Few, The Proud, The Marines
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We didn't promise you a rose garden.
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If you want to fight, Join the Marines
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The Marines are looking for a few good men.
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No One Likes to Fight, But Someone Should Know How.
Marine Corps Motto's
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To the Shores of Tripoli (1805)
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Fortitude (1812)
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From the Halls of Montezuma to the
Shores of Tripoli (1848)
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By Sea and by Land (1850's)
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Semper Fidelis (1883)
Formal Colors of the USMC
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Scarlet
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Gold
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Forest Green
Official Marine Music
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The Marine Hymn (official song)
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Semper Fidelis (official march)
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The Marine Version of The Navy
Hymn (official hymn)
Uniform Colors of the USMC
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1775 Green with white or buff facings
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1779 Green with red facings
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1798 Blue with scarlet facings
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1833 Green with white facings
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1840 Blue with scarlet trim,in force
from 4 July 1840
Unusual Customs and Traditions of
the Marine Corps
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Marines take the right of the line
or head of the column when in formation with elements of the other sea
services (i.e., the Navy and the Coast Guard, not to mention NOAA).
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All Marine posts have a bell, usually
from a decommissioned ship of the Navy.
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In the US Navy, when "Abandon Ship"
is ordered, the last person to leave the vessel before the captain is his
Marines orderly.
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On a warship Marines do not man
the rail.
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Whatever the regulations say, Marines
do not use umbrellas.
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The Marine Hymn is the oldest official
anthem of any U.S. military service.
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The Marines always stand at attention
during the playing of the Marine Hymn.
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The Marine Corps March, "Semper
Fidelis" by J.P. Sousa, is the only march authorized by Congress for a
particular service.
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The "Mameluke" Sword, first adopted
in 1826, is the weapon with the longest continual service in the U.S. Armed
Forces.
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In the Marines, the phrase "I wish..."
or "I desire..." uttered by a senior is considered an order.
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The crowns of Marine officer's service
caps are decorated with an embroidered quatre foil, a heritage of the days
when such designs helped Marines in the rigging identify their officers
on deck below.
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Since 1850 Marine NCOs are
the only NCOs in the U.S. Armed Forces to have the privilege of carrying
swords on ceremonial occasions, a weapon of a pattern that makes it the
second oldest weapon.
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Officers and NCOs of the Marine
Corps wear scarlet piping on their trousers, said to honor the blood shed
by the Marines who stormed Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City on 13 September
1847, and traditionally called the "Blood Stripe".
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In combat Marines never leave behind
wounded comrades, and attempt to recover their dead as well.
Three Traditional Names for the
Marine Bulldog
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"Sergeant Jiggs", used between WWI
and the 30's
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"Smedley", used for the Corps' bulldog
from the 30's to the 50's
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"Chesty", used for the Corps' bulldog
from the 50's to the present
One Famous Marine Duck
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"Siwash" accompanied the 2nd Marine
Division into action on Tarawa,Saipan and Tinian, after which , she in
the meantime becoming a mother was sent home to the US.
A Notable Comment about the 1st
Marine Division
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"The 1st Marine Division is the
most efficient and courageous combat unit I have ever seen or heard of",
MG Frank E. Lowe , US Army , 1950
Daily Ration Allowance in 1775,
Continental Marines
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1 pd bread
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1 pd meat
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1 pd potatoes or turnips, or .5
pd pease
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.5 pt rum
Unusual Honors of the Marine Band
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The Marine Band is the oldest musical
organization in the United States.
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Since 1869, the Marine Band has
serenaded the CMC at his quarters on the morning of 1 January, after which
they are invited in for hot buttered rum and breakfast.
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The Marine Band has played at every
Presidential Inauguration since 1801, and is known as " The President's
Own."
More To Come!
All of this information has been brought to
you by " The Marine Corps Book of Lists". This book is now on sale . The
ISBN # is 0-938289-89-6 and may be ordered online at "Barnes
and Noble" .Drop in often for some more updates on the book and this
section! Any questions or comments should be directed to
MCL969
Semper Fi!
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