Celebrating the 242nd Marine Corps Birthday

All hail Chesty, hallowed be thy name. Thy ammo come, thy talking guns shall run. To his disciple John Basilone (the disciple that he loved), verily he sayeth unto him that stacked bodies high. "Well done my good and faithful servant." Under the guidance of the disciple Basilone, the grass was made to groweth green and tall on the island of Guadalcanal.Today we celebrate the 242nd birthday of the United States Marine Corps. On November 10th, 1775 on orders from the 2nd Continental Congress in Tun Tavern in Philadelphia the following transpired."That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of privates as with other battalions, that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to offices, or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies; unless dismissed by Congress; that they be distinguished by the names of the First and Second Battalions of Marines."Under the command of Samuel Nichols the first Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Marines carved out a place for themselves in the history books. During the Revolutionary War, they seized British naval stores and ships in the Caribbean and assisted in the battle of Princeton.

Moving on from the Revolutionary War, the Marines went on to score another victory. This time it was against the Barbary Pirates in 1805 on the shores of Tripoli. From this victory, Presley O'Bannon was awarded the sword that would become part of the official officer uniform in 1825.Ever since its inception, the United States Marine Corps has been among the most (if not THE most), feared fighting force in all of history. With the ferocity of a rabid animal and a devotion to the brotherhood that is the Marine Corps, they have defended each other and this great land with honor and dignity for the last 242 years. If there is any branch that in and of itself embodies and demands that its members embody the "Warrior Ethos", it is the United States Marine Corps. Semper Fidelis and happy 242nd birthday Marines. KILL!