When an ad from 1779 mentioned that "a few good men" were needed to enlist in the Marine Corps, it started a proud tradition that has carried on to this day.
Those "few" now include both men and women, but they still have a lot of proud traditions. Here are 10 interesting facts about the U.S. Marine Corps.
1. The Marines are older than America
And they were founded in a bar. Yes, really. During the American Revolution, a lot of very important work was done in the taverns of Philadelphia. At Tun Tavern on November 10, 1775, a committee of the Continental Congress wrote a resolution creating the first ever Marine battalions.
Just weeks later these Marines, trained to fight on land and sea, were already battling the British in the Caribbean. Each year, Marines celebrate the Corps's "birthday" on November 10.
2. These tough guys have an adorable mascot
The Marines are known around the world as the "Devil Dogs" (more on that later) and they chose a mascot that represented their nickname very well. Since World War 1 an English bulldog named Chesty has represented the Corps (the current mascot is Chesty 15).
Chesty is named after Marine Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, the only Marine to ever earn five Navy Crosses, which is second only to the Medal of Honor.
3. The Marines have some colorful nicknames
The most common name for Marines today is Jarheads, which was originally an insult. Navy sailors said that 19th-century Marines looked like their heads were popping out of a Mason jar, because their uniforms featured tightly buttoned jackets and a stiff collar.
That collar - made of leather and worn to protect against bayonet stabs - lead to another common nickname: Leathernecks. Finally, Marines earned the nickname Devil Dogs when they drove German forces away from Paris in World War 1. The Germans called the fierce Marines teufel hunden, or "devil dogs."
4. A few good men and women
About 25% of students in the Marine Corps's Infantry Officer Course flunk out, and until this year no women had ever passed it. That's a pretty impressive turn-around, considering the course was only made available to women in January, 2016.
Meanwhile, there have been female Marines in other roles since Opha May Johnson joined in 1918. Even Bea Arthur from the Golden Girls was in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War 2.
5. Semper Fi
The original Marine Corps motto was "By land, by sea," which was accurate but not very flashy. It was replaced in 1883 by "Semper Fi," which is Latin for "Always faithful." As the Corps's website explains, the motto "guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what."
Did you know Bugs Bunny was a Marine? And he's not the only famous face in the Corps...
6. What's up Doc?
After everyone's favorite cartoon rabbit joined the Marines in this short film Super-Rabbit, he was made an honorary Marine, and later "discharged" at the end of World War 2. The honorary title is very prestigious, and less than 100 people have earned it.
Bob Hope, Chuck Norris, Jim Nabors (who played TV's Gomer Pyle) and Gary Sinise have all been made honorary Marines.
7. Famous faces
Meanwhile, a number of celebrities actually joined the Marine Corps. John Glenn, the astronaut who became the first man to orbit the earth, was a Marine. So was Johnny Carson's sidekick Ed McMahon, who flew 85 combat missions as a Marine fighter pilot.
Drew Carey of the Price is Right was also a Marine reservist while his comedy career was starting out. And Montel Williams, the talk show host, spent 15 years in the Marine Corps and the Navy.
8. Marine motivation
Here's an old Marine tradition that could help you achieve your goals: many Marines wear a pin for their next promotion in secret somewhere on their uniform (like underneath their pocket flap). It's a private symbol to motivate them and remind them what they're working for.
9. They keep their swords sharp
A sword is an important part of the Marine Corps dress uniform, and it has a surprising history. The first time Marines deployed overseas was in 1805, when Thomas Jefferson sent them to North Africa to fight pirates off the coast of Libya.
After the battle was won, a Mameluke chieftain awarded Marine Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon with a Mameluke sword. To this day the Marines still wear a Mameluke sword, which they consider a weapon and not just an accessory.
10. Wimps need not apply
As the number of men and women enlisting in the Corps ebbs and flows, the branch changes their advertising strategy to suit their needs. When the Corps was facing a six-month backlog because they had so many recruits, they ordered a commercial inspired by the beach landing scene from Saving Private Ryan to scare away all but the toughest of the tough.
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