I realized something recently: This will be the first time in nine years that I won't be attending a Marine Corps Birthday Ball with my husband. We've been apart for birthdays and anniversaries but this is the first year we will miss a Ball. And somehow, that makes me sadder than the birthdays or anniversaries he's missed. It was always the one guaranteed date night of the year where we'd get dressed up and (usually) have a fun evening with friends. And let's face it, these guys clean up really well in their Dress Blues or Mess Dress.
On November 10, 1775, the U.S. Marine Corps was born in Tun Tavern. That's right, they got their start in a bar. Explains a lot, doesn't it? Anyway, since I won't be attending a Ball this year, I decided to celebrate by sharing some of my favorite Marine Corps quotes:
"The Marines have landed and have the situation well in hand!" ~Richard Harding Davis
"Retreat hell! We just got here!" ~Capt. Lloyd Williams, USMC (WWI)
"Teufelhunde! [Devil Dogs]" ~German soldiers, WW I at Belleau Wood
"So they've got us surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those bastards won't get away this time!" ~Chesty Puller, USMC (Korea)
"The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight!" ~Maj. Gen. Frank Lowe, U.S. Army
"Panic sweeps my men when they are facing the American Marines." ~captured North Korean Major
"I hate for there to be a fight, and me not be in it." ~Marine on CNN's "Devil Dog Diaries"
Excerpts from a speech by RADM J. Stark, USN:
"... it occurred to me that the services could be characterized by different breeds of dogs...
The Air Force reminded me of a French Poodle. The poodle always looks perfect ... sometimes seems a bit pampered ... always travels first class. But don't ever forget that the poodle was bred as a hunting dog and in a fight it's very dangerous.
The Army is kind of like a St. Bernard. It's big and heavy and sometimes seems a bit clumsy. But it's very powerful and has lots of stamina. So you want it for the long haul.
The Navy, God bless us, is a Golden Retriever. They're good natured and great around the house. The kids love 'em. Sometimes their hair is a bit long ... they go wandering off for long periods of time, and they love water.
... Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. ...They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat. That sounds like a Marine to me!
So what I really like about Marines is that 'first to fight' isn't just a motto, it's a way of life. From the day they were formed at Tun Tavern 224 years ago, Marines have distinguished themselves on battlefields around the world. From the fighting tops of the Bonhomme Richard, to the sands of the Barbary Coast, from the swamps of New Orleans to the halls of Montezuma, from Belleau Wood, to the Argonne Forest, to Guadacanal, and Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and Inchon, and Chosen Reservoir and Hue City and Quang Tri and Dong Ha, and Beirut, and Grenada, and Panama, and Somalia and Bosnia and a thousand unnamed battlefields in godforsaken corners of the globe. Marines have distinguished themselves by their bravery, and stubbornness and aggressive spirit, and sacrifice, and love of country, and loyalty to one another.
They've done it for you and me, and this Country we all love so dearly. And they asked for nothing more than the honor of being a United States Marine.
And that's why I like Marines!"
For some reason, I really like the "We don't promise you a rose garden" recruiting poster (actually I prefer the female version but couldn't find it). Maybe it's the "truth in advertising" aspect of it.
"So they've got us surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those bastards won't get away this time!" ~Chesty Puller, USMC (Korea)
"The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight!" ~Maj. Gen. Frank Lowe, U.S. Army
"Panic sweeps my men when they are facing the American Marines." ~captured North Korean Major
"I hate for there to be a fight, and me not be in it." ~Marine on CNN's "Devil Dog Diaries"
Excerpts from a speech by RADM J. Stark, USN:
"... it occurred to me that the services could be characterized by different breeds of dogs...
The Air Force reminded me of a French Poodle. The poodle always looks perfect ... sometimes seems a bit pampered ... always travels first class. But don't ever forget that the poodle was bred as a hunting dog and in a fight it's very dangerous.
The Army is kind of like a St. Bernard. It's big and heavy and sometimes seems a bit clumsy. But it's very powerful and has lots of stamina. So you want it for the long haul.
The Navy, God bless us, is a Golden Retriever. They're good natured and great around the house. The kids love 'em. Sometimes their hair is a bit long ... they go wandering off for long periods of time, and they love water.
... Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. ...They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat. That sounds like a Marine to me!
So what I really like about Marines is that 'first to fight' isn't just a motto, it's a way of life. From the day they were formed at Tun Tavern 224 years ago, Marines have distinguished themselves on battlefields around the world. From the fighting tops of the Bonhomme Richard, to the sands of the Barbary Coast, from the swamps of New Orleans to the halls of Montezuma, from Belleau Wood, to the Argonne Forest, to Guadacanal, and Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and Inchon, and Chosen Reservoir and Hue City and Quang Tri and Dong Ha, and Beirut, and Grenada, and Panama, and Somalia and Bosnia and a thousand unnamed battlefields in godforsaken corners of the globe. Marines have distinguished themselves by their bravery, and stubbornness and aggressive spirit, and sacrifice, and love of country, and loyalty to one another.
They've done it for you and me, and this Country we all love so dearly. And they asked for nothing more than the honor of being a United States Marine.
And that's why I like Marines!"
For some reason, I really like the "We don't promise you a rose garden" recruiting poster (actually I prefer the female version but couldn't find it). Maybe it's the "truth in advertising" aspect of it.
Happy Birthday, Marines! And Semper Fi!
7 comments:
Semper Fi! Happy Birthday, Marines!
God Bless the Marines!
Happy Birthday, Marines! Thank you for being you.
I love the NAVY quote = Golden Retriever. The only bases I ever spent any time on were Navy and the long hair thing (and dungarees.. What is that?) makes me laugh.
Found the female poster and posted it on my page. You can BUY it for 10.00 on a Marine memorabilia site. I love it.
It must make you really proud to read these quotes and know your husband is part of it. Hopefully you have pictures from prior Balls to get you through this year ; )
That is an awesome post. I love it. I secretly love Marines. Don't tell my Soldier husband. Shhh.
These two marine drill instructors on the posters actually live in Beaufort, SC. The pictures were taken on Parris Island.
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