On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress approved a resolution to establish two battalions of Marines "able to fight for independence at sea and on shore." Since that day,the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have teamed together and become one of the strongest and most effective expeditionary forces the world has ever known. Today, on the 241st birthday of the United States Marine Corps, using some of the best imagery we could find, we take a look back at the history of our two services working together. Happy Birthday, Devil Dogs! Oorah and Semper Fi! ?
Sailors and Marines of the ship's Rifle Team, posing with a trophy and Krag-Jorgensen rifles, circa 1909. Note Gun Pointer, First Class, and former-Naval Apprentice marks worn by the men kneeling in the center. Collection of Chief Quartermaster John Harold, USN.
Flight deck with combat equipped Marines boarding helicopters for a landing at Vung Mu, Vietnam, during operation Dagger Thrust, December 1965.
Oil painting on canvas by V. Zveg, 1973, depicting Continental Sailors and Marines landing on New Providence Island, Bahamas, on 3 March 1776. Their initial objective, Fort Montagu, is in the left distance. Close off shore are the small vessels used to transport the landing force to the vicinity of the beach. They are (from left to right): two captured sloops, schooner Wasp and sloop Providence. The other ships of the American squadron are visible in the distance.
Ship's officers, crew and Marines aboard USS Kentucky (BB 6), circa 1914. Most of the Marines are wearing khaki field uniforms.
USS Cowpens (CVL-25) Ship's Marines line up on the flight deck for physical drill, circa mid-1943. Planes on the flight deck include F6F, SBD and TBM types. Note SK radar antenna mounted on the stub mast between the stacks and inflatable life belts worn by many of the men on deck. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
U.S. Navy doctors and corpsmen administer to wounded Marines at an Iwo Jima first aid station, 20 February 1945. Navy Chaplain Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John H. Galbreath (right center) is kneeling beside a man who has severe flash burns, received in an artillery battery fifty yards or so away. Photographed by Warrant Officer Obie Newcomb, Jr., USMCR
USS Ranger (CV-61) Marines and Sailors of the carrier's crew man the rails as she leaves Honolulu, Hawaii, on 10 March 1989, en route to the western Pacific
Troop laden LVT-4 amphibious tractors head for the "purple" and "orange" landing beach area, just before "H-hour" of the invasion of Okinawa, 1 April 1945. In the background, USS TENNESSEE (BB-43) fires her 5"/38 secondary battery at the objective area.
View at Amoy, China taken from Kulangsoo showing the port and U.S. destroyers anchored there, circa 1928. Two of the ships identifiable are: USS PEARY (DD-226), on right, and USS PRUITT (DD-347) on left.
For more information, visit the
Naval History and Heritage Command website.