As we approach 10 November, I tend to become melancholy in many respects and take time to reflect on my service, my Corps, and comrades present... and those who have passed on. This month is a hard one for me over all, with Veteran's Day not far removed from the celebration of the birth of my Corps in 1775, at a little bar in Pennsylvania. Where, per the order of the American Congress, Captain Samuel Nichols began to recruit for two battalions of Marines to join the rebellion against England. Since that day many years passed our Corps has come to celebrate our birthday and around that time Headquarters Marine Corps, Quantico Virginia, publishes the annual Commandant's birthday message. This tradition began with General John A. Lejeune, 13th Commandant of the Corps. General Lejeune's original birthday letter was ordered published, and is still published annually, along with the serving Commandant's own message. That message now commonly takes form of a video.
This year's video, as ordered published by Commandant General James Amos, is about 15 minutes long. It contains many interviews, and pieces of our common culture and history as Marines. This year marks the 70th Anniversary of Battle of Tarawa, the 45th of the Battle of Huế City, and the 10th anniversary of the drive to Baghdad. I had a grandfather we believe to have been at Tarawa and Saipan. I had uncles and family friends in the jungles and cities of Vietnam, some of my closest friends walked the road to Baghdad in 2003. But even if I hadn't had a single blood relative in those places at that time, my brothers and sisters were at all those battles, and a thousand more besides. This is my family history, blood of my blood and kin of my kin. This is not American culture. This is Marine Corps culture, and as people who's company I enjoy.... I want to share that culture, that sense of family, of kinship, with you, that you might understand me and my family just a little bit more.
"The Marines fought almost solely on esprit de corps, I was certain. It was inconceivable to most Marines that they should let another Marine down, or that they could be responsible for dimming the bright reputation of their Corps. The Marines simply assumed that they were the world's best fighting men."
- Robert Sherrod, 1943, regarding the battle at Tarawa
The original message can be found here
MARINE CORPS ORDERS
No. 47 (Series 1921)
HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS
Washington, November 1, 1921
759. The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the
10 November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it
will be read upon receipt.
(1) On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental
Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "Marine". In memory of them it is
fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the
glories of its long and illustrious history.
(2) The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous
military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the
Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the
Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home,
generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every
corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.
(3) In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, Marines have acquitted themselves
with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "Marine" has come
to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.
(4) This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received
from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit
which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of
the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal
to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will
regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of
the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.
JOHN A. LEJEUNE,
Major General Commandant
75705—21
Author
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