Eagle, Globe, and Anchor

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor is the official emblem of the Unites States Marine Corps. The emblem traces its roots to the Continental Marines of 1776. The current emblem was adopted in 1955.

The eagle symbolizes the United States, the nation which our Marine Corps serves. The globe, which displays the Western Hemisphere, denotes the Corps’ worldwide service. The anchor bespeaks the Marine Corps naval heritage.

The emblem is displayed on all Marine Corps uniforms, its standard (flag) as well as the official seal of the Corps

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MARINE DEFENSE BATTALIONS

With the rapid expansion of the Japanese Empire throughout the Pacific basin and its imminent threat on U.S. interests and naval installations, the Marine Corps formed Defense Battalions commencing in 1939.

The role of these battalions was to provide for the defense of advance naval bases to include anti-aircraft and coastal defense. The battalions were equipped with anti-aircraft batteries to defend against air raids, coastal defense guns to defend against naval bombardment and machine guns to repel landing forces. Prior to the United States' entrance into World War II, 9 defense battalions had been formed and were posted at Wake Island (1st Defense Battalion), American Samoa (2nd, 7th and 8th Defense Battalions), Midway Island (3rd, 4th and 6th Defense Battalions), Iceland (5th Defense Battalion), and Guantanamo Bay (9th Defense Battalion).

As the the United States went on the offensive in the Pacific during 1943, the defense battalions roles were modified to defending key installations and territory seized by assault forces during the Pacific's "island hopping campaign". Along with a change in the role, light tanks and field artillery were added to their equipment inventories. Twenty defense battalions were eventually formed and these battalions participated in nearly every land battle, both Army and Marine Corps, in the Pacific Theater. These units were among the first that were disbanded at the end of World War II.

HISTORY OF THE MARINE CORPS ARTICLES

THE 1ST COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS

Samuel Nicholas was born in Philadelphia during 1744. The U.S. Marine Corps was founded as the Continental Marines at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia on 10 November 1775. Nicholas, a Free Mason whose Masonic Lodge used Tun Tavern as a meeting hall, was commissioned as a Captain of Marines by the Continental Congress thus becoming the first Officer of Marines. He remained the Senior Marine Officer throughout the Revolutionary War and was promoted to Major during June of 1776. By tradition, he is considered the 1st Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Much of his time as Commandant was spent recruiting Marines, which he did for the most part at Tun Tavern, and training the new recruits. Operationally, he commanded the Marine Detachment aboard the Continental Navy warship Alfred, lead the Marine's amphibious raid on New Providence Island (Bahamas), and commanded the Marine battalion attached to the Continental Army during the Battle of Princeton. The amphibious raid on New Providence Island was the Corps' first amphibious landing and the first time U.S. forces set foot on foreign soil.

The Marine Corps was disbanded at the end of the Revolutionary War and Nicholas returned to civilian life. He died during 1790 in Philadelphia.

Three warships, USS Nicholas, have been named in his honor; a Clemson-class destroyer (DD-311, 1919-1923), a Fletcher-class destroyer (DD-449, 1942-1970) and a Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate (FFG-47, 1983-2014).

The USS Nicholas (FFG-47) was one of three U.S. warships named in the honor of the Marine Corps' 1st Commandant.

History of the Marine Corps articles

RAISING THE U.S. FLAG OVER PUERTO RICO

Typical Marine Detachment cerca 1900

The Marine Detachment from theUSS Dixie conducted a landing at Ponce, Puerto Rico subsequently capturing Ponce and La Playa when both towns surrendered. Their raising of the U.S. flag was the first time the flag had been flown over the island, and it has flown over Puerto Rico ever since.

27 July in Marine Corps History

BATTLE OF TINIAN - 27 July 1944

The Ushi Point Airfield becomes operational on Tinian. The airfield was captured two days earlier by elements of the 2nd Marine Division who handed it over to a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (Seabees). Assist by Marine Engineers, the Seabees quickly repaired the runway and damaged facilities to allow air operations to begin while Marines continued fighting to secure the remainder of the island.

The Seabees continued working on the runaway, expanded it to allow the U.S. Army Air Corps bombers to establish their principal base of operations in the Central Pacific. On August 6, 1945 the B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" loaded with "Little Boy" departed Tinian en route to Hiroshima.

THIS DAY IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY

THIS DAY IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY: 27 July

"The First Recruits" by Col Charles Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret)

Significant Marine events on this date included a meeting in Martinique, raising the flag over Puerto Rico, island-hopping battles in the Pacific, plus a look at the Corps' 1st Commandant.

THIS DAY IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY: 27July

PHIBLEX ON VIEQUES ISLAND

Major Kevin McClernon, USMC meeting with his unit leaders and staff and the base camp is established in the background.

Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, July 1996. Commanded the Landing Force during the annual UNITAS Exercise. Here I'm meeting with some of the headquarters staff and unit leaders as the base camp is being established in the background. Besides U.S. Marines, the landing force included Brazilian, Colombian, Dutch, Peruvian and Venezuelan Marines. Additionally the staff was augmented by Marines from Argentina, Ecuador, Uruguay and a South African paratrooper.

This was one of the last amphibious landings conducted on Vieques as the Department of the Navy ceased operations on the island in 2001. The island had been used by the Navy and Marine Corps since 1941 to practice and perfect amphibious warfare techniques.

U.S. Marine Corps Facts & History articles