For those who don’t know, Marines have long celebrated our founding on November 10th 1775 at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia where a committee of the Continental Congress met to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and shore. Furthermore, Samuel Nicholas was appointed the first Commandant and Robert Mullan (owner of Tun Tavern) was commissioned as a Captain and the first recruiter – that’s right the guy selling the beer also sold potential recruits on the benefits of the Corps!
Throughout the years since our founding, Marines have celebrated the birthday of the Corps. In 1925 the first formal Birthday Ball was held in Philadelphia and many of the traditions now celebrated were instituted. However, given the nature of our jobs it not uncommon for Marines to celebrate down range and in harms way without the pageantry and gentile company that garrison life affords.
One such birthday celebration occurred on November 10th 2004, the Second Battle of Fallujah known as Operation Phantom Fury had started just three days prior as Marines stepped across the line of departure into a heavily defended urban hell that was Fallujah. As Marines engaged in some of the most ferocious close quarters combat in the history of the Corps, a surreal but very poignant moment played out. This same moment has repeated on countless battlefields throughout the years in places such as Tripoli, Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, Khe San, Mogadishu, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
In the midst of the din of battle as AK-47’s & RPG’s impacted all around a pinned down platoon of Marine grunts, a battle weary Sgt turned to his platoon and said with a wry grin: “hey devil dogs, it’s November 10th, Happy Birthday”! The Marines responded with a short sharp vigorous Marine Corps growl “ooh rah” and returned to the task at hand– killing haji!
A few hours passed and a lull in the fighting prompted a young private to ask: “Hey Sgt, where’s my birthday cake?” The resourceful Marine NCO rummaged through his kit and MRE where he found a packet of pound cake, peanut butter spread, and an unfiltered Marlboro. The Sgt used these ingredients to create a field expedient Marine Corps birthday cake complete with a candle (the Marlboro) that would have made Chesty Puller proud.
Next the Sgt called his platoon to gather around the cake where he stated: “we may be far from home, fighting for our lives in this godforsaken city with drug crazed haji’s all around us shouting Alakhbar. We may be low on ammunition, food, and water. We have neither slept nor bathed in a week. But do not despair Marines for we have our history and each other. The hippies sitting back at home may question our sanity for pausing in the middle of a battle to celebrate our Corps’ birthday – forgive them their ignorance for they do not know that our history, traditions and symbols are what gird us for battle and give us the strength to fight harder and longer than our enemy ever will”.
The Sgt. cut two piece’s of cake and gave them to the oldest and youngest Marines in the group, then as he passed the rest of pound cake amongst his Marines he said “I don’t know what the Commandant’s Birthday Message was, but I do know that our celebration of the Corps birthday on this day is what being a Marine is all about – Semper Fi Marines!”
No matter where you are today, whether it is in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton (gotta be an officer’s ball) or in an LP/OP in some remote mountain pass in the Hindu Kush, take a moment to reflect on the history of our Corps and the brothers and sisters you call Marine, for these are truly the things worth celebrating.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Lex,
Thanks for this tribute brother. Semper Fi to all our brothers and sisters out there! Happy Birthday!
November 10th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Awesome Mr. Lex.
We may not be the most sane people who are walking on this diseased world. Over here, or over there, but Damnit! We stand tall! We stand proud, and NO ONE can take from us our brotherhood, our Independence, and most of all, our freedom.
Happy Birthday Brother!
“We the unknown, Do the the unthinkable, For the ungreatful”
-Source Unknown
I was based at Fallujah on my second deployment. May, 2008 until late 2008, where my Company (1st Marine Headquarters Group)shut down Fallujah and gave it back to the citizens of Iraq. We were deemed “The Last of the Fallujians”. We moved almost the entire base North to Al Asad. Came home in Feb, 2009.
Semper Fi
November 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
For my son the Marine, and all the rest of you- Thank you, and Happy Birthday!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Semper Fi Jarheads-
Thanks to my bro Lex, the Ranger Up Crew, and all fighters/trainers for putting on Train the Troops…fun time hanging with the Ranger Up Head Shed during the UFC. Continue keeping it real gents.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Happy Birthday, brother!
November 12th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Believe it or not, but while I was being trained at Camp Pendleton’s Infantry Training Regiment in November, 1968, the entire regiment was put on buses and transported to Disneyland for the weekend. We did not know what to make about that at all. Needless to say, we got back to base on our own not entirely sober.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 am
I don’t know how to start this other than “I am sorry”. I joined the Corps in 1990 and enlisted as an MP..I’m not sorry for my MOS….what I’m sorry for comes later. I went through MCRD San Diego, MCT at Pendelton, and MOS school in Texas with one of the greatest men I have ever known. My first duty station was in El Toro where I stood on the front gate of Sand Canyon Blvd busting drunk Marines coming back to the base after a night on the town. That’s not what I’m sorry for..that comes later. While at this duty station I served with an amazing, humble person who shared the same interests as I. Blues Traveller, House of Pain, he wanted my Bob Marley Shirt and I wanted a denim button-up with the sleeves cut off, so we traded. My shirt was old, so I got the better of the deal, but that’s not what I’m sorry for…that comes later. My friend went to Somlia and I stayed behind. I volunteered to go to, but was denied. So I sat on a flightline gaurding empty C-130’s. That’s not what I’m sorry for..that comes later. While my friend was in Somolia, I was sent to other duty stations, and eventually Japan for a two year stint, never once did I attempt to contact my friend. Still, that is not what I am sorry for. After spending 2 years in Japan, I came back to the states to seperate. Due to the mistakes I had made, I flew into San Diego with no friends, no way up to SEPS at Pendelton, pretty much no hope. I made a phone call to the one person I knew would be there and in ten minutes he was at the airport, forcing a hug on me. He offered me his home, his vehicle, introduced me to his friends. I, in turn, continued to make the same mistakes, drinking, pinning my hopes on desperate no win situations, just being a lost 26 year old. The time came for me to leave my friends house and go home. He was making something of himself on his own terms, under his own rules, on his own accord. After all he had done for me, I left my friend with a $136 phone bill. That is not what I am sorry for, that comes later. After a few months home, my friend called me and asked if I could help him out with the phone bill. Continuing to make bad decisions, I never sent the money. That is not what I am sorry for either. That was over 10 years ago. So now, what I am truly sorry for, is the fact that I took advantage of the person I admired most. I abused the friendship of my only true friend. This is not an attempt at self pity, nor is it some type of ambiguous third person apology. What it is, is a testament to all the Marines out there who look out for thier brothers, no matter the time frame or circumstances, and who truly believe that “Semper Fi” means something…Thank you, due to your influence, I have gotten my life together and spend my time growing people, building them up, and allowing them to reach thier full potential…just like you did for me. Sorry Brother
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:44 am
k
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:45 am
J