JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
(Philadelphia) Friday, November 10, 1775
"Resolved, That two Battalions of Marines be raised, consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors, and other officers as usual in other regiments; and that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken, that no persons be appointed to office, or enlisted into said Battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea when required; that they be enlisted and commissioned to serve for and during the present war between Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress: that they be distinguished by the names of the first and second battalions of American Marines, and that they be considered as part of the number which the continental Army before Boston is ordered to consist of.
Ordered, That a copy of the above be transmitted to the General."
To Uncle Sam's Misguided Children, the red-headed stepchild of the U.S. military, the misfits, the drop-outs, the cold-hearted bastards so sick of being penned up on a Navy gator freighter they'd happily storm a heavily defended beach just to kill something, I bid you a Happy 244th Birthday.
And tonight, on countless bases and in cities around the globe, there will be the obligatory and celebratory Marine Corps Birthday Ball, with appropriate pomp and ceremony, and the first slices of birthday cake served to the oldest and youngest Marines present. (For those unaware, the Marines are only served crayons on base, during duty hours, or in the field, and not at formal occasions.)
And as is well known in lore and legend, one such soiree was on a joint force base, and the other services and their wives were invited to celebrate with the Marines as a courtesy.
Inevitably, a small group included junior officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and one of the new service wives was so impressed by the Marine Corps celebration, she told her husband "This is great! I can't wait to go to the balls for all the other services!"
Before her husband could correct her, a Marine nearby who had heard that statement leaned in and delivered the coup de grace:
"I'm afraid that isn't possible, ma'am. The Army, Navy, and Air Force don't have any balls."
Semper Fi, Devil Dogs.
Once A Marine, Always A Marine.
14 comments:
The Army is for folks who would like to kill something, but fear having a stick shoved up their ass before they are given permission to do so. That said, since my son disgraced the family who by long tradition were Army, and joined the Marines, I must reign in my true feelings and say, hey, Happy Birthday you strange and bizarre mutants.
To the host - Thank you for the Birthday Salute....
Semper Fi - God - Corps - Country
Something good about an organization started in a bar! Happy Birthday to some of the finest knuckledraggers I have had the privilege to met on this planet.
happy birthday jarheads, from a navy man.
Semper Fi Jarheads! Happy Birthday
Yep, Happy Birthday, DD's.
And to AESOP, it really IS true. You can tell a Devil Doc -- usually from a ways off... but... You can't tell him MUCH!
Just like virtually ALL of the Hot Shot Paramedics I have known.
Semper Fi, Brother!
Here's health to you and to our Corps; I hope they pull their heads out and get back to business. Been too many pogues staying and far too many warriors leaving.
Boat Guy
@James Dakin;
Like your son, I left an Army tradition dating to before we had an Army. My Dad, when asked what I had done that he was proud of, replied " Got through Marine Boot Camp"
Boat Guy
Happy Birthday Marines!
from a former "Navy gator freighter"
Nemo
The US Air Force is a big corporation.
The US Army and US Navy are traditional military services.
The US Coast Guard is a marine rescue service, saving people who do stupid things.
And the US Marine Corp is a cult..........
Not true.
Cults will take anyone.
The Marines are pickier than that.
It's a gang.
You get jumped in during boot camp.
And much like the Mafia, once you get in, you can never get out.
Even if you leave.
And just who would want to leave the finest brotherhood in the history of this country? Semper Fi and a (belated) Happy Birthday Marines!
The Corps may look like a cult from the outside.. but that is just to mess with yer head!
Just remember kiddies the USCG was the only service with the Balls to put the great USMC on those beaches!
long live Signalman 2nd class Monroe!! and long live our brothers the USMC.
Semper paratis and semper Fi
Taking NOTHING away from Douglas Munroe; plenty of USN sailors manned those papa- and mike- boats too.
BG
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