United States Marine Corps

Iwo Jima

Photograph by Joe Rosenthal. Raising of the US flag on top of Mt. Suribachi (5 marines 1 Navy corpsman)

Iwo Jima was America's first attack on Japanese home islands. The USMC invaded on February 19, 1945. The Japanese had their army heavily stationed all through out the Island with 22,000 soldiers present. The USMC's plan was to overtake 3 airfields. The Marines were able to overcome the Japanese with tremendous Naval and Air support. This was said to be the only United States Marine battle where our casualties exceeded the Japanese, all though the Japanese death rate was 3X ours. There were 22,000 Japanese soldiers on the island at the beginning of the battle. By March 26, 1945, the USMC had only 216 Japanese prisoners, the rest determined to be dead or missing. This was one of the proudest moments and battles of the USMC history and will never be forgotten.

USMC Snipers

"The deadliest weapon in the world, is a Marine and his rifle"

Women in the Marines

Women have been a part of the USMC since 1918. The secretary of the Navy allowed women to enroll in 1918. The first woman to become a marine was a woman by the name Opha Mae Johnson who was enlisted on August 13, 1918 where she would be put to the task for clerical duties. The USMC women reserve was started in Feb. 1943. On June 12, 1948 the Women's Armed Services Integration act was passed, which granted women permission. In 1950 the women reserves were prompted for the Korean war with the total of women serving being 2,787. By the time Vietnam came 2,700 women served over seas and stateside. In 1975 the USMC approved women's assignments except infantry, artillery, armor, and pilot/air crews. In the years 1990-91 over 1,000 women were deployed for Desert Storm. Today 6.2 % of the USMC is made of women.

Marine Corps Emblem

The emblem represents the USMC by showing the three elements of what they stand for fighting by land combat, sea combat, and air combat. The globe in the center of the emblem stands for the USMC fighting on land, the anchor standing for the marines fighting at sea, and the eagle representing the marines fighting in the sky.

Semper Fi

Semper Fi is short for the Latin word Semper Fidelis. This means "always faithful." It is known as the motto for the USMC. The USMC adopted the saying in 1883 by Colonel Charles McCawley. It is also the title of the official march of the USMC. It is very common to see the shortened version of Semper Fidelis all of USMC apparel, tattoo's, banners, flags, etc. It is the official slogan of the USMC. OORAH!