As America's expeditionary force in readiness since Nov. 10, 1775, Marines have been proud to be the "first to fight" in the "air, on land and sea," as mentioned in the Marines' Hymn.
The Marine Corps began at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, where two battalions were recruited to serve aboard ships as sharpshooters and participate in amphibious assaults.
The first amphibious landing took place March 3, 1776, when the Marines gained control of Fort Montagu and Fort Nassau from the British in the Bahamas. The raid was led by Capt. Samuel Nicholas, who was also the first Marine commandant and the first commissioned Marine.
Besides serving aboard ships during the Revolutionary War, Marines also fought alongside soldiers and participated in some of the land battles, including the Battle of Princeton on Jan. 3, 1777.
The Continental Marine Corps was disbanded in April 1783, near the end of the Revolutionary War and reactivated as the U.S. Marine Corps in August 1797.
Its first combat action was the First Barbary War, 1801 to 1805, against Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean Sea and in North Africa. Marines overtook the fort at Derna, forcing the surrender of the city and the capitulation of the Bey of Tripoli. This decisive victory is why "To the shores of Tripoli" became part of the Marines' Hymn.
During the War of 1812, Marines served on land and sea, including the Battle of Bladensburg in 1814 and the Battle of New Orleans the following year.
Until 1834, the Marines were an independent service. President Andrew Jackson wanted to make the Corps part of the Army. However, the Marine Corps commandant at the time, Archibald Henderson, had proven that Marines were important in landing party operations, not just ship-to-ship battles, so Congress decided to put the Navy and Marine Corps into one department, forever linking these two "sister services."
In 1835, Marines participated in the Seminole Wars in Florida, and from 1846 to 1848, in the Mexican-American War, including the assault on Mexico City. The Marines raised the American flag in the Halls of Montezuma in Mexico City — "and the Halls of Montezuma" became part of the Marines' Hymn.
During the Civil War, 1861 to 1865, Marines played a relatively minor role. Notably, Marines in the seceding states formed the Confederate Marine Corps.
During the Spanish–American War in 1898, Marines fought in the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Marines seized Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where they are still stationed today.
From 1899 to 1916, the Marine Corps participated in many expeditions, including the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion in China, Panama, Morocco, Mexico, Santo Domingo, Haiti and Nicaragua.
During World War I, 1917 to 1918, Marines served as a part of the American Expeditionary Force. At the Battle of Belleau Wood in France, Marines stopped the German advance on Paris, making it their most famous battle of the war.
In World War II, the Marines served in the Pacific Theater, making amphibious landings on Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, Guam, Tinian, Cape Gloucester, Saipan, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
The flag raising on Iwo Jima became the most iconic photo and film of the war, and possibly of the century, and served to inspire the design of the statue at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Before TV stations broadcast 24/7, the film clip was used when they signed off the air at night.
The Korean War, 1950 to 1953, found the Marines making an amphibious landing in Inchon, South Korea, in 1950 and later in Seoul and the mountains of North Korea.
In 1958, Marines landed in Lebanon and returned there from 1982 to 1984.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, Marines were back in East Asia, this time in South Vietnam. On March 8, 1965, Marines conducted an amphibious landing in Da Nang. Later battles included Hue and Khe Sanh.
Also in 1965, Marines made an amphibious landing in the Dominican Republic.
Marines also participated in the evacuation of embassy personnel and others from Saigon in April 1975.
In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, Marines provided a large expeditionary force that contributed to the liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invaders.
From 2001 to 2021, Marines operated in Afghanistan, and from 2003 to 2011 in Iraq, performing duties similar to soldiers.
The Marine Corps is currently focused on a great power competition with peer adversaries, including China and Russia, pivoting back to its amphibious roots.
Besides preparing for military operations, Marines participate in humanitarian missions, particularly in the natural disaster-prone Indo-Pacific region. Marines also guard U.S. embassies worldwide.
Semper Fidelis, Latin for "Always Faithful," is the Marine Corps' motto. The unofficial motto is: "No Better Friend. No Worse Enemy."