The United States Marine Corps
In every country, security remains a critical factor and is heighten through various agencies such as the police department and the army. In the case of the army, the main responsibility includes protecting the country from external enemies. The military is divided into different branches, and the U.S Marine Corps remains one of the significant groups. The U.S Marine Corps has a huge responsibility for delivering tasks on sea, land, and in the air. This branch of U.S. military purposes to defend U.S. citizens at home and abroad. The U.S Marine Corps was founded on 10th November 1775 with an intention to win Nations battles swiftly and aggressively when crises erupt. With government has continued to invest and support this force to ensure they remain one of the world’s best. The training of the U.S Marine Corps focuses on improvising, adapting, and overcoming any challenge irrespective of what the situation needs. The force willingness to engage and determination to defeat an enemy remains the major goal that ensures victory is seized. The Marines fight in a wide range of battles that range from traditional warfare to humanitarian and disaster relief missions. Apart from the training, tactics, and resources, the fighting spirit remains a critical factor in helping them to win a battle and extend beyond the line of their military service, evidenced by Marines serving in the communities they live. For effective understanding, the U.S Marine Corps, reflecting the history and battles that led to what it has become today as one of the fiercest fighting forces, remains significant.
History
The Second Continental Congress meeting held on 10th November 1775 in Philadelphia resolved two Marines’ Battalions be created. It led to the establishment of Continental Marines and marketed the formation of the U.S Marine Corps. U.S Marines Corps served on land, air, and sea and became the first unique Marines in several essential operations, such as serving the first amphibious raid into the Bahamas in March 1776. The raid was under the command of Captain Samuel Nicholas, and it still remains the first Marine Commandant. He remained a senior Marine officer during the American Revolution, and d steered the force to greater heights. The Revolutionary War was brought to an end by The Treaty of Paris in April 1783, leading to the Navy’s sale the last ship, and both the Continental Navy and Marines went out of existence. The Marine Corps was later reestablished on 11th July 1798 as they saw action in quasi-war with France. They first landed in Santo Domingo and participated in several operations against Barbary pirates along Tripoli’s shores. Marines participated in numerous naval operations during the war of 1812 and took part in defense of Washington at Maryland and Bladensburg and fought alongside Andrew Jackson when they defeated the British at New Orleans. Within a decade after the 1812 war, Marines had the responsibility of protecting America’s interests across the globe, such as in the Caribbean, where they took part in the Falklands Islands, Sumatra, and off the coast West Africa. Close to the country borders, the forces were taking part against the Seminole Indians in Florida. During the Mexican War of 1846-1848, the U.S Marine Corps were critical and managed to seize the enemy’s ports on both the Pacific and Gulf coasts. At Pueblo, General Winfield Scot army was joined by a battalion of Marines and assisted in fighting the enemy to the Halls of Montezuma Mexico City. In the Civil War of 1861-1865, Marine took part although the Navy undertook most of the services. A marine battalion fought at Bull Run while other units took part in blockading squadrons and at Cape Hatteras, Fort Fisher, New Orleans, and Charleston. In the late 19th century, the marines were making significant moves across the globe, specifically in Orient and Caribbean areas. The Marines were also heavily involved in the Spanish-American War of 1898, where they performed with valor in Cuba, Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rico before entering a period of expansion and expert development. With the expansion of the marine forces, they indulged in Philippine Insurrection 1889-1902 and Boxer Rebellion in China 1900. Other numerous involvement included Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, Panama, and Mexico.
The U.S Marine Corps took part in World War 1 where it demonstrated distinguished services in the battlefield such as in France where the 4th Marine Brigade earned a nickname of Devil Dogs due to heroic action during 1918 at Belleau Wood, St Michiel, Blanc Mont, Soissons, and the final Meuse-Argonne offensive. Marine Aviation also took part in war effort dating from 1912, where they ensured day bombers’ mission over France and Belgium took place effectively. More than 30000 marines participated in France where more than one third died or wounded in a span of six months of extreme fighting. Within two decades before the Second World War, the U.S Marine Corps had expanded in different ways that ranged from doctrine, organization, and equipment that guaranteed them a realization of the amphibian warfare. The success of these efforts was first evidenced at Guadalcanal, Tawara, New Britain, Kwajalein, Saipan, and Peleliu, among others. By the end of World War II, U.S Marine Corps had grown to include six divisions, supporting troops and five air wings. The war cost the force more than 87000 through death and wounds, but 82 Marines earned the Medal of Honor. After WWII, the Marines participated in post-war actions such as Japan and North China. The government opted to improve their skills where they took training at Quantico, Virginia. Training mainly focused on vertical envelopment capabilities to enable the Corps through the use of helicopters. In September 1950, the Marines landed at Inchon, Korea, and demonstrated the amphibian doctrine remained viable and vital. The technique played a critical role in Korea by Marine capturing Seoul before advancing to the Chosin Reservoir before the Chinese communist joining the war. The Korean War was endless after years of offensive, trench warfare and counteroffensive, and it led to the withdrawal of the last Marine ground troop in March 1955. The Marine reported 25000 deaths of their officers during this war.
The U.S. was involved in Lebanon in July 1958 through the Marine where it was assisting in the restoration of peace. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the U.S. was relying on Marines and had prepared a large proportion to undertake the amphibian force, but never landed. However, in 1965 the Marines landed in the Dominican Republic to protect the Americans and facilitate a peaceful evacuation for those who wanted to leave the country. In 1965, the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade landed at Da Nang, and it marked the beginning of a huge involvement in Vietnam. The MarineMarine’s withdrawal started in 1969 after it became clear the South had started to assume a larger role in the fight. The Vietnam War was the longest in the Marine Corps’ history, and it exacted a considerable cost with more than 13000 officers killed while 85000 were wounded. In 1975, the Marine Corps initiated the evacuation process, starting with the embassy official, refugees, and Americans in Phnom Penh, Republic of Vietnam, Saigon, and Cambodia. The Marine played a critical role in the rescue of a crew of S.S. Mayaguez captured off Cambodia’s coast.
It is essential to acknowledge that the U.S Marine Corps has continued to advance in different ways and has enabled them to become one of the country’s fierce force. The many battles the force has participated in heighten their experiences on the battlefield, with each one bringing a different approach. The Marine has continued to advance to date as it adapts to different ways as they try to match the new standards that have been set on the battlefield by the enemies. Different countries have continued to improve and adapt to different situation and can be evidenced to the various challenges the Marines has experienced on the battlefield. It is a clear indication that countries and enemies such as terror groups have continued investing in equipment and other resources. However, the Marines heavily bank on their fighting spirit to succeed in the battlefield despite continuous resources improvement. It is essential to highlight how enemies took a different strategy to threaten the U.S., evidenced by terror groups attacking the U.S. embassies across the globe in the 1980s. The Marine under the State Department formed Marine Security Guards continued to serve as they faced this challenge. For instance, in August 1982, the Marine unit landed in Lebanon and Beirut for a multinational peacekeeping force. The mission took 18 months, and the force faced the hazard and challenges of this mission with courage and professionalism. They also participated in a short notice, but successful intervention in Grenada in October 1983, and as the decade of 1980s came to an end, the Marines were taking part in Central America to restore stability and Operation Cause launched in Panama in December 1989 as they aimed to protect Americans and restoration of the democratic process in the nation. The Marine has also been involved in NATO northern flank, such as in the 1970s, where the amphibious unit of the 2nd Division took part through northern Europe. The Marine Corps also played a critical role in realizing the Rapid Deployment Force, a multi-service organization created to provide a flexible and timely military response across the globe when needed. The Maritime Prepositioning Ships concept was developed to facilitate the capability of Rapid Deployment Force by pre-staging equipment required for combat in the vicinity of the chosen area of actions and reduce response time as Marines travel by air catch up with the MPS assets. The Marine has been occupied most of the time, with the U.S. being involved in different battles across the globe for various reasons such as peacekeeping, dealing with a terror group, and ensuring stability in some countries. For instance, after Iraqi invaded Kuwait in August 1990, it elicited events that would lead to the largest movements of the Marine Corps since WWII. Within five months between August 1990 and January 1991, the U.S. had sent 40 squadrons and 24 infantry battalions totaling deployment of more than 92000 Marines. The deployment was at the Persian Gulf as they oversaw Operation Desert Shield that was launched on 16th January 1991 when the campaign started. The man attack in this mission arose on 24th February when the 1st and 2nd Marine Division managed to breach the Iraqi defense line and stormed occupied Kuwait. By the 28th February, after the ground war began, the entire Iraqi army in Kuwait theater of action was encircled with Marines managing to destroy 4000 tanks and destroy 42 divisions destroyed. Apart from the Persian Gulf in 1990-91, other deployment happened in Liberia and Somalia, where non-combatant were overseeing evacuation and in Bangladesh, where they offered humanitarian operations.
In the recent past, the Marine Corps has been focusing on different issues that demonstrate its development to one of the world’s fierce force. For instance, in 2000, it entered Afghanistan as they extended their goal to deal with global terrorism, and they handled the issue in a diverse location. In 2003, there was a large Marine deployment for a combat operation against Iraq. The force played a critical role in crashing military resistance in Iraq, and they had to move 400miles from Kuwait, border to Baghdad, and Tikrit. The adaptability, flexibility, and reliability of the U.S Marine Corps remain unique and have participated in different battles worldwide. The experience and approach make the force one of its kind in the world.
It is essential to acknowledge the U.S Marine Corps is exceptional in many ways. It has enabled the force to advance and adapt to different situations on the battlefield continuously. The force has participated in different areas and ensured peace had been restored or the mission is completed by seizing victory. Since it was founded, it has witnessed changes in different ways, but the fighting spirit remains the foundation of their battlefields’ success. Equipping the force has also played a critical role in realizing the milestone it has achieved in the battlefield with the capability to outdo in the air, sea, and land.
https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Brief-Histories/Brief-History-of-the-United-States-Marine-Corps/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-United-States-Marine-Corps