Marines
Established November 10, 1775
[Chronology]
Revolutionary War · 1775-1783
April 19, 1775
"Shot Heard Around the World," the American Revolution begins
November 10, 1775
Continental Congress authorized the first two Continental Marine Battalions
March 3, 1776
The first Marine amphibious assault at Fort Nassau in the Bahamas
September 5, 1776
The first Marine standarized uniform was adopted with a "Leather Neck"
December 1776
Three companies of Marines reinforced Washington's retreat from New York
July 11, 1798
President John Adams established the US Marine Corps
June 1800
William Burrows appointed the first Commandant of the Marine Corps
March 31, 1801
The Marine Barracks was established in Washington, DC
The War of 1812 · 1812-1815
April 1813
Marines fought and delayed the British on their march towards Washington DC
January 8, 1815
Marines participate in the repulse of the British in their attack on New Orleans
1820
Archibald Henderson, the 5th Commandant of the Marine Corps modernized the Corps including integrating artillery support for Marine landing parties
1834
Congress stipulates that the Marine Corps is part of the US Navy
The Mexican War · 1846-1848
1847
Marines attack and take the Chapultepec Castle which is the origin for the Marine Hymn "The Halls of Montezuma"
The Indian Wars · 1835-1891
1850
200 US Marines of Admiral Perry's fleet were the first to set foot on Japan
October 18, 1859
Marines commanded by 1st Lt. Israel Green and Army Col. Robert E. Lee recapture the US arsenal from John Brown at Harper[s] Ferry
The Civil War · 1861-1865
September 1861
Marines attempt to retake Fort [Sumter]
July 1863
Cpl. John Mackie was the first Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor
January 18, 1865
400 US Marines participate in the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina
1868
Marine Corps emblem was adopted
1869
Officer's Dress Mess uniform was adopted
1883
"Semper Fidelis" motto was adopted
The Spanish-American War · 1898-1901
June 14, 1898
Two companies of Marines commanded by Capt. George Elliott defeated the Spanish at Cuxo Well near Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
The Philippine Insurrection · 1899-1902
The Latin American Campaigns· 1906-1933
May 1912
Marine aviation was formed and the Marine aviators started experiments with ground support for their troops
November 8, 1915
US Marines commanded by Maj. Smedley Butler fought Cacos bandits in the battles of Fort Selon and Berthol, Haiti
World War I · 1917-1918
January 1918
The 1st Aeronautical Company was deployed to the Azores to hunt German submarines
June 1918
Marines fought the "Battle of Belleau Wood" and their French decorations for this battle became part of their standard uniform
July 1918
The 1st Marine Aviation Force was deployed to France to provide bomber and fighter support
August 12, 1918
The Secretary of the Navy authorizes the enlistment of women in the Marine Corps Reserve
World War II · 1941-1945
August 7, 1942
The 1st. Marine Division made the first American land offensive with amphibious landings at Tulagi and Guadalcanal
World War II
The creation of the Landing Force Air Support Control Units for coordination of Marine ground and aviation units
World War II
Marine aviators are credited with downing 2,355 Japanese aircraft while only losing 573 of their own aircraft
April 1, 1945
The US Marines participated in the last major ground offensive of WW II with their landing on Okinawa
1947
The first US Marine jet aviation squadron was established when VMF-122 fielded the F-4 Phantom and the first Marine
Korean War · 1950-1953
September 15, 1950
The 1st Marine Division lands at Inchon in the first offensive of the Korean War
December 1, 1950
The US Marines begin their breakout from the Chosin Reservoir which resulted in inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese
1952
The Marine Commandant given equal voice on the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Vietnam War · 1964-1973
March 8, 1965
Marines of the 9th Amphibious Brigade land at Da Nang Airport
January to April 1968
The siege of the Marine base at Khe Sahn lasted 77 days
April 12, 1975
The Marines execute Operation Eagle Pull in the evacuation of Phnom Penh
April 29, 1975
The Marines execute Operation Frequent Wind in the evacuation of Saigon
Grenada · 1983
October 1983
Marines participate in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada
October 23, 1983
220 Marines killed in bombing of barracks in Beirut, Lebanon
Panama · 1989
1989
Marines participate in Operation Just Cause in Panama by deploying the Marine Corps Security Force, ground troops and the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Team to Panama
Gulf War · 1990-1991
1990
The I Marine Expeditionary Force fielded the largest Marine ground force in Kuwait totaling 92,990 troops in Operation Desert Shield
Somalia · 1992-1995
1992-1995
Marines of the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines were among the first troops to land in Somalia during Operation United Shield
Bosnian War · 1993-1999
1993
Beginning in 1993 Marine aviators flying to enforce the no-fly zone then became directly involved in the bombing missions during Operation Deliberate Force
World Trade Center · 9-11-2001
The War in Afghanistan · 2001 to ---
October 2001
The 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary units were the first conventional forces into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom
The War in Iraq · 2003 to ---
March 2003
The I Marine Expeditionary Force along with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division spearheaded the invasion of Iraq. In 2004 the Marines were given primary responsibility for the desert region of Al Anbar Province and spearheaded all operations in that area.
[USMC Emblem and historic photos and illustrations]
Erected by Plumstead Township Veterans Committee.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #02 John Adams series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1915.
Location. 40° 22.954′ N, 75° 8.752′ W. Marker is near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County. It is in Plumstead Township. Memorial can be reached from Easton Road. The marker is in the Plumstead Township Veterans Park, which is located at the NE corner of Easton Road (Pennsylvania Route 611) and Old Easton Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5775 Easton Rd, Doylestown PA 18902, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Navy (here, next to this marker); Army (a few steps from this marker); Air Force (a few steps from this marker); Coast Guard (a few steps from this marker); The Plumstead Township Veterans Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Doan Gang (approx. 1.9 miles away); Former U.S. Post Office (approx. 3.1 miles away); Dublin Honor Roll (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Doylestown.
Also see . . .
1. Marines. (Submitted on December 30, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Marine Corps Traditions. (Submitted on December 30, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 190 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 30, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.