 The
few, the proud, the Marines. What makes some want to join the
Marines? That's a question many of us have asked ourselves over the
years. Maybe it's the tradition; maybe it's the uniform; or to many,
maybe it's love, honor, patriotism, duty, sacrifice, dignity and
humility, that comes with the territory... never given; always earned.
Many of
us on the other hand never even gave it a second thought. With every
branch of the military now being designated “voluntary” a good place
to look at why someone chooses to join the Marines over the other
branches is, I believe, a commitment like no other. Sure, we are
known as Jarhead, Gyrene, Devil Dog, and probably the most revered
title, Grunt, but when uttered by fellow Marines, are all names we
wear proudly. The story behind each, like the entire history of The
Corps itself, is based on terra firma (firm ground), and every
syllable earned.
The Marine Corps was created on
November 10, 1775, in Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by
a resolution of the Continental Congress, and in 1834 the Marines
became part of the Department of the Navy. Known since its inception
as the “First to Fight”, the Marines have been in the forefront of
every American war since its founding. The Marine Corps even took
it's place alongside Washington's army during the Revolution in
1775, before the Declaration of Independence was signed! Marines
have made more than 300 landings on foreign shores and served
everywhere one can think of where American's have been involved in
conflict. Throughout its history Semper Fidelis (Semper Fi), meaning
always faithful, has become the tradition, because in 236 years,
there has never been a mutiny.
The name
“Leatherneck” can be traced back to the leather stock or
neckpiece, which was part of the Marine Corps uniform from 1775 to
1875. Some say the leather collar was designed to protect the
jugular vein from saber slashes, but probably more correctly, it
insured that Marines kept their heads erect and maintained during
the aiming of the rifle. Some say it made a Marine look like a
long-neck goose but it did improve one's military bearing. While it
is no longer used, it is commemorated by the standing collar on the
dress blue and dress white uniform.
“Devil Dogs” can be traced to World War I in 1918 during the
Belleau Wood campaign. When the Marines arrive to aid the allied
troops which were in full retreat, a Marine officer was noted as
telling the retreating command, “Retreat Hell! We just got here!”
The Germans soon took note and got a thorough indoctrination into
the fighting ability of the Marines. Fighting through supposedly
impenetrable woods and overcoming impossible terrain, the men of the
4th Marine Brigade struck terror in the hearts of the Germans, who
referred to Marines as the “Teufelhunden”, meaning “fierce fighting
dogs of legendary origin” or as popularly translated, “Devil Dogs.”
Around 1900, members of the U.S. Navy began using
Gyrene as a
jocular derogatory reference to U.S. Marines. Instead of being
insulted, the Marines loved it. It is a cross between GI (government
issue) and Marine. The term started during World War I and has been
extensively used since that time, but gained widespread recognition
from the campaign in the Pacific during WWII, when beach after beach
had to be taken in what became known as “Island Hopping”. Many
Marines always need something to bitch about (that too is
tradition), as there were only three ways off an island once a
landing had commenced...win the battle, get the million-dollar-wound,
and every Marine was intimately aware of the third option. So,
adapting to the term Gyrene just seems to fit.
Many have tried to determine the origin of the
Grunt moniker. Ask any Marine what his primary MOS (Military
Occupation Specialty) is and each and every one will tell you “Basic
Rifleman”. Since the origin of The Corps, the Marine has been taught
his rifle is his closest friend and the basic instrument of freedom.
With today's more modern military with its high-tech weaponry,
helicopters, ground support airplanes, GPS, and even an arsenal of
everything from drones that kill to MOABS (Mother of All Bombs),
there is no purpose of war if you cannot “take the ground you are
fighting for”, and that's where the Grunt comes in.
While I suppose some will argue that a Marine assigned to an air
wing or a seagoing Marine is no longer thought of as a “Basic
Rifleman”, every Marine must learned to fire his weapon with an
efficiency that is unparalleled. Only the Marine Corps requires
marksmanship proficiency at 500 yards. As a Hollywood Marine (having
survived basic training at MCRD – Marine Corps Recruit Depot-San
Diego) and for every enlisted Marine, no one will ever forget the
experience or the importance of Camp Mathews or Edson Range during
that period of rifle qualification.
So, like every other term Marines are called, “Grunt” is
used and probably is an anachronism for what other branches
affectionately call Marines...Given Rifles Unfit for Normal
Training and awarded an MOS proceeded by the number “03” as in
“0311-Basic Rifleman”. About as grunt as you can get in the
Corps (also referred to as
Ground Roving Unit – Not Trained).
Such respect is what leads to inter-service rivalries in most
conversations that involve Veterans, on the playing field of
inter-service sports match-ups, and what makes the entire US
Military team unbeatable in any conflict if the politicians would
just the hell out of the way. Along the way in building the
Tradition of the Corps, military leaders around the globe and the
leaders of every other branch of U.S. military service have bestowed
upon the Marines, “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue” – Referring
to the victories in World War II, especially at Iwo Jima, the
largest all-Marine battle in history. Those words were uttered by
Admiral Nimitz's in his ringing endorsement of Marines fighting
on Iwo Jima and has carried over and applied to the entire Marine
Corps.
By Ed Mattson
Copyright 2011
Reprinted from Veterans Today
About Author: Following his service in the Marine Corps Ed Mattson built a diverse career in business in both sales and marketing and management. He is a published author and medical research specialist. He is currently Development Director of the National Guard Bureau of International Affairs-State Partnership Program, Fundraising Coordinator for the Warrior2Citizen Project, and Managing Partner of Center-Point Consultants in North Carolina. Mr. Mattson is a noted speaker and has addressed more than 3000 audiences in 42 states and 5 foreign countries. He has been awarded the Order of the Sword by American Cancer Society, is a Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow and appeared on more than 15 radio and television talk-shows.
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