We Love Our Country
"America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country."
Unites States Marines
The
United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States
military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1]
utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms
task forces. Alongside the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps operates as a
part of the United States Department of the Navy.
Originally organized as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 as
naval infantry, the Marine Corps has evolved in its mission with
changing military doctrine and American foreign policy. The Marine Corps
has served in every American armed conflict including the Revolutionary
War. It attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and
practice of amphibious warfare proved prescient and ultimately formed
the cornerstone of the Pacific campaign of World War II.
The Marines Hymn & Recruiting
The Marines Hymn is the oldest of the official songs of the Arms Services. Its Origin, However, is obscure. The Words date back to the 19th century, but the author remains unknown. The music comes form the opera "Genevieve de Brabant" which was written by Jacques Offenbah and first performed in Paris in 1859. The Marine Corps holds the copyright which is dated August 19, 1919.
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job--
The United States Marines.
Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.
The Mission
The United States Marine Corps serves as an amphibious
force-in-readiness. Today, it has three primary areas of
responsibility as outlined in
10 U.S.C. § 5063,
originally introduced under the
National Security Act of 1947:
1. The seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and other land
operations to support
naval campaigns;
2. The development of tactics, technique, and equipment used by
amphibious landing forces; and
3."Such other duties as the
President may direct."
The quoted clause, while seemingly a consequence of the President's
position as
Commander-in-Chief, is a codification of the
expeditionary duties of the Marine Corps. It derives from
similar language in the
Congressional Acts "For the Better Organization of the Marine
Corps" of 1834, and "Establishing and Organizing a Marine
Corps" of 1798. In 1951, the
House of Representatives'
Armed Services Committee called the clause "one of the most
important statutory—and traditional—functions of the Marine Corps.
Marine Expeditionary Unit
