The United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Information from www.militaryfactory.com 

www.marines.com 

www.1stbattalion9thmarinesfirebase.net

Military Terminology:

Battalion: A military unit of around 300 – 1200 soldiers, usually consisting of two to seven companies, generally commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel. Several battalions groped form a regiment or brigade.

Company: A military unit generally consisting of 80-225 soldiers, usually commanded by a Captain, Major of Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons.

Platoon: A military unit typically composed of 2 – 4 sections, or squads, containing 16 – 50 soldeirs. Platoons are generally the smallest military unit to be led by a commissioned officer, the Platoon Leader, who is usually a lieutenant.

Squad: In the USMC, a squad is typically composed of three fireteams of four Marines and a Squad Leader, typically a Sergeant of Corporal.

Seven Uniformed Services of the US Military, in order of precedence by ceremonial formation

1. United States Army (Armed)

2. United States Marine Corps (Armed)

3. United States Navy (Armed)

4. United States Air Force (Armed)

5. United States Coast Guard (Armed)

6. United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (Unarmed)

7. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (Unarmed)

 

Rank in the United States Marine Corps (USMC)

- Ranks in the USMC consist of Enlisted Personnel, Warrant officers and Commissioned Officers, like in other US military branches

- The USMC does not maintain a 5-star rank, unlike other branches

- The USMC is the smallest of the major US Army services

- Rank in the USMC from lowest to highest

o Private (Pvt)

o Private First Class (PFC)

o Lance Corporal (LCpl)

o Corporal (Cpl)

o Sergeant (Sgt)

o Staff Sergeant (SSgt)

o Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt)

o Master Sergeant (MSgt)

o First Sergeant (!stSgt)

o Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt)

o Sergeant Major (SgtMaj)

o Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMarCor)

 

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) Facts

- Founded on November 10, 1775 by Captain Samuel Nicholas

- The United States Marine Corps is responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy for combined-arms task forces.

- It is one of seven Uniformed, and five armed, Services of the United States

- In civilian leadership structure of the US military, the Marine Corps is a component of the Navy

- Has been a part of the Department of the Navy since 1834

- Motto: “simper fidelis,” Latin for “always faithful” or “always loyal”

- Colors: Scarlet and Gold

- Mascot: English Bulldog

First African-American Marine Awarded Medal of Honor

1968: PFC James Anderson, Jr.  – The first African-American Marine awarded the Medal of Honor

Anderson was a member of the 3rd Marine Division, whose platoon came under intense enemy fire while advancing through the Vietnamese jungle. When an enemy grenade landed in the midst of their platoon and rolled next to Anderson, he selflessly grabbed the grenade and wrapped his own body around it as it exploded to save the others in his platoon.

 

Special Focus on:  First Battalion Ninth Marines, the 1/9, or The Walking Dead

- An infantry battalion of the USMC

- Active March 1, 1942 – September 9, 1994

- Reactivated in late 2005 and attached to the 8th Marine Regiment at MCB Camp Lejeune; on April 19, 2007 it once again had fully manned units and has been active since

- During the Vietnam War, the 1/9 sustained the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history

- The battalion comprises three infantry companies, one headquarters company and one weapons company

- During the Vietnam War

o Longest sustained combat of any in Marine Corps history

o Highest killed in action (KIA) rate in Marine Corps History

 Especially in the Battle of July Two

o This battalion was engaged in combat for 47 months and 7 days

 From June 15, 1965 to October 19, 1966

 From December 11, 1966 to July 14, 1969

o Based on typical battalion strength of 800 Marines and Navy Hospital Corpsmen

 93.63% (749) were KIA

 0.25% (2) were Missing in Action (MIA)

o Total casualties during Vietnam by Company

 H&S – 103

 Alpha – 185

 Bravo – 199

 Charlie – 130

 Delta – 132 

o Participated in 44 Operations during the Vietnam War

o Battle of July Two – July 2, 1967

 Opening engagement of Operation Buffalo (July 2-15, 1967)

 Short engagement along Route 561 between Gia Binh and An Kha

 Fought between the North Vietnamese Army 90th Regiment and A and B Companies of the 1st Battalion 9th Marines

 The North Vietnamese Army used mortar and small arms fire to cause heavy casualties on the A and B companies, and prevented their meeting up

 The 3rd Platoon tries to suppress the North Vietnamese

 Airstrikes allowed the 1st Platoon to meet up with the battered 2nd Platoon

 A small rescue force of C and D companies was sent out by 1st Battalion Commander, LtCol Richard Schening, and were able to secure the helicopter landing zone in order to evacuate casualties

 B company was decimated; A company only had remnants

 Combined 84 KIA, 190 wounded and 34 MIA, of the total 450 in combat

o Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients from the 1/9 in Vietnam

 First Lieutenant Wesley L. Fox

• Captain, USMC, A Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division

• For action at Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, February 22, 1969

 Sergeant Walter K. Singleton (awarded posthumously)

• Sergeant, USMC, A Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division

• For action at Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, February 22, 1969