R. Lee Ermey Motivational Figure
Today the US Marine Corps turns 234 years old. Founded in 1775 by the Continental Congress, the Marines serve this country not only in military operations, as they were originally intended, but also in disaster relief efforts, counter-narcotics operations and peacekeeping missions. Over the years, the Marines have earned some interesting nicknames, including:
- Leatherneck - This term originated from the stiff leather stock that early Marines wore around their necks to protect their jugular vein against saber blows.
- Devil Dogs – After the battle at Belleau Wood in World War I called the Marines “Teufelhunden”, which translates to “Devil Dog”, because of their fierce fighting.
- Jarhead – This was a slang term used by sailors in World War II because Marines in their Dress Blues with the stiff collar resembled Mason Jars.
The Marines have been immortalized in American pop culture by several entertainers, the most notable being John Wayne. Although “The Duke” was never a Marine in real-life, he played a Marine in several of his 167 movies, including The Sands of Iwo Jima and Flying Leathernecks. If you’d like to learn more about the real Flying Leathernecks, visit the Flying Leathernecks Historical Foundation and Aviation Museum.
One of today’s most famous real-life-to-Hollywood Marines is Gunnery SGT R. Lee Ermey. He portrayed the doomed Gny. Sgt. Hartman in Full Metal Jacket and now educates us on firearms and ordnance in Lock ‘N Load with R. Lee Ermey.
Learn more Marine history. Happy Birthday, Marines. Semper Fi!
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Happy 234th, USMC. Oo-rah!