Lineage of the USMC Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Notably one of the most worldwide recognized emblems is the U.S.M.C. Eagle, Globe, and Anchor or EGA. Note: Eagle, Globe and Anchor as used herein are abbreviated as EGA for article space only. This is not meant as a demeaning abbreviation.

Continental Marines wore various uniforms during the American Revolution (1775-1783), without much standardization. Ships' captains or Marine officers in command provided uniforms for enlisted men. One of the most famous pictures of the Revolutionary War was painted by Charles Waterhouse. It depicts American Marines wearing red uniforms, almost identical to those worn by British Royal Marines. Other common depictions of Continental Marines show them wearing a green swallow-tailed coat with white trousers. There were no insignia on these uniforms.
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Religious Responses to Combat

It is a distinct honor to speak with fellow Marines, especially because in this group there is a breadth of experience in the Corps which spans the sweep of contemporary Marine Corps history. Here in this room are men and women whose service exemplifies the globe- spanning image of our Corps, much of our experience coming deployed under arms and in harms way. It is because of this breadth of actual combat experience, I intend to speak with yourather than to youabout the religious nature of our experiences. Because we speak as fellow Marines and combat veterans, I will try to avoid the technical language of professional preachers. Rather, my hope is to provide all of us with helpful patterns to organize our responses to combat within a religious framework read more

Talk about Old Corps

Sgt. Grit – Talk about the 'Old Corps'!  This is a picture of the 1st Aeronautics Company stationed in the Azores Islands in World War I.  It was the first US Military Aviation company to serve outside the continental US.  They hunted for, but did not find, German submarines.  The Commanding Officer was Major Evans.  He flew the sea plane in a loop, a feat thought impossible at the time and he received a Congressional Medal.  The Executive Officer was Major Brewster (Brewster Buffalo fame).  My dad was a mechanic who signed up "for the duration of the war" in Philadelphia, PA in 1917.  Major Evans' medal and the original photograph reside in the US Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA. read more

Da Nang 1970

Dear Sgt Grit,

I am a Marine from the Gulf War era who was raised by a Vietnam Veteran (Sgt. Greg Theis, USMC(ret.) and I just found a picture of my father in Da Nang in 1970.  My father is the surly Marine sitting down facing the camera with a cigarette in his mouth.   As you may have guessed by the hair pushing regs he was an airwinger; a Sergeant in the Crash Crew stationed at the multi-force air base near Monkey/Marble Mountain (?).  This photo was taken minutes before the rocket attack which severely injured my father and killed the Marine on the far right of the picture whose hand is all that made it into the photo.  That Marine who lost his life was standing in front of my father securing the fire-hose as they sprayed down a rocket pod from an F-4 Phantom.  The pod continued to fissle and eventually exploded in its stall landing my father in the burn ward of Naval Hospital Camp Lester for a year on Okinawa before being sent home for medical retirement.  Ironically Camp Lester was the Command that processed my medical discharge 25 years later for injuries I incurred during the Gulf War.  Feel free to post the picture if you think it would be appreciated.   read more

ROK Marine

I had Sgt Grit make a ball cap for my barber, a ROK Marine.  When I gave it to him, he had a smile from ear to ear.  He has many ROK Marine memorabilia in his shop, including U.S. Marines things.  This tells me “Once A Marine, Always A Marine” also refers to our ROK brothers.  I have attached a picture of the cap.  Thanks, Sgt Grit, for doing a great job in creating this cap.  By the way, no, I did not accept a free haircut. read more

The Holycross Award

I have some info. that I think should be shared. This is in reference to the previous info. on Warrant Officer Richard Holycross who was killed on Sept. 10, 1967.

The Holycross Award
 
This award was given to the Marine of the Year in Mike Company 3rd Bn., 25th Marines, 4th MarDiv. located on Yearling Rd., Columbus, Ohio. The award began in 1970 after the passing of Warrant Officer Richard Holycross, who was a Marine’s Marine. I was fortunate to be awarded in 1976,
as a Platoon Sergeant in Mike Company, which eventually became Lima Company in the 1980’s. A very good friend of mine, Cpl Moe Miller of White Cottage, Ohio was a Fire team leader and the Point man on that day of Sept. 10th, 1967 when Warrant Officer Holycross was killed. Corporal Miller witnessed his death on that day. Warrant Officer Holycross will always be a important part of this reserve company’s history and stand as a level of performance to achieve. read more