Captain Samuel Nicholas sets up the first Marine Corps recruiting headquarters at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA, looking for "a few good men." The "Few and the Proud" who make up today's ranks are comprised of men and women who have the resolve to fight and win for our Nation's common cause.

Five companies of Marines carry out the Corps’ first amphibious landing on foreign soil, successfully seizing stockpiles of British gunpowder and munitions.

The Marines rescue the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia on the shores of Tripoli. They receive the nickname “Leatherneck” due to the high collar they wore as protection against the sabers of pirates.

Marine forces launch a last-ditch close combat assault against German soldiers and completely shred the defensive counterattack. Surviving German soldiers nicknamed their adversaries “Devil Dogs,” due to their relentless fighting spirit.

Several innovative tactical strategies were used by the Marines to capture the Japanese airfield, including intense Close Air Support for Marine ground forces. From the Father of Marine Aviation, Alfred Cunningham, "The only excuse for aviation in any service is its usefulness in assisting the troops on the ground."

The flag raising on Mt Suribachi on February 23, 1945, was a vital moment at the Battle of Iwo Jima, propelling the U.S. to victory on the tiny volcanic island three weeks later. Today, this symbol serves as a permanent reminder of the fighting spirit found in our Marines and the resiliency shared by our entire Nation. "Uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Outnumbered 8 to 1 and cut off from air support, the 1st Marine Division battled and defeated 10 Chinese infantry divisions through snow, -40ºF temperatures, and dangerous terrain to rejoin American forces.

Lasting 33 days, the Battle of Hue was an intense, unrelenting ground battle that deployed block-by-block street fighting strategies, hammering back defensive forces and allowing Marines to secure the city.

Combining precise air operations, tenacious amphibious assaults, and grueling ground tactics to push back invading Iraqi forces, the Marines, in concert with UN forces, lead in one of the most successful modern operations.

Within two months of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Marines were the first major ground forces in Afghanistan, focused on defeating Al-Qaeda. By mid-December Marine forces had captured Kandahar Airport, creating one of the first coalition command centers.

Using street-level ground tactics first deployed during Vietnam, Marines in dense metropolitan areas like Fallujah breached, searched, and cleared areas, building by building, to root out insurgents.

"The Marine Corps will be the 'force of choice' for the President, Secretary, and Combatant Commander. No matter what the crisis, our civilian leaders should always have one shared thought—Send in the Marines." —General Berger, 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps