On November 10, 1775, in a smoky Philadelphia tavern called Tun Tavern, two Continental Marine captains raised the first glasses to what would become the United States Marine Corps. Every year since, on this date, Marines worldwide pause to toast the Corps’ birthday—whether in a muddy foxhole, aboard a ship, or at a formal ball. Today marks the 250th anniversary of that founding moment, a milestone that invites reflection on the history, sacrifices, and enduring traditions of “The Few. The Proud.”
A Revolution Born in a Tavern
The Continental Congress didn’t create the Marines for glory; it needed shipboard infantry to seize British vessels and raid coastal strongholds. Captain Samuel Nicholas received the first commission, and within weeks, 300 volunteers—many of them Philadelphia dockworkers—formed two battalions. Their first action came in March 1776, when Nicholas led a landing party in the Bahamas, capturing Fort Montfort and its priceless gunpowder stores. The raid succeeded without a single Marine lost, proving the value of a small, disciplined amphibious force.
The Corps dissolved after the Revolution but was reborn in 1798 amid the Quasi-War with France. President John Adams signed the act establishing the United States Marine Corps as a permanent branch under the Navy Department. From Tripoli’s shores to the halls of Montezuma, Marines earned a reputation for going where others could not—or would not.
From Belleau Wood to Iwo Jima
World War I introduced the Marines to modern trench warfare. At Belleau Wood in June 1918, German reports labeled them Teufel Hunden—devil dogs—after the 4th Marine Brigade halted a German advance through a wheat field turned killing ground. Captain Lloyd Williams famously replied to a French order to retreat, “Retreat? Hell, we just got here.”
World War II scaled that ferocity across the Pacific. On Iwo Jima’s black sands, six Marines raised the flag atop Mount Suribachi—an image that still defines American resolve. The Corps paid dearly: 23,000 casualties in 36 days of fighting. Yet every island campaign—from Guadalcanal to Okinawa—relied on Marine amphibious doctrine refined since the 1930s.
Korea’s frozen Chosin Reservoir, Vietnam’s Khe Sanh, Iraq’s Fallujah, and Afghanistan’s Helmand Province added new chapters. In 2025, Marines still train for “crisis response” aboard amphibious ready groups, ready to evacuate embassies or strike terrorist strongholds within hours.
Traditions That Bind 250 Years
The birthday celebration itself is the oldest military tradition in continuous practice. The ritual is codified in Marine Corps Order 5060.20:
- The Cake: A sheet cake for the unit, a smaller cake for the oldest and youngest Marines present. The first slice goes to the guest of honor (usually the oldest Marine), who passes the second slice to the youngest—symbolizing the transfer of experience.
- The Reading: Every command reads the 1775 resolution and Commandant General Lejeune’s 1921 birthday message, which reminds Marines they are “first to fight” and keepers of an unbroken legacy.
- The Ball: Dress blues, swords, and the Empty Table ceremony honoring missing comrades. The Marine Corps Birthday Ball is the only military event where enlisted and officers dance the same floor as equals for one night.
Beyond November 10, traditions run deep:
- The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor: Earned only after The Crucible, the 54-hour capstone of boot camp. Recruits are no longer “maggots”; they are Marines.
- The Blood Stripe: Red stripes on NCO and officer trousers commemorate the 1847 Battle of Chapultepec, where 90 percent of Marine officers fell storming Mexico City’s castle.
- Semper Fidelis: Shortened from Duke of Exeter’s motto, it became the official Marine motto in 1883. The Marine Band plays it as “Semper Fi” at every change of command.
250 Years Strong
Today, 182,000 active-duty and 38,500 reserve Marines stand watch. Women now serve in every MOS, including infantry. The Corps fields F-35B stealth fighters that take off from amphibious assault ships and experiments with drone swarms and hypersonic missiles. Yet the ethos remains unchanged: a rifle company can still seize a beachhead with nothing but small boats and iron will.
So raise a glass—whether MRE coffee in a fighting hole or champagne at the ball—and echo the toast heard in every clime and place:
“To the United States Marine Corps—Happy 250th Birthday. Semper Fidelis.”