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An Anonymous Canadian Citizen:



"Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it was some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts so short as to be ungentlemanly, worshipping their Commandant as if he was a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages. They'll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action and are the cockiest SOB's I've ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man's normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart. Generally speaking, of the United States Marines with whom I've come in contact, they are the most professional warriors and the finest men I've had the pleasure to meet."

The exact origin of the term is unknown. According to tradition in the United States Marine Corps, it was given by German soldiers to U.S. Marines who fought in the Belleau Wood in 1918, for the ferocity with which they attacked the German lines. An official German report classified the Marines as "vigorous, self-confident, and remarkable marksmen..."



The actual spelling, "Teufel Hunden", is not a correct spelling in German. The correct German spelling is Teufelshunde.



Currently in the Marine Corps, the term Devil Dog is a common nickname for all Marines. To call a U.S. Marine a "Devil Dog" was once considered derogatory, unless it's coming from a fellow Marine. However, now it's far more acceptable. Within the Marine Corps, addressing a senior ranking Marine by this title is not common and may be considered offensive.

COMMENTS

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Oceanne
20:21 Mar 19 2008

I will ask my dad and sister about this..kool.

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LeatherNeck
20:31 Mar 19 2008

What... don't trust the source?



I served with Imagesinwords; we were stationed together in Iwakuni, Japan. I went to high school with her...

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Oceanne
23:45 Mar 19 2008

Trust has naught to do with it..he is old school Marine,sis is new gen..thought it would be interesting to get their take on it.Thats really kool you knew Images before here.

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The Battle of Belleau Wood happened during the German 1918 Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. Second and Third Divisions and a hodgepodge of German units including elements from the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th Divisions.



In a battle noteworthy in the US because of both its extremely bloody nature and its close proximity to the French capital of Paris, the American Expeditionary Forces launched a counter-attack designed to stop the German advance. The Second Division was tasked with taking the woods and the US 4th Marine Brigade, with its 5th and 6th Marine Regiments, was sent forward. In order to enter and take the woods, it was necessary to advance across an open field of wheat that was continuously swept with German machine gun and artillery fire. After Marines were repeatedly urged to turn back by retreating French forces, Marine Captain Lloyd W. Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines uttered the now-famous retort "Retreat? Hell, we just got here."



On 6 June, the casualties were the highest in Marine Corps history to that point. Overall, the woods were attacked by the Marines a total of six times before they could successfully expel the Germans. They fought off more than four divisions of Germans, often reduced to using only their bayonets or fists in hand-to-hand combat. One of the most famous quotations in Marine Corps lore came during the initial step-off for the battle when Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly prompted his men forward with the words: "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" Many of the men in that initial charge were mowed down by German machine-guns.



On 26 June, a report was sent out simply stating; "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely," ending one of the bloodiest and most ferocious battles U.S. forces would fight in the war.

Iron Mike is the de facto name of various monuments commemorating servicemen of the United States military. The term "Iron Mike" is uniquely American slang used to refer to men who are especially tough, brave, and inspiring. Because the use of the slang term was popular in the first half of the 20th century, many statues from that period acquired the “Iron Mike” nickname, and over the generations the artists' titles were largely forgotten. Even official military publications and classroom texts tend to prefer the nickname to the original titles.



Quantico’s Iron Mike is officially titled “Crusading for Right”. It depicts a World War I Marine holding a 1903 Springfield rifle, wearing a pack with a bayonet.



At the end of the war, US Army General John J. Pershing commissioned the French sculptor Charles Raphael Peyne to commemorate the service of the US Army’s "doughboys". The sculptor, unaware of the differences between the branches of service, used a Marine private as a model and included the Eagle, Globe and Anchor insignia on the helmet. When Pershing saw the finished product, he demanded that the Marine Corps insignia be removed. The artist would not allow his work to be censored, so the Army refused to buy the statue.



Finally, Marine Corps General Smedley Butler raised enough money to buy the statue and had it installed in front of the headquarters building at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. The statue was begun in 1918 and first exhibited at the Exposition des Beaux Arts of the Grand Palaise des Champs-Elysees, in Paris in May 1919. Marine Officers and Enlisted donated money to purchase the statue, and it was sited in front of the Base Headquarters, Building 1019, in Quantico, Virginia, some 75 miles from DC and a bit off the tourist trail. Three tablets were erected in the memory of the officers and men of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, 5th Regiment and 6th Regiment, United States Marines, "who gave their lives for their country in the World War in 1918" by the Thomas Roberts Reath, Marine Post No. 186, American Legion, on November 10, 1921. On December 8, 1921, the statue was dedicated.



Today, a recreation of this statue stands in front of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, outside the Quantico base. On that statue's base is the name "Iron Mike". The original statue remains in front of Butler Hall, home of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command.

As the platoon approached the compound, they saw a vehicle with two men in it. The Lieutenant ordered his men to stop the vehicle and to have the occupants of the vehicle handcuffed. The vehicle was searched for weapons.



The Lieutenant remained with the captives, while the rest of his platoon secured the compound. The compound was deserted, but his men found a cache of arms, including several mortar aiming stakes, a flare gun, three AK-47 rifles, 10 AK-47 magazines with assault vests and IED making material.



When the Lieutenant learned that the compound contained weapons, he ordered his Sergeant and Corpsman to watch for enemies. The Lieutenant then released the captives from their bonds, violating basic detainee handling procedures calling for detainees to be segregated from each other. The Lieutenant then used hand signals to order the captives to search the vehicle.



During the search of the vehicle the Lieutenant felt the men posed a threat to him. They were talking, and the Lieutenant believed they were conspiring together. When they both turned to face each other, he shouted "Stop!", and when they did not, he shot them.



After emptying his magazine, he continued to fire. The Lieutenant later stated:



"I then changed magazines and continued to fire until the second magazine was empty... I had made a decision that when I was firing I was going to send a message to these people and others that when we say, 'No better friend, No worse enemy,' we mean it. I had fired both magazines into the men, hitting them with about 80 percent of my rounds."

COMMENTS

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LeatherNeck
12:01 Mar 15 2008

When in doubt... empty the magazine!



Two in the chest - one in the head!

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Speech by RADM J. Stark, USN, and President of the Naval War College



The first reason I like Marines: They set high standards for themselves and those around them, and will accept nothing less.



I like the way Marines march.



I like the way Marines do their basic training whether it's Quantico, San Diego, or Parris Island.



I like the idea that Marines cultivate an ethos conducive of producing hard people in a soft age.



I like the fact that Marines stay in shape.



I like the fact that the Marines only have one boss - The Commandant. And I like the directness of the Commandant.



I like the fact that Marines are stubborn.



I like the way Marines obey orders.



I like the way Marines make the most of the press.



I like the wholehearted professionalism of the Marines.



It occurred to me that the services could be characterized by different breeds of dogs:



The Air Force reminded me of a French Poodle. The poodle always looks perfect...sometimes a bit pampered and always travels first class. But don't ever forget that the poodle was bred as a hunting dog and in a fight it's very dangerous.



The Army is kind of like a St. Bernard. It's big and heavy and sometimes seems a bit clumsy. But it's very powerful and has lots of stamina. So you want it for the long haul.



The Navy, God bless us, is a Golden Retriever. They're good natured and great around the house. The kids love'em. Sometimes their hair is a bit long... they go wandering off for long periods of time, and they love water.



Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean or skinny and mean. They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat. That sounds like a Marine to me!



So what I really like about Marines is that first to fight isn't just a motto, it's a way of life. From the day they were formed at Tun Tavern 200 plus years ago, Marines have distinguished themselves on battlefields around the world. From the fighting tops of the Bonhomme Richard, to the sands of Barbary Coast, from the swamps of New Orleans to the halls of Montezuma, from Belleau Wood, to the Argonne Forest, to Guadalcanal, and Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and Inchon, and Chosin Reservoir and Hue City and Quang Tri and Dong Ha, and Beirut, and Grenada, and Panama, and Somalia and Bosnia and a thousand unnamed battlefields in godforsaken parts of the globe. Marines have distinguished themselves by their bravery, and stubbornness and aggressive spirit, and sacrifice, and love of country, and loyalty to one another.



They've done it for you and me, and this country we all love so dearly. They asked for nothing more than the honor of being a United States Marine.



That's why I like Marines!

COMMENTS

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Khayman
23:58 Mar 16 2008

Ah yes, the United States Marine Corp.



Proudly and efficiently providing the enemy the opportunity to die for their country...



Since November 10, 1775.

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Khayman
23:59 Mar 16 2008

I dislike typos on things I cannot fix.



CorpS.... s on the end.



:: wanders off ::

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LeatherNeck
20:52 Mar 17 2008

You are forgiven. :O)

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