What is the Marine Corps?

Did you know that one of the most elite fighting forces in the entire world actually started in a restaurant? It’s true! Back in 1775, the US Marine Corps was founded in a tavern in Philadelphia. Join Mira and Finn as we travel through time to see how a small group of people recruited in a pub became the legendary team they are today! We are diving into history to witness their very first mission raiding the Bahamas and charging onto the sandy beaches of Iwo Jima to raise the famous American flag. You will learn all about their super cool motto, Semper Fidelis, which means “Always Faithful.” From the American Revolution all the way to today, the Marines have been first to the fight in every single war! Get ready to discover how they train, what they wear, and why they are so important to history. It is an action-packed adventure full of bravery and big surprises you won’t want to miss!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to History's Not Boring by Kidopoly.com. I'm Mira! And I'm Finn! Before we dive into today's adventure, we have a very special shout-out for two of our favourite listeners, Grace and Charlotte West. Hey Grace!

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Hey Charlotte! They're six-year-old twins living all the way in Washington DC.

SPEAKER_00 0:22

That's right, and their dad is actually a Marine, so they wanted to hear all about the history of the United States Marine Corps. Sempify girls, this one is for you and your dad. Wait, Mira, what does Sempify even mean? It sounds like a secret code. It's actually short for Sempa Fidelis, which is Latin for always faithful. It's the motto of the Marine Corps. And Finn, did you know the entire Marine Corps started in a restaurant?

SPEAKER_01 0:52

No way. Like a pizza place. Were they fighting over the last slice?

SPEAKER_00 0:58

Not quite. On November 10, 1775, a group of men met at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia to start what would become one of the most elite fighting forces in the world. They went from recruiting guys in a pub to a force of over 180,000 active duty members today.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

180,000? That's enough people to fill up two of the biggest football stadiums in the country.

SPEAKER_00 1:25

Exactly. And it all began with a few handwritten notes and a guy named Robert Mullen, the tavern owner who became the first recruiter.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

So why did they need a Marine Corps anyway? Didn't they already have an army and a navy back in 1775?

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Great question! Back during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress realized they needed soldiers who could fight specifically on ships.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

They needed soldiers of the sea. Like sea soldiers. Were they swimming into battle?

SPEAKER_00 1:58

Not swimming, but they lived on the ships. They would climb up into the masts, the tall poles holding the sails, and use rifles to protect the ship during battles. Some of those masts were over a hundred feet high.

SPEAKER_01 2:13

Whoa, that's like standing on top of a 10-story building while the ocean is tossing you around.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Right? It took incredible balance. The very first leader was a man named Samuel Nicholas. He was commissioned as a captain on November 28, 1775. He had to find 250 men to form two battalions.

SPEAKER_01 2:35

Where did he find them? Did he just walk around Philadelphia asking for help?

SPEAKER_00 2:40

Pretty much. He and Robert Mullen set up a recruiting station at Tun Tavern. Legend says they offered people a free mug of cider or beer and a warm meal if they signed up to fight for independence.

SPEAKER_01 2:53

I'd probably sign up for a good snack too. But what was their first actual mission?

SPEAKER_00 2:59

Their first big test came in March 1776. They didn't fight in America. They sailed over 700 miles south to the Bahamas.

SPEAKER_01 3:09

The Bahamas? Were they going on a beach vacation?

SPEAKER_00 3:12

Hardly. They were there to capture gunpowder. The American rebels were running dangerously low on it, and the British had a huge supply at a place called Fort Nassau.

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Did they have to fight a giant sea battle to get the gunpowder?

SPEAKER_00 3:26

Actually, it was the first amphibious landing in Marine Corps history. On March 3, 1776, Captain Nicholas led 250 Marines and 50 sailors onto the beach at New Providence Island.

SPEAKER_01 3:42

Wait, amphibious like a frog. Does that mean they can go on land and water?

SPEAKER_00 3:47

Exactly. It means they start on boats and move on to the land. When they landed, the British were so surprised that the Marines captured two different forts without even firing a single shot. No shots. They just walked in and took it. Yep. They walked away with 88 cannons, 15 mortars, and enough gunpowder to help the American Revolution keep going for months. It was a huge win.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

That's awesome! But the Marines didn't stop there, right? They've been in every war since then.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Every single one. In 1805, during the Barbary Wars, they marched 600 miles across the Libyan desert to reach the city of Durna. That's like walking from Washington, DC to Atlanta, Georgia through burning hot sand.

SPEAKER_01 4:37

My legs hurt just thinking about that. Is that why they say to the shores of Tripoli in their song?

SPEAKER_00 4:44

Spot on, Finn! The Marine Corps hymn mentions the halls of Montezuma, too. That's from when they fought in Mexico City in 1847. They've travelled all over the globe for over 248 years.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

But Mira, what about the most famous moment? I've seen that picture of the soldiers holding up a flag on a mountain. Was that them?

SPEAKER_00 5:08

Yes, that is perhaps the most famous moment in their entire history. It happened during World War II on a tiny island called Iwo Jima. How tiny was the island? And why did they need it so badly? Iwo Jima is only about eight square miles. That's smaller than many airports. But it had air US level to help win the war in the Pacific. The battle began on February 19, 1945. Did they land in the water again? Like the frogs? Yes, but on a massive scale. Imagine 800 ships surrounding a tiny island. Over 70,000 marines landed on the black volcanic beaches. The sand was so soft that their boots sank in and they couldn't run. That sounds terrifying. How did they get to the top of the mountain? The mountain is called Mount Suribachi and it's 554 feet high. For four days they fought their way up. Finally, on February 23rd, a small group reached the top and raised a small American flag.

SPEAKER_01 6:19

I thought there was a big flag in the photo.

SPEAKER_00 6:21

Good eye! Later that day, they decided to put up a much bigger flag so the troops down on the beaches could see it. Six men, five Marines and one Navy corpsman struggled to lift a heavy steel pipe with the flag attached. Wait, what were their names? I want to know who they were. The men in the famous photo were Harlan Block, Harold Keller, Ira Hayes, Franklin Sowsley, Michael Strank, and Harold Schultz. A photographer named Joe Rosenthal snapped the picture in just one four-hundredth of a second.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

One shot in a tiny fraction of a second became the most famous photo in history. That's lucky.

SPEAKER_00 7:06

It really was. That photo gave hope to millions of people back home. It showed that even when things are incredibly hard, if you work together, you can achieve something great.

SPEAKER_01 7:18

So the Marine Corps is really about never giving up, right? Is that why their motto is always faithful? Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

Whether it's the Revolutionary War or today, they pride themselves on being the first to arrive and the last to leave. They're like a giant family. Once a Marine, always a Marine.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Okay, I need some woe facts, Mira. Give me the weird stuff.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Okay, did you know Marines have a nickname? They're often called leathernecks.

SPEAKER_01 7:48

Leathernecks? Did they have skin like a lizard?

SPEAKER_00 7:52

No. Back in the 1700s and 1800s, their uniforms had a high leather collar. It was designed to protect their necks from sword cuts and to keep their heads up straight. Ouch!

SPEAKER_01 8:04

That sounds itchy. What about their mascot? Do they have a cool animal like a lion?

SPEAKER_00 8:09

Even better, they have a bulldog! In World War I, German soldiers reportedly called the Marines Teufelhunden, which means devil dogs, because they fought so fiercely.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

Devil Dogs? That's a cool nickname. So they chose a bulldog to match.

SPEAKER_00 8:27

Yep, the official mascot is an English bulldog named Chesty, named after Chesty Puller, the most decorated Marine in history. The current mascot is Chesty the 16th. Wait, is the dog a real Marine? Does he have a uniform? He does! He has his own little dress blues uniform and everything. He even has a rank. He started as a private and can get promoted if he's a good boy. Alright, Finn, and everyone listening at home, it's time for the quiz! Are you ready to test your Marine Corps knowledge?

SPEAKER_01 9:01

I'm ready. I've been taking notes in my brain. First question.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

In what year was the United States Marine Corps founded in Philadelphia? Next one. What was the name of the tavern where the very first Marines were recruited? Question 3. What does the famous motto, Semper Fidelis, mean in English? Here's number four. What animal is the official mascot of the Marine Corps? Last question. On which islands mountain did the Marines raise the American flag during World War II? Great job! Let's see how many you got right. The first answer is the Marine Corps was founded in 1775. For question 2, the tavern was called Tun Tavern. Number 3, Sempa Fidelis means always faithful. Question 4. The mascot is an English bulldog. And the final answer is they raised the flag on Iwo Jima.

SPEAKER_01 10:17

Wow, Mira! I never knew so much history could start in a restaurant and end with a bulldog in a uniform. It's pretty incredible, right?

SPEAKER_00 10:26

Grace and Charlotte, we hope you enjoyed learning about your dad's amazing history. To him and all the Marines out there, thank you for your service.

SPEAKER_01 10:36

Yeah, that was awesome. Hey, if you like this episode, could you do us a huge favour and give us a five-star review?

SPEAKER_00 10:44

It really helps other kids find our show. Just scroll down on your podcast app and tap those five stars. It's faster than a marine landing on a beach.

SPEAKER_01 10:53

And don't forget to check out our site kidopoly.com. We have tons of fun games and cool activities that make learning even more of an adventure.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

If you want a shout out like Grace and Charlotte or have a topic idea, email us at hello at kidopoly.com. We love hearing from you.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

See you next time on Histories Not Boring.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

Bye everyone.