United States Marine Corps Quotes by Richard Harding Davis, Chester W. Nimitz, David Dixon Porter, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John W. Vessey, Jr., Alfred M. Gray and many others.
The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand.
By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their country which only history will be able to value fully. Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.
If the Marines are abolished half the efficiency of the Navy will be destroyed. They are as necessary to the well being of a ship as the officers. Instead of decreasing the Corps, I would rather hope to see a large increase, for we feel the want of Marines very much.
…Since 1775 the United States Marines have upheld a fine tradition of service to their country. They are doing so today. I am confident they will continue to do so.
We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?
Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary.
I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold.
Any officer can get by on his sergeants. To be a sergeant you have to know your stuff. I’d rather be an outstanding sergeant than just another officer.
I love my country more than anything. I spent 12 years in the United States Marine Corps. I know what it means to defend this country.
I can never again see a UNITED STATES MARINE without experiencing a feeling of reverence.
Heroism is endurance for one moment more.
The Marines fought almost solely on esprit de corps, I was certain. It was inconceivable to most Marines that they should let another Marine down, or that they could be responsible for dimming the bright reputation of their Corps. The Marines simply assumed that they were the world’s best fighting men.
There was always talk of espirit de corps, of being gung ho, and that must have been a part of it. Better, tougher training, more marksmanship on the firing range, the instant obedience to orders seared into men in boot camp.
We are United States Marines, and for two and a quarter centuries we have defined the standards of courage, esprit, and military prowess.
In the last analysis, what the Marine Corps becomes is what we make of it during our respective watches. And that watch of each Marine is not confined to the time he spends on active duty. It last as long as he is “proud to bear the title of United States Marine.”
A Marine should be sworn to the patient endurance of hardships, like the ancient knights; and it is not the least of these necessary hardships to have to serve with sailors.
The Marine Corps has just been called by the New York Times, ‘The elite of this country.’ I think it is the elite of the world.
