Marines Hymn
United States Marines revisit their storied past every time they hear the Marines Hymn. As Senior Enlisted Leaders, you are vital in linking your service’s heritage with current operations because your subordinates must realize the ongoing expectation in order for them to persevere through hardship. This paper will cover the background of the Marines Hymn and how the Hymn serves to link present day Marines with the Corps’ heritage.
Background
Considered the oldest service song among all branches of the United States Armed Forces the actual date the Marines Hymn originated is not clear. The tune of the Marines Hymn finds its origin in the 1867 French opera Genevieve de Brabant written by composer Jacques Offenbach (Library of
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Congress [LOC], n.d.). First copyrighted by the United States Marine Corps on 18 August 1919, the Marines Hymn went through a couple of minor changes as the Marine Corps evolved into its role as America’s premiere amphibious fighting force. Notably in 1942, the Commandant of the Marine Corps approved a slight change to the first verse of the Marines Hymn. The approved change added the words “in the air” as a nod to the Corps’ recent addition of aviation assets to its deadly capabilities (United States Marine Corps [USMC], n.d.). The Marines Hymn serves as a reminder of the hard fought battles of the Marine Corps’ past as well as a forecast of hardships yet to come.
Some of the lyrics reference historic battles or campaigns in Marine Corps History. The “Halls of Montezuma” speaks to Marine actions in the Mexican – American War when U.S. Marines struggled and fought their way into Mexico City. The “Shores of Tripoli” references earlier action when the Marines captured the city of Derna in Tripoli during their campaign against the Barbary Pirates (LOC, n.d.). The Hymn moves on to forecast battles and wars to come. The lyrics “In the Snow of Far Off Northern Lands” immediately brings to mind the struggles endured by Marines in the frozen landscape of the Korean War. “Sunny Tropic Scenes” foretells of the beaches and jungles of the Japanese Empire where heroic Marines fought and died during World War II. “In the Air, on Land, and Sea” serves as a promise to the future enemies of America. That her Marines can and will engage them no matter where they may be. Having covered the background of the Marines Hymn this paper will now explore how the Hymn provides current Marines with an enduring link with the heritage of their …show more content…
Corps. Heritage The Marine Corps emphasis on its history is readily apparent in its entry level training pipeline for both Officer and Enlisted Marines. Pounded into the hearts and souls of Marines from the day they enter their basic training, committing to memory the names of heroic Marines and historic battles serves two purposes. It ties the current generation of Marines with the heroism and bravery of Marines that came before while making crystal clear the expectations of their own future conduct. The Marines Hymn assists in this effort tremendously.
It is an enduring reminder of past battles and a link to today’s struggles. Marines in the sweltering heat of Iraq or the bitter cold of Afghanistan can take heart in the fact that they are not suffering alone. They are carrying the legacy of their Corps by fighting “in any clime or place where [they] could take a gun.” They are living up to the expectations of valor and bravery alluded to throughout the Marines Hymn. This process allows current Marines to relate to the struggles endured by past generations of Marines and reminds them of their obligation to do the
same. This paper described the background of the Marines Hymn and the important role that the Hymn plays in linking modern day Marines with the heritage of their predecessors. As Senior Enlisted Leaders, understanding the historical significance of your service song can help you endure hardship because it provides you with a ready link to your service’s heritage. An American journalist, Robert Sherrod, spoke about a service’s dependence on its heritage when speaking about the Marines in action at the Battle of Tarawa. “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” (Sherrod, 1943).
The Marine Corps today has developed itself into an elite fighting force based on strong naval traditions. The basic Marine is amphibious, which means that the warrior is capable of fighting on land and sea. The idea of an amphibious landing was developed through the training of the Marine Raider Battalions, which was tested and perfected in combat. Although there were two Raider Commanders with very different views on how to prepare their marines, Evans Carlson and Merritt Edson were responsible for training lightly armed Marines for amphibious assaults.
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are always a Marine and you will never let another Marine down.’ Etc. & etc.
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and Drill Instructors see Boot Camp. Why did he pick the Marines as his topic? Attracted to the Corps perception and morale, Thomas E. Ricks expresses the Marines as the only service still upholding its honor and tradition. Due to society changing into a commercial society with a “me” attitude, civilians focus on how they can splendor themselves with material items—never looking at the big picture at all that we can accomplish as a team if we give our heart and soul to life. Team means everyone on earth, for we are the people that provide for one another with peace and prosperity.
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