That’s how long my beloved Corps has served our republic. From the days when they wore forest green tunics and marched beneath the Gadsen flag, to today when they wear digital MarPat and serve as our nation’s expeditionary force in readiness, they have remained true to their core principles, the warrior ethos, and the motto Semper Fidelis.
Tonight I will have the distinct honor to attend the Birthday Ball as a guest of the South Florida Wounded Warriors Regiment. I have celebrated the birthday under many better times, and some worse, but this birthday will offer an opportunity to recharge my soul among my brothers. In the end that is what the day, and the brotherhood, is all about.
To all my fellow Leathernecks, happy birthday, fair winds and following seas.
Semper Fidelis
UPDATED
I would be remiss in not listing the campaigns which my Corps has served., especially after watching the tribute video from Go Daddy.com that Nealinnevada pointed out.
War of the Revolution 1775-1783
French Naval War 1798-1801
War with Tripoli 1801-1805
War of 1812
Battle of Twelve Mile Swamp, Florida September 11, 1812
Battle of Quallah Batoo Sumatra, February 6, 1832
Florida Indian War 1835-1842
Mexican War 1846-1847
Battler of Shanghai April 4, 1854
Battle of Ty-Ho Bay China August 4, 1855
Battle of the Barrier Forts China November 16-22, 1856
Battle of Waya Fiji Islands October 6, 1858
American Civil War 1861-1865
USS Wyoming vs Three Japanese Ships and Shore Battle July 16,1863
Battle of the Salee River Forts Korea June 10-11, 1871
War With Spain 1898
Philippine Insurrection 1898-1902
Battle of Tagali Samoa April 1, 1899
China Relief Expedition/Boxer Rebellion 1900
Nicaraguan Campaign 1912
Capture of Vera Cruz Mexico April 21-22 1914
Occupation of Haiti 1915-1934
Occupation of Dominican Republic 1916-1924
World War I 1917-1918
Occupation of Nicaragua 1927-1933
World War II 1941-1945
Korean War 1950-1953
Lebanon July 15 – September 30, 1958
Landing in Thailand May 16 – August 10, 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis October 24 – December 31, 1962
Dominican Republic 1965-1966
Vietnam War 1962-1973
Operation Eagle Pull Cambodia April 1975
Operation Frequent Wind South Vietnam April 1975
Mayaguez Rescue Operation Cambodia May 1975
Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt April 1980
Grenada October 1983
Lebanon 1982-1984
Operation Praying Mantis April 1988
Liberian Evacuation 1990
Desert Shield and Desert Storm 1990-1991
Kurdish Security Zone 1991 – Present
Bosnian Peacekeeping 1991 – Present
Somalia 1992-1993
Haiti 1992-1996
Rwanda Evacuation April 1994
Somalia Evacuation 1995
Kosovo 1999
Afghanistan 2001 – Present
Iraq 2003-2011
Haiti 2004 – Present
I should note that this is not an all inclusive list.
I’ll leave you with a little moto video.