Happy birthday to the U.S. Marine Corps!
Today, the Veterans History Project (VHP) is pleased to present the latest installment of our online exhibit, Serving: Our Voices. The newest edition, Semper Fidelis: the U.S. Marine Corps, celebrates the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps.
Established by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1775, November 10 is celebrated as the official birthday of the Marine Corps. As a fighting force capable of operating both on land and sea, Marines occupy a unique place in the American military. For the last 250 years, no matter where or when they served, Marines have remained true to their motto— “always faithful.”
Just as we did for the Army and the Navy birthday celebrations this year, VHP celebrates this milestone birthday with an online exhibit focused on the achievements of Marines who served from World War I through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Drawing from the over 11,500 Marine narratives in our collection, we’ve chosen 20 to highlight in the new exhibit.
The profiled veterans took part in some of the most storied—and infamous—battles and campaigns in American military history. Among them is Allen Melancthon Sumner, Jr., who fought at Belleau Wood during World War I, and Thomas Begay, a Navajo Code Talker who served on Iwo Jima during World War. Robert Barber weathered the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, while Dawn Maria Stratton and Maria C. Villescas took part in the historic deployment of American servicewomen during the Gulf War.
The online exhibit features the stories of two Medal of Honor recipients: William Kyle Carpenter, who served with the Marines in Afghanistan, and Hershel Woodrow Williams, who fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Alongside their accounts are other extraordinary stories—such as Giles McCoy, who offers a harrowing account of surviving the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in shark-infested waters during World War II.
These stories and more are just a small sampling of VHP’s larger archive of narratives relating to Marine veterans within the Veterans History Project archive. After viewing the online exhibit, you can dive into our full collection, and read other Marine-related blog posts. You can also help preserve the story of the Marine veteran in your life by submitting an oral history interview or original manuscript or photograph materials to the Veterans History Project, to be preserved in the permanent archives of the Library of Congress. See loc.gov/vets for more information.
Finally, in addition to the online exhibit, VHP is commemorating the Marine Corps’ birthday with an in-person exhibit in the Thomas Jefferson building. Read all about that exhibit here and stop by to see it in person if you’re in Washington, DC.
As the Veterans History Project marks its 25th anniversary, we reflect on the extraordinary collection of narratives and artifacts entrusted to us over the years. These stories, told through interviews, letters, photographs and personal mementos, form a powerful record of military service and sacrifice across generations.
To honor this milestone, we are sharing a 25-part blog series that highlights the voices of veterans, the individuals who shaped and sustained the project and the lasting impact these stories continue to have on families, researchers and communities nationwide. We invite you to follow the full series here and join us in celebrating the legacy and future of this important work.