Section 101

Question 1

What year did the marines move under the department of the Navy?

Answer 1

1834

Question 2

Explain the FMFWO device (4 components)

Answer 2

The background is a surf wave crashing on the sandy beach (a littoral zone)

Two raised rifles

Eagle,Globe,Anchor signifies the Navy/MC team

Scroll says “Fleet Marine Force”

Question 3

Explain “first to fight”

Answer 3

Marines have been in the forefront of every American war since the founding of the Corps.

Marine entered the Revolution in 1775, even before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Marines carried out more than 300 landings on foreign shores.

Marines have served everywhere, from the Artic to tropics.

Their readiness reflects pride, responsibility, and challenge.

Question 4

Explain “Leathernecks”

Answer 4

Leather stock or neckpiece was part of the Marine Corps uniform from 1775 – 1875.

It was designed to protect jugular vein from saber slashes and insured Marines kept their heads erect and maintained military bearing.

Question 5

Explain “Devil Dogs”

Answer 5

Originates from Belleau Wood fighting in 1918, where the Germans referred to Marines as “Teufelhunden” meaning “fierce fighting dogs.”

Question 6

Explain “Espirit du corps”

Answer 6

The “unit spirit” which is described as devotion, loyalty, pride, and enthusiasm for the unit.

Question 7

Explain “uncommon valor was a common virtue”

Answer 7

Said by Admiral Nimitz, characterizing how the marines fought to achieve victories in WWII, especially at Iwo Jima, the largest all - Marine battle in history.

Question 8

Explain “semper fidelis”

Answer 8

A latin term that translates to “always faithful.”

Adopted in 1883.

Question 9

What event occurred in 1775?

Who was considered the first Commandant of the Marine corps?

Answer 9

The Marine Corps was created on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Tun Tavern by a resolution of the Continental Congress, which “raised two battalions of Marines.”

Captain Samuel Nicholas became the commander of these two battalions and is traditionally considered the first Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Question 10

What event occurred in 1805?

Answer 10

Marines stormed the Barbary pirates’ stronghold on Derna on the Shores of Tripoli.

Marines raised the Stars and Stripes for the first time in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Question 11

What event occurred in 1847?

Answer 11

During the Mexican War, Marines occupied the Halls of Montezuma during the Battle of Chapultepec in Mexico City.

Question 12

What event occurred in 1913?

Answer 12

The marine corps established its first aviation unit.

Question 13

What event happened in 1965?

Answer 13

Ssgt Josephine Gebers was the 1st woman Marine awarded the Combat Action
Ribbon

Question 14

What event happened in 1983?

Answer 14

23 October 1983. A suicide truck bomb attack on the HQ building killed 241 Americans and wounded 70 others.

Question 15

What event happened in 2004?

Answer 15

First Battle of Fallujah, codenamed Operation Vigilant Resolve.

Was unsuccessful attempt by US military to capture city of Fallujah.

Question 16

Who was Archibald Henderson?

Answer 16

“Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps.”

Became Commandant in 1820 and held command for 39 years until his death in 1859.

Introduced higher standards of personal appearance, training, discipline, and strived to have the Marine Corps known as a professional military force, capable of more than just sea and guard duties.

Question 17

Who is Daniel Daly?

Answer 17

During the Battle of Belleau Wood, Gunnery Sergeant Daly yelled to his men “Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” Earned 2 Medals of Honor.

Question 18

Who is Smedly D. Butler?

Answer 18

Earned 2 Medals of Honor: 1st in Veracruz and 2nd in First Caco War in Haiti.

Question 19

Who was John. A Lejune?

Answer 19

Major General Lejeune served as the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1920 – 1929.

He was the 1st Marine officer ever to command an Army division in combat, in France during WWI (1918).

Question 20

Who was Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller?

Answer 20

Lieutenant General Puller, known as the “Tiger of the Mountains.”

Marine Corps mascot is an English bulldog named “Chesty.”

Question 21

Who was Ira H. Hayes?

Answer 21

Corporal Hayes, a Pima Indian, was one of the Marines immortalized in the now famous photograph taken of the second flag raising on Mount Suribachi, shortly after the Japanese stronghold was taken on 23 February 1945.

Question 22

Who was Opha Mae Johnson?

Answer 22

Private Johnson became the Marine Corps’ first enlisted woman on 13 August 1918.

They were known as “skirt Marines” and “Marinettes.”

Question 23

Who was Annie L. Grimes

Answer 23

CWO Grimes was the 1st black woman officer to retire after her “full 20.”

Question 24

Who was Margaret A. Brewer?

Answer 24

Brigadier General Brewer, then a Colonel, served as the 7th and last Director of Women Marines, the only post-World War woman to hold the position.

She was the Marine Corps’ 1st woman to attain General officer on 11 May 1978.

Question 25

What was significant about the Battle of Belleau Wood?

Answer 25

Marines fought one of their greatest battles in history at Belleau Wood, France during WWI. Marines helped to crush a German Offensive at Belleau Wood that threatened Paris. German troops called their new enemy “Teufelhunden” or “Devil Dogs,” a nickname in which Marines share pride.

Question 26

What is significant about the Battle of Guadalcanal

Answer 26

On 7 August 1942, the 1st Marine Division landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and launched the 1st United States land offensive of WWII. This battle marked the 1st combat test of the new amphibious doctrine and also provided a crucial turning point of the war in the Pacific by providing a base to launch further invasions of Japanese-held islands.

Question 27

What is significant about the Battle of Tarawa?

Answer 27

Objectives were the Tarawa atoll and Betio Island that the Japanese proclaimed would take a million Americans 100 years to conquer. But, on 20 November 1943, Marines landed and secured the island within 76 hours.

Question 28

What is significant about the Battle of Iwo Jima?

Answer 28

Occurred on 19 February 1945 and was the largest all-Marine battle in history. Also, bloodiest with the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history. Admiral Nimitz said “among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Also, the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi occurred during this battle.

Question 29

What is significant about the battle of Hue City?

Answer 29

During the Vietnamese holiday of Tet in January 1968, Communist forces launched a surprise offensive by infiltrating large numbers of their troops into the major population centers of Hue City, South Vietnam. A (near division-size) unit of NVA troops occupied the city of Hue and application of heavy arms to minimize civilian casualties. Fighting was house-to-house with progress measured in yards. The city was secured on 25 February 1968.

Question 30

From X to Y, Z African American men came to which base to be trained separately by the marine corps? Which battles did the first African American marines serve in?

Answer 30

X: 1942 Y: 1949 Z: 20,000 Montford Point Camp in Jacksonville, North Carolina. They served in battles in Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

Question 31

In what year did the Marine Corps recruit Navajo Code Talkers? Famous Native American to first transmit battle messages by Telephone? How were Indian Code Talkers utilized in WWII?

Answer 31

WWI: 1941 and 1942 Chocktow They used everyday tribal languages to convey battle messages

Question 32

Who was Captain Anne Lentz?

Answer 32

First commissioned female officer (in 1943)

Question 33

Who was Private Lucille McClarren?

Answer 33

First enlisted woman (in 1943)

Question 34

Who was Lt Col Michelle Macander

Answer 34

1st female Marine to command a ground combat arms unit.

Question 35

What does the MC Emblem signify?

Answer 35

Eagle, Globe, & Anchor. Anchor signifies maritime traditions and close ties of the Marines Corps with the Navy. Globe shows the Western Hemisphere and signifies global service. Eagle is the national symbol of the United States. The eagle proudly carries a streamer in its beak which bears the motto “Semper Fidelis.”

Question 36

Explain the French Fourragere?

Answer 36

A french military award in the form of a braided cord. It was awarded by the French Ministry of War to those units which were cited 2 or more times in the French Orders of the Army. Once awarded, it became part of the cited unit’s uniform. The 5th & 6th Marine Regiments were cited during WWI, therefore all Marines serving in these units are authorized to wear the Fourragere.