Born in a Tavern, Forged in War

United States Marines are a unique breed. First, their branch of service was born in a bar called Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA, on November 10, 1775. At the time, they came from different backgrounds, were apt to violence, and had a taste for alcohol. As you can see, not many things have changed.

Throughout the country’s history, Marines have distinguished themselves on and off the battlefield, whether scaling the Halls of Montezuma and advancing to the shores of Tripoli, or working the Toys for Tots campaign in the States. As the country has evolved in warfare, US Marines have kept up with the pace. However, their core values have never changed: honor, courage, and commitment.

Marines have gone on to fight in America’s major engagements, whether at Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima, the Inchon Landing, the Battle of Hue City, Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Storm, the Battle for Fallujah, and Operation Enduring Freedom, to name a few. They are America’s quick reaction force, always ready to respond to a crisis at a moment’s notice. They are our shock troops, expected to assault the enemy quickly, forcefully, and unexpectedly. Marines have a saying in the Corps: “Every Marine a rifleman.” They are expected to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy. And they do a fine job of that.

But the Marines are a lot more than a hammer looking for a nail. US Marines have conducted various peacekeeping, humanitarian, and disaster relief missions, such as in Haiti in 2004. They have also deployed to Cambodia, Tajikistan, and East Timor. As General James Mattis said, there is “no better friend, no worse enemy” than a United States Marine.

That said, Marines have the foulest mouths and use the most obscene language with each other. Yet they will be quick to do the unthinkable and die for one another, as they see each other as brothers and sisters. They drink more alcohol than anyone I have ever seen, yet they will show up the following morning, bright and early, for physical training, outperforming most of their peers in the other services. They hold the other services in contempt for not meeting the same standards (some crayon-eating jokes may be involved), yet they will also move the world to go to their aid in the field of battle.

Each year, Marines from the past, present, and future get together and celebrate the birthday of their service with a Marine Corps Ball. This usually involves a cake-cutting ceremony with the youngest and oldest Marine, food, alcohol (of course), music and dancing, as well as a guest speaker. This writer had the great fortune of having many Marines in his life, including his older brother who served during Vietnam, MECEP Marines he met in college who helped keep him from dropping out, and a certain police academy instructor who will forever be his mentor.

This year, on the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, I would like to say thank you for your service to this great nation of ours. Stay strong, and Semper Fidelis!

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Nader Gamez grew up with a mix of influences. He calls himself “basically a Chicago street thug blended with a border-town Texican and a dash of Madison Midwesterner.” He earned a BA in International Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a minor in drinking.

Since then, he has worked in law enforcement and corrections with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the Waukesha Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and Mendota Mental Health Institute. He has also competed in amateur boxing and played with local rugby clubs.

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.