The document provides a detailed history of the United States Marine Corps from its origins in ancient Greece and Rome through World War 2. It describes how the Marines were first used by ancient civilizations for naval combat and evolved to also serve on land. It then summarizes the formation and key battles/campaigns of the US Marines throughout American history, including the Revolutionary War, Barbary Wars, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars 1 and 2, and more.

4. The Greeks used marines on ships to fight off Persian attacks. Themistocles issued a decree that every ship have 20 marines.

5. Romans also used Marines but not only on sea but on land. They lasted through out the remainder of the empire.

23. The Civil War Marines In 1861, the civil war started. At the beginning, the Marine Corp’s total strength was 1,892 men. As the Army and the Navy had, a number of Marines felt obligated to defect to the South and their home states.

24. The Civil War Marines The Confederates The Confederate congress authorized a Marine Corps of 10 companies. The confederate Corps strength was at 539 men, 2 captains, 3 lieutenants, and 62 enlisted men who were prisoners of war.

25. The Civil War Marines The Union After the defection of the confederates, the remaining Marines, 13 officers and 336 enlisted, left at the barrack were quickly formed into a battalion. At the first battle of Bull Run, the Union Marines made a valiant stand before having to retreat when their flanks gave in. That was the first, and last instance of Marines turning their backs to an enemy.

52. The 2 nd army division and the French 4 th army division captured the town of Soissons before moving on to Saint-Mihiel. The command of the army division was then turned over to the Marines. By this time the Germans were identifying the Marines as the elite. The Germans called them “Teufel Hunden” or “devil dogs” which is how they adopted the nickname.