that counts! You are a Marine! It is what matters to you, and it is what matters to every other Marine. You know that you may never feel this important again, and you will spend the rest of our life living the code, and holding on to the feeling. That every Marine is a rifleman, and that the essence of the Corps resides with the lowest in rank, is the reason that the Corps bestows its name of its enlisted. No other service does this, they don't even understand.
But there is more to our story than our boot camp experience. There is our experience of sacrifice and our participation in the history & tradition of the Corps. We share stories and tell of the humor that got us through the tough times, but we also have stories we keep to ourselves, hiding the painful memories too personal to share.
Shared experience and personal sacrifice are reasons the Marine Corps is a Band of Brothers. It is the reason we celebrate today. The feeling you have when you become a Marine lasts a lifetime. Whether you serve 3 years, or 30, your experiences will never be for-gotten. You will never work as closely, or depend on others more, then you did in the Corps. The Corps is your family, you can never leave, and you are always welcome back. You are EXPECTED to come back!
This shared experience, and personal sacrifice is our common bond. It is why we love each other and our country so much, and why we cling to our traditions. Our celebration preserves and honors the memory of all who have gone before us and it is an example, and a standard,
But there is more to our story than our boot camp experience. There is our experience of sacrifice and our participation in the history & tradition of the Corps. We share stories and tell of the humor that got us through the tough times, but we also have stories we keep to ourselves, hiding the painful memories too personal to share.
Shared experience and personal sacrifice are reasons the Marine Corps is a Band of Brothers. It is the reason we celebrate today. The feeling you have when you become a Marine lasts a lifetime. Whether you serve 3 years, or 30, your experiences will never be for-gotten. You will never work as closely, or depend on others more, then you did in the Corps. The Corps is your family, you can never leave, and you are always welcome back. You are EXPECTED to come back!
This shared experience, and personal sacrifice is our common bond. It is why we love each other and our country so much, and why we cling to our traditions. Our celebration preserves and honors the memory of all who have gone before us and it is an example, and a standard,
for all who follow. In a time when there are so few proud and good examples to follow, when so little seems to count, our views, our beliefs, our PRACTICE of our tradition is, by others standards, EXTREME. We are perhaps all our country has left to guarantee that the principles upon which this nation was founded will survive.
Many presidents, and congress-men, have tried to do away with the Marine Corps, but we are still here. Why? The answer is simple -- America doesn't need a Marine Corps, America WANTS one! Marine, you are the reason she feels that way. Remember that, and feel good about it, especially today!
Thanks First Sergeant Bill McGrane, for sharing this with us on our 231st Marine Corps Birthday. This is the stuff that keeps us young at heart and always ready to serve. It still gives me chills and I love it.
Semper Fi, Earl Salmons SgtMaj USMC (Ret)
SERVICE NUMBERS (PRIOR TO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER CHANGED IT ALL) Source: Reference Branch History Division, HQMC 2006
1. Effective 1 July 1905, each enlisted man's file case was assigned a number and the file case filed numerically. The first, or lowest number assigned was 20,000. The numbers from zero through 19,999 were reserved for Headquarters "general files" correspondence.
2. Previous to 1 July 1905, the enlisted
Many presidents, and congress-men, have tried to do away with the Marine Corps, but we are still here. Why? The answer is simple -- America doesn't need a Marine Corps, America WANTS one! Marine, you are the reason she feels that way. Remember that, and feel good about it, especially today!
Thanks First Sergeant Bill McGrane, for sharing this with us on our 231st Marine Corps Birthday. This is the stuff that keeps us young at heart and always ready to serve. It still gives me chills and I love it.
Semper Fi, Earl Salmons SgtMaj USMC (Ret)
SERVICE NUMBERS (PRIOR TO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER CHANGED IT ALL) Source: Reference Branch History Division, HQMC 2006
1. Effective 1 July 1905, each enlisted man's file case was assigned a number and the file case filed numerically. The first, or lowest number assigned was 20,000. The numbers from zero through 19,999 were reserved for Headquarters "general files" correspondence.
2. Previous to 1 July 1905, the enlisted
men's cases were filed alphabetically and when there were two or more cases with the same name, the cases were filed by date of enlistment.
3. Circular Letter 432 of 15 February 1941 directed that beginning on 1 March 1941 the file case numbers became the identification, or serial, number for each enlisted man in the Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve. Enlisted men in the service on 28 February 1941 were assigned file (serial) numbers by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and their commanding officers informed. Each number was identical with the file case number then used to identify the man at Marine Corps Headquarters, and remained the same during the man's entire enlisted service. Each man enlisting in the Corps at the recruiting offices on and after 1 March 1941 was assigned a serial number by the recruiting officer immediately upon completion of the enlistment contract. The Commandant of the Marine Corps assigned blocks of numbers to recruiting districts for the purpose. A man enlisting at a Marine Corps activity other than recruiting, was assigned a serial number by Marine Corps Headquarters upon receipt of the enlistment paper, and the commanding officer of the man concerned was informed of that number. A re-enlisted man was reassigned the same serial number used to identify him during a previous enlistment.
4. In the early 1920's a number was assigned to each officer's file case from an alphabetical listing, thus an officer whose name began with "A" was assigned number "01",
3. Circular Letter 432 of 15 February 1941 directed that beginning on 1 March 1941 the file case numbers became the identification, or serial, number for each enlisted man in the Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve. Enlisted men in the service on 28 February 1941 were assigned file (serial) numbers by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and their commanding officers informed. Each number was identical with the file case number then used to identify the man at Marine Corps Headquarters, and remained the same during the man's entire enlisted service. Each man enlisting in the Corps at the recruiting offices on and after 1 March 1941 was assigned a serial number by the recruiting officer immediately upon completion of the enlistment contract. The Commandant of the Marine Corps assigned blocks of numbers to recruiting districts for the purpose. A man enlisting at a Marine Corps activity other than recruiting, was assigned a serial number by Marine Corps Headquarters upon receipt of the enlistment paper, and the commanding officer of the man concerned was informed of that number. A re-enlisted man was reassigned the same serial number used to identify him during a previous enlistment.
4. In the early 1920's a number was assigned to each officer's file case from an alphabetical listing, thus an officer whose name began with "A" was assigned number "01",