History of the Marine Corps

Marines played a key role in U.S. operations in the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. What started as a campaign to drive out Spanish forces quickly turned into a brutal insurgency, as Filipinos who had fought for independence under Spain now found themselves resisting a new occupying force. In this episode, we cover the early years of the Philippine-American War. This chapter explores t...

When we left off in our last episode, Colonel Joseph W. Knighton posed two critical questions to Commandant General Alexander Vandegrift. This episode picks up from that turning point. We'll cover how the Marine Corps integrated women in the post–World War II years, how leadership resisted and adapted, and how women Marines steadily expanded their roles from clerks and administrators to instructor...

This episode marks a critical shift in the Marine Corps' story. One that recognizes the courage, determination, and professionalism of the first women to earn the title "Marine." From Opha Mae Johnson in World War I to the 18,000+ women serving in World War II, their legacy is undeniable. These women proved their value in every MOS available to them, challenged outdated norms, and opened permanent...

This episode closes out the Marine Corps' long and difficult involvement in Haiti, covering the final years of occupation, the death of rebel leader Benoit Batraville, and the ultimate withdrawal of Marines in 1934. While Marines restored order, built infrastructure, and trained local forces, their role in suppressing rebellion and enforcing harsh policies left lasting damage. Atrocities committed...

This episode tells the story of one of the most daring and cinematic missions in Marine Corps history: the assassination of Haitian rebel leader Charlemagne Péralte. Disguised as locals and guided by an undercover informant, Sergeant Herman Hanneken and Corporal William Button infiltrated six rebel outposts before reaching Charlemagne's inner circle. In a sudden and precise strike, they killed Cha...

In both the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, the U.S. moved from diplomatic oversight and economic leverage to full military occupations. Marines were running governments, rebuilding infrastructure, and enforcing American foreign policy at the ground level. In the Dominican Republic, the Corps faced years of ambushes, bandit warfare, and rising local resentment. Despite improvements in health, ed...

This episode highlights the peak of U.S. military intervention in Nicaragua, where the Marine Corps carried the burden of stabilizing a nation caught in continuous civil war and political breakdown. Initially sent to disarm warring factions and oversee fair elections, Marines were soon thrust into full-scale counterinsurgency against Sandino's growing rebel force.  Political divisions in Washingto...

This episode tracks the deepening U.S. military involvement in Nicaragua during the early 20th century. What started as a limited response to protect American property evolved into a full-scale intervention. Under officers like Smedley Butler and Joseph Pendleton, Marines carried out combat operations, secured key infrastructure, and enforced U.S. foreign policy with both force and diplomacy. From...

What began as a limited intervention in Cuba escalated into a long-term pattern of rapid Marine deployments throughout Latin America. From the 1906 occupation of Cuba to repeated landings in response to political unrest, Marines proved capable of stabilizing volatile regions with limited resources. Their missions expanded from protecting American property to enforcing U.S. foreign policy, often in...

This episode covers a critical turning point for the Marine Corps and American foreign policy. After the fall of Mexico's President Madero and the rise of Huerta's regime, the U.S. launched a full-scale military response, culminating in the 1914 occupation of Veracruz. Marines led the charge, executing urban combat, securing key infrastructure, and even handling civil tasks like sanitation. The U....

This episode marks the beginning of a new era for the Marine Corps. Between 1898 and World War I, Marines were no longer just a shipboard force. They were central to U.S. foreign policy in Latin America, especially during the Banana Wars. From Panama to Mexico, Marines became the go-to unit for rapid intervention, counterinsurgency, and stability operations.  Their efforts helped shape the U.S. ro...

As the 19th century closed, the Marine Corps transitioned from a small peacetime force into a rapidly growing expeditionary unit. The Spanish-American War was the catalyst. Marines executed the first amphibious assault in Cuba, secured Guantánamo Bay, and played a role in key operations across the Pacific. This episode tracks the shift on how the Corps went from being a marginal asset to a key pla...

This episode covers an often overlooked period of Marine Corps activity during the Gilded Age. While the nation focused on industry and expansion, Marines were deployed globally, supporting U.S. interests, protecting trade routes, and enforcing treaties. In Panama, they were involved in repeated interventions to stabilize a region critical to future canal plans.  At home, the Corps faced low moral...

After the Civil War, the Marine Corps entered its quietest era. There were no major wars, little funding, and almost no growth. But quiet didn't mean inactive. While the U.S. focused on rebuilding and chasing economic progress during the Gilded Age, Marines adapted. They manned ships, patrolled foreign ports, broke up riots at home, and took part in some of the earliest examples of U.S. global pre...

This episode covers the final months of the Civil War, focusing on the Marine Corps' role at Fort Fisher. It was the last major Confederate stronghold on the coast, and its fall marked the beginning of the end for the South. Marines were tasked with supporting a large-scale amphibious assault, but confusion, poor communication, and leadership breakdowns turned the operation into a disaster. After...

This episode covers a critical turning point in the history of the Marine Corps during the Civil War. When Commandant John Harris died, Gideon Welles had to decide who would lead the Corps through one of the most chaotic moments in American history. Internal politics, personal rivalries, and competing visions for the Corps' future all played a role in the selection of Colonel Jacob Zeilin as the n...

From the Union's early success at Hatteras Inlet to the brutal battles involving the ironclads Monitor and Virginia, Marines played a direct role in both offensive and defensive operations along the coast. We'll look at how the Corps supported naval campaigns, responded to Confederate innovation like the CSS David, and how Marines adapted to shifting priorities as the war dragged on. We'll also to...

As the country fractured over slavery, the Marines went from peacetime readiness to crisis response, supporting naval blockades, fort defenses, and coastal raids. From amphibious landings in North Carolina to nighttime raids in Florida, the Corps played a supporting but critical role in shaping the early war effort.  Their missions were small, fast, and dangerous. Most of the Marines who fought in...

This episode looks at the lead-up to the Civil War and the role the Marine Corps played during one of the most volatile periods in American history. We trace how the debate over slavery started long before Lincoln took office and how international pressure, domestic politics, and expanding territory pushed the country to the breaking point.  ************* Visit  HistoryoftheMarineCorps.com  to sub...

This episode picks up at the end of the U.S. campaign in California, as the military shifted from combat operations to controlling and organizing newly claimed territory. We follow the final actions of Commodore Stockton and Captain Archibald Gillespie as they transition out of California and back to Washington.  We also dig into the larger impact of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the growing gl...

After losing Los Angeles to rebels, Archibald Gillespie sent word north, triggering a chain of events that brought Marines, sailors, dragoons, and militia into a series of brutal fights to retake the city. What followed were weeks of poor leadership, failed assaults, and hard lessons, culminating in the bloody Battle of San Pascual.  We'll walk through the breakdown in command, the resilience of t...

This episode picks up as the U.S. shifts its attention west during the Mexican-American War. While Lieutenant Archibald Gillespie carried out covert operations across California, Marines were being mobilized, and the Navy split its focus. What followed was a fast-moving campaign marked by near-bloodless landings, flag raisings, and the temporary conquest of California. Holding ground was another s...

This episode focuses on First Lieutenant Archibald Gillespie, a Marine handpicked by President Polk to carry out a secret mission in California before war officially broke out. Gillespie was gathering intelligence, delivering covert messages, and helping shift the political landscape in favor of the United States. His mission was critical to gaining control of California without triggering interna...

In this episode, we cover the final campaign of the Mexican-American War. We'll follow the Marines and sailors from the assault on Alvarado to the brutal campaign through the Tabasco River, Tuxpan, and eventually inland toward the capital. Disease, harsh terrain, and supply issues challenged the campaign at every step, but the final push came with the assault on Chapultepec Castle. The Marines pla...

In this episode, we're focusing on the Navy and Marine operations along Mexico's eastern coastline. The story begins with Marines being the first U.S. troops to cross into Mexican territory and follows their involvement in key amphibious assaults, including the challenging campaigns at Alvarado, Frontera, San Juan Bautista, and Tampico.  We'll look at what went wrong, what the Corps learned, and h...