From the War for Independence to the invasion of Iraq, the Marine Corps has been the first to enter many conflicts in an attempt to bring stability to struggling parts of the globe. Marines today are intensively trained and equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, primarily to attack in combined land, sea, and air operations.
| Conflicts | Other Events | Inclusive Date(s) | Explanation |
| American Revolution began |
April 19, 1775
|
War began as British troops fired on Minutemen on Lexington, Massachusetts, Common. | |
| The birthday of the Marine Corps |
November 10, 1775
|
The Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that "two battalions of Marines be raised." This marked the birth of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). | |
| Captain of Marines |
November 28, 1775
|
Samuel Nicholas commissioned as Captain of Marines. | |
| First amphibious raid |
March 3, 1776
|
The Corps' first amphibious raid on foreign soil occurred in the Bahamas, under the command of Capt. Nicholas. | |
| Declaration of Independence |
July 4, 1776
|
Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. | |
| Fort Nassau captured |
January 27, 1778
|
Capt. Nichols and 26 marines captured Fort Nassau in the Bahamas. | |
| Assault on Fort George |
July 28, 1779
|
Capt. John Welsh and 13 marines killed in assault on Fort George at Penobscot Bay, Maine. | |
| Battle between Bonhomme Richard and Serapis |
September 23, 1779
|
John Paul Jones' French-Irish marines participated in epic battle. | |
| Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia |
October 19, 1781
|
Off shore, the French fleet effectively blocked aid from reaching Cornwallis, while Gen. George Washington made life unbearable for the British troops with three weeks of shelling. | |
| Treaty of Paris (1783) / Marines disbanded |
October 4, 1783
|
The 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the War for Independence, and as the last of the Navy's ships were sold, the Continental Navy and Marines were disbanded. | |
| Naval Act of 1794 |
March 27, 1794
|
The Naval Act of 1794 re-established the US Navy and the USMC. The Constitution had 55 Marines assigned as part of its 450-man crew. The first detachment arrived at Edmond Hart's Shipyard in Boston. | |
| Shores of Tripoli | Marine Corps Band established |
July 11, 1798
|
"The President's Own" US Marine Band was established by an Act of Congress, and is America's oldest professional musical organization. The band was comprised of one Drum Major, one Fife Major, 32 drums and fifes. |
| Navy Yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts, is established |
1800
|
The first detachment of marines took up guard details and established one of the oldest marine barracks in the U.S. The yard is part of the Boston National Historical Parks system. | |
| First Barbary War |
April 27, 1805
|
Lt. Presley O'Bannon and seven marines led attack against Derna, Tripoli. One of two wars fought with the North African empire of Morocco and the Barbary States. | |
| War of 1812 began |
1812
|
U.S. declared war against Great Britain. Marine troop strength June 30, 1812: 10 officers, 483 enlisted men; June 30, 1815: 8 officers, 680 enlisted men. | |
| 1st Lt. Gamble and First Marines |
1813
|
On board the Essex, 1st Lt. John Marshall Gamble commanded the first marines in the Pacific. | |
| Oliver Perry defeated British fleet |
September 10, 1813
|
Marine Lt. John Brooks was killed when Oliver Perry defeated British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie. | |
| Marine levels undermanned |
April 1814
|
The authorized level for marines was set at 2,700. Recruiting was a continuing problem and authorization levels of marines were never reached. | |
| Battle of Bladensburg |
August 24, 1814
|
Also known as the Bladensburg Races, after American forces fled through the streets of Washington, D.C. British forces defeated U.S., which allowed Britain to capture and burn the capitol. | |
| War of 1812 Treaty |
December 24, 1814
|
Great Britain and U.S. signed treaty attempting to end the War of 1812. | |
| Marines helped defeat British at New Orleans |
January 8, 1815
|
Andrew Jackson, including marines under Maj. Daniel Carmick, defeated British at Battle of New Orleans. | |
| Marines assisted in Constitution victory |
February 20, 1815
|
Capt. Archibald Henderson led marines in "Old Ironsides" victory over Great Britain's Cyane and Levant off the coast of Africa. | |
| Marine Commandant appointed |
October 17, 1820
|
Henderson appointed Commandant, held position for 38 years, until his death. | |
| Marines quelled prison riot |
March 12, 1824
| Brevet Maj. Robert D. Wainwright and marines from Boston quelled riot in state prison. Story in McGuffey's Reader spread marines' fame. | |
| Capture of Quallah Battoo, Sumatra (Indonesia) |
March 12, 1824
|
Brevet Capt. Alvin Edson led attack at Quallah Battoo, Sumatra. Sailors and marines from the Potomac captured the city against stiff opposition. | |
| Second Seminole War |
1835 to 1842
|
In 1835, the massacre of a U.S. Army detachment in Florida, led by Seminole Chief Osceola, dictated use of naval and marine forces against the renegades. | |
| 1st Lt. Archibald Gillespie's secret orders |
October 30, 1845
|
President James K. Polk sent Marine 1st Lt. Archibald Gillespie to California with secret orders. | |
| Mexican War |
May 13, 1846
|
U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico | |
| Marines landed at Santa Barbara, California |
July 30, 1846
|
lst Lt. Jacob Zeilin led marine detachment ashore at Santa Barbara. Two weeks later Cdre. Robert Stockton, with 360 marines and sailors, entered Los Angeles. | |
| Marines landed ashore in Mexico. |
March 9, 1847
|
Capt. Alvin Edson led marine battalion ashore with Army forces at Veracruz, Mexico. Battles occurred at San Gabriel and La Mesa. | |
| Marines occupied Halls of Montezuma |
September 13, 1847
|
In Mexico City, marines helped to seize fortress of Chapultepec, and the next day, occupied the National Palace at the site of the Halls of Montezuma. | |
| Capture of the Chinese barrier forts |
November 20, 1856
|
50 Marines helped capture four barrier forts along the Pearl River guarding the way to Canton, China. Landing parties were from the Portsmouth, Levant, and San Jacinto. | |
| John Brown captured by Marines |
October 18, 1859
|
86 Marines, under 1st. Lt. Israel Green, USMC, and Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee, U.S. Army, captured abolitionist at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. | |
| U.S. Civil War began |
April 12, 1861
|
Confederate shore batteries fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. | |
| Battle of Bull Run |
July 21, 1861
|
Battalion of 365 marines led by Brevet Maj. John G. Reynolds fought in Battle of Bull Run. | |
| First navy-issued Medal of Honor for marine |
May 15, 1862
|
Cpl. John F. Mackie, on board the ironclad Galena in the attack on Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff, James River, was the first Marine to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. | |
| Emancipation Proclamation |
January 1, 1863
|
President Abraham Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation. | |
| Marines took city hall |
April 26, 1863
|
250 Marines under Capt. John L. Broome seized New Orleans custom house and city hall. | |
| Battle of Gettysburg |
July 1 - July 3, 1863
|
Battle of Gettysburg, watershed of the Confederacy. | |
| Marines landed ashore in North Carolina |
January 15, 1865
|
365 marines in naval landing force attacked Fort Fisher at Wilmington, North Carolina. | |
| Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomatox Courthouse |
April 9, 1865
|
Marines assisted in the collapse of the Confederates. Negotiations for surrender between Lee and Gen. Ulysses S. Grant took place in the McLean House near the courthouse. | |
| Marines attacked Korean soil |
June 10, 1871
|
Capt. McLane Tilton led 109 marines in naval attack on Han River forts in Korea. | |
| 17th leader of Marine Band |
October 1, 1880
|
John Philip Sousa appointed 17th leader of the Marine Band. | |
| Marines landed in Panama |
June 18, 1885
|
Marines landed in Panama to protect trans-isthmus railroad. | |
| Maine destroyed |
February 15, 1898
|
28 Marines among 250 Americans were killed when cruiser Maine was blown up in Havana harbor. | |
| First battle of the Spanish-American War |
May 1, 1898
|
Adm. George Dewey destroyed Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Marines occupied Cavite Naval Station. | |
| Marines landed at Guantanamo Bay |
June 10, 1898
|
1st Marine Battalion led by Lt. Col. Robert W. Huntington landed in Cuba. Sgt. John Quick signaled under Spanish fire to save marine unit; received Medal of Honor. | |
| Spanish-American War came to an end |
December 10, 1898
|
U.S. and Spain signed Treaty of Paris. | |
| Marines attacked at Novaleta |
October 8, 1899
|
Marines attacked Filipino insurgents at Novaleta. | |
| Marines defended against Boxer Rebellion |
May 31, 1900
|
Marines reached Chinese capital to defend Legation Quarter from Boxer rebels. | |
| Marines lifted siege of Peking |
August 4, 1900
|
Marines in International Relief Force marched out of Tientsin to lift siege of Peking. Marine Pvt. Dan Daly won first of two Congressional Medals of Honor. | |
| Marines received some "pay-back" for Army slaughter |
September 28, 1901
|
Major "Tony" Waller took out 314 marines to destroy Filipino insurgents who slaughtered U.S. Army company on Samar. | |
| Marines defended Panama |
November 5, 1903
|
Maj. John Lejeune landed his marine battalion to ensure Panama's independence from Colombia. | |
| Marines landed at Havana |
September 28, 1906
|
Provisional marine brigade of 2,800 men landed at Havana; marines stayed until 1909. | |
| Marines banned from warships |
November 12, 1908
|
President Theodore Roosevelt removed marines from warships, but six months later President Taft restored them. | |
| 1st Marine Division was born |
March 8, 1911
|
The 1st Marine Division came into existance at Guantanamo Bay; now the oldest, largest active-duty, and most decorated division-sized unit in the USMC. | |
| First Marine pilot |
May 22, 1912
|
1st Lt. Alfred Cunningham was the first Marine aviator. | |
| Marines landed in Nicaragua |
August 14, 1912
|
Maj. Smedley D. Butler led marines ashore, beginning intervention in Nicaragua. | |
| Marines fought at Coyotepe, Nicaragua |
October 4, 1912
|
The Marines quelled a potential rebellion against the Nicaraguan government as Gen. Mena and Gen. Zeledón joined forces. The conflict was resolved after only one hour of battle. | |
| Marines landed at Veracruz, Mexico |
August 14, 1912
|
Marine regiments landed at Veracruz, Mexico, to keep German guns from Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz. | |
| 5th Marine Division was born |
July 13, 1914
|
The 5th Marine Division was created in Vera Cruz, Mexico. | |
| World War I began |
August 2, 1914
|
World War I began. Shortly thereafter, the Panama Canal opened for traffic. | |
| Marines landed in Haiti |
July 28, 1915
|
Marines landed in Haiti, beginning their longest Caribbean intervention. | |
| Butler received second Medal of Honor |
November 18, 1915
|
Maj. Butler led marines in attack on Fort Riviere in Haiti, awarded his second Medal of Honor. | |
| Marines gained ground in Haiti |
May 15, 1916
|
Marine battalion began occupation of Dominican Republic. | |
| United States declared war on Germany |
April 6, 1917
|
With World War I well underway, the United States declared war on Germany. | |
| Marines deployed for Europe |
June 6, 1917
|
5th Marine Regiment sailed for France. | |
| 7th Marine Division was born |
August 7, 1917
|
The 7th Marine Division activated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | |
| 11th Marine Division was born |
January, 1918
|
The 11th Marine Division was formed in Quantico, Virginia. | |
| Marines advanced into Belleau Wood |
June 6, 1918
|
Marines advanced into the forest against German machine guns. They emerged with the German nickname Teufelhunden, or "devil dogs," after breaking through the front lines. | |
| Marines landed at Siberia |
June 29, 1918
|
Marines from Brooklyn went ashore at Vladivostok, Siberia. | |
| Marines collided with "Krauts" |
July 18, 1918
|
Marines in vast Allied counter-offensive met Germans south of Soissons. | |
| Haitian rebels began revolt against Marines |
September 3, 1918
|
In Haiti, native leader Charlemagne Peralte starts revolt of Cacos against Marine rule. | |
| Marines began German offensive in France |
September 12, 1918
|
In France, 2nd Division, including Marine Brigade, began offensive in Saint Mihiel salient. | |
| Marines made German offensive in the French Alps town of Mont Blanc. |
October 3, 1918
|
4th Marine Brigade assaulted Blanc Mont in fierce fighting. Next day was Marines' bloodiest. | |
| Marine airmen Talbot and Robinson won Medal of Honor over France |
October 14, 1918
|
Marine fliers 2nd Lt. Ralph Talbot and Gunnery Sgt. Robert G. Robinson won the Medal of Honor when attached to Squadron C, 1st Marine Aviation Force. | |
| Marines completed successful reconnaissance againt Germans |
November 10, 1918
|
5th Marines made night crossing of the Meuse River against German resistance. | |
| Allies and Germany called for a cease fire |
November 11, 1918
|
Armistice between Germany and Allies. Date honored as Veteran's Day, a national holiday. | |
| Marine snipers took down Peralte |
October 31, 1919
|
Marine Sgt. Herman Hanneken and Cpl. William Button sneaked into "Cacos" camp and killed Haitian extremist Charlemagne Peralte. | |
| U.S. Senate rejected Versailles Treaty |
November 19, 1919
|
Because of an incomplete agreement for peace, the U.S. Senate failed to ratify the Versailles Treaty. | |
| Marines pulled out of Dominican Republic |
July 12, 1924
|
Marine Brigade left Dominican Republic. | |
| Marines began second Nicaraguan conflict |
January 6, 1927
|
Marines began second Nicaraguan intervention, fought Augusto Sandino in the mountains. | |
| 4th Marines landed at Shanghai |
March 16, 1927
|
The 4th Marines sailed to Shanghai, in February 1927, to protect American citizens and property in Shanghai's International Settlement. | |
| Communist Josef Stalin began his dictatorship |
December 27, 1927
|
Josef Stalin assumed control of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). | |
| Marine pilot assisted marines in Nicaragua |
January 6, 1928
|
1st Lt. Christian Schilt began 10 flights to aid besieged Marine patrol at Quilali, Nicaragua. | |
| Marine pilot searches the Coco River for Sandino |
March 8, 1928
|
Capt. Merritt A. Edson began a Coco River patrol to hunt for elusive Augusto Sandino. | |
| Puller won Navy Cross |
July 25, 1930
|
Lt. General "Chesty" Lewis Puller won first of five Navy Crosses chasing Sandino guerrillas in Nicaragua. | |
| Japanese Army occupied Manchuria |
September 18, 1931
|
Extremist officers in Japan's Kwantung Army took steps intended to dampen Nationalist enthusiasm by assassinating the Chinese warlord ruler of Manchuria. | |
| Marines pulled out of Nicaragua |
January 3, 1933
|
5th Marine Regiment departed from Nicaragua. | |
| Adolf Hitler was named chancellor of Germany |
January 30, 1933
|
A man who had spent his entire political career denouncing and attempting to destroy the German republic, was now its leader. On January 30, Hitler was sworn in. | |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated as president |
March 4, 1933
|
As the 32nd president of the United States, Roosevelt became America's president in March 1933, to face The Great Depression. | |
| Marines at Quantico, Virginia, began work on a new field operations manual |
November 14, 1933
|
A cooperative effort from all sectors of the Corps led to the creation and issuance of the Tentative Landing Operations Manual. | |
| Marines ended occupation in Haiti |
August 15, 1934
|
12 Haitians were killed when marines opened fire on rioters in Cayes, leading to a pullout in conjunction with a "Haitianizing" of treaty services, including command of the Gendarmerie (police force). | |
| Japanese and Chinese clashed at Marco Polo Bridge outside Peking |
July 7, 1937
|
A clash occurred between Chinese and Japanese troops near the Marco Polo Bridge and the conflict escalated into full-scale warfare, lasting until 1945. | |
| Marine Capt. Carlson traveled to Yenan |
December 7, 1937
|
Marine Capt. Evans Carlson traveled to Yenan to observe Communist Chinese armies in action. | |
| Germany invaded Poland |
September 1, 1939
|
Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. | |