Posted by Navy CAPT Paul S. Hammer, DCoE director on November 8, 2012
CAPT Paul Hammer at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 10, 2004. (Courtesy photo)
In November 1921, Commandant of the Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921. In it, he described the history, mission and tradition of the Marine Corps and directed that the order be read to all Marines on Nov. 10 of each year to honor the founding of the Marine Corps. Since then the Marine Corps birthday has grown from the simple reading of an order to full-blown celebrations.
I first “celebrated” the Marine Corps birthday in 1975 when I was in boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. Having served four years as a Marine and several tours with Marines throughout my Navy career, I have experienced many Marine Corps birthdays, but none as memorable as the 229th birthday in Fallujah, Iraq, 2004.