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The United States Marine Corps The United States Marine is one the 8 Uniformed branches of the United States. To me it is the most gifted branch the U.S has to offer. The Navy might sail in the sea, the Air Force might might fly, and the Army might ride, but the Marine Corps does all three. In this informational essay, you will learn the tactics, equipment, location, rank structure, and history off the Marine Corps. It will also give you a sneak peak at boot camp. The Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, in a place only 45 minutes from here in Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, P.A. The first Commandant of the Marine Corps was Samuel Nicholas. He served us from 1775 to 1783. The Marine Corps first objective together was at Fort Nassua, a British storage fort for gunpowder. Within minutes the Red Coats surrendered to the brave, and fierce fighting Marines. Throughout the Revolution the Marines took many more forts from the British. At the beginning off the 1800's their were only 368 Marines. In 1805, the government refused to keep paying Barbary Coast pirates to stop raiding American ships. When a treaty failed, President Jefferson called to the Marines. The Marines marched across 600 miles of Libyan land to the city of Tripoli. Since the Marines had been ordered to succeed, they did. Not only did they destroy the pirates, they rescued the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia, and helped Prince Hamet Bay reclaim his throne as king. In 1846, the Mexican-American war begun, but it was in 1847 when the Marines came into action. The Marines knew that the capture of Palacio Nacional would through off the Mexican Army greatly. After a quick battle the Marines took the palace, better known as the Halls of Montezuma! It is the end of the 1800's, there are 9,696 Marines. In 1910, the Marine Corps Boot camp location, Parris Island was founded. In 1918, the United States sent the a platoon of Marines to fight the German at Belleau Wood. While France was still wanting to dig trenches to fight in, the Marines charged the German trenches and wiped them out. It was the first battle in World War I were the Allies gained something. Then, in WWII, the Marines sent pilots over seas to deal with Germany, Italy, and Japan. They are also known as the Axis Powers. Gregory Boyington earned both a Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism as a WWII Marine pilot and leader of the Black Sheep Squadron. While his Medal of Honor Citation was awarded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in March 1944, he was not decorated until October 5, 1945, due to his captivity by the Japanese.

Boyington is best known for flying the Vought F4U Corsair in squadron VMF-214. his first tour, he shot down 14 enemy fighter planes in 32 days. With intense activity in the Russell Islands-New Georgia areas, Boyington tallied his downed Japanese plane total almost daily. By December 27, 1943, his record had climbed to 25.

He tied the American record of 26 downed planes on January 3, 1944, over Rabaul, but became mixed in a general melee of diving, swooping planes and went missing, ultimately spending the rest of the war, some 20 months, in Japanese prison camps. He was liberated from Japanese custody at Omori Prison Camp on August 29, 1945.

Gregory Boyington earned the nickname "Pappy" because, being just over 30, he was a decade older than many of his fellow Black Sheep Squadron pilots. The Marines fought in many more battles after WWII, and still fight strong today.

The Marine Corps usually use the M16 assault rifle or the M429 Saw. Another highly useful weapon the Marine Corps uses is the bayonet. This is extremely important for close combat and saves bullets at close range. The pistol they use is the M9 Beretta. The primary tank of the Marine Corps is the M1A1 Abrams. It is a heavy tank built for taking hits.

Rank structure is simple in the Marine Corps and as your rank goes up, so does your pay grade. E-1 is Private, E-2 is Private First Class(PFC), E-3 is Lance Corporal, E-4 is Corporal, E-5 is Sergeant, E-6 Sergeant, E-7 Gunnery Sergeant, E-8 First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, E-9 Master Gunnery Sergeant, Sergeant Major, and Master Gunnery Sergeant of the Marine Corps.

Over all the Marine Corps is the elite fighting force of the Military. Hopefully I will help them someday. They fight our enemies so that we can enjoy the life as an American citizen. They are serving our country now and will forever serve them in the future. I respect all branches of the military but the Marines are by far the best. The few, The proud, The Marines.