WEBVTT 00:11.205 --> 00:14.180 (pensive music) 00:22.870 --> 00:25.452 - [Man Voiceover] You always hear about how Marines are tough and the first to fight. 00:25.452 --> 00:29.112 It made me wonder, do I have what it takes to be a Marine? 00:29.112 --> 00:31.041 - [Woman Voiceover] I knew I always wanted to be Marine 00:31.041 --> 00:34.896 but I didn't know if I could live up to the legacy of all those who came before me. 00:35.396 --> 00:39.454 - [Gen. Robert B. Neller] We go out through the nation, we find those young men and women 00:39.872 --> 00:41.323 that want the challenge of being Marines. 00:41.787 --> 00:43.749 We recruit them and we make them Marines. 00:45.543 --> 00:48.238 (multiple indistinct voices) 00:56.368 --> 01:00.281 - [Man Voiceover] Being called a United States Marine is something earned, not given. 01:01.567 --> 01:04.575 - [Woman Voiceover] What made me want to be a Marine was wanting to be 01:04.575 --> 01:10.358 able to lead others but also fight for my country, 01:10.358 --> 01:12.569 whether that be actually going into combat 01:13.031 --> 01:15.600 or just serving in a way that could help others. 01:17.034 --> 01:20.268 - [Neller Voiceover] We make Marines, we build teams, we fight and win. 01:22.828 --> 01:24.838 - [Man Voiceover] These recruits are entrusted to my care. 01:24.838 --> 01:27.027 I will train them to the best of my ability. 01:27.027 --> 01:31.444 I will develop them into smartly disciplined, physically fit, 01:31.444 --> 01:36.626 basically trained Marines, thoroughly indoctrined in love of Corps and country. 01:37.126 --> 01:40.920 I will demand of them and demonstrate by my own example 01:40.920 --> 01:46.265 the highest standard of personal conduct, morality and professional skill. 01:46.706 --> 01:49.879 - [Multiple Voices] I, (indistinct), do solemnly swear 01:49.879 --> 01:51.573 that I will support and defend 01:51.573 --> 01:53.328 the Constitution of the United States 01:53.328 --> 01:55.987 against all enemies foreign and domestic. 01:55.987 --> 01:58.659 And that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. 01:58.659 --> 02:00.438 That I will obey the orders 02:00.438 --> 02:02.081 of the President of the United States 02:02.081 --> 02:04.180 and the orders of the officers appointed over me. 02:04.180 --> 02:06.106 I will take this obligation freely 02:06.546 --> 02:08.507 without any mental reservations. 02:08.507 --> 02:11.645 According to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. 02:12.068 --> 02:14.360 That I will well and faithfully discharge the duties 02:14.781 --> 02:17.324 as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. 02:17.324 --> 02:20.507 So help me, God. 02:20.884 --> 02:23.976 (light tones) 02:31.663 --> 02:34.323 - From the oldest post of our Corps here in Washington, D.C., 02:34.323 --> 02:37.239 and on the eve of our 240th birthday, 02:37.239 --> 02:42.003 the Sergeant Major and I want to wish Marines around the world a happy birthday. 02:42.003 --> 02:44.058 But more importantly, we hope each of you 02:44.058 --> 02:46.930 will have a chance to reflect on our history, 02:47.382 --> 02:49.242 remember those who have sacrificed, 02:49.661 --> 02:53.221 and reaffirm your commitment to the strengthening of our Corps. 02:53.221 --> 02:57.780 - This year also marks 100 years of making Marines at Recruit Depot Parris Island. 02:57.780 --> 03:01.510 Our Corps has seen many changes in the previous 100 years. 03:01.938 --> 03:03.603 and throughout our history. 03:03.603 --> 03:06.411 But one thing that hasn't changed is each Marine's commitment 03:06.876 --> 03:08.600 to contributing to our great legacy. 03:09.064 --> 03:11.415 - Each year during our birthday celebration 03:11.415 --> 03:15.292 we listen to the words of our 13th Commandant, Gen. John A. Lejeune. 03:15.762 --> 03:18.879 In his message he says, "our legacy is the eternal spirit 03:19.342 --> 03:22.786 "which has animated our Corps from generation to generation." 03:23.236 --> 03:25.387 Marines, I want to reinforce this point. 03:25.979 --> 03:27.530 You are the embodiment of that legacy. 03:27.980 --> 03:31.731 It's the very foundation of who we are and what we will continue to be. 03:32.127 --> 03:34.360 - When we look back at the history of our Corps 03:34.360 --> 03:38.573 we see countless examples of Marines contributing to our past, 03:39.001 --> 03:41.138 from our first amphibious raid in New Providence 03:41.138 --> 03:43.657 and the Bahamas back in 1776, 03:43.657 --> 03:46.655 to the historic Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. 03:47.097 --> 03:51.169 - This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, 03:51.596 --> 03:53.335 hallowed ground for all Marines. 03:53.335 --> 03:56.889 It was there, following 36 days of violent combat, 03:57.320 --> 04:00.393 where the world saw the warrior spirit and the will to win 04:00.801 --> 04:02.918 of the United States Marine. 04:03.146 --> 04:06.957 - [Narrator] In February 1945, as U.S. forces fought across the Pacific, 04:07.400 --> 04:09.722 their next objective was Iwo Jima. 04:10.162 --> 04:12.701 - [Lawrence Snowden] The young men that I faced on this island were just like me. 04:13.144 --> 04:15.704 They were fighting for the emperor, I was fighting to go home. 04:16.259 --> 04:19.226 I never felt anything but comfort as a rifle company commander 04:19.646 --> 04:22.555 around my troops because I knew how good they were. 04:23.007 --> 04:25.271 How brave they were. 04:25.709 --> 04:27.247 - [Man Voiceover] I thank the veterans who sit here among us 04:27.680 --> 04:32.271 and those who today are with us only in spirit. 04:32.738 --> 04:34.464 - [Snowden] We tell them that we love them. 04:34.930 --> 04:36.163 We honor them for what they did. 04:36.870 --> 04:37.858 We tell them we admire their courage. 04:38.276 --> 04:40.449 We tell them we still miss them because we do. 04:40.449 --> 04:44.641 - [Narrator] The stories of Corporal Woody Williams and Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone 04:45.084 --> 04:47.524 highlight the fighting spirit of Marines at Iwo Jima. 04:48.021 --> 04:51.201 - [Hershel "Woody" Williams] During the day of February the 23rd, 04:51.201 --> 04:56.906 the same day the flag went up, the same day that I did the job that resulted in my 04:57.370 --> 05:03.502 receiving the Medal of Honor, two of those Marines who were protecting me died. 05:04.016 --> 05:08.084 They gave all they had and so much more than I did. 05:08.084 --> 05:11.511 And yet I'm the guy that's wearing the medal. 05:11.987 --> 05:15.040 And I have said I am just the caretaker of it. 05:15.541 --> 05:19.158 I don't wear it for what I did, I wear it for what they did. 05:19.694 --> 05:23.619 - [Narrator] Five years after the end of World War II, Marines showed their indomitable fighting spirit 05:23.619 --> 05:25.680 in Korea at numerous places, 05:26.122 --> 05:28.189 none more telling that the sea wall at Inchon 05:28.603 --> 05:31.012 or the unbearable winter at Chosin Reservoir. 05:31.464 --> 05:36.641 - The weather was cold and got colder and colder 05:37.053 --> 05:39.767 while we were up there trying to get out of that reservoir area. 05:40.300 --> 05:46.279 It was about 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning when we started to get hit, 05:46.824 --> 05:49.882 and it wasn't North Koreans that was hitting us, it was China. 05:50.300 --> 05:53.112 - When the Chinese hit us, we hit back twice as hard. 05:53.654 --> 05:55.432 And that was our attitude. 05:55.874 --> 05:58.790 The Marines that were there, we didn't go there to face a peace treaty. 05:59.507 --> 06:04.132 We went in with the idea of winning the war and we continued to fight 06:04.132 --> 06:06.038 right up to the very last round. 06:06.038 --> 06:09.721 - [Narrator] This year also marks the 50 year anniversary of the Marine Corps' first 06:10.129 --> 06:13.425 major offensive in Vietnam, Operation Starlite. 06:13.889 --> 06:20.372 - As soon as 8th Company landed, all you saw was explosions and (popping sound) people were shooting. 06:20.817 --> 06:24.795 - Starlite was the first big tough battle that these 06:24.795 --> 06:27.826 young Marines had to face and they were going up against 06:27.826 --> 06:29.557 a veteran enemy force. 06:30.023 --> 06:34.505 If there were any doubts about whether or not this rock and roll generation 06:34.899 --> 06:39.410 of Marines from the 1960s could fight, those doubts were erased by Operation Starlite. 06:39.884 --> 06:42.132 Following Vietnam, our Corps benefitted greatly 06:42.552 --> 06:45.875 from the experienced NCOs and officers who stayed in service 06:45.875 --> 06:49.389 and remained dedicated to improving the professionalism of the Marine Corps. 06:49.389 --> 06:54.326 The Marines they groomed would refocus the Corps to a more expeditionary mindset, 06:54.326 --> 06:57.920 marked by numerous engagements throughout the '80s and '90s. 06:58.372 --> 07:01.827 After the attacks on September the 11th, 07:02.242 --> 07:05.646 Marines knew that there would be more to do in support of defending our homeland. 07:06.182 --> 07:08.925 With sustained combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, 07:09.704 --> 07:14.348 a new generation of Marines is built upon the Corps' remarkable heritage. 07:14.833 --> 07:18.543 Marines continue to prepare for any crisis and remain ready to deploy 07:18.543 --> 07:21.807 as the nation's expeditionary force in readiness. 07:22.261 --> 07:24.060 - Get under the wire! 07:24.060 --> 07:25.483 Get the ammo can, ammo can! 07:28.100 --> 07:31.394 - [Neller] Sergeant Major and I are reminded daily of our obligation to support 07:31.394 --> 07:33.644 and contribute to the legacy of our Corps. 07:34.038 --> 07:37.105 These recruits here at Parris Island, like those at San Diego, 07:37.105 --> 07:39.228 will soon earn their Eagle, Globe and Anchor. 07:39.709 --> 07:44.656 Who knows, maybe amongst them is the next Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone or Corporal Woody Williams. 07:44.656 --> 07:48.187 - Those Marines became who they are because their dedicated squad leaders 07:48.187 --> 07:50.579 and platoon sergeants trained them well. 07:50.579 --> 07:52.502 We must continue that transformation, 07:52.502 --> 07:54.447 continue the professional development of those Marines, 07:54.911 --> 07:57.557 So that when the nation requires men and women of action, 07:57.557 --> 08:00.257 they will summon the courage and tap into our great legacy 08:00.257 --> 08:02.338 to accomplish the mission, no matter what the odds. 08:02.338 --> 08:10.555 - [Meringolo] When another Marine says Semper Fi, we're saying we are faithful to each other. 08:11.146 --> 08:12.031 To be true to each other. 08:12.565 --> 08:14.156 - All Marines seem to be out of the same mold. 08:14.156 --> 08:19.115 When the time comes they'll always be ready, they are able. 08:19.115 --> 08:21.576 I'm just so proud to be a Marine. 08:21.576 --> 08:26.740 - When we come into the Corps, we're taught certain standards. 08:26.740 --> 08:30.990 And being faithful to those standards, and to each other, 08:31.422 --> 08:33.778 is pretty much what Semper Fi is. 08:34.279 --> 08:36.456 Who do you fight for? 08:36.456 --> 08:39.042 Who do you really fight for? 08:39.042 --> 08:42.355 I love this "God, country, Corps." 08:42.774 --> 08:44.817 No, it's the unit, the guy. 08:44.817 --> 08:47.291 You fight for the Corps first. 08:47.291 --> 08:49.510 I don't care what anybody says. 08:49.510 --> 08:56.124 God may come second, country can come third, but you fight for the Corps. 08:57.161 --> 08:59.823 ("Marines' Hymn" slow instrumental) 09:05.370 --> 09:09.609 - Happy birthday, Marines, wherever you are, deployed in a foreign land 09:09.609 --> 09:13.311 facing our nation's foes, at sea with our Navy shipmates underway, 09:13.311 --> 09:17.128 training, or with family and friends celebrating our birthday. 09:17.128 --> 09:20.826 We must remain ready for that next fight, wherever and whenever it is. 09:21.244 --> 09:24.854 And we must continue to uphold the legacy of those that have gone before. 09:25.273 --> 09:28.294 And we remain Semper Fidelis. 09:30.431 --> 09:33.364 ("Marines' Hymn" slow instrumental)