1 00:00:03,232 --> 00:00:05,747 (soft piano music) 2 00:00:07,853 --> 00:00:11,199 - [Hershel "Woody" Williams] I am absolutely proud to be a Marine. 3 00:00:13,472 --> 00:00:15,199 I'm proud of my service. 4 00:00:15,199 --> 00:00:17,766 I'm proud of the fact that 5 00:00:17,766 --> 00:00:21,499 I was in the position to do something 6 00:00:21,499 --> 00:00:24,694 to preserve my freedom 7 00:00:24,694 --> 00:00:28,208 and to hold on to those values 8 00:00:28,208 --> 00:00:32,556 that can only be had by free people. 9 00:00:34,133 --> 00:00:36,201 - [Gen. David H. Berger] Trust is not given, 10 00:00:36,201 --> 00:00:38,030 nor is it easily earned. 11 00:00:38,030 --> 00:00:41,537 Today, the trust of the nation is our inheritance. 12 00:00:41,537 --> 00:00:44,374 A trust earned through the selfless valor 13 00:00:44,374 --> 00:00:47,665 and determined actions of generations of Marines 14 00:00:47,665 --> 00:00:51,834 on the distant shores and misty battlefields of our storied past. 15 00:00:51,834 --> 00:00:54,436 - We were really snowed as to 16 00:00:54,436 --> 00:00:57,644 why we would need so many Marines 17 00:00:57,644 --> 00:01:00,878 to take this little piece of rock. 18 00:01:00,878 --> 00:01:04,611 (soft piano music) 19 00:01:04,611 --> 00:01:08,193 But after the first day, 20 00:01:08,193 --> 00:01:11,448 when they lost so many, wounded and killed, 21 00:01:11,448 --> 00:01:15,876 they announced that night, we're going ashore. 22 00:01:15,876 --> 00:01:19,349 And the island was so different 23 00:01:19,349 --> 00:01:22,908 in its appearance from Guam 24 00:01:22,908 --> 00:01:25,188 and the other islands that we'd been on. 25 00:01:25,188 --> 00:01:27,947 There was no jungle, there wasn't anything. 26 00:01:27,947 --> 00:01:30,273 Even though we'd been in combat before, 27 00:01:30,273 --> 00:01:32,354 you could see right off 28 00:01:32,354 --> 00:01:35,704 it wasn't going to be anything like what we had experienced before. 29 00:01:35,704 --> 00:01:38,786 (solemn piano music) 30 00:01:42,637 --> 00:01:44,258 - Long before we wear the uniform, 31 00:01:44,258 --> 00:01:48,342 long before the eagle, globe and anchor is etched on our soul, 32 00:01:48,342 --> 00:01:51,363 we sensed a special appeal that sets Marines apart. 33 00:01:51,363 --> 00:01:56,104 Our ethos, values and character speak to our nation's heart. 34 00:01:57,254 --> 00:01:58,907 - All I wanted was an opportunity. 35 00:01:58,907 --> 00:02:00,232 Didn't need anything else, just let me... 36 00:02:00,232 --> 00:02:02,849 Just show me the way and I'll get it done. 37 00:02:02,849 --> 00:02:04,712 That was my motivation. 38 00:02:04,712 --> 00:02:08,841 I got an opportunity to serve in the Marine Corps and I chose Special Forces. 39 00:02:08,841 --> 00:02:13,969 I chose Force Recon and did three tours in Force Recon. 40 00:02:15,762 --> 00:02:16,930 Did fairly well. 41 00:02:16,930 --> 00:02:19,848 Got a chance to be a combat swimmer. 42 00:02:19,848 --> 00:02:21,916 We did three combat dives 43 00:02:21,916 --> 00:02:25,978 and two swims of 1,500 meters in enemy territory 44 00:02:25,978 --> 00:02:29,150 and we fought our way from the DMZ 45 00:02:29,150 --> 00:02:31,631 back toward Hue City 46 00:02:31,631 --> 00:02:35,259 in Team Redline, which was my team. 47 00:02:36,404 --> 00:02:38,283 - [SgtMaj Troy E. Black] Our nation expects us to be 48 00:02:38,283 --> 00:02:40,270 the world's finest military professionals. 49 00:02:40,270 --> 00:02:43,806 To be capable and ready, and to represent all 50 00:02:43,806 --> 00:02:45,884 that is good about the United States, 51 00:02:45,884 --> 00:02:47,998 a nation of diverse heritages 52 00:02:47,998 --> 00:02:50,336 united by common values. 53 00:02:50,336 --> 00:02:54,258 - There's no tighter unit in the world 54 00:02:54,258 --> 00:02:56,116 than the Marine Corps. 55 00:02:56,116 --> 00:02:58,452 I mean, you know, 56 00:02:58,452 --> 00:03:01,083 you join the Air Force, you join the Navy. 57 00:03:01,083 --> 00:03:03,018 You become a Marine. 58 00:03:03,018 --> 00:03:05,610 And it's something that sticks with you the rest of your life. 59 00:03:06,580 --> 00:03:08,226 - [Berger] The spirit of this ethos is born 60 00:03:08,226 --> 00:03:10,724 in the hearts of men and women by a common calling, 61 00:03:10,724 --> 00:03:13,792 a desire to serve and a sense of duty 62 00:03:13,792 --> 00:03:18,250 borne in ideals like patriotism, valor and fidelity. 63 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:22,207 - When the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, 64 00:03:22,207 --> 00:03:27,669 the atmosphere of the country was entirely different than it is now. 65 00:03:27,669 --> 00:03:31,028 Everybody was talking and trying 66 00:03:31,028 --> 00:03:33,119 to figure out what they could do. 67 00:03:33,119 --> 00:03:37,024 I decided that I would go into the Marine Corps. 68 00:03:37,024 --> 00:03:38,887 No matter who you are, 69 00:03:38,887 --> 00:03:41,972 do some kind of service for your country. 70 00:03:41,972 --> 00:03:45,844 I've always been proud to say I was in the Marine Corps. 71 00:03:46,900 --> 00:03:50,122 - [Berger] Our ethos is who we are and what we believe. 72 00:03:50,122 --> 00:03:52,276 - I was 18 years old. 73 00:03:54,032 --> 00:03:56,369 And you find out 74 00:03:57,905 --> 00:03:59,469 what you got when you need it. 75 00:04:01,128 --> 00:04:03,040 And I just thought I wasn't going to die that night. 76 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,590 The NVA had came into our perimeter. 77 00:04:05,590 --> 00:04:07,914 All I had was a Ka-Bar. 78 00:04:07,914 --> 00:04:10,940 I crawled over and I found my assistant gunner. 79 00:04:10,940 --> 00:04:14,337 We could hear Eli, the gunner, had been shot up 80 00:04:14,337 --> 00:04:16,096 and they'd come in and took Eli 81 00:04:16,096 --> 00:04:18,665 and drug him back into the hamlet. 82 00:04:18,665 --> 00:04:22,366 So I told Bob, I'm going after Eli. 83 00:04:22,366 --> 00:04:25,052 And I just went screaming and 84 00:04:25,052 --> 00:04:27,475 I dove in and I just fetched him. 85 00:04:27,475 --> 00:04:30,799 And then I picked Eli up, I picked the gun up, 86 00:04:32,166 --> 00:04:34,226 and I got the hell out of there. 87 00:04:35,293 --> 00:04:37,610 - [Black] To be courageous is to do what is right, 88 00:04:37,610 --> 00:04:40,549 to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct, 89 00:04:40,549 --> 00:04:45,313 to lead by example, and to make tough decisions under stress and pressure. 90 00:04:45,313 --> 00:04:48,811 Marines train, Marines fight, and Marines win. 91 00:04:48,811 --> 00:04:50,712 Always. 92 00:04:50,712 --> 00:04:52,619 - We set up security 93 00:04:52,619 --> 00:04:57,520 and they took off on patrol into the village. 94 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,936 0530, that's when the fireworks started. 95 00:05:00,936 --> 00:05:03,210 We're trying to find a way over there, 96 00:05:03,210 --> 00:05:05,925 the second time we found more. 97 00:05:05,925 --> 00:05:07,865 Some of them were dead. 98 00:05:08,128 --> 00:05:10,442 Some of them were alive, trying to take cover. 99 00:05:11,498 --> 00:05:14,115 I sped up and got between 100 00:05:14,115 --> 00:05:18,005 the village and the guys that were our guys. 101 00:05:18,005 --> 00:05:19,674 Yeah, we were getting shot at 102 00:05:19,674 --> 00:05:22,873 and my heart was just going away, just boom, boom, boom, boom. 103 00:05:24,134 --> 00:05:27,464 I'm alive because, and I'll be dead honest with you, 104 00:05:30,317 --> 00:05:33,431 I've never seen the...(clears throat) 105 00:05:33,431 --> 00:05:36,806 A young man 106 00:05:37,601 --> 00:05:39,607 have that much courage. 107 00:05:40,794 --> 00:05:43,109 - Our nation finds in its Marine Corps 108 00:05:43,109 --> 00:05:45,552 men and women committed to preserving trust 109 00:05:45,552 --> 00:05:49,326 that's been built over the last 245 years. 110 00:05:49,326 --> 00:05:51,961 (pensive music) 111 00:05:54,126 --> 00:05:57,223 Marines, once transformed, are forever changed. 112 00:05:57,223 --> 00:06:00,278 Instilled with the beliefs, ideals, 113 00:06:00,278 --> 00:06:03,203 and virtues that have meaning deeper than words. 114 00:06:03,203 --> 00:06:05,784 (pensive music) 115 00:06:11,588 --> 00:06:15,762 These ideals-honor, courage, commitment- 116 00:06:15,762 --> 00:06:20,131 form the bedrock of our individual and institutional character. 117 00:06:20,131 --> 00:06:22,028 (dramatic music) 118 00:06:22,028 --> 00:06:25,670 On this birthday, our nation finds in its Marine Corps 119 00:06:25,670 --> 00:06:28,980 men and women who know the meaning of patriotism, 120 00:06:28,980 --> 00:06:31,264 valor, duty, 121 00:06:31,264 --> 00:06:33,953 strength, discipline, 122 00:06:33,953 --> 00:06:35,762 and innovation. 123 00:06:35,762 --> 00:06:38,346 (lively music) 124 00:06:38,741 --> 00:06:40,736 We must be faithful to our country, 125 00:06:40,736 --> 00:06:42,449 to our Corps, 126 00:06:42,449 --> 00:06:44,143 and to each other. 127 00:06:44,143 --> 00:06:47,929 This faithfulness must never be compromised. 128 00:06:47,929 --> 00:06:50,121 We must respect each other, 129 00:06:50,121 --> 00:06:52,115 believe in each other, 130 00:06:52,115 --> 00:06:54,219 trust each other. 131 00:06:54,219 --> 00:06:57,049 (lively music) 132 00:07:06,812 --> 00:07:09,471 - [Black] Our nation finds in its Marine Corps a ready and capable force, 133 00:07:09,471 --> 00:07:12,800 never content with the status quo or being average. 134 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,374 Marines meet and exceed the standard. 135 00:07:15,374 --> 00:07:18,911 That is what Marines do, and that is what the nation expects. 136 00:07:18,911 --> 00:07:22,154 (lively music) 137 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,886 (dramatic music) 138 00:07:47,757 --> 00:07:50,059 - Semper fidelis and happy birthday, Marines. 139 00:07:51,253 --> 00:07:53,869 (dramatic music)