1 00:00:03,232 --> 00:00:05,747 (soft piano music) 2 00:00:07,379 --> 00:00:09,133 - [Hershel "Woody" Williams] I am absolutely 3 00:00:09,133 --> 00:00:11,292 proud to be a Marine. 4 00:00:13,472 --> 00:00:15,199 I'm proud of my service. 5 00:00:15,199 --> 00:00:17,766 I'm proud of the fact that 6 00:00:17,766 --> 00:00:19,250 I was in the position 7 00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:22,397 to do something 8 00:00:22,397 --> 00:00:25,572 to preserve my freedom and to 9 00:00:25,572 --> 00:00:28,333 hold on to those values 10 00:00:29,309 --> 00:00:32,515 that can only be had by free people. 11 00:00:34,133 --> 00:00:36,201 - [General David H. Berger] Trust is not given, 12 00:00:36,201 --> 00:00:38,030 nor is it easily earned. 13 00:00:38,030 --> 00:00:41,537 Today, the trust of the nation is our inheritance. 14 00:00:41,537 --> 00:00:44,374 A trust earned through the selfless valor 15 00:00:44,374 --> 00:00:46,601 and determined actions of 16 00:00:46,601 --> 00:00:48,741 generations of Marines on the distant shores 17 00:00:48,741 --> 00:00:51,621 and misty battlefields of our storied past. 18 00:00:51,834 --> 00:00:54,436 - We were really snowed as to 19 00:00:54,436 --> 00:00:57,644 why we would need so many Marines 20 00:00:57,644 --> 00:01:00,878 to take this little piece of rock. 21 00:01:00,878 --> 00:01:04,611 (soft piano music) 22 00:01:06,343 --> 00:01:08,193 But after the first day, 23 00:01:08,691 --> 00:01:11,448 when they lost so many, wounded and killed, 24 00:01:12,437 --> 00:01:15,876 they announced that night, we're going ashore. 25 00:01:15,876 --> 00:01:18,239 And the island 26 00:01:18,239 --> 00:01:21,164 was so different in its appearance 27 00:01:21,164 --> 00:01:22,989 from Guam 28 00:01:22,989 --> 00:01:25,102 and the other island that we'd been on. 29 00:01:25,188 --> 00:01:27,947 There was no jungle, there wasn't anything. 30 00:01:27,947 --> 00:01:30,273 Even though we'd been in combat before, 31 00:01:30,273 --> 00:01:32,354 you could see right off 32 00:01:32,354 --> 00:01:35,704 it wasn't going to be anything like what we had experienced before. 33 00:01:35,704 --> 00:01:38,786 (solemn piano music) 34 00:01:42,637 --> 00:01:44,258 - Long before we wear the uniform, 35 00:01:44,653 --> 00:01:46,874 long before the Eagle, Globe and Anchor 36 00:01:46,874 --> 00:01:48,240 is etched on our soul, 37 00:01:48,342 --> 00:01:51,363 we sensed a special appeal that sets Marines apart. 38 00:01:51,363 --> 00:01:54,107 Our ethos, values and character 39 00:01:54,107 --> 00:01:56,161 speak to our nation's heart. 40 00:01:56,602 --> 00:01:58,576 - All I wanted was an opportunity. 41 00:01:58,907 --> 00:02:00,232 Didn't need anything else, just let me... 42 00:02:00,232 --> 00:02:02,849 Just show me the way and I'll get it done. 43 00:02:02,849 --> 00:02:04,712 That was my motivation. 44 00:02:04,712 --> 00:02:06,434 I got an opportunity to serve 45 00:02:06,434 --> 00:02:08,691 in the Marine Corps, and I chose Special Forces. 46 00:02:08,841 --> 00:02:11,224 I chose Force Recon 47 00:02:11,224 --> 00:02:14,011 and did three tours in Force Recon. 48 00:02:15,132 --> 00:02:16,872 I did fairly well. 49 00:02:16,930 --> 00:02:19,848 Got a chance to be a combat swimmer. 50 00:02:19,848 --> 00:02:21,916 We did three combat dives 51 00:02:21,916 --> 00:02:23,305 and two swims of 52 00:02:23,305 --> 00:02:25,960 1500 meters in enemy territory, 53 00:02:25,978 --> 00:02:27,996 and we fought our way 54 00:02:27,996 --> 00:02:29,682 from the DMZ 55 00:02:29,682 --> 00:02:31,367 back toward Hue City 56 00:02:31,367 --> 00:02:33,679 and Team Redline, 57 00:02:33,679 --> 00:02:35,130 which was my team. 58 00:02:36,404 --> 00:02:38,283 - [Sergeant Major Troy E. Black] Our nation expects us to be 59 00:02:38,283 --> 00:02:40,270 the world's finest military professionals. 60 00:02:40,270 --> 00:02:43,806 To be capable and ready, and to represent all 61 00:02:43,806 --> 00:02:45,884 that is good about the United States, 62 00:02:45,884 --> 00:02:47,998 a nation of diverse heritages 63 00:02:47,998 --> 00:02:50,336 united by common values. 64 00:02:50,336 --> 00:02:53,862 - There's no tighter unit in the world 65 00:02:54,258 --> 00:02:56,116 than the Marine Corps. 66 00:02:56,116 --> 00:02:58,452 I mean, you know, 67 00:02:58,452 --> 00:03:01,083 you join the Air Force, you join the Navy. 68 00:03:01,083 --> 00:03:03,018 You become a Marine. 69 00:03:03,018 --> 00:03:05,252 And it's something that sticks with you the rest of your life. 70 00:03:06,580 --> 00:03:08,226 - [Berger] The spirit of this ethos is born 71 00:03:08,226 --> 00:03:10,724 in the hearts of men and women by a common calling, 72 00:03:10,724 --> 00:03:13,792 a desire to serve and a sense of duty 73 00:03:13,792 --> 00:03:16,192 borne in ideals like patriotism, 74 00:03:16,192 --> 00:03:18,163 valor and fidelity. 75 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:20,129 - When the Japanese 76 00:03:20,129 --> 00:03:22,182 struck Pearl Harbor, 77 00:03:22,182 --> 00:03:24,268 the atmosphere of the country 78 00:03:24,268 --> 00:03:27,486 was entirely different than it is now. 79 00:03:27,669 --> 00:03:29,850 Everybody was talking and 80 00:03:29,850 --> 00:03:32,667 trying to figure out what they could do. 81 00:03:33,119 --> 00:03:35,315 I decided that I would 82 00:03:35,315 --> 00:03:37,031 go into the Marine Corps. 83 00:03:37,031 --> 00:03:39,986 No matter who you are, do some kind of 84 00:03:39,986 --> 00:03:42,079 service for your country. 85 00:03:42,079 --> 00:03:44,409 I've always been proud to say 86 00:03:44,409 --> 00:03:46,177 I was in the Marine Corps. 87 00:03:46,633 --> 00:03:48,452 - [Berger] Our ethos is who we are 88 00:03:48,452 --> 00:03:50,187 and what we believe. 89 00:03:50,187 --> 00:03:52,321 - I was 18 years old. 90 00:03:54,032 --> 00:03:56,369 And you find out 91 00:03:57,905 --> 00:03:59,469 what you got when you need it. 92 00:04:01,128 --> 00:04:03,040 And I just thought I wasn't going to die that night. 93 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,590 The NVA had came into our perimeter. 94 00:04:05,590 --> 00:04:07,914 All I had was a Ka-Bar. 95 00:04:07,914 --> 00:04:10,940 I crawled over and I found my assistant gunner. 96 00:04:10,940 --> 00:04:13,575 We could hear Eli, the gunner, 97 00:04:13,575 --> 00:04:15,691 was shot up, and they'd come in and took Eli 98 00:04:15,691 --> 00:04:18,698 and drug him back into the hamlet. 99 00:04:19,237 --> 00:04:22,172 So I told Bob, I'm going after Eli. 100 00:04:22,366 --> 00:04:25,052 And I just went screaming and 101 00:04:25,052 --> 00:04:27,475 I dove in and I just fetched him. 102 00:04:27,475 --> 00:04:30,799 And then I picked Eli up, I picked the gun up, 103 00:04:32,166 --> 00:04:34,226 and I got us the hell out of there. 104 00:04:35,293 --> 00:04:37,610 - [Black] To be courageous is to do what is right, 105 00:04:37,610 --> 00:04:40,549 to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct, 106 00:04:40,549 --> 00:04:43,659 to lead by example, and to make tough decisions 107 00:04:43,659 --> 00:04:45,419 under stress and pressure. 108 00:04:45,419 --> 00:04:48,987 Marines train, Marines fight, and Marines win. 109 00:04:48,987 --> 00:04:50,315 Always. 110 00:04:50,712 --> 00:04:52,619 - We set up security 111 00:04:52,619 --> 00:04:54,858 and they took off 112 00:04:54,858 --> 00:04:57,522 on a patrol into the village. 113 00:04:57,522 --> 00:05:00,855 0530, that's when the fireworks started. 114 00:05:00,936 --> 00:05:03,210 We're trying to find a way over there, 115 00:05:03,210 --> 00:05:05,925 the second time we found more. 116 00:05:05,925 --> 00:05:07,865 Some of them were dead. 117 00:05:08,128 --> 00:05:10,442 Some of them were alive, trying to take cover. 118 00:05:11,498 --> 00:05:15,730 I sped up and got between the village 119 00:05:15,730 --> 00:05:17,997 and the guys that were our guys. 120 00:05:18,005 --> 00:05:21,541 Yeah, we were getting shot at and my heart was just going a-ways, 121 00:05:21,541 --> 00:05:22,963 just boom, boom, boom, boom. 122 00:05:24,134 --> 00:05:27,464 I'm alive because, and I'll be dead honest with you, 123 00:05:30,317 --> 00:05:33,431 I've never seen the...(clears throat) 124 00:05:35,088 --> 00:05:36,374 A young man 125 00:05:37,306 --> 00:05:39,112 have that much courage. 126 00:05:40,794 --> 00:05:43,109 - Our nation finds in its Marine Corps 127 00:05:43,109 --> 00:05:45,552 men and women committed to preserving trust 128 00:05:45,552 --> 00:05:48,564 that's been built over the last 245 years. 129 00:05:49,326 --> 00:05:51,961 (pensive music) 130 00:05:54,126 --> 00:05:57,223 Marines, once transformed, are forever changed. 131 00:05:57,223 --> 00:06:00,278 Instilled with the beliefs, ideals, 132 00:06:00,278 --> 00:06:03,203 and virtues that have meaning deeper than words. 133 00:06:03,203 --> 00:06:05,784 (pensive music) 134 00:06:10,830 --> 00:06:12,608 These ideals, 135 00:06:12,608 --> 00:06:15,817 honor, courage, commitment, 136 00:06:15,817 --> 00:06:17,508 form the bedrock of our 137 00:06:17,508 --> 00:06:19,972 institutional and individual character. 138 00:06:20,131 --> 00:06:22,028 (dramatic music) 139 00:06:22,028 --> 00:06:25,670 On this birthday, our nation finds in its Marine Corps 140 00:06:25,670 --> 00:06:28,980 men and women who know the meaning of patriotism, 141 00:06:28,980 --> 00:06:31,264 valor, duty, 142 00:06:31,264 --> 00:06:33,953 strength, discipline, 143 00:06:33,953 --> 00:06:35,762 and innovation. 144 00:06:35,762 --> 00:06:38,346 (lively music) 145 00:06:38,741 --> 00:06:40,736 We must be faithful to our country, 146 00:06:40,736 --> 00:06:42,449 to our Corps, 147 00:06:42,449 --> 00:06:44,143 and to each other. 148 00:06:44,143 --> 00:06:47,929 This faithfulness must never be compromised. 149 00:06:47,929 --> 00:06:50,121 We must respect each other, 150 00:06:50,121 --> 00:06:52,115 believe in each other, 151 00:06:52,115 --> 00:06:54,219 trust each other. 152 00:06:54,219 --> 00:06:57,049 (lively music) 153 00:07:06,812 --> 00:07:09,471 - [Black] Our nation finds in its Marine Corps a ready and capable force, 154 00:07:09,471 --> 00:07:12,800 never content with the status quo or being average. 155 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,374 Marines meet and exceed the standard. 156 00:07:15,374 --> 00:07:18,911 That is what Marines do, and that is what the nation expects. 157 00:07:18,911 --> 00:07:22,154 (lively music) 158 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,886 (dramatic music) 159 00:07:47,757 --> 00:07:50,059 - [Both] Semper fidelis and happy birthday, Marines. 160 00:07:51,253 --> 00:07:53,869 (dramatic music)