SUBJ: 235TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

R 081740Z NOV 10




ALCOAST 547/10

COMDTNOTE 1000


1. ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD,

I AM HONORED TO EXTEND BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE

CORPS ON THE 235TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR FOUNDING.

2. ON NOVEMBER 10, 1775, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS PASSED A RESOLUTION

CREATING TWO BATTALIONS OF MARINES TO SERVE AS LANDING FORCES FOR ITS

FLEET. THIS MARKED THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. SINCE

THEN, MARINES HAVE CONTINUALLY SACRIFICED TO ENSURE THE FREEDOMS WE

ENJOY TODAY: FROM THE 1805 BATTLE OF DERNE WHERE MARINES SEIZED

VICTORY FROM THE BARBARY PIRATES (THE FIRST SUCH ENGAGEMENT OF U.S.

FORCES OVERSEAS), TO TODAYS OPERATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF

AFGHANISTAN.

3. THIS SUMMER, IN THE GULF OF ADEN, ELEMENTS OF THE 15TH MARINE

EXPEDITIONARY UNIT FACILITATED THE CAPTURE OF 9 SUSPECTED PIRATES,

SECURING THE SAFE RESCUE OF 11 CREW MEMBERS FROM THE MOTOR VESSEL

MAGELLAN STAR. MEMBERS OF COAST GUARD TACTICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM

SOUTH WERE PROUD TO ASSIST, FOLLOWING IN THE SECOND WAVE TO HANDLE

ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES AFTER THE INITIAL TAKEDOWN. TODAY, MARINES

AND SUPPORTING COAST GUARDSMEN ARE PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN SECURING

FREEDOM ON THE HIGH SEAS AND PROVING THEY ARE A FORMIDABLE TEAM.

4. THE MARINE CORPS HAS ALSO ADVANCED THE HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS OF

U.S. OPERATIONS. FOLLOWING THIS YEARS EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI, MARINES

LANDED WITHIN DAYS TO DELIVER RELIEF SUPPLIES AND PROVIDE MEDICAL AID

TO THE CITIZENS OF LEOGANE, HAITI. MARINES OF THE 22ND

EXPEDITIONARY UNIT WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK TO DELIVER 550,000 BOTTLES

OF WATER, 18,000 LBS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND MORE THAN ONE MILLION

DISASTER AND RELIEF RATIONS.

5. SINCE OUR OWN FOUNDING IN 1790, THE COAST GUARD HAS SERVED

ALONGSIDE OUR FELLOW ARMED SERVICES ON BATTLE FRONTS AROUND THE

WORLD, BUT OUR BOND WITH THE MARINES IS UNIQUE. ONE OF THE COAST

GUARDS GREATEST HEROS AND ONLY MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, SIGNALMAN

FIRST CLASS DOUGLAS A. MUNRO, DIED FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE MARINES AT

GUADALCANAL. TODAY, THE MARINE CORPS HONORS DOUGLAS MUNRO WITH AN

ANTI-TERRORISM TRAINING FACILITY NAMED IN HIS MEMORY. HIS BRAVERY

AND SACRIFICE IS OUR SHARED HERITAGE.

6. YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE IS CHERISHED BY ALL AMERICANS. YOU ARE

SEMPER FI. WE WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND ARE HONORED TO SERVE

ALONGSIDE YOU. SEMPER PARATUS.

7. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, SENDS.

8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.