Marines


Historical Documents and Speeches
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History Division
Quantico, Virginia

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

Resolution Establishing the Continental Marines
Congressional Act
10 November 1775

U.S. CONGRESS

An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps
Congressional Act
11 July 1798

An Act for the Better Organization of the United States Marine Corps 
Congressional Act
30 June 1834

Rider to Appropriations Bill
Congressional Act Placing Marines Back on Ships
3 March 1909

The National Security Act of 1947
Congressional Act Reaffirming the Marine Corps as a
Separate Service and Prescribing its Duties and Functions

Public Law 625: The Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948
Congressional Act 
12 June 1948

Public Law 416
Congressional Act Pertaining to Marine Corps Personnel Strength and Organization
28 June 1952

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

Navy to Accept African-Americans for General Service
Press Release
7 April 1942

Marines Announce Plans for Recruiting African-Americans
Press Release
20 May 1942

PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Defining the Duties of the United States Marine Corps
Executive Order No. 969
12 November 1908

Marine Corps Officers' Physical Fitness
Executive Order No. 989
9 December 1908

PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN

Desegregation of the Armed Services
Executive Order No. 9981
26 July 1948

The Marine Corps as the Navy’s Police Force
Letter and Subsequent Apology
August – September 1950

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY JOSEPHUS DANIELS

Authorization to Enroll Women Marines
Letter
8 August 1918

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY CLAUDE A. SWANSON

The Fleet Marine Force
General Order No. 241
7 December 1933

MAJOR GENERAL GRAVES B. ERSKINE, USMC

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Dedication of the 3d Marine Division Cemetery
Speech given at the dedication of the cemetery on Iwo Jima
February 1945

LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN A. LEJEUNE, USMC

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Special Trust and Confidence
Marine Corps Manual
1920

Military Efficiency
MCO No. 24
July 1920

Relations Between Officers and Men
MCO No. 29
14 August 1920

Establishing the Advanced Base Force
MCO No. 7
3 March 1921

Marine Corps Birthday Message
MCO No. 47
1 November 1921

Kindly and Just
Letter No. 1
19 September 1922

Establishing the Marine Corps Colors
MCO No. 4
18 April 1925

GENERAL LEMUEL C. SHEPHERD, JR., USMC

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Remarks at the Unveiling of Belleau Wood Memorial Plaque
18 November 1955

GENERAL DAVID M. SHOUP, USMC

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Swagger Stick
Remarks by Commandant of the Marine Corps to Staff
4 January 1960

Marines Not Taught to Hate
Hearings Before the Special Preparedness Subcommittee of the Committee 
on Armed Services
United States Senate
January 1962

Patriotism
Independence Day Statement
4 July 1962

GENERAL ALEXANDER A. VANDEGRIFT, USMC

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Bended Knee Speech
Presented to Senate Committee on Naval Affairs
6 May 1946

Statement on the Proposed National Security Act of 1947
22 April 1947

CHAPLAIN ROLAND B. GITTELSOHN, USN

The Purest Democracy
Sermon on the Dedication of 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima
21 March 1945

 

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