Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
War History Online
These US Marine Corps Myths Have Been Around For SO Long That Most People Think They're True
By Todd Neikirk,
2024-07-31
The US Marine Corps, famous for its rich history exceeding two centuries, takes great pride in a legacy characterized by courage and the time-honored customs of its legendary leathernecks. However, as with any long-lasting military institution, it has also accumulated its share of myths and embellished narratives. Here are some accounts about the USMC that, upon closer examination, prove to be mere myths!
The 'Devil Dogs' nickname didn't actually come from the Germans
The moniker "Devil Dogs" - or " Teufel Hunden ," in German - encapsulates much of what the US Marine Corps is about; it hints at the ferocity and toughness of the service. According to legend, German soldiers gave Marines the moniker during the First World War , having been impressed by their drive during Battle of Belleau Wood .
It's undoubtedly impressive to receive this sort of nickname from an enemy combatant. However, upon further investigation, the rumors don't appear to be true.
Patrick Mooney, a representative from the National Museum of the Marine Corps, is reported as saying , "We have no proof that it came from German troops though tradition says it came from German troops referring to Marines. There is no written document in German that says that the Marines are Devil Dogs or any correct spelling or language component of 'Devil Dog' in German."
It also appears that the nickname for the USMC had appeared in print before the Battle of Belleau Wood.
The 4th Marine Regiment isn't banished overseas
In the history of the US Marine Corps, a persistent belief suggests that the 4th Marine Regiment's stationing overseas was not a matter of choice but rather the result of an alleged exile. The story claims that the regiment was supposedly banned from returning to the United States after Col. Sam Howard ordered the Marines to burn their regimental and national colors following their surrender to the Japanese in the Philippines in 1942.
Since the Second World War , it has been rumored that the 4th Marines are condemned to roam the Pacific as a form of punishment for the perceived disgrace of surrender. However, this assertion lacks foundation. Over the years, the regiment has been reinvented , disbanded and reactivated numerous times, consistently demonstrating valor. They have also integrated battalions from the mainland United States into their ranks as part of their mission to safeguard maritime interests.
Has the US Marine Corps ever surrendered to the enemy?
There is non-stop competition between all branches of the US military, and the US Marine Corps is often thought of as the fiercest group. To promote this idea, recruits and trainees are often told Marines have never surrendered on the battlefield. However, this is untrue.
In the end, however, they didn't have the numbers to compete with the Japanese, and the group's commander, Maj. James Devereux, surrendered on December 23, 1941. A film about the heroism of these Marines on Wake Island was released the following year.
Commemorating the Battle of Chapultepec
The Battle of Chapultepec in 1847 is one of the most famous in US Marine Corps history. Occurring during the Mexican-American War , it saw US troops attempt to enter Mexico City, and the fight is an important part of American and Mexican history.
In Mexico, Niños Héroes , six cadets who refused to surrender to the Americans, are revered. The engagement was also legendary for the United States. Despite being outnumbered, the American forces were victorious. The battle's memorialized in the opening lines of the Marines' Hymn .
According to legend, the blood-red stripe on the USMC's dress blues honors the battle. That story, however, is untrue. It turns out that Marines had sported the stripe years before the engagement happened, with Beth L. Crumley of the US Marine Corps History Division telling We Are The Mighty , "While a wonderful story, and one that is taught to incoming recruits, it is only a story."
The US Marine Corps' actually birthday
The date of the birth of the US Marine Corps is highly disputed. The service was formed for the first time in 1775. The Continental Congress created two battalions to serve in the Revolutionary War . However, once the conflict was over, they were disbanded.
Between 1783 and '98, there was no USMC. On July 11, 1798, the service was officially formed through an act of Congress, and for the next century, this date was recognized as its birthday.
In November 1921, however, Gen. John A. Lejeune issued an order making November 10, 1775, the USMC's official creation date. While the order was technically correct, there are 15 years where Marines didn't serve the United States.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.