| John Michael Snyder
My Resume
My Philosophy on Teaching
The Snyder Clan
My Life in the Corps
The Petting Zoo
Marine Motivation
Some Of My Favorite Links
Joke Of The Month
The Truth About John Kerry
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MARINE CORPS MOTIVATION - APRIL 2002
Each month I will try to add new, unusual and interesting about Marine Corps related items. This month the theme is recruiting posters. My hopes here are to motivate you and to teach you a little bit about my beloved Corps. If you like something here, please feel free to copy a motivational picture of one of my stories.
Please take the time to spread the word to others that might find this page of interest.
So please take your time, enjoy, dont spill coffee on your keyboard and as always........Semper Fi !
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World War II Marine Corps Aviation
Since the invention of the aircraft, aviation has always played a major part in the history of the Marine Corps. As a matter of fact the first Marine aviator, Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham, became the Father of Marine Aviation in, 1912.
The poster to the left is a fine representation of the importance that Marine aviation played during WWII.
During World War II the Marines invented and honed the tactics of close air support. Marine aviators Joe Foss and Pappy Boyington earned Medals of Honor and the title of Ace for missions flown in the south Pacific. Boyington, despite being shot down and captured by the enemy, managed to shot down 28 Japanese aircraft by wars end.
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Marine Aviation Today
The poster to the right shows two Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and a CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopter, both of which play a major part in the Marine Corps mission.
The AH-1 Cobra is a two seated attack helicopter with a nose mounted three barrel 20 mm gun. It is capable of carrying four TOW missiles, eight Hellfire missiles, or one AIM-9L Sidewinder missile as well as free flying ZUNI rockets. It provides close air as well as anti armor support and has a maximum cruising speed: 152 knots .
The CH-53E is the Marine Corps primary heavy lift platform. It is capable of lifting over 36,000 pounds, can arieal refuel, and can provide over the horzion troop transport of up to 55 troops at speeds in excess of 150 knots.
Whether providing close air support, flying at tree top level to surgically insert Marines into areas of unrest, or to simply deliver food, ammunition, and humanitarian or logistic support, Marine aviation is still an interregnal part of the Marine Corps mission today.
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Marine Corps motivational posters have been around for nearly as long as the Corps.......
The oldest United States military recruiting poster that I know of is the January 1776 Marine Corps recruiting poster towards the bottom of this page but, handbills and newspaper advertisements asking for men to join the Corps have been around since the Marine Corps inception in 1775. If you happen to have a picture of an old Marine Corps related handbill, poster or newspaper article, and you wouldnt mind sharing it with the world, please contact me at my email address and I will post it here for all to see.
During WWII and WWI thousands of highly motivating and beautifully hand illustrated Marine Corps posters were produced. Many of these posters, if you can find them, are worth a pretty penny today.
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THE COLT 45 AUTOMATIC PISTOL
The Marine on the poster to the right is carrying the M1911 Colt .45 automatic pistol which was adopted by the Marine Corps in 1912 when it was found, during the Philippine insurrection of 1899, that the standard issue .38 caliber revolver did not have the stopping power to keep the enemy down, many of whom were drugged prior to going into battle. The Colt 45, with its larger caliber round and higher stopping power, fixed this problem nicely and remained as the standard side arm of the Corps until it was replaced by the .9mm Beretta pistol in the 1980s. The Colt 45 is still considered by many, myself included, to be the finest combat handgun ever invented.
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MARINE CORPS GUNNERY SERGENTS
The Marine Corps rank of Gunnery Sergeant, AKA: GUNNY, dates back to the Spanish American War and was created in 1898. The rank denoted a sergeant who was highly proficient in the use of small arms, signaling and accurately directing naval gunnery.
Gunnery Sergeants normally served, while aboard ship, as the senior man of the vessel's gun crew but, by the beginning of World War I the rank was being used as the platoon sergeant rank.
The recruiting poster to the left shows a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeants at work directing naval gunfire during World War I.
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TEUFEL HUNDEN - BIRTH OF THE DEVIL DOG
The nick name Teufel Hunden, which roughly translates to mean Devil Dog, was given to Marines by the Germans during hand to hand fighting in an area outside of Chateau-Thierry France, called Belleau Wood, which started on 4 June 1918.
The Marine Corps has always prided itself on producing the finest marksmen in the world and as a vastly superior number of German troops advanced through the wheat fields in front of the woods, Marine Gunnery Sergeants called out the range and helped their men adjust their sights as Marines armed with 03 Springfield rifles accurately engaged and destroyed the enemy at ranges exceeding 800 yards.
During the fighting at Belleau Wood, the 4th Marine Brigade, low on ammunition and grenades attacked and defeated, through close combat, two German battalions and several dozen German machine gun nests. In gratitude for the performance of the Marines the French renamed the woods, Bois de la Brigade de Marine.
The lexicon of Marine Corps history was forever changed and the nick name, Devil Dog, has remained ever since.
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THE 1903 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE
The Rifle illustrated in this poster is the famous M1903 Springfield. The Oh Three, as it became known, replaced the .30 caliber Krag-Jorgensen rifle which was used during the Spanish-American War and became the standard issue rifle of the Marine Corps by 1912.
The M1903 Springfield is the weapon that was carried by American troops into battle during WWI and it fired the then new improved 30-06 cartridge, with devastating efficiency.
Despite its age, this rifle is still sought after by collectors and rifle competition shooters alike for it's quality craftsmanship and unmatched out of the box accuracy.
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LEATHERNECKS
Note the high collar on this Marines dress blue uniform tunic.
In September of 1776 the Navy established a standard uniform for the Continental Marines. Part of that uniform was a stiff leather collar which protected the neck from cuts to the throat and also forced the Marines to keep their heads erect. This uncomfortable uniform collar was so distinctive that it earned the Marines the nick name of LEATHERNECK. The tradition has been passed down for over 225 years and the distinctive and very uncomfortable collar is proudly worn by Marines even today.
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1776 - PROMISES OF A BETTER LIFE
The poster to the left is a recreation of the original which is in the possession of the United States Marine Corps. It is the oldest recruiting poster that I know of, and was tacked up on the walls of Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, in January of 1776.
Life in the Corps was, and is, sparse and tough but, it the intrinsic rewards of being a member of the worlds finest and proudest fighting force far out way any of the hardships. But back in 1776 the extrinsic rewards were what tempted men to join the Corps of Marines. Marines were sharpshooters who manned the high riggings of the sailing ships, from their perch high above the enemy they could accurately pick off officers and sailors aboard the enemy vessel. Marines also served as ships company, with the senior Marine answering directly to the Captain. A major part of their duties of Marines, when not engaging the enemy, was to keep discipline among the Navy personnel. Shipboard life was a hard and cramped life but, the promise of gold, food and rum was a tempting recompense. With much of Americas goods being directed to the war effort or cut short by enemy embargo, the average American rarely got a good meal, let alone the regular hot meals, drink and riches promised by the recruiters. As you can see form this poster the promises made to those willing to join must have proved very tempting indeed.
Here is what the poster offered those that JOINED THE Corps:
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GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT - AMERICAN WAR.
What a Brilliant Prospect does this Event hold out to every Lad of Spirit, who is inclined to try his Fortune in that highly renowned Corps,The Royal Marines.
When every Thing that swims the Seas must be a P R I Z E !
Thousands are at this moment endeavoring to get on Board Privateers, where they serve without Pay or Reward of any kind whatsoever; so certain does their Chance appear of enriching themselves by PRIZE MONEY! What an enviable Station then must the ROYAL MARINE hold, --- who with far superior Advantages to these, has the additional benefit of liberal Pay, and plenty of the best Provisions, with a good and well appointed Ship under him, the Pride and Glory of Old England; surely every Man of Spirit must blush to remain at Home in Inactivity and Indolence, when his Country and the best of Kings needs his Assistance.
Where then can he have such a fair opportunity of reaping Glory and Riches, as in the Royal Marines, a Corps daily acquiring new Honors, and there, when once embarked in a BRITISH FLEET, he finds himself in the midst of Honor and Glory, surrounded by a set of fine Fellows, Strangers to Fear, and who strike Terror through the Hearts of their Enemies wherever they go! He has likewise the inspiring Idea to know. that while he scours the Ocean to protect the Liberty of Old England, that the Hearts and good Wishes of the whole BRITISH NATION. Attend him; pray for his Success, and participate in his Glory!! Lose no time then, my Fine Fellows, in embracing the Glorious Opportunity that awaits you;
YOU WILL RECEIVE
Sixteen Guineas Bounty, and on your Arrival at Head Quarters, be comfortably and genteelly CLOTHED
And spirited Young BOYS of a promising Appearance, who are Five Feet high, WILL RECEIVE TWELVE POUNDS ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE BOUNTY, and equal Advantages of PROVISIONS and CLOTHING with the Men.
And those who wish only to enlist for a limited Service, shall receive a Bounty of ELEVEN GUINEAS, and Boys EIGHT.
In Fact, the Advantages which the ROYAL MARINE possesses. are too numerous to mention here, but among the many, It may not be amiss to state. --That if he has a WIFE, or aged PARENT, he can make them an Allotment of half his PA Y which will be regularly paid without any trouble to them, or to whomsoever he may direct; that being well Clothed and Fed on Board Ship, the remainder of his PAY and PRIZE MONEY will be clear in Reserve for the Relief of his Family or his own private Purposes.
The Single Young Man on his Return to Port, finds himself enabled to cut a Draft on Shore with his GIRL and his CLASS, that might be envied by a Nobleman.
Take courage then, seize the Fortune that awaits you, repair to the ROYAL MARINE RENDEZVOUS, where in a FLOWING BOWL of PUNCH, in Three Times Three, you shall drink. Long live the King, and Success to his Royal Marines.
Thc Daily Allowance of a Marine when embarked, is
One Pound of BEEF or PORK,
One Pound of BREAD, Flour, Raisins. Butter. Cheese.
Oatmeal Molasses, Tea, Sugar,etc. etc.
And a Pint of the best WINE or Half a Pint of the best RUM or BRANDY; together with a Pint of LEMONADE.
They have likewise in warm Countries, a plentiful allowance of the choicest FRUIT.
And what can be more handsome than the Royal Marine Proportion of PRIZE MONEY, when a Sergeants shares equal with the First Class of Petty Officers, such as Midshipmen, Assistant Surgeons, etc. which is Five Shares each; a Corporal with the Second Class, which is Three Shares each; and the Private with the Able Seamen, One Share and a Half each.
For further Particulars, and a more full Account of the many Advantages of this invaluable Corps, apply to SERGEANT FULCHER, at the EIGHT BELLS, where the Bringer of a Recruit will receive THREE GUINEAS. S. AND J. RIDGE, PRINTERS, MARKET PLACE, NEWARK
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It is interesting to note that the military offered to provide allotments for family members as early as 1812. The American Navy ended the rum ration on September 1, 1862, so I never got mine. But to this day if you are at sea for more than 60 days without setting foot in port the captain of the ship is authorized to allow the crew a small beer ration. In 1983 after 60 days off the coast of Beirut I was allowed to stand inside a taped off area of the flight deck and drink two warm beers.
My how times have changed...
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SEMPER FIDELIS - Always Faithful, the Marine Corps motto !
The poster to the right is by far one of my all time favorite modern posters. This one was not around long, I figure it was because it must have really pissed off the other services.
It should be noted that the Marine Corps is part of the department of the Navy.
THE MENS DEPARTMENT!
I hope you have enjoyed this page. Fair winds, following seas, and as always
Semper Fi
John
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