American USMC uniforms

The United States Marine Corps have fought along side Australians since WW1. This page is to pay respect to their courage.

In WW1 they fought along side the Aussies. In WW2 thousands of them were temporarily stationed in Australia as a jumping off point for PNG and the South Pacific Theatre generally.

Their planes flew in support of our ground troops. Their blokes died as did ours, in a common cause.

In Viet Nam the USMC did much of the fighting and although it was not actually in the same area as the Australian Task Force, the enemy was the same.

We know that the Yanks tend to be more theatrical than Brits or Aussies, but we can still appreciate a good quote.

"Chesty" Puller, a legendary Marine, said while he was in Korea;

"The enemy is in front of me. He is to my rear. He is on my left and right flanks. The poor silly bastards won't get away this time".

World War 2

Captain in the United States Marine Corps	Captain, USMC Winter Green uniform
This USMC Captain is holding a Mameluke sword. This right to use this type of sword was given to Marine Corps officers after they conquered the Barbary Pirates at Tripoli. He wears the high collar dress blue uniform with a cap frame with special gold and scarlet-red chinstrap. It is summer, so he wears a white cover, probably on diplomatic duty. His eagle, globe & anchor (EGA, the USMC badge) are real silver and gold overlay.	A WW2-era US Marine Captain in "winter green" uniform. This officer is serving as Aide-de-camp to a Major General. He is a career officer, as shown by the" American Defense" ribbon, which dates his active duty to before Pearl Harbor. Also on that particular ribbon is the silver "W" device that denotes participation in the defense of Wake Island. He is a Silver Star recipient, with the "V" for Valor device, and served in China as well.
He wears smaller size collar brass facing inward. The 5th and 6th Marines in World War One were awarded three French Croix de Guerre Medals, two with a gold palm and one with a gold star. To represent those medals, he wears a French fourragere of green and red, the same colours as the service ribbon of the C de G. He is a Marine Aviator and wears his pilots wings over a Navy Cross, a (Navy) Distinguished Service Medal with two gold stars (2nd & 3rd award), a Silver Star Medal. The second row is Flying Cross Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and a Purple Heart Medal. Third row is a Navy Expeditionary Medal, a Marine Corps Good Conduct medal to show he started an as enlisted man and was a "Mustang" (took a combat commission), and the last service ribbon is the American Defense Service Medal with "W" appurtenance to show he defended Wake Island against assault by the Imperial Japanese Naval and Marine Forces. He wears a Rifle Expert and Pistol Marksman badges. He has white gloves as he had just came off duty on the Staff of the Aviation Commander of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. He declined to wear the authorized Sam Browne belt while on sea duty to reduce the amount of luggage in the small cramped officers quarters.

Captain USMC HBT Fatigues

Here we see the Captain in his everyday utility uniform, also known as fatigues.

He wears his cotton khaki HBT utility jacket open at the collar, with sleeves rolled up in the steamy Pacific climate.

His matching "cover," as Marines refer to all headwear, is the P-44 utility cap, which was a variation on the Army's P-41 cap.

The Marines' version rotated the crown a few degrees to provide a place front and center for the "bird on a ball" Marine Corps insignia to be stenciled in black.

This officer's OD webbing belt holds his trusty Ka-Bar 7-inch USMC combat knife, a popular addition to 'gyrene' battle gear from 1942 on. His wristwatch is a military-issue Bulova with tropical webbing strap.

The Marine Corps Hymn for audio

"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.

"Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job--
The United States Marines.

"Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines."