Fifty-three years ago this month I earned a title that to this day is one of my most cherished accomplishments, that of a United States Marine. The 10th of this month we celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The story goes that this renowned fighting force was born out of a group of men that met in 1775 in a place called Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Out of that meeting grew the most illustrious fighting force the world has ever known, as so we’re intensely instructed as part of our boot camp training. Marine Corps basic training includes many, many hours of its history and traditions. From day one we are taught that there is nothing as important as high standards of discipline, professionalism and integrity. Teamwork is pressed into our psyche. These core values passed down from generation to generation are what bind us together with strong bonds of camaraderie and respect for one another. These values are the true essence of the 250 years of our renown existence. They are what drive us to push ourselves beyond what we think we are capable of, both physically and mentally, in order to succeed. It is a desire, or maybe even a personal mandate that you never let your teammate down and that you always, always help a fellow Marine in need. I call it all internal fortitude, both in mind and body.
I remember one particular hot afternoon in that South Carolina sun in August when I thought for sure I was about to drop out of a running formation (we always ran everywhere). We had been exercising and running all day. I finished the run but had started to wonder if I was going to be able to complete this grueling Marine basic training. That evening, I received a very timely letter at mail call from a friend of mine who had completed boot camp a year earlier. He knew the stage of training I was in and how difficult it was. His letter couldn’t have come at a better time. His timely words of encouragement were very helpful in convincing me to stick it out. One Marine to another. Never quit. Marines are known for their toughness and discipline. My first real life lesson of Marine “Esprit-de-Corps.”
This tightly formed bond among all Marines past, present and future begins developing in those hellish days of basic training. It is this bond that is drilled into us from day one that forms the unbreakable strength of team spirit in us all. Anytime we see another Marine in public whether it be a quick passing in an airport, in the supermarket or theater or on the street, there’s always a quick recognition of respect with the greeting “Semper Fi,” the Marine Corps motto “Always Faithful.” We are faithful to our country, to the Corps and to each other.
To all you Marines out there, HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY and SEMPER FI.
Tom Williams lives in Shelburne.