246 years ago, on 10 November 1775, the first two battalions of the "Continental Marines" were raised at the Second Continental Congress in preparation for America's independence from the English crown. Although the Corps was disbanded after the Revolution and the Treaty of Paris in April 1783, it was re-established on 11 July 1798, this time by Congress and under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy. From then on, the date in July was recognised as Marine Corps Day. It was not until 1921 that the then Commandant of the US Marine Corps, Major General John A. Lejeune, decided that 10 November was the rightful birthday - and it is now celebrated all over the world, wherever US Marines are stationed in combat units or guarding American embassies. In the presence of a guest of honour, General Lejeune's original message from 1921 is read out and a speech is given by the acting Commandant. Finally, a larger cake is ceremonially cut with a sabre and distributed to the guests, the shape of which is reminiscent of the Tun Tavern, a pub in Philadelphia that is considered the founding site of the United States Marine Corps.
The battle for Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal Island - found almost exactly antipodally on the opposite side of the world - is one of the more southerly Solomon Islands and lies about a thousand miles north-east of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The battle for this island, which is less than 100 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide, lasted from the beginning of August 1942 until February 1943. It was the first major Allied offensive against Japanese forces in the Western Pacific and was fought fiercely on land, from the air and from the sea. It was also the longest in American military history and cost the lives of 1,500 American soldiers on the ground alone. The losses on the Japanese side are estimated to be ten times higher. With the victory on Guadalcanal, the sea route between America and Australia was finally secured and the subsequent Allied operations in the West and South Pacific could be conducted from there. The spell was broken and the battle is regarded as a turning point in American warfare during the Second World War.
Last Man's Bottle
77 years after these events, the Marines of the 1st Marine Division celebrated Marine Corps Day on 6 November in Carlsbad, California. The Marine Corps Birthday Ball was attended by young and old, active duty and veterans - and a bottle of cognac. The label on the bottle read that it was the "Last Man's Bottle". This bottle from 1942 - kept since the victory over the Japanese forces on the island - was to be opened by the last surviving Marine from the Battle of Guadalcanal. Now was probably the right time: What good is it for the last one if he can't swallow any more! Better not to be the very last, but to enjoy a good cognac in good company. Although - how long does cognac keep anyway? No matter how old - these are US Marines - you just have to get through it! Semper fidelis - tradition in American.
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