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I spent 8 years in the USMC both active and active reserve. I am a VFW and American Legion member. I believe it is only fair, the the Corps become a joint entity as “The Dept. of the Navy and Marince Corp”. The Command is the same, one no worse, we were founded before the Navy. They need to pass this.
I served onboard the USS Kearsarge LHD-3, 1996-2000, side by side with my green brothers from MEU 22 and MEU 26. I would not have had it any different. WE are the only ones FORWARD DEPLOYED meaning we pave the road and bring the fight to them. Our team gets it done right the first time and has for decades. I have earned Marine Expeditionary medals and Navy medals and awards which are nice pieces of hardwear given to me by the suits tucked away in a drawer which I am proud of equally. The point here is that the hardwear does not make up for recognition from my brothers or the job of doing my job and covering their 6.
The only recognition that is needed is the recognition from the men and women you stand along side and to get as many as we can home vertically and to honor and never forget the ones we bring home horizontal.
Save some money and order new letter head my brothers families deserve that. Please do not give the suits in Washington a reason to pat themselves on the back for changing some wording instead of actually helping our wounded and the families of our fallen brothers.
“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” History is highly valued here and not because we are scared of change it is to honor those before us, to do and serve as they did.
How to take care of a Marine:
Feed them
Bring to playground
Show them what part of the sandbox the enemy occupies
The Marine will do the rest.
Honor, Courage, Committment
Semper Fi
Serving on the CCLNHG Central Coast Leatherneck Honor Guard it only seems fitting to honor the deceased marine to thier next of kin upon presenting the folded colors by saying “please accept this flag on behalf of the President of the United States,The Commandant of the Marine Corps,and a greatful Nation”. Rather than Secretary of the Navy. There is strenght and honor on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps. hoo-rah
Being a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant and Vietnam Vet, I couldn’t agree more. Really tired of people thinking we are part of the Navy. The Marines are older than the Navy. It’s hard to be humble when you are the finest. About time Marines have their just due! Semper Fi
Caught the Gunny on the Roe Conn Show on WLS890 out of Chicago today. Great to hear his voice to know he is still alive! As a 4 year Marine veteran from 1991-1995, I am honored to be a part of this great cause! I was #5164 to sign the petition, so it’s awesome to see how well this is going. God bless our wonderful troops and keep them safe. Semper Fi!!!
AS A FORMER MARINE I KNOW WE ARE THE FIRST TO BE CALLED WHEN THE SHIT IT’S THE FAN, SO GIVE US THE REGONITION WE BOTH NEED AND DESERVE.
I was’t a Marine, but I know how I would feal if they tried to do something with the Army designation. Washington is changing things just for the change and I feel that a great number of “SO CALLED OFFICIALS NEED TO BE OUT”. I am not in favor of this change because The MARINES HAVE A HONORED PAST and when a tough job has to be done, the Marines are called in.
WAKE UP WASHINGTON TO THE FACT THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANY GOOD REASON TO CHANGE THE LONG HONOR OF THE MARINES.
I can appreciate your quest for a change in the designation from what is now only the Department of the Navy to The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. If it were my decision, the Marine Corps would be a separate branch of the military all together just like the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy all ready are.
I don’t know what the ramifications would be over the budget and transportation issues if you did change to JUST the Marine Corps alone though. I’m sure some bureaucrat would have a heart attack over it though!
I am a Vietnam Veteran having proudly served as a Navy Corpsman attached to the Marines. There is no greater sense of pride or purpose that that of the USMC. Seperate but equal are the USN and USMC, there is no reason they should not be hailed together under the same Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.
“Doc” you are a Marine as far as I am concerned! Any Corpsman with an FMF badge is! I, too, am a Vietnam Vet, and proud of it! We have seen the Marine Corps shuttled around like a red-headed stepchild for ages, especially after any major war or conflict.
It seems like it is time for another Marine Corps “Chowder Society” (check your history right after WWII) and need to quit all this in-fighting. Instead of Department of the Navy AND Marine Corps, why not just Department of the Marine Corps?
As a real (not honorary) Gunny told us in boot camp “Adapt or Die!” Hell, it’s time to quit all this politcal correctness crap and tell it like it is……the Marines do all the dirty work that no one else can or will. That is why Truman, and Eisenhower hated us, we took care of their screw-ups! Now it is time to be recognized, especially with this left-wing socialist leaning government, or we will just be a memory in a some history book!
Semper Fidelis,
Bill Wilson USMC Ret’d
This is a must for all Marines and their families. As in recent polling of the American people on the issue of which service is most admired by the American population, the United States Marine Corps was overwhelmingly the most desired by all. Our Commandant sits on the JCS and directly speaks to the leaders of Congress, the Senate and the President about what his and the SgtMaj of the Marine Corps “War Fighters” can do when needed. The Secretary of the Navy nor the Chief of Naval Operations surely cannot speak for the Marines as can the Commandant of our Corps. For this reason and this reason among many, the time has come for Our Corps to step off with a full 30 inch step to be recognized as a separate service from the U.S. Navy. We love our Navy because they get us where America needs us when someone needs their ass kicked.
Semper Fi Marines and Families,
Mark A. Massey/ SgtMaj/ USMC
As a marine I had the privilege to server our country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was also lucky to be part of the LSD-47 naval ship for three months. No disrespect to the navy but I wish all my promotions and awards would say Department of the Marine Corp and not the navy. Time change and it’s our time to do the same we need to get our independence from the navy. Don’t worry we will be okay because we are marines and we adapted and over come. The navy man and woman get recognized by their department and we as marines should be able to do the same.
As an Iraqi vet I do believe that we need to be recognized as the Department of The Marine Corps. We are the ground pounders out their doing the dirty work and we should be recognized for it. No disrespect to our sister branch of the navy, but its time for the Corps to be on their own. Once a Marine always a Marine. Simper FI my brothers and sister’s stay strong and God Bless.
I am a retired Navy Seabee with 26 years of service. I have worked side by side with my Marine brothers and believe the change is due. Most Marines log more sea time than many sailors. They deserve a seperate department. God bless the Navy and Marines.
My Father served during WWII in the Marine Corps. I feel that the name should absolutely changed to reflect both the Navy and the Marines.
During his lifetime our Father would rarely speak about his experiences during the war. His name was Walter Leverne Burge. He was not an officer but he was our hero. After he passed on we discovered that he had several ribbons and medals that he had never mentioned. To the day he died he was a true Jar Head and a good man. I think changing the name is long overdue.
I was proud to sign the petition. I agree it is time the Marines were given the recognition they so richly deserve. I was Army National Guard during Desert Storm. My dad was a Marine as was one of my closest friends. It is time that they were recognized as the force they are and for all they do from Toys for Tots, to fighting to protect me and my daughter. On behalf of myself and my family thank you Jarheads ( I say it with love) for standing the wall and allowing my little one to sleep safe at night. Hooorah!
The Marine Corps is now a separate branch of the Naval Services inside the Department of the Navy. The Commandant of the Marine Corps is no longer under the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations. Marine General Peter Pace served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,and Marine General James Jones served as Supreme Allied Commander, NATO. I served from 1955-1992: 12 years enlisted and 25 years an officer, and have been retired for 18 years. I have come to the conclusion that it is time for change.
Yes, it should be The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. Why not? It makes sense, and would be in proper perspective for the world to know.
William R. Melton
LtCol, USMC (Ret.)
I am a former Naval Aviator, was never in the Marine Corps, but my NROTC Unit had a Marine Colonel C.O. and a strong Marine Corps presence, so I feel a deep sense of Honor for all that the Marines have done for this nation down through history. God Bless them, they are the first in the fight wherever needed and the Navy gets them there and helps support them, an inseparable team, but the Marines need their own recognition. As “The Gunny” says, the Marines may be part of the Dept. of the Navy, but it’s the Men’s Dept!
I say, let the Navy and the Marines stand proud together. Change it to Department of the Navy and The Marine Corps! The Navy will be the richer for it as well.
Whoever stands a watch or carries a weapon in the struggle against oppression, tyrrany and terrorism is my brother. Those who have shed their own blood in the cause for liberty deserve to be honored at the highest level. Semper Fi, Marines.
A pleasure to read a posting from one who grasps the true purpose of this bill !!! Also, I believe you know, have expressed and understand the meaning of Semper Fi !!!!
My husband served proudly for over 22 years in the Marine Corps. I don’t see what would be the big deal in making this happen. Should’ve existed years ago. I can see why the Navy would fight it. For years the Navy would get the bulk of the funds and deligate whatever scraps was left over to the Marine Corps. I will gladly write to senators and voice my opinion. Its time the Marine Corps stopped being treated like the poor relative of the Navy and recognized for their own contributions.
I signed the petition a couple of months ago but have since changed my mind. Thinking back to when I took that oath I vaguely knew what a Marine was, in the back of my mind I knew he was bad.. Most of my friends wanted to wear a beret and they had their Secretary, some wanted bell bottoms they have a Secretary too. A Few just want a Commandant and a weapon in their hands. Tradition has Sailors and Marines on a boat. Tradition also has Marines, Corpsmen and Seabees in the jungle. Satisfaction in knowing you were one of the few picked to do your job to the best of your ability and to fight your most fearless is all the recognition I need. Lock an Load
why be a department??? If we are going to be a department then we might as well stay like we are. WE should just be called THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. How did this change com about???
LONG overdue Marines. Welcome Aboard from an old Seabee…;>)
When a change is suggested on how the US does business, we have “die hards” that don’t want that change (foolish). When the US government takes a stand and makes that change anyway, in time, we all (rational folks) see that change, was for the good of all. Marines must be given the recognition every other military force is given. In regards to our main fighting forces, we have an Army, we have a Navy, we have an Air Force and without a doubt we have a Marine Corps. Give the United States Marine Corps its just due. The Dept of the Navy and Marine Corps is good, but The Dept of the United States Marine Corps is even better. Semper Fi!
This flies in the face of 235 years of tradition. Please go back to the root purpose of why marines exist and are part of the Naval Service.
Tradition and progress are both important concepts to maintain the livelihood of any organization, but this is neither.
Steve your exactly right. So they want to change the tradition of the Marine Corps. Way back we used to fight aboard ships and we had leather wrapped around our necks ( leather necks). on the top of our covers was a design called a quatrofoil so we could tell us from them. We have been a department of the navy for how long??? Take a guess. Anybody??
Right on steve
SEMPER FIDELIS
I am strongly opposed to this idea. The Naval Service includes the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard during time of war. Should we call it the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps and Coast Guard (during certain times of war)?” I am a Naval Academy graduate and I often remind folks that it is not the Navy Academy but the “Naval Academy.” The Marine Corps should not try to move away from the Navy but it should embrace it because there is nothing the Marines do that that Army cannot. What makes the Marines a necessary fighting force is the fact that it is an essential part of the Naval Service, knows its procedures, its customs and performs its mission in a superior fashion. Marines are sea soldiers and the Department of the Navy is where they belong!
Kevin J. Best
Capt. USMC (Ret.)
I am a retired Marine and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. I was designated a Naval Aviator. The Marine Corps is a naval service and should stay a naval service. All the Marine Corps I know are naval elements–Royal Navy, Netherlands, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian.
I believe the Fleet Marine Force is part of the fleet and the United States is the greatest maritime power in the history of the world. I believe the commander of the landing force (CLF) should be a Marine; I believe the Navy/Marine Corps team that operates from amphibious ships with air, ground, and ground elements is the most highly trained, well organized and finely tuned organization of its kind in the world. Our ability to project force from the littoral is critical to our country and important to our identity. I believe Marines should guard embassies (no contractors) and Navy bases.
I believe that one day the Starship Enterprise (will be a star SHIP commanded by a captain not a colonel) from planet Earth will land on another planet to defend the Earth; the landing force will be Marines.
Semper Fi!
I graduated USNA and served thirty years in the Marine Corps and I think this is one of the dumbest ideas yet. I believe there are far more pressing needs for the Congress to tackle than this non-issue.
I have never seen an impediment to the Marine Corps in the current structure, and I do not believe there is a need for this. Maybe we should try to change the Constitution to include a Marine Corps?
I’ve also long supported the idea of naming the United States Naval Academy to be the United States Naval and Marine Corps Academy.
Semper Fi and God Speed my brothers.
I feel that tradition should prevail in this matter. While I can completely understand the arguments in favor of changing the Department of the Navy’s name, I have never thought a name change was ever necessary and it never crossed my mind until reading about this bill.
The basis of this argument appears to be that the Corps isn’t adequately recognized and is suffering from some kind of an identity crisis (hence the name of this site).
I would argue that the old adage that “Actions Speak Louder Than Words” applies here. The Marine Corps hasn’t become the most successful fighting force in the world by needing to be self-assured by outside recognition (in this case administrative recognition). When friend or foe hears MARINE CORPS they instinctually know what that means. I’d bet that 99% of the non-military Americans have ever wondered where the Marines fall in the administrative structure. It has been internal traditions and camaraderie that has sharpened the tip of the spear over generations of Marines.
There are unintended consequences whenever these sorts of changes are made. Not that a simple name change will destroy the Corps but I don’t see the cost (not $)/benefit worth the risk of potentially eroding what has made the Corps what it is today…
Doug,
I agree with you that traditiion should prevail. You mentioned that the name U. S. Marines was recognized on its’ own merit. However, the name is recognized worldwide solely as the U. S. Marine Corps, not because they are a part of the Department of The Navy. Again, speaking of tradition look at the streamers on the Marine Corps flag. That is tradition !! This bill is one that will finally honor those that have fallen and will fall wearing the Marine uniform.
CBO anticipates that the cost of
implementing this bill would be less than $500,000 a year over the next several years
from appropriated funds. That could help a lot of Veterans!
I don’t like this idea at all we only need to design a different letterhead for those that paid the ultimate price! Why are we going to change everything after all of these years? I don’t need a name to tell me I’m a Marine I’ve already earned it as well as both of my son’s! This is just more busy bills for some politician to say look what I did for our Servicemen/women and in the ed it will be nothing spend the money on Veterans and Wounded Warrior Projects! Semper Fi I proud to be a Department of the Navy , The Mens Department no disrespect to our Devil Doc’s!
I agree that the recognition is long overdue.
As it pertains to those senators who will not support this Bill, let’s just throw the bums out…we’d all be better off with them gone, gone, gone.
As a former Marine, I whole-heartedly support the renaming of the Department of the Navy to read, “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps”.
Please contact your American Legion Marines ASAP. The Legion is running an unofficial poll on their website today regarding this question. 6 to 1 are in favor of leaving it the way it is now. We need to change some minds here.
Semper Fidelis
Orahh, I just recently heard of these two bills and I believe that it should say “Secretary of the Marine Corps and Navy” but in any event I’ll settle for just the recognition. This bill should be passed and without any questions. Why should there be a question? Why should there be any delay in giving us the recognition we deserve for the blood that has been spilled by the USMC ? Why not include the Marines in the title. We may be small but we are elite. US Marines forever . Semper Fi !!!
From an old Ground Pounder who did nothing but serve in Pease Time. I think the Marine Corps should have their own Branch. To me they are the Marines and should not have to be an “and.”
That would not mean they should eliminate their long tradition of concert with the Navy, another Heroic Branch. Hell ! We all have U.S. in front of whaere ever we served.
My real wish for the marines is that the Marine Brass would find a pair of Brass Ones , once again , like my fellow Virginian Chesty Puller.
I am a Marine and I was proud to be under the Navy. This is why the Marine Corps has a commadant. Lets stay with the old tradition Gunny. My mom and dad will not care if my letter does not say USMC…lol…Lets work on getting a better pay raise…
Don,
I think you may be confusing the title Commandant with Commodore .
I joined the Corps in Oct 1985 did 6 years and loved almost every day of it some more then others being from a small town in Texas I never thought I would see the world but I did the worst part was seeing my freind killed in Desert Strom the rest of it was great where else can you have friends that will do everything for you with out asking why
Served with Mco. 3/Bn. 26 Marines as a Machine Gunner in Vietnam, from 69 to 70. Awarded the ” Navy Achievement Medal ” and when you read it, you would think I was in the Navy because of the large bold type. It is time that the Marine Corps should have the reconition.
Cpl. Valente Benavidez Jr.
Val,
Just so you know, this award is now called “The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal”
S/F
As a point of clarification, the Navy was organized 10/13/1775 and the Marine Corps was founded 28 days later on 11/10/1775. The US Marine Corps is not a branch of the Navy, it is a separate service branch WITHIN the Department of the Navy. The civilian branch of the Department of Defense oversees both the Navy and Marine Corps.since the Navy and Marines had worked so closely in the past, participating in joint operations it was decided to bring the two under one authority.
However, the two branches have their separate chain of command. The Navy is headed by the Chief of Naval Operations while the Marines are commanded by the Commandant of The Marine Corps. Both are 4 star ranks. A review of the t/o of the Department of Defense shows them as two separate units. Under the Department of the Navy, yes, a branch of the Navy, no!
We are the only country that separates our Marine Corps from the Navy so much. Great Britain’s Royal Marines are a part of their Navy and no country will ever have a Marine Corps without a Navy. At the beginning, the Marine Corps was considered a part of the Navy. That’s why the Marine Corps is a Corps. Now the Marine Corps is considered a separate branch. But they still aren’t autonomous like the Navy, Army, and Air Force. They need the Navy for Corpsmen, Chaplains, to train their aviators at Pensacola (who wear Naval Aviator wings), and the US Naval Academy commissions Marine Corps Officers as well as Navy Officers. Navy test pilot school at Patuxent River trains Marine Corps test pilots and NAS Paxtuxent River is where the Marines test a lot of their aircraft. The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) have a Marine pilot (Blue Angel #3) and a Marine C-130. I could keep going but my point is that although we say the Marine Corps is a separate branch, through tradition and obvious connections listed above the Marine Corps is not autonomous. If the Marines were to have their own department then they would separate themselves from the Navy completely and have to provide everything for themselves. For example, the Army has its own department and therefore has it’s own ships to transport itself. The Marine Corps is one of the greatest fighting forces this world has ever seen. I concretely believe that. Furthermore, the Marines receive a lot of recognition of being one of our Nations proudest services and having defended our country in so many incredible circumstances. Changing the name of the Department of the Navy will not change any of that. The Navy/Marine Corps team will still have the same mission and will still defend this country proudly and honorably. The Marine Corps being a part of the Department of the Navy is a tradition, that connects the Marines to their founding roots and separates them from just being another Army.
It’s about time!! But, I beleive it should be The Department of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps has served this country for well over 200 yrs and with honor to the highest degree.
When I was wounded in Veit nam in 1965, both my wife and mother recieved a letter with the heading of “The Department of the Navy” not the Marine Corps,both were very upset and stated that he is a Marine not a Sailor.
Semper Fi to all my brothers,past n persent, once a Marine always a Marine!!
I think this is a good idea. I hope it changes.
The Army Air Force was redesignated the US Air Force after WWII and their contribution to the war effort. The Marine Corps has been slighted while fighting for this country for over two centuries!
Although I have the greatest respect for the Navy, those who became Marines did so because of the Marine Corps Heritage and not because they were a branch of the Navy.
Being a former Marine, myself I say give the Corps the status it has EARNED and DESERVES
My son is a Navy Corpsman proudly serving with the Marines in Afghanistan. The Marines deserve this. God bless every one of them.
I am a Prior United States Marine and yes I do agree with the change due to the fact that when a Marine dies nobody cares they are usually the last to be delt with before the army,navy or air force. I think its the duty to all marine corp. military families that they have the right to be heard dead or live for the greater good.
Semper fi to all my living & fallen comrades in arms past and present and to those sisters who where the marine dress blues.
Josh and Bob H, this Bill has nothing to do with creating a completely separate department, and the only money that’s going to be spent initially is on the paperwork to notify next of kin of a Marine’s untimely demise. How is allowing a Marine to be identified as a member of the Department of the Navy and Marine Corp going to waste a ton of money or create a new department. Besides if your really worried about money being wasted that could be spent on veterans why not complain about bailouts going to companies that have been robbing people blind for years, or to companies that keep their leadership and ask for bailout, after bailout, after bailout.
The Marines…..To this RAF veteran that lable always sounds a little bland. Other countries have Marines…and in the UK they always are distinguished by their full title of the “Royal Marines”.
I grew up hearing about the US Marines…or the United States Marines….or just the Marine Corps. There was no doubt in our young British minds who they were ….John Wayne saw to that!
After the many notable campaigns in which the US Marines were dominant, I doubt there is a nation in the world that does not know of them…or their outstanding achievements.
So…Why not grant them their FULL title…United States Marines,
even on those dreaded letters to the family. They represent the greatest and most generous nation on this planet….so they desrve that recognition.
Sorry I don’t support this cause, There is a lot of history you will be tearing apart just to do what? Be your own department. We all know the Marines are a part of the navy, The Men’s Department.
I am a former Marine. I don’t see the need for this. It will cost money to change all the signage, all the forms, etc. etc. Money that could be spent on veterans, money that could be spent on equipment for the Corps.
It is already consuming time and money just pushing something that has been dropped every year for the last 9 years.
Could not those efforts be used for something that will actually help Marines.
I completely agree with you on this, Bob. If you’re in the Navy or Marines, try walking around base and seeing how many things that you can find that say Department of the Navy. Now, try to think about how much it will cost to replace every single thing on every Navy or Marine base (and everywhere else) that says Department of the Navy. Every single Navy and Marine Corps flag, everything that has either branches seal on it… During an economic slump while fighting two protracted wars, this strikes me as a huge waste of money. The Marine Corps has a heritage of frugality from Archibald Henderson to John A. Lejeune, and this bill is contrary to that aspect of the Marine Corps. There are several more reasons that I could argue against this, but the cost alone is reason enough not to follow through. Maybe in a different time…
Having been a ten year Marine and also having spent two of those ten aboard ship as part of ships crew (Radio Telegraph Operator) in the pioneer effort of the Corps to develop over the beach Helicoptor Assault Ships, I agree that we need a Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. While everyone recognizes both the Navy and the Marine Corps, and most recognize that the Marines are part of the Navy Department, most feel that the Corps is just a small part of the Navy. If that were true, why does the Navy feel it has to develop its own ground force? Navy Seals perform vital roles and while Marines also perform many of those roles the Navy does not need to develop its own army branch. That causes budget problems that politicians not capable of cogent reasoning to say why do we need a Marine Corps when we have our own Army. ….as Truman (at the urging of high level Army Generals jealous of the Corps) tried to get the Congress to fold us into the Army thus coming close to closing out two hundred years of incredible accomplishment not to mention a concept of war fighting that has been so successful it is has never been duplicated by any nation or any other war fighting unit to this day. It is indeed time to put to rest the rivalry and recognize the Corps as both a major war fighting arm of the Navy and a military department of its own. The Department of the Navy and Marine Corps. It detracts from nothing and adds power and esprit to both the Navy and the Marine Corps. What could be more fitting? Certainly no other fighting force in the world could either compete or defeat this combination. And no politician would want to ever again consider dismantling it. It is time!