DisasterWargamer  | 10 Nov 2025 9:52 a.m. PST |
Many nations have Marines As the US Marine Corps celebrates their birthday – got me to thinking what was their finest moment? Looking at Marines around the world US Marines perhaps the Battle of Chapultepec?
British Marines perhaps the Capture of Gibraltar?
French Marines during the Franco Prussian War at Bazeilles? Personally the Battle of Belleau Wood where the US Marines earned their "Devil Dog" moniker is one of think of when I think of Marines on Land When by the sea, Iwo Jima stands out the most When you think of marines – what battle(s) do you remember them for? Or perhaps one that hasnt happened yet? |
| Wackmole9 | 10 Nov 2025 9:55 a.m. PST |
Chosin reservoir 1950 during the Korean war |
| DeRuyter | 10 Nov 2025 10:05 a.m. PST |
Oh yes Chosin certainly. Don't forget Derna – The shores of Tripoli! |
| Frederick | 10 Nov 2025 10:33 a.m. PST |
I think of Chosin as well but as for Derna – early in the life of the Republic, 9 Marines and a rag-tag band of mercenaries met 2,000 of Mustafa Bey's troops and beat them like a drum Semper fi! |
| glengarry6 | 10 Nov 2025 10:38 a.m. PST |
Battle of Bladensburg, 1814. The US Marines and sailors fought on after everyone else ran. |
| Grattan54 | 10 Nov 2025 10:42 a.m. PST |
Wake Island. Fighting against impossible odds. |
 John the OFM | 10 Nov 2025 10:43 a.m. PST |
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| Royston Papworth | 10 Nov 2025 10:49 a.m. PST |
As someone who lives on the Right Side of the Atlantic, I would say Chosin… |
| Perris0707 | 10 Nov 2025 11:26 a.m. PST |
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| DisasterWargamer | 10 Nov 2025 3:29 p.m. PST |
Got a message from a member suggesting we needed to add the Air branch of the USMC with the Battle of Midway |
| The H Man | 10 Nov 2025 4:44 p.m. PST |
Macragge. First named starter box, I think. First nids in a starter box, I think. First linked scenarios in a starter box, I think. Got a paint, whoop. Never actually bought it. Looked at the marine sprue pic on the back of white dwarf and, seeing the dip holes in the plastic, laughed. I don't think they will ever best the sprue from the previous edition. PS Reading the question again. Finest moment was the previous sprue that came in the Dark Eldar starter box. Finest moment as in named battle, macragge. For the box set detailed above. Although overall, the Dark Eldar box was probably better, never had it either. But macragge had some firsts. Although dark Eldar were first multi part bad guys??? Marines had RTB01 already. Hmm… |
| epturner | 10 Nov 2025 6:27 p.m. PST |
I mean there are many… Defense of Wake Island. Derna, as was mentioned above. Belleau Wood. Classic. As was the Chosin. For me, personally, it was when I was a company commander preparing to deploy to Iraq and I was given a new First Sergeant who was a former Marine. He left the USMC to join the ARNG and rose through the ranks and came over to join my unit, a brigade HHC, and wound up being my First Sergeant. I was new to company command, he was new to being a First Sergeant. And we clicked. Almost instantly. Kinda scary too, since his civilian job was a funeral director and mine was in fresh produce distribution. For me, that was the Corps' finest moment. He may have left the USMC as an E4, but he became the best E8 I could have ever asked for. And he brought all that stuff with him. Eric |
| Shagnasty | 10 Nov 2025 6:46 p.m. PST |
Tough choice. I'm divided between Derna, Chosin, and
Guadalcanal. |
| rustymusket | 10 Nov 2025 7:11 p.m. PST |
Guadalcanal. My father-in-law fought there and he was a great guy. |
 Parzival | 10 Nov 2025 7:44 p.m. PST |
There is no wrong answer for the US Marine Corps. |
 Old Contemptible | 10 Nov 2025 10:58 p.m. PST |
1. Iwo Jima 2. Khe Sanh 3. Huế |
| OSCS74 | 11 Nov 2025 5:13 a.m. PST |
Cannot dispute any choice. |
| troopwo | 11 Nov 2025 7:22 a.m. PST |
The morning of Nov 11 1775. That's when the hangover from the night before at the tavern kicked into high gear and they asked themselves what excatly they just did the night before. Happy birthday marines. Another add to the first defense of Wake Island.
Something else altogether fighting your best despite knowing there is no help coming and you already know the outcome. |
 miniMo | 11 Nov 2025 12:24 p.m. PST |
Gibraltar 1704 for the British
Bazeilles 1870 for the French
Benghazi 1911 for the Italians
Peking 1900 for the US
But this being TMP, you might as well limit the poll to just the US Marines… |
| miniMo | 11 Nov 2025 3:32 p.m. PST |
The Germans came in 2nd place for Marines' honours at Peking; it's the first I think of for them; but the US held their stretch of the wall longer, and then took it back with a counter-assualt. |
| robert piepenbrink | 11 Nov 2025 5:45 p.m. PST |
"But this being TMP, you might as well limit the poll to just the US Marines…" Would you like a note of sympathy from those of us who read SF books, mini? It was our turn in the barrel not that long back. Toss in Marine Air on Guadalcanal, Disaster. Back when "Make mine Marvel" meant something, Ben Grimm had flown with the Cactus Air Force. |
| Old Contemptible | 11 Nov 2025 11:36 p.m. PST |
I agree. Should have limited it to just the USMC. It's their anniversary after all. |
| Wolfhag | 12 Nov 2025 3:08 a.m. PST |
For the sheer intensity and close combat I'd say Tarawa. As many KIA in 72 hours as in 6 months at Guadalcanal. Wolfhag |
| DisasterWargamer | 12 Nov 2025 6:55 a.m. PST |
Understand that Peleliu had the highest percent of casualties |
