110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 246 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Whereas, on November 10, 1775, the Second Continental 

Congress meeting in Philadelphia passed a resolution 

stating that ‘‘two Battalions of Marines be raised’’ for 

service as landing forces with the fleet; 

Whereas this resolution establishing the Continental Marines 

marked the birth date of the United States Marine 

Corps; 
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Whereas these first Marines distinguished themselves in a 

number of important operations, including their first amphibious raid into the Bahamas in March 1776, under 

the command of Captain Samuel Nicholas, who became 

the first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines 

and is considered to be the first Marine Commandant; 

Whereas following the Revolutionary War and the formal reestablishment of the Marine Corps on July 11, 1798, Marines saw action in the quasi-war with France, landed in 

Santo Domingo, and took part in many operations 

against the Barbary pirates along the ‘‘Shores of Tripoli’’; 

Whereas Marines took part in numerous naval operations 

during the War of 1812, as well as participating in the 

defense of Washington and fought alongside Andrew 

Jackson in the defeat of the British at New Orleans; 

Whereas the Marines seized enemy seaports on both the Gulf 

and Pacific coasts during the Mexican War; 

Whereas a battalion of Marines joined General Winfield 

Scott’s army at Pueblo and fought to the ‘‘Halls of Montezuma’’, Mexico City; 

Whereas Marines preserved the Union both ashore and afloat 

during the U.S. Civil War at Bull Run, Cape Hatteras, 

New Orleans, Charleston, and Fort Fisher; 

Whereas the Marines fought gallantly in Cuba, Puerto Rico, 

Guam, and the Philippines during the Spanish-American 

War; 

Whereas the Marines saw active service in the Philippine Insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion and in Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Mexico, and Haiti during the early 1900s; 
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Whereas more than 30,000 Marines served in World War I 

and distinguished themselves on the battlefields of 

France and Belgium at Belleau Wood, Soissons, St. 

Michiel, Blanc Mont, and in the Meuse-Argonne offensive; 

Whereas Marine aviation also supported the war effort in the 

skies over Europe; 

Whereas 485,113 Marines served during World War II in 

Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, New Britain, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, 

and Okinawa and lost 87,000 killed and wounded; 

Whereas the Marines served honorably at Inchon and Seoul 

and the Chosin Reservoir in operations defending South 

Korea from 1950 to 1955; 

Whereas Marines have served in the defense of freedom and 

peace in Lebanon in 1955; 

Whereas the Marine Corps protected and evacuated Americans from the Dominican Republic in 1965; 

Whereas the Marine Corps suffered 13,000 killed and more 

than 88,000 wounded in Vietnam; 

Whereas the Marines have protected dignitaries and embassies throughout the world like the Embassy in Beirut in 

1982; 

Whereas the Marine Corps intervened in Granada and Panama in the 1980s to protect American lives and restore 

the democratic processes; 

Whereas the Marine Corps sent 24 infantry battalions, 40 

squadrons, and 92,000 Marines to defend Kuwait and 

Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm; 
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Whereas the Marine Corps also engaged in non-combatant 

evacuation operations in Liberia and Somalia during 

Desert Storm; 

Whereas the Marine Corps participated in humanitarian lifesaving operations in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and 

Northern Iraq during Desert Storm; 

Whereas the Marine Corps served in Somalia on humanitarian relief operations from 1992 to 1994; 

Whereas the Marine Corps supported Operation Deny Flight 

in the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina; 

Whereas the Marines were called on to evacuate U.S. citizens 

from Rwanda in 1994; 

Whereas the Marine Corps engaged in democracy restoration 

efforts in Haiti in 1994; 

Whereas the Marine Corps has deployed to several African 

nations, including Liberia, the Central African Republic, 

Zaire, and Eritrea to provide security and assist in the 

evacuation of American citizens during periods of political and civil instability in those nations; 

Whereas the Marine Corps has engaged in humanitarian and 

disaster relief operations in Kenya, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala; 

Whereas Marine units deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Allied Force; 

Whereas the Marine Corps has played a pivotal role in Operation Enduring Freedom, toppling the Taliban and dismantling the Al Qaeda terrorist network; 

Whereas 76,000 Marines have deployed to combat operations 

in Iraq; 
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Whereas Marines have earned the Navy Cross 17 times, the 

Silver Star 74 times, the Bronze Star 1,896 times, the 

Bronze Star with ‘‘V’’ 866 times, and the Purple Heart 

7,720 times during Operation Enduring Freedom and 

Operation Iraqi Freedom; 

Whereas Marines have earned the Medal of Honor 298 times, 

the Navy Cross 2,168 times, and the Distinguished Service Cross 417 times; 

Whereas the Marine Corps continues to serve in harm’s way 

around the world; 

Whereas Marine Corps Special Operators have served with 

honor and distinction around the world since their activation in 2006; 

Whereas the Marine Corps has fought for freedom, preserved 

democracy, and protected Americans and their interests 

on every continent around the world; 

Whereas the Marine Corps is the most versatile and elite, integrated fighting force; and 

Whereas the United States Marine Corps and its Marines 

have served the United States, its people, its allies, and 

all free people of the world for 232 years: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress remembers, honors and com3 mends the achievements of the United States Marine 
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1 Corps in serving and defending the United States on the 

2 232nd anniversary of the creation of the Marines. 

Passed the House of Representatives December 17, 

2007. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 246 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Honoring the United States Marine Corps for servversary of its founding on November 10, 1775. ing and defending the United States on the anni-