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 am-
phibious 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 re- 
establishment of the Marine Corps on July 11, 1798, Ma-
rines 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 Trip-
oli’’; 
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 Mon-
tezuma’’, 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 In-
surrection, the Boxer Rebellion and in Nicaragua, Pan-
ama, 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 offen-
sive; 
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, Kwaja-
lein, 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 Ameri-
cans 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 embas-
sies throughout the world like the Embassy in Beirut in 
1982; 
Whereas the Marine Corps intervened in Granada and Pan-
ama 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 Oper-
ation 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 life-
saving operations in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and 
Northern Iraq during Desert Storm; 
Whereas the Marine Corps served in Somalia on humani-
tarian 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 polit-
ical and civil instability in those nations; 
Whereas the Marine Corps has engaged in humanitarian and 
disaster relief operations in Kenya, Honduras, Nica-
ragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala; 
Whereas Marine units deployed to Kosovo in support of Oper-
ation Allied Force; 
Whereas the Marine Corps has played a pivotal role in Oper-
ation Enduring Freedom, toppling the Taliban and dis-
mantling 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 Serv-
ice 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 activa-
tion 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, in-
tegrated 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 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress remembers, honors and com-
mends the achievements of the United States Marine
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Corps in serving and defending the United States on the 
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 serv-
ing and defending the United States on the anni-
versary of its founding on November 10, 1775.