page_title: List of historic United States Marines
section_title: Marine Corps firsts
hierarchical_section_title: List of historic United States Marines / Marine Corps firsts
caption_attribution_description: Sergeant Reckless a highly decorated US Marine Corps artillery horse in the Korean War is shown here in her red and gold horse blanket in an alfalfa field at Camp Pendleton, California.
context_page_description: The following is a list of the prominent names in U. S. Marine Corps lore—the people who make up what the Marines call "Knowledge". Names in this list are notable for actions made as a Marine; individuals whose notability is unrelated to service in uniform can be found at List of United States Marines.
context_section_description: Vernice Armour – first female African-American combat pilot in United States military
  Bryan B. Battaglia - first Marine appointed Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  Frederick C. Branch – first African-American Marine officer
  Marion Carl – First Marine Ace (18.5 victories), member of the Cactus Air Force, first Marine helicopter pilot
  John L. Estrada – the first person of Hispanic descent promoted to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
  Annie Neal Graham – first African American woman Marine
  John Glenn – first Marine astronaut, first American to orbit the Earth
  Opha May Johnson – recognized officially as the first woman Marine
  James L. Jones Sr. – commanded the Observer Group, the first amphibious reconnaissance unit in the United States; father of James L. Jones Jr., the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps
  Kurt Chew-Een Lee - first Chinese-American Marine officer. Led an infantry platoon at the battle of the Chosin Reservoir (Korean War, 1950) and was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism.
  John F. Mackie – first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor
  Alfred Masters – first African American in the United States Marine Corps
  Dennis M. McCarthy – first Reserve General Officer to command an active duty Marine Division
  Alford L. McMichael – first African American Marine to serve as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
  Samuel Nicholas – first Commandant of the Marine Corps
  Presley O'Bannon - first to raise the U.S. Flag over foreign soil as a result of combat, "Hero of Derna" which are the "shores of Tripoli" in the Marine hymn
  Peter Pace – first Marine to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005–2007), previously the Vice Chairman (2001–2005)
  Frank E. Petersen – first African-American aviator Marine, first African-American Marine general, first African-American to command a fighter squadron, a fighter air group, an air wing and a major base.
  Staff Sergeant Reckless - the first horse to hold an official rank in the United States Marines and U.S. military in general. S/Sgt. Reckless was a decorated war horse who served in numerous combat actions during the Korean War, carrying supplies and ammunition, and was also used to evacuate wounded.
  Angela Salinas – the first Hispanic female to obtain a general rank in the Marines
  France Silva – the first Marine of Hispanic descent to be awarded the Medal of Honor
  Pedro del Valle – first Hispanic to reach the rank of lieutenant general, played an instrumental role in defeating Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa
  Minnie Spotted-Wolf – first enlisted Native American woman Marine
caption: Staff Sergeant Reckless in retirement
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