Member of the Fleet Marine Force, c. 1940

United States Marine Corps founded at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1775.

Jeff Babbin wrote a nice tribute:

Those of us who grew up in the 1950s knew them as a group apart. All my friends’ fathers had served in World War 2, and they all had the same odd reaction to my father. He never shouted or growled (well, not that often) but when the veteran of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Iwo Jima spoke, his peers maintained a respectful silence. He was a Marine, and nothing trumped that credential.

Hat tip to Frank Dobbs.