On October 21, 1921, Major Edwin McClellan, then charge of the Marine Corps historical section, suggested to Commandant John Lejeune that the Corps original birthday of November 10 be declared a holiday to be celebrated by the Marine Corps. Lejeune agreed with the suggestion and the first formal Birthday Ball was celebrated in 1925. While most Birthday Balls entail pomp, circumstance and pageantry, Marines celebrate the Birthday Ball regardless of their location and even in the most severe environments or during combat.
- Did you Know: In 1952, Commandant Lemuel Shepherd, Jr. standardized the cake cutting ceremony. By tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the oldest Marine present that then passes it to the youngest Marine present, symbolizing the passage of knowledge from to the new generation of Marines.
Between the world wars, the Marine Corps studied and developed amphibious techniques in response to the growing military power of the empire of Japan. During WWII, Marines landed at Guadalcanal in 1942, and after nine months of fighting without resupply against a constantly reinforced Japanese enemy, they secured the island. It was the first victory since Pearl Harbor. In 1944, Marines landed at Iwo Jima with the purpose of securing the island as an air base. The ensuing battle is widely considered the bloodiest in Marine Corps history. The brutal fighting reaffirmed to the world the singular toughness and valor of the Marines was immortalized in the iconic Joe Rosenthal photograph of Marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi.
- Memorable Quote: “The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years.”
James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy; 23 February 1945
Though ‘mess night’ is a tradition with roots that go back for hundreds of years, the custom was revived and standardized in the military around WWII. In the Marine Corps, a mess night is a ceremony for members of a specific company involving drinks, dinner and various events to foster camaraderie and honor past Marines. Typically, mess nights follow a specific set of etiquette and customs that start with a 30 to 45 minute cocktail hour followed by a meal that opens with several toasts and very strict codes of conduct. Any member of the unit that breaks the strict decorum of the night is ordered to pay a fine, (or occasionally drink from the dreaded grog) with some members going out of their way to break the rules to add to the fun. Typically, the ‘fines’ are used to tip the servers for their hospitality, though some mess nights operate as fund-raisers for the company. Similarly, a ‘Dining Out’ follows related etiquette to the mess night, but a traditionally includes spouses, as well.
- Memorable Quote: “Except for the annual celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday, no social function associated with the smaller of America’s naval services is more enjoyed, admired and imitated than the mess night.” Lt.Col Merrill Bartlet USMC (ret)
