R 081740Z NOV 10
ALCOAST 547/10
COMDTNOTE 1000
1. ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD,
I AM HONORED TO EXTEND BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS ON THE 235TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR FOUNDING.
2. ON NOVEMBER 10, 1775, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS PASSED A RESOLUTION
CREATING TWO BATTALIONS OF MARINES TO SERVE AS LANDING FORCES FOR ITS
FLEET. THIS MARKED THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. SINCE
THEN, MARINES HAVE CONTINUALLY SACRIFICED TO ENSURE THE FREEDOMS WE
ENJOY TODAY: FROM THE 1805 BATTLE OF DERNE WHERE MARINES SEIZED
VICTORY FROM THE BARBARY PIRATES (THE FIRST SUCH ENGAGEMENT OF U.S.
FORCES OVERSEAS), TO TODAYS OPERATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF
AFGHANISTAN.
3. THIS SUMMER, IN THE GULF OF ADEN, ELEMENTS OF THE 15TH MARINE
EXPEDITIONARY UNIT FACILITATED THE CAPTURE OF 9 SUSPECTED PIRATES,
SECURING THE SAFE RESCUE OF 11 CREW MEMBERS FROM THE MOTOR VESSEL
MAGELLAN STAR. MEMBERS OF COAST GUARD TACTICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM
SOUTH WERE PROUD TO ASSIST, FOLLOWING IN THE SECOND WAVE TO HANDLE
ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES AFTER THE INITIAL TAKEDOWN. TODAY, MARINES
AND SUPPORTING COAST GUARDSMEN ARE PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN SECURING
FREEDOM ON THE HIGH SEAS AND PROVING THEY ARE A FORMIDABLE TEAM.
4. THE MARINE CORPS HAS ALSO ADVANCED THE HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS OF
U.S. OPERATIONS. FOLLOWING THIS YEARS EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI, MARINES
LANDED WITHIN DAYS TO DELIVER RELIEF SUPPLIES AND PROVIDE MEDICAL AID
TO THE CITIZENS OF LEOGANE, HAITI. MARINES OF THE 22ND
EXPEDITIONARY UNIT WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK TO DELIVER 550,000 BOTTLES
OF WATER, 18,000 LBS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND MORE THAN ONE MILLION
DISASTER AND RELIEF RATIONS.
5. SINCE OUR OWN FOUNDING IN 1790, THE COAST GUARD HAS SERVED
ALONGSIDE OUR FELLOW ARMED SERVICES ON BATTLE FRONTS AROUND THE
WORLD, BUT OUR BOND WITH THE MARINES IS UNIQUE. ONE OF THE COAST
GUARDS GREATEST HEROS AND ONLY MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, SIGNALMAN
FIRST CLASS DOUGLAS A. MUNRO, DIED FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE MARINES AT
GUADALCANAL. TODAY, THE MARINE CORPS HONORS DOUGLAS MUNRO WITH AN
ANTI-TERRORISM TRAINING FACILITY NAMED IN HIS MEMORY. HIS BRAVERY
AND SACRIFICE IS OUR SHARED HERITAGE.
6. YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE IS CHERISHED BY ALL AMERICANS. YOU ARE
SEMPER FI. WE WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND ARE HONORED TO SERVE
ALONGSIDE YOU. SEMPER PARATUS.
7. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
