United States Marine Corps History Division
Encyclopedia
The United States Marine Corps
History Division is a branch of Headquarters Marine Corps
tasked with researching, writing, and maintaining the History of the United States Marine Corps
. It also provides reference
and research
assistance; preserves personal experiences and observations through oral history
interviews; and deploys field historians to record history in the making. It is headquardered at Marine Corps Base Quantico
in Virginia
.
George Barnett
as the Historical Section of the Department of the Adjutant and Inspector. After World War II
, the organization was known as "Marine Corps History and Museums Division" until the current name was instituted in the early 2000s.
military formation. It is organized into four branches:
was adapted in 1883. They also maintain an archive of all historical publications published since its founding.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
History Division is a branch of Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions...
tasked with researching, writing, and maintaining the History of the United States Marine Corps
History of the United States Marine Corps
The history of the United States Marine Corps began with the founding of the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces. Its mission evolved with changing military doctrine and...
. It also provides reference
Reference
Reference is derived from Middle English referren, from Middle French rèférer, from Latin referre, "to carry back", formed from the prefix re- and ferre, "to bear"...
and research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
assistance; preserves personal experiences and observations through oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
interviews; and deploys field historians to record history in the making. It is headquardered at Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
History
The History Division was formed on 8 September 1919, by Order Number 53 of Commandant of the Marine CorpsCommandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
George Barnett
George Barnett
Major General George Barnett was the 12th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. He was Commandant during the U.S. involvement in World War I. He was born in Lancaster, Wisconsin and grew up in the small town of Boscobel, Wisconsin.-Early career:Barnett entered the U.S...
as the Historical Section of the Department of the Adjutant and Inspector. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the organization was known as "Marine Corps History and Museums Division" until the current name was instituted in the early 2000s.
Organization
The United States Marine Corps History Division is a staff organization with the primary task of researching and writing the Marine Corps’ official history. The unit is not a division-sizedDivision (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
military formation. It is organized into four branches:
- The Historical Branch prepares a wide variety of official publications that tell the Marine Corps story as accurately and comprehensively as possible. Publications include: articles, monographs, occasional papers, and definitive histories. The Branch also includes the Oral History Program, which obtains, catalogs, transcribes, and preserves personal narrative, experiences and observations of historic value from active duty and retired Marines for use as reference source material.
- The Historical Reference Branch provides historical research and reference services and historical analysis. In addition, the Branch supports specific programs: Unit Lineage and Honors, Commemorative Naming, Marine Corps Flag Manual, and Marine Corps Chronology.
- The Field History Branch deploys Individual Mobilization Augmentee detachment historians to collect historically relevant material (oral history, written/electronic plans, operation orders, maps, overlays and artifacts) for use as reference material. The Branch also consists of a Mobilization Training Unit whose members support the History Division with specific projects.
- The Editing and Design branch designs and lays out manuscripts, maps and other graphic materials to support the History Division’s publications.
Directors
Since its inception, the following individuals have served as director:| # | Rank | Name | Tenure began | Tenure ended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Major Major (United States) In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel... |
Edwin N. McClellan Edwin North McClellan Edwin North McClellan was a United States Marine Corps officer, author, and historian. He was the first director of the Historical Section of Headquarters Marine Corps, a historigraphical organization now known as Marine Corps History Division.... |
||
| 2 | Major | Edward W. Sturdevant | ||
| 3 | Captain | Lucian W. Burnham | ||
| acting | Mr. | James C. Jenkins | ||
| 4 | Captain | Jonas H. Platt | ||
| 5 | Major | Edwin N. McClellan Edwin North McClellan Edwin North McClellan was a United States Marine Corps officer, author, and historian. He was the first director of the Historical Section of Headquarters Marine Corps, a historigraphical organization now known as Marine Corps History Division.... |
||
| 6 | Captain | Harry A. Ellsworth | ||
| 7 | Major | Alphonse DeCarre | ||
| 8 | Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay... |
Clyde H. Metcalf | ||
| acting | Mr. | James C. Jenkins | ||
| 8 | Colonel Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general... |
Clyde H. Metcalf | ||
| acting | Captain | Philips D. Carleton | ||
| 9 | Colonel | John Potts | ||
| 10 | Colonel | Howard N. Kenyon | ||
| 11 | Lieutenant colonel | Ellsworth N. Murray | ||
| 12 | Lieutenant colonel | Robert D. Heinl Jr. | ||
| 13 | Lieutenant colonel | Gordon D. Gayle Gordon D. Gayle Gordon Donald Gayle is a retired United States Marine Corps brigadier general and historian.Gayle was born September 13, 1917, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.-Education:... |
||
| 14 | Lieutenant colonel | Francis O. Hough | ||
| 15 | Lieutenant colonel | Harry W. Edwards | ||
| 16 | Colonel | Charles W. Harrison | ||
| 17 | Major | Hubard D. Kuokka | ||
| 18 | Major | Gerald Fink | ||
| 19 | Colonel | William M. Miller | ||
| 20 | Colonel | Thomas G. Roe | ||
| acting | Major | John H. Johnstone | ||
| 21 | Colonel | Joseph F. Wagner Jr. | ||
| 22 | Lieutenant colonel | Richard J. Schening | ||
| 23 | Colonel | Frank C. Caldwell | ||
| 24 | Brigadier general Brigadier general (United States) A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed... |
Edwin H. Simmons Edwin H. Simmons Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer who served in combat during three wars — including landing at Inchon and fighting at the Chosin Reservoir. He was renowned as the Marine Corps historian, being called "the collective memory of the... |
||
| 24 | Brigadier general (ret.) | Edwin H. Simmons | ||
| 25 | Colonel | Michael F. Monigan | ||
| 26 | Colonel (ret.) | John W. Ripley John Ripley (USMC) John Walter Ripley was a United States Marine Corps officer who received the Navy Cross for his actions in combat during the Vietnam War. On Easter morning 1972, Captain Ripley, repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire over a three hour period as he prepared to blow up an essential... |
||
| acting | Mr. | Charles D. Melson | ||
| acting | Colonel (ret.) | Richard D. Camp Jr. | ||
| 27 | Dr. | Charles P. Neimeyer | incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W... |
|
Publications
The History Division maintains several publications, including the quarterly newsletter Fortitudine (ISBN 0-16-010404-1), which was a traditional motto of the Corps before semper fidelisSemper fidelis
Semper Fidelis is Latin for "Always Faithful" or "Always Loyal". Well known in the United States as the motto of the United States Marine Corps , Semper Fidelis has served as a slogan for many families and entities, in many countries, dated to have been started no later than the 16th century...
was adapted in 1883. They also maintain an archive of all historical publications published since its founding.
See also
- History of the United States Marine CorpsHistory of the United States Marine CorpsThe history of the United States Marine Corps began with the founding of the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces. Its mission evolved with changing military doctrine and...
- Naval History & Heritage Command
- United States Army Center of Military History
- Department of Defense Historical Advisory CommitteeDepartment of Defense Historical Advisory CommitteeDepartment of Defense Historical Advisory Committee was chartered on 24 Jan 1996 to provide advice to the United States Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the military departments regarding the professional standards, historical methodology, program priorities, liaison with professional...
- National Museum of the Marine CorpsNational Museum of the Marine CorpsThe National Museum of the Marine Corps is the historical museum of the United States Marine Corps. It is located in Quantico, Virginia and is open to the public with free admission. The museum had its grand opening on November 10, 2006 and is now the number one tourist attraction in Virginia,...
& Marine Corps MuseumMarine Corps MuseumThe Marine Corps Museum was located on the first floor of the Marine Corps Historical Society in Building 58 of the Washington Navy Yard, 9th and M Streets , Washington, D.C. It housed a wide variety of exhibits with artifacts relating to the history of the U.S. Marines. It also contained a... - Marine Corps UniversityMarine Corps UniversityThe Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...