Honoring the Corps’ Most Influential Leaders
For 250 years, the Marine Corps has produced figures whose stories continue to inspire generations of Marines. Among the most celebrated is Col. Archibald Henderson, known as the “grand old man of the Marine Corps.” His service stretched from 1806 to 1859, and he led the Corps as commandant for 39 years—the longest tenure in Marine history.
Henderson served on the USS Constitution during the War of 1812, taking part in several victorious battles. Throughout the 1830s and 1840s, he directed Marines in the Florida and Georgia Indian campaigns and fought in the Mexican War, where he earned honors for bravery. At the end of that conflict, he received a sword engraved with the line “From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli,” which later opened the Marines’ Hymn.
He also protected the Corps’ independence when President Andrew Jackson attempted to merge the Marines with the Army in 1829. Henderson’s efforts ensured the Corps remained under the Navy Department. Born in 1783 in Colchester, Virginia, he served until his death in 1859. The USS Henderson and Henderson Hall in Virginia commemorate his legacy.
Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler: A Double Medal of Honor Recipient
Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler served from 1898 to 1931 and became one of only two Marines to earn two Medals of Honor—one for his actions in Vera Cruz in 1914 and the other for valor in Haiti in 1915. His long career took him through major conflicts, including the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the occupation of Nicaragua, World War I, and an expedition to Tianjin, China.
In the later years of his service, Butler openly criticized military intervention conducted for corporate interests. His book War Is a Racket reflected those views and continues to influence debates on U.S. foreign policy. In 1924, while still on active duty, he took charge of Philadelphia’s police and fire departments to combat corruption, serving there for a year. Born in Pennsylvania in 1881, he died in 1940. Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley Butler in Okinawa bears his name.
Sgt. Maj. Dan Daly: A Marine with Legendary Grit
Sgt. Maj. Dan Daly also earned two Medals of Honor—one during the Boxer Rebellion and another in Haiti. During World War I, he earned both the Navy Cross and the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross. Daly gained a reputation for toughness, partly because of a court-martial for drunkenness that resulted in three weeks in jail, a story that later contributed to his legendary status. Known as an excellent boxer, he retired in 1929 and later worked as a bank guard in New York. Born in 1873, he died in 1937. The USS Daly honors him.
Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone: Hero of Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima
Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone first served in the Army from 1934 to 1937 before joining the Marines in 1940. He became known as “Manila John” for his boxing success while stationed in the Philippines. He fought at Guadalcanal in 1942 and received the Medal of Honor for his actions. Basilone later died on the first day of the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Two Navy destroyers carry his name.
Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller: The Corps’ Most Decorated Marine
Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell Puller—better known as Chesty Puller—is widely considered the Marine Corps’ most decorated service member. Although he never received the Medal of Honor, he earned five Navy Crosses for his actions in Nicaragua, Guadalcanal, New Britain, and North Korea. The Army also awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism in Korea.
Puller remains a beloved figure among Marines. Many traditions honor him, from recruits saying “Good night, Chesty, wherever you are” to the common call of “Do one for Chesty” during strenuous exercises. The Corps’ bulldog mascot is permanently named “Chesty,” reflecting his rugged appearance. Born in 1898, Puller died in 1971. The USS Lewis B. Puller continues his legacy. He was also a distant cousin of Army Gen. George S. Patton.
Other Notable Marines
Several other Marines also left a significant mark on American history. Col. John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth before serving as a U.S. senator. Cpl. JD Vance, who served in the Iraq War, later became a senator and now serves as vice president of the United States. Sgt. Chuck Mawhinney, one of the most skilled snipers of the Vietnam War, is credited with 103 confirmed kills.
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