The Marines

Epic Battlefield Quotes from Marines. Marines have been some of the most outspoken people in American history.  The toughest hardships of war has spawned some of the most epic battlefield quotes from Marines.  Yet, these quotes stand as guidance for the present day Marine.  By being the timeless voice of our warrior ancestors.

Marines-BlueDevils Marine Corps Baseball Caps Marine Challenge Coins

Marines 1901

During 1901 the United States was securing many forward operating bases across the Pacific and South America to secure our interest globally.  This gave rise to hard-charging motivators from the Philippine Insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion, the Banana Wars, the Nicaraguan Campaign, the Occupation of Haiti, Veracruz, and the war with Spain in Cuba.  These battle-hardened Marines would put everything to the test when the United States entered World War I.  They would come to be known as “The Old Breed.”  The Old Breed shaped the entire ethos of our Marine Corps.  These were the men of legends.

During World War II, our Marines saw some of the toughest fighting in the Pacific theater.  During the island hopping campaign, Marines proved themselves over and over.   There has always been a question in Washington about the necessity of Marines.  This question was undoubtedly answered in WWII.  Through the blood and sacrifice of Marines on islands like Wake, Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima.

Marines WWII, Pacific

Marines WWII, Pacific

Most of our illustrious history can be traced to this timeline.  Through Marines like Dan Daly, Smedley Butler, A.A. Cunningham, John A. Legeune, “Chesty” Puller, and John Basilone.  These men shaped the very “attitude” of Marines today.  When you are walking under the shadow of legends like these men, you are pushed to walk tall.  Even after WWII, Marines continued to accomplish great things.  The Korean War in the Chosin Reservoir or the landing at Inchon, with Col. “Chesty” Puller at the helm.  Later, in the brutal jungle warfare of Vietnam.  Even today Marines like General “Mad Dog” Mattis, Kyle Carpenter, and Dakota Myer exemplify the spirit of our Marine forefathers.

Epic Battlefield Quotes of Marines

Smedley Butler Marine Corps Challenge Coins

Smedley Butler

-“I selected an enormous Marine Corps emblem to be tattooed across my chest.  It required several sittings and hurt like the devil, but the finished product was worth the pain.  I blazed triumphantly forth, a Marine from throat to waist.  The emblem is still with me.  Nothing on earth but skinning it will remove it.”

Dan Daly

Dan Daly

-During a motivational speech to his Marines, “Come on you son’s of bitches!  Do you want to live forever?”

Colonel Lewis "Chesty" Puller

Lewis “Chesty” Puller

-When an Army Captain asked Col “Chesty Puller” the which way they were retreating, he pulled his tank commander aside and said,”If they pull back even one-foot from that line, I want you to open fire!”  He turned to the Captain and said, “we are here to fight!  Does that answer your question?”

-Surrounded by over 22 Chinese Divisions “Chesty” Puller told his men, “They are in front of us, they are behind us, they are flanking us from both sides, and we are surrounded 29:1.  This simplifies the problem!  No matter where we aim we will hit the bastards!  They can’t get away from us now!”

Eugene Sledge

Eugene B. Sledge

-“Your soul may belong to Jesus, but your ass belongs to the Marines”

John Basilone Marine Corps

John Basilone

-“Never fear your enemy, but always respect them”

Victor Krulak

Victor Krulak

-“For over 221 years our has done two things for this great Nation.  We make Marines and win battles.”

James "Mad Dog" Mattis

James “Mad Dog” Mattis

-“The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event.  That said, there are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot.”

-“I come in peace.  I didn’t bring artillery.  But I am pleading with you, with tears in my eyes:  If you fuck with me, I’ll kill you all”

-“Be polite, be professional, but plan to kill everybody you meet.”

– “No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy”

Epic Battlefield Quotes from Marines

There are many battlefield quotes that will always live on to help mold our ethos.  I have personally had many quotes that I used with my junior Marines.  One was, “Live hard, or die soft”  If my junior Marines didn’t live hard now, when the temptation is to be soft, they would die soft on the field of battle.  There have been many more Marine Corps quotes that have come to shape our Corps.  Some of them are a mystery in origin, yet have stuck throughout each generation of Marine.

"I" 3/12 Kajaki, Afghanistan Marine Corps

“I” 3/12 Kajaki, Afghanistan

Every Marine in a leadership position, no matter what rank, strives to leave their mark in the Marine Corps.  Our community at Devil Dog Shirts recognizes this as a necessity toward perpetuating the warrior ethos.  This is why Devil Dog Shirts now offers USMC “Custom Rank T-Shirts”  This new design allows you to put in your rank, unit, and a personal quote at the bottom!  Having “personalized” unit T-Shirts is an outstanding way to build unit cohesion.  My unit would always represent during Battalion functions, because we knew we were the baddest Marines on the block!  Ladies and gentleman, this is our way of giving back to our community and family of Devil Dogs.

This USMC Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Shirt epitomizes our struggles in the killing fields across God’s green earth!  SEMPER FI!

USMC Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Shirt Marine Corps Baseball Caps Marine Challenge Coins

As US Marines we have always had the privilege, the downright honor, to be placed into battle first. We have always been the first to be called and to enter the fray at the onset of a war or battle and because of this the statement First In First Out slogan has grown over the decades with the United States Marines. Whenever called the US Marines go headway into whatever calls them to do and they do it without far and they do it the utmost of their ability.