Legendary Marines From Throughout Corps' 250 Years

The stories of legendary Marines are familiar to all leathernecks, many of whom are inspired by them. 

Marines call Col. Archibald Henderson the “grand old man of the Marine Corps.” He served in the Marine Corps from 1806 to 1859 and was commandant from 1820 to 1859, making him the longest-serving commandant.

During the War of 1812, Henderson served aboard the heavy frigate USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat today. The Constitution fought in a number of victorious engagements. 

Henderson led Marines in combat during the Indian campaigns in 1836 and 1837 in Florida and Georgia, as well as in the Mexican War, from 1846 to 1848. He was decorated for his bravery. 

The sword presented to him at the end of the Mexican War was inscribed, “From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli,” which became the first stanza of the Marines’ Hymn. 

When President Andrew Jackson tried to merge the Marine Corps with the Army in 1829, Henderson stopped the effort and ensured Marines would remain under the Navy Department.

Henderson, who was born in Colchester, Virginia, Jan. 21, 1783, died Jan. 6, 1859, while still on active duty. The transport USS Henderson and Henderson Hall Barracks in Virginia were named in his honor.

Marine Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler served in the Marine Corps from 1898 to 1931 and is one of only two Marines to receive two Medals of Honor, the first for action at Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1914; the second for valor in Haiti in 1915.

Butler also served in the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1902, the Boxer Rebellion in China, which lasted from 1899 to 1901, the occupation of Nicaragua, which lasted from 1912 to 1933, World War I in France, which lasted from 1917 to 1918 and the expedition to Tianjin, China, from 1927 to 1929.

Later, Butler went public with criticism of intervention in nations to benefit U.S. businesses and also wrote a book on the topic titled “War is a Racket.”

In 1924, while still on active duty, Butler was invited by Philadelphia’s mayor to run the city’s police and fire department and rid the city of crime and corruption. He was effective in doing so and worked in that capacity until 1925. 

Butler, who was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1881, died in Philadelphia on June 21, 1940. Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley Butler on Okinawa, Japan, is named for him.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Dan Daly also earned two Medals of Honor, the first during the Boxer Rebellion and the second in Haiti, the same year Butler received his. 

During World War I, he earned the Navy Cross Medal and the Distinguished Service Cross. 

Daly was court-martialed once for drunkenness on post and spent three weeks in the military jail at the Boston Navy Yard, thereby further enhancing his legend. He was also widely known as a skilled boxer.

On Feb. 6, 1929, Daly retired from the Marine Corps and found work as a bank guard on Wall Street in New York City. 

Daly, who was born in Glen Cove, New York, Nov. 11, 1873, died in New York City on April 27, 1937. The destroyer USS Daly was named for him.

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone served in the Army from 1934 to 1937 before enlisting in the Marine Corps, July 11, 1940. While in the Army and stationed in Manila, he gained fame as a champion boxer, which earned him the nickname Manila John.

In September 1942, he fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal. The following month, he received the Medal of Honor.

Basilone, who was born in Buffalo, New York, Nov. 4, 1916, was killed on the first day of fighting during the Battle of Iwo Jima, Feb. 19, 1945. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism on Iwo Jima. Two destroyers were named for him.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell Puller is better known as Chesty Puller. Although Puller never received the Medal of Honor, he’s considered the most decorated Marine, having earned five Navy Crosses for valor in the 1928 Nicaragua campaign, the 1932 Nicaragua campaign, 1942 on Guadalcanal, 1943 on New Britain and in North Korea in 1950.

Puller also earned the Distinguished Service Cross from the Army for action in North Korea in 1950. 

He is beloved by enlisted troops and is credited with the tradition of officers receiving rations last when in the field. To this day, as soon as Marine recruits hit the rack, they chant “Good night, Chesty, wherever you are.”

Also, when Marines are doing pullups or other exercises, they are often told to “Do one for Chesty” at the end when they’re fatigued.

The official Marine Corps mascot, an English bulldog, is perpetually named “Chesty.” Puller had a barrow chest and bulldog face, so the resemblance is apt. 

Puller, who was born in West Point, Virginia, June 26, 1898, died in Hampton, Virginia, on Oct. 11, 1971. The frigate USS Lewis B. Puller was named for him.

Incidentally, Puller’s distant cousin was Army Gen. George S. Patton. 

Other notable Marines include, but are not limited to: 

• Col. John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, and who later became a senator from Ohio. 
• Cpl. JD Vance, who became a senator from Ohio and is currently serving as vice president of the United States. 
• Sgt. Chuck Mawhinney, a sniper credited with 103 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War.