1950-1970 MARINE CORPS RECRUITING

During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of
Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.
A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions
of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.
The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.
As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun
Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullen, became his first captain and recruiter. They began
gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.
With the founding of the Corps in 1775, the first recruiting drive was held at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia . At
the time, the recruiting of volunteers was the responsibility of the various barracks commanders scattered
throughout the United States to guard naval installations and man ships. Recruiting posters through to the
American Civil War promised prospective recruits of bounties and prizes for service at sea.
After the end of the draft in the United States in 1972, recruiters had to shift from merely processing recruits
to actively seeking and encouraging them to join an all-volunteer force.
Because there are Marine installations in relatively few states, Marine recruiters are typically the public face
of the Corps, seen most commonly by the civilian population.
The role and importance of Marine Corps recruiting effort is paramount not only to the health of our Corps,
but also the defense of our great nation. We should make an effort to preserve, display and educate others
on this importance of the Marine Corps Recruiting Service; now referred to as Marine Corps Recruiting
Command.
Recruiting has been the lifeblood of the Marine Corps since its inception 10
November 1775.
From the Inns and Taverns in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War to
the modern day recruiting offices throughout the 6th Marine Corps District’s
Area of Operations, finding those individuals who embrace what General John
A. Lejeune published in Article 38, United States Marine Corps Manual, 1921
edition will forever be the recruiter’s mission.
Gen Lejeune stated: “This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we
who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the
Corps. With it we also received from them the eternal spirit which has
animated our Corps from generation to generation and has been the
distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit
continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the
future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us
as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as
῾Soldiers of the Sea᾿ since the founding of the Corps.”
The images from some of the first recruiting posters and pamphlets often
invoked visions of military pay, travel and adventure, patriotism, defense of the
nation, education, medical and other benefits. Marine Corps recruiting efforts
throughout the years have not changed much; we still utilize some of these
basic methods and practices as we did in the 1700s in order to recruit the next
generation of modern day Marines.
In 2007, the Marine Corps recruiting theme “The Few, The Proud, The
Marines” was inducted into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame
during the annual Advertising Week, which is the largest and most prestigious
annual gathering of advertising and media industry leaders in North America.
Our modern day recruiting theme “The Few, The Proud, The Marines” is a
term which derived it roots from a 1779 Continental Marines poster in which
Marine Captain William Jones stated, “The Continental ship Providence, now
lying at Boston, is bound on a short cruise, immediately; a few good men are
wanted to make up her complement.”
In this room, you will find many items used by the United States Marine Corps
in its recruiting efforts—from 1775 to modern day.
The Marine Corps recruiter and our recruiting efforts represent a direct link
between America and its Marine Corps. This area was established not only to
preserve our recruiting efforts, but also to remind us of the valuable and vital
role that recruiting represents to the defense of this great nation.
By ensuring that we are seeking the most qualified young men and women to
fill our ranks we are able to make Marines, win our Nations battles and
develop quality citizens.
Semper Fidelis
EXHIBIT ENTRANCE SIGN
EXPLAINS THE PURPOSE OF
OUR EXHIBIT AND RELEVANCE
OF THE MARINE CORPS
RECRUITING EFFORT.
This historical marker is an exact replica of the marker
dedicated by the city of Philadelphia on 11 November 2005,
honoring the location traditionally regarded as the birthplace of
the United States Marine Corps.
The duplicate marker was provided to the 6th Marine Corps
District by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission. The original marker is located on Front Street
between Chestnut and Walnut Street in Philadelphia,
approximately 50 yards east of where Tun Tavern is believed
to have once stood.
Eighteen days after the Continental Congress’ 10 November
1775 resolution to raise two battalions of Marines, Samuel
Nicholas was appointed as a captain and commanding officer
of the newly established Continental Marines. Captain
Nicholas quickly began appointing several officers, including
Robert Mullan (possibly Mullen or Mullin), and recruitment of
Marines began.
The new Marine officers utilized numerous public inns and
taverns throughout the city of Philadelphia to recruit Marines,
including the popular meeting house, Tun Tavern . Legend
has it that Captain Mullan, who’s family leased Tun Tavern for
many years prior to 1774, often used that particular tavern as
a recruiting rendezvous spot for himself and his company’s
two lieutenants. An old account book of the Mullan family,
once used to keep business records for Tun Tavern, was also
used to log the names of Marine recruits who signed up in the
summer of 1776 to serve with Captain Mullan, helping to
perpetuate the legend of Tun Tavern as the birthplace of the
Marine Corps.
THE TUN TAVERN MARKER IS
NOT ONLY SYMBOLIC OF THE
BIRTHPLACE OF THE MARINE
CORPS IT ALSO REPRESENTS
THE FIRST ESTABLISHED
RECRUITING OFFICE.
*The editing and research of the inscription was provided by Kara Newcomer,
Historian, USMC History Division.
The World War I Effect on the Marine Corps Recruiting Service
Although World War I, or “The Great War,” only lasted from 1917-1918 for the
United States of America, its impact on the future of the United States Marine
Corps would be unquestionable. During this “Great War” the Marine Corps gained
its legendary status within the eyes of American public. It was that legendary
status that would entice the farm hand from the wheat fields of Oklahoma to the AllAmerican collegiate athletes of Yale and Princeton into become a part of this “Elite
Military Organization.” Prior to the Marine Corps firing a single shot in Belleau
Wood, the American public had already identified the Marine Corps as an “Elite
Military Organization.” It was this identity that set the conditions for the Marine
Corps recruiters to be highly selective when President Woodrow Wilson signed into
law the Selective Service Act of 1918. This law had a significant impact on the
Marine Corps as it was positioning for wartime service in France. “Of the 239,274
who applied during the course of the war, just 60, 189 were accepted as Marines.”
(Axelrod, “Miracle at Belleau Wood”, p.12)
During and after the Battle of Belleau Wood some of the headlines that traveled
back to the shores of America read “U.S MARINES SMASH HUNS” and “MARINES
WIN HOT BATTLE.”
On June 9, 1918, the New York Times reported that according to “recruiting
headquarters in New York … application for service in the Marine Corps has
increased more than 100 percent in the last two days. Young men picked up
newspapers, read about the Marine ‘triumph’ at Belleau Wood, and rushed to the
recruiting office.
“The U.S. Congress was not far from behind. On July 1, 1918—as it turned out, the
day after Belleau Wood was finally secured—lawmakers authorized the expansion
of the Corps to 3,017 officers and 75,000 enlisted men. To be sure, this was still a
small elite force, but it represented a massive increase from the 15,000 men who
had entered combat, and it brought an absolute end to all talk among legislative as
well as executive circles of abolishing the Marines.” (Axelrod, “Miracle at Belleau
Wood,” p.181)
The effect of World War I and the efforts of the Marine Corps Recruiting Service
would have a resounding impact on the future of the Corps and for those who
became a part of it. These “few” wanted the opportunity to become “Soldiers of the
Sea” and be amongst the “First to Fight” on foreign shores to secure American
interests in “Any Clime … and Place.” They almost certainly had the greatest
influence on the modern day Marine Corps—the Corps we know today.
WWI PROBABLY HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON
THE MARINE CORPS RECRUITING EFFORTS.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME COLORFUL AND
VIBRANT RECRUITING POSTERS AS WELL AS
DETAILED RECRUITING BOOKLETS WERE
USED TO ENTICE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
INTO BECOMING A PART OF THIS “ELITE
ORGANIZATION”
ORIGINAL WORLD WAR I
RECRUITING BOOKLETS. ALL ARE
PRESERVED AND PROTECTED IN A
MYLAR PROTECTIVE COVERS. IN
ORDER FOR VIEWERS TO SEE INSIDE
THE BOOKLETS, SOME PAGES WERE
COPIED AND PLACED ON FORM
BOARD FOR EASY VIEWING.
* All the original recruiting booklets in our collection are
preserved and presented in this manner.
WWII RECRUITING EXHIBIT
WOMAN MARINE RECRUITING EXHIBIT
WOMAN MARINE RECRUITING
EXHIBIT
Original World War II Recruiting Poster:
Circa 1942
“Free a Marine to fight!” This recruiting campaign was a call for
women to serve in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during
World War II. This, however, was not the first time that “free a
man to fight” was significant in helping turn the tide of war and
assisting in the recruitment of women to serve in the Marine
Corps. During World War I, women had “freed a man to fight,”
and some 300 “Marinettes” had freed male Marines from their
desk and typewriter at Headquarters Marine Corps, to go to
France.
World War II brought many changes to the lives of American
women, many of which would have lasting consequences on
traditional roles. Women Marines in this war served in more
than 200 military specialties. In addition to clerical work, they
also filled positions as parachute riggers, mechanics, radio
operators, mapmakers and welders. By June 1944, women
reservists made up 85 percent of the enlisted personnel on duty
at Headquarters Marine Corps and almost two-thirds of the
personnel manning all major posts and stations in the United
States and Hawaii. At war's end, General Alexander A.
Vandegrift, 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, credited
these women with "putting the 6th Marine Division in the field."
Women Marines became a permanent part of the regular
Marine Corps on 12 June 1948 when Congress passed the
Women's Armed Services Integration Act (Public Law 625)—but
they had already proven themselves in two world wars.
Donated by: Homer Helter of Homer Helter’s Antique and
Military Mall in Naples, Fla.
Original: Korean War Era Recruiting Poster
Donated by Master Sergeant Ramon Gallimore
"The Marine Corps Builds Men" was a theme of a series of Marine
Corps recruiting posters over some three decades, from the
1950s to the 1980s. This poster focuses on "Valor." A
brother poster focused on "Pride." Several of these "Build
Men" posters simply showed images of Marines and Marine
life with the words "The Marine Corps Builds Men." The key
was to offer the Recruiting Station Public Affairs NCO, now
called the Marketing and Public Affairs NCO, poster options
to place on "A" frame signs, in windows and in other hightraffic areas. In the late 1970s, and into the early 80s, the
words "Body, Mind and Spirit" were added to the basic theme
of building men.
ORIGINAL RECRUITING POSTERS ARE PRESENTED
WITH A DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE AS TO THE HISTORY
AND THE EMOTION THE POSTER IS MEANT TO INVOKE,
MOST OF THE POSTERS IN OUR COLLECTION ARE
DISPLAYED IN THIS MANNER.
1950-1970 MARINE CORPS RECRUITING
ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II ERA MARINE CORPS RECRUITING SERVICE BANNER (CA. 1943-1950). DURING THE 1950'S, IT WAS
CUSTOMARY TO HAVE RECRUITING BANNERS SUCH AS THIS ONE AT THE US POST OFFICE ACROSS THE NATION WHICH
AIDED IN THE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
WORLD TRADE CENTER STEEL OBTAINED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT AUTHORITY, THIS CAREFULLY
DISPLAYED ARTIFACT IS SYMBOLIC OF THE POST 9-11 GENERATION OF VOLUNTEERS WHO JOINED OUR
CORPS IN DEFENSE OF THIS GREAT NATION. MOST RECRUITING OFFICES BECOME OVERWHELMED WITH
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS SEEKING ENLISTMENT, REMINSCENT OF THE SCENE AFTER DECEMBER 7, 1941.
THE PHOTOGRAPH IN THE CASE WAS DONATED BY A RECRUITER WHO WAS GIVEN THE PHOTOGRAPH BY
APPLICANT WHO JOINED THE MARINE CORPS IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. THE
APPLICANT WAS A FIRST RESPONDER WHO ASSISTED THE RELIEF EFFORTS IN LOWER MANHATTAN.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 6TH MARINE CORPS DISTRICT RECRUITING EXHIBIT OPENED ON 9 NOVEMBER 2011
BY THE CG ERR, BRIGADIER GENERAL LORI REYNOLDS AND MASTER SERGEANT RAMON GALLIMORE