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The US Marine Corps, the service famous for being "first to fight," turned 243 years old Saturday.
Since the establishment of the Corps on Nov. 10, 1775, the Marines have fought tough battles in every corner of the world, and they have earned a reputation for being some of the world's fiercest warriors.
John F. Mackie became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for the courage under fire during the Civil War, and on Oct. 17 of this year, Marine Ret. Sgt. Maj. John Canley Became the 300th Marine to receive the country's highest award for his "unmatched bravery" during the Battle of Hue City in Vietnam, a bloody and brutal fight that claimed the lives of hundreds of young American troops.
The Marine Corps, according to its mandate, "must be the most ready when the nation is most ready." These awesome photos from the past year show the Marines in action.
