In Honor of Marine Corps 250th Birthday - Favorite USMC Movies

Shortly before being sent off to war, Al Schmid falls in love with Ruth Hartley, and begs her to wait for him. Al is sent to Guadalcanal in the South Pacific, where he and other Marines defend the island from a Japanese attack. After killing almost 200 Japanese soldiers, Al is blinded by a grenade.

A curiously ignored film that is in fact one of the best WWII biopics. Has a memorable dream sequence, as the blinded marine imagines his return home.

One notable scene has people around a rado learning about the Dec 7 attack, and asking, "Where's Pearl Harbor?". In most movies of the period, people react with "Oh my God not Pearl Harbor!!! That's our most important Pacific base!!!" In reality most Americans had never heard of it before.

"The D.I." with Jack Webb is a good one.

The Great Santini

Not a movie, but...



Frank Sutton, GySGT Carter, was an Army combat veteran of World War 2 and died in Shreveport of a heart attack.

This is Lon Chaney, Sr. in Tell it to the Marines (1926). He was the first film star to be named as an Honorary Marine. The Marine Corps adored his portrayal of a tough as nails Marine Sergeant and provided an honor guard for his funeral. The eulogy at his funeral was given by a Marine Chaplain.