USMC Knowledge (BST & Board
Questions and Answers)
By an act of the Continental congress, the United States Marine Corps became a
regular branch of our country's service when? Correct answer- November 10, 1775
Who established the United States Marine Corps? Correct answer- Captain Samuel
Nicholas
Where was the United States Marine Corps established? Correct answer- Tun Tavern,
PA
Who was the proprietor of the tavern? Correct answer- Peg Mullen, Robert Mullen's
wife.
Who was the first Marine Corps recruiter? Correct answer- Robert Mullen
The Marine Corps as it exists today, was formed when? Correct answer- July 11, 1798
What is the symbol of the United States Marine Corps? Correct answer- The Eagle,
Globe, and Anchor
What does each symbol recognize? Correct answer- The Eagle- recognizes our nation.
The Globe- recognizes our worldwide service. The Anchor- recognizes our naval
traditions
The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor was adopted when? Correct answer- 1868
Who adopted the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor? Correct answer- Brig. General Jacob
Zealin, 7th Commandant, USMC
The term Leatherneck comes from where? Correct answer- From when the Marines
wore a leather strap to protect their neck from enemy swords, from 1798-1880.
What is the Marine Corps motto? Correct answer- "Semper Fidelis"
What was the Marine Corps motto before "Semper Fidelis"? Correct answer- "By land,
by sea"
When was the Marine Corps motto changed to "Semper Fidelis"? Correct answer- 1880
,Where do Marines get the nickname "Devil Dog"? Correct answer- From the battle of
Belleau Wood in June 1918
Who was the first Marine Corps aviator? Correct answer- A. A. Cunningham, in 1912
Who was the first woman Marine? Correct answer- Opha M. Johnson, on August 13,
1918
Who was the first Marine helo pilot to receive the Medal of Honor? Correct answer-
Major Stephen Pless
Who was the first Marine pilot to shoot down an enemy plane? Correct answer- 1st Lt.
E. S. Brewer
Who was the first female Marine Warrant Officer? Correct answer- CWO Ruth L. Wood
Who was the first Marine Officer to die in battle? Correct answer- Captain John
Fitzpatrick
Which Marine served the longest term as Commandant? Correct answer- Archibald
Henderson
How long did Archibald Henderson serve as Commandant? Correct answer- 38 years
How much time does a person have to dawn and clear the gas mask? Correct answer-
15 seconds
Which Commandant installed the office of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps? Correct
answer- The 21st Commandant, General Pate; in 1957
On Feb. 20, 1962, one of the Marine Corps' finest pilots manned the first capsule to
orbit the earth. Who was it? Correct answer- Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn
When was the dress blue uniform adopted? Correct answer- On August 24, 1797
Who adopted the dress blue uniform? Correct answer- Sec. of War James McHenry
The Mameluke sword was presented to whom? Correct answer- Lt. Presley N.
O'Bannon
Who presented the Mameluke sword to Lt. Presley O'Bannon? Correct answer- The
Pasha of Tripoli
How many Marines were killed on the island of Iwo Jima? Correct answer- Approx.
5,931 Marines
,How many Marines died on the first day at Iwo Jima? Correct answer- Approx. 2,500
Marines
Of the six Americans pictured raising the flag over Mt. Suribachi, how many left the
island alive? Correct answer- Three
How many Marines suffered casualties at Iwo Jima? Correct answer- 26,000 Marines
How many Japanese would become prisoners at Iwo Jima? Correct answer- Fewer
than 200, the rest, almost 26,000, fought to their death.
Who coined the phrase "Uncommon valor was a common virtue" on the island of Iwo
Jima? Correct answer- Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Who said "The raising of that flag on Mt. Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next
500 years? Correct answer- Sec. of Navy James V. Forrestal
Who took the picture of the flag rising on Mt. Suribachi? Correct answer- Joe Rosenthal
How many Marines received the Medal of Honor during WWII? Correct answer- 81
Marines
How many Marines received the Medal of Honor for their heroic acts on the island of
Iwo Jima? Correct answer- 22 Marines
The last offensive battle of W.W.II was? Correct answer- Okinawa
How many Kamikaze planes were sent against our fleet at Okinawa? Correct answer-
Approx. 1,900
On Aug. 9, 1945 the B-29 "Enola Gay" released the first Atomic bomb on what city?
Correct answer- Hiroshima
How many Japanese were killed from the A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima? Correct
answer- Approx. 70,000
On Aug. 9, 1945 the second Atomic bomb was released on what city? Correct answer-
Nagasaki
How many Japanese were killed from the A-bomb dropped on Nagasaki? Correct
answer- Approx. 40,000
In W.W.II who stated, "I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and
there is not a finer fighting organization in the world? Correct answer- General Douglas
MacArthur
, On what battleship did the Japanese surrender, ending W.W.II? Correct answer- The
U.S.S. Missouri
At the Chosin Reservoir who stated "So they've got us surrounded, good, now we can
fire in any direction. The bastards won't get away this time!" Correct answer- Colonel
Chesty Puller
Why was replacement Marines sent to Pickle Meadows, California before going into the
Korean War? Correct answer- Cold weather training
Of the 7,190 Americans taken prisoner during the Korean War, how many were
Marines? Correct answer- 227
Marines have carried out more than _____ landings on foreign shores. Correct answer-
300
The Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis," which appears on the Marine Corps emblem,
is Latin for? Correct answer- Always Faithful
The Marine Corps' mascot, an English bulldog named "Chesty," is named for which fine
and brave Marine Corps officer? Correct answer- Lewis B. Puller
Corporal Ira H. Hayes is remembered for participating in the famous flag rising on?
Correct answer- Mount Suribachi
In New Providence, Bahamas, what was the name of the fort that was taken without a
shot? Correct answer- Fort Montaque
How many Marines comprised the war party in Tripoli? Correct answer- Seven
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, what two islands were invaded by the Japanese?
Correct answer- Guam and Wake
When did the Japanese officially surrender? Correct answer- 2 September 1945
In Vietnam why was it important to take hills 881 North and South? Correct answer- To
deny the North Vietnamese control of the Quang Tri province and Khe Sanh
What was the name of the operation that involved the protecting of rice crops from
Guerrillas? Correct answer- Harvest Moon
What three battles comprised the three crosses of war in World War I? Correct answer-
Belleau Wood, Mont Blanc, and Soissons
What was the name of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima? Correct answer- Fat Boy
Questions and Answers)
By an act of the Continental congress, the United States Marine Corps became a
regular branch of our country's service when? Correct answer- November 10, 1775
Who established the United States Marine Corps? Correct answer- Captain Samuel
Nicholas
Where was the United States Marine Corps established? Correct answer- Tun Tavern,
PA
Who was the proprietor of the tavern? Correct answer- Peg Mullen, Robert Mullen's
wife.
Who was the first Marine Corps recruiter? Correct answer- Robert Mullen
The Marine Corps as it exists today, was formed when? Correct answer- July 11, 1798
What is the symbol of the United States Marine Corps? Correct answer- The Eagle,
Globe, and Anchor
What does each symbol recognize? Correct answer- The Eagle- recognizes our nation.
The Globe- recognizes our worldwide service. The Anchor- recognizes our naval
traditions
The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor was adopted when? Correct answer- 1868
Who adopted the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor? Correct answer- Brig. General Jacob
Zealin, 7th Commandant, USMC
The term Leatherneck comes from where? Correct answer- From when the Marines
wore a leather strap to protect their neck from enemy swords, from 1798-1880.
What is the Marine Corps motto? Correct answer- "Semper Fidelis"
What was the Marine Corps motto before "Semper Fidelis"? Correct answer- "By land,
by sea"
When was the Marine Corps motto changed to "Semper Fidelis"? Correct answer- 1880
,Where do Marines get the nickname "Devil Dog"? Correct answer- From the battle of
Belleau Wood in June 1918
Who was the first Marine Corps aviator? Correct answer- A. A. Cunningham, in 1912
Who was the first woman Marine? Correct answer- Opha M. Johnson, on August 13,
1918
Who was the first Marine helo pilot to receive the Medal of Honor? Correct answer-
Major Stephen Pless
Who was the first Marine pilot to shoot down an enemy plane? Correct answer- 1st Lt.
E. S. Brewer
Who was the first female Marine Warrant Officer? Correct answer- CWO Ruth L. Wood
Who was the first Marine Officer to die in battle? Correct answer- Captain John
Fitzpatrick
Which Marine served the longest term as Commandant? Correct answer- Archibald
Henderson
How long did Archibald Henderson serve as Commandant? Correct answer- 38 years
How much time does a person have to dawn and clear the gas mask? Correct answer-
15 seconds
Which Commandant installed the office of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps? Correct
answer- The 21st Commandant, General Pate; in 1957
On Feb. 20, 1962, one of the Marine Corps' finest pilots manned the first capsule to
orbit the earth. Who was it? Correct answer- Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn
When was the dress blue uniform adopted? Correct answer- On August 24, 1797
Who adopted the dress blue uniform? Correct answer- Sec. of War James McHenry
The Mameluke sword was presented to whom? Correct answer- Lt. Presley N.
O'Bannon
Who presented the Mameluke sword to Lt. Presley O'Bannon? Correct answer- The
Pasha of Tripoli
How many Marines were killed on the island of Iwo Jima? Correct answer- Approx.
5,931 Marines
,How many Marines died on the first day at Iwo Jima? Correct answer- Approx. 2,500
Marines
Of the six Americans pictured raising the flag over Mt. Suribachi, how many left the
island alive? Correct answer- Three
How many Marines suffered casualties at Iwo Jima? Correct answer- 26,000 Marines
How many Japanese would become prisoners at Iwo Jima? Correct answer- Fewer
than 200, the rest, almost 26,000, fought to their death.
Who coined the phrase "Uncommon valor was a common virtue" on the island of Iwo
Jima? Correct answer- Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Who said "The raising of that flag on Mt. Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next
500 years? Correct answer- Sec. of Navy James V. Forrestal
Who took the picture of the flag rising on Mt. Suribachi? Correct answer- Joe Rosenthal
How many Marines received the Medal of Honor during WWII? Correct answer- 81
Marines
How many Marines received the Medal of Honor for their heroic acts on the island of
Iwo Jima? Correct answer- 22 Marines
The last offensive battle of W.W.II was? Correct answer- Okinawa
How many Kamikaze planes were sent against our fleet at Okinawa? Correct answer-
Approx. 1,900
On Aug. 9, 1945 the B-29 "Enola Gay" released the first Atomic bomb on what city?
Correct answer- Hiroshima
How many Japanese were killed from the A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima? Correct
answer- Approx. 70,000
On Aug. 9, 1945 the second Atomic bomb was released on what city? Correct answer-
Nagasaki
How many Japanese were killed from the A-bomb dropped on Nagasaki? Correct
answer- Approx. 40,000
In W.W.II who stated, "I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and
there is not a finer fighting organization in the world? Correct answer- General Douglas
MacArthur
, On what battleship did the Japanese surrender, ending W.W.II? Correct answer- The
U.S.S. Missouri
At the Chosin Reservoir who stated "So they've got us surrounded, good, now we can
fire in any direction. The bastards won't get away this time!" Correct answer- Colonel
Chesty Puller
Why was replacement Marines sent to Pickle Meadows, California before going into the
Korean War? Correct answer- Cold weather training
Of the 7,190 Americans taken prisoner during the Korean War, how many were
Marines? Correct answer- 227
Marines have carried out more than _____ landings on foreign shores. Correct answer-
300
The Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis," which appears on the Marine Corps emblem,
is Latin for? Correct answer- Always Faithful
The Marine Corps' mascot, an English bulldog named "Chesty," is named for which fine
and brave Marine Corps officer? Correct answer- Lewis B. Puller
Corporal Ira H. Hayes is remembered for participating in the famous flag rising on?
Correct answer- Mount Suribachi
In New Providence, Bahamas, what was the name of the fort that was taken without a
shot? Correct answer- Fort Montaque
How many Marines comprised the war party in Tripoli? Correct answer- Seven
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, what two islands were invaded by the Japanese?
Correct answer- Guam and Wake
When did the Japanese officially surrender? Correct answer- 2 September 1945
In Vietnam why was it important to take hills 881 North and South? Correct answer- To
deny the North Vietnamese control of the Quang Tri province and Khe Sanh
What was the name of the operation that involved the protecting of rice crops from
Guerrillas? Correct answer- Harvest Moon
What three battles comprised the three crosses of war in World War I? Correct answer-
Belleau Wood, Mont Blanc, and Soissons
What was the name of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima? Correct answer- Fat Boy
