USMC Trivia

[Bob A]

I know we have a lot of vets who post here.

Who knows...

1 ...who was the only Marine officer to ever command a vessel of the US Navy?

2 ...the origin of the Marine NCO sword?

3 ...the origin of the red stripes on NCO/officers' dress blue trousers?

4 ...the origin and purpose of the quatrefoil?

[Tiger Lily]

Let's see how I do here... :)

1) Brigadier General H.D. Campbell? Just a guess...

2) The USMC NCO's Sword represents the unique pride and respect bestowed upon Marines. They are the only Non-Comissioned Officers in any brach of service permitted to carry what's considered to be a Comissioned Officer's weapon.

3) Legend: The "Blood Stripe" is worn to honor the blood shed by Marines in the Mexican-American war.
Truth: They were following the Army's tradition of having trouser stripes. Originally the piping was buff-white, and then blue with a red face, but as the uniform changed colors it evolved into the solid red stripe.

4) The quatrefoil was orginally designed to help Marines identify each other and avoid casualities by friendly fire when they boarded enemy vessels.

How'd I do?

[Ken]

Close Tigerlily,
The origin of the NCO sword....
The original (and the current) Officer sword (Malmaluke) was at one point an issued weapon. During the Civil War (in which Marines played a limited role) the Malmaluke sword was thought to be inadequate, therefore the Marine officers adopted a sword smiliar to the US Army's cavary sword at the time. After the Civil war, Marine Officers returned to the Malmaluke sword, and the Cavary sword was given to the NCOs. This is how the NCO sword came about. But it is true that the Marines are the only branch of military (worldwide) were all Non-Commissioned officers rate the sword.
As a side note. I am look damn good in my Blues armed with the sword.

[Tiger Lily]

Originally posted by Ken:
<STRONG>Close Tigerlily,
... As a side note. I am look damn good in my Blues armed with the sword.</STRONG>

How could you not? It's only the most handsome uniform on the planet! :D

Thanks for the extra info about the sword. Can you tell me if I'm right in my guess on the first question? :)

[Ken]

I don't know that one, I am ashamed to say. But I am still looking.

[Bob A]

Ken is correct about the NCO sword.

Tigerlily is close on the Quatrefoil: It was designed to go on top of the officers' headgear. This was so officers on the deck of sailing ships could effectively direct the fire of sharpshooters in the rigging by making them stand out from other Marines.

The blood stripe was worn by all Marines until some uniforms just prior to the US Civil War. The legend is that over 80% of all officers and NCOs were killed or wounded in the battle at Chapultapec, Mexico, and this was done to honor them. Who knows? What we do know is that it was on Privates' uniforms early on.

Any more guesses about the first question? :)

[SemperFi]

One item on the NCO sword. It is a recognition by the Corps that any Marine NCO is the equal of an officer of any other service :) That's what my DI said.

Here's proof if you know the answer to this one:
Now can anyone name thethe only NCO in history (ex-corporals like Napoleon and Hilter do not count-they were no longer NCOs) to command an army in battle. (Hint-USMC Senior NCO in WWII.)