For 251 years, Marines have answered the call and fought the fights of America’s wars without trepidation. Different generations of Marines have faced their own respective challenges.

From the black sands of Japan, to the frozen trenches of the Chosin reservoir, to the jungles of Vietnam; Marines enter every clime and place ready to face the worst that mankind has to offer.

As an Iraq war veteran myself, I’m proud that my generation of Marines faced one of the toughest challenges of all: cranking their hogs in a 120+ degree portashitter to crudely drawn boobs on the wall.

It’s not easy work, but Marines are always here to answer the call.

Happy Birthday, Marines.