BHR Celebrates Marine Corps 240th Birthday

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, NAGASAKI, JAPAN

11.11.2015

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Naomi VanDuser 

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)

SASEBO, Japan – “From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli; We fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea.”

Every Marine in the United States Marine Corps knows these words by heart. The Marine Corps Hymn, the oldest official song in U.S. Armed Forces, is steeped in a rich history of Honor, Courage and Commitment that began on November 10, 1775 when the Continental Congress formed a resolution that would create the first two battalions of Marine forces.

After the Continental Congress established the resolution that marks the birth of the USMC, Capt. Samuel Nichols, the first commanding officer of the Marines, took to the streets of Philadelphia and began recruiting the first recruits for this new military force. Not long after its formation, the Marines were given the opportunity to test their amphibious capabilities in their first amphibious landing on hostile shores. In 1776, Marines landed in the Bahamas and took over the British fortifications at Fort Nassau. Capt. Nichols and his force of 234 Marines were able to successfully capture the fort and its supply of guns and gunpowder: essential supplies to the American Revolution and a blow to British military forces. From that day, the United States Marine Corps has demonstrated its extraordinary discipline and courage required to complete some of the toughest missions asked of any military force. This has proven the foundation for the success of the Navy-Marine team.

Today, Sailors and Marines honored the 240th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps and the blue-green partnership with the Navy, by holding a traditional cake cutting ceremony on forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). The tradition of the cake cutting ceremony by the Marine Corps is held worldwide by all United States Marines.

“I have been a part of the ceremony and have been a witness,” said MSgt. Jason Kesner, the Senior Combat Cargo Assistant onboard Bonhomme Richard. “No matter where we are, we will observe the Marine Corps birthday. Even if it means being in Afghanistan and only having a pound-cake from an MRE [Meal Ready to Eat] and a K-bar to cut it.”

Traditionally, the cake is cut by the guest of honor with a Mameluke sword. A ceremonial sword allegedly first presented to Lt. Presley O’Bannon for leading his Marines in the successful liberation of the Tripolitan city Derna during a mission to rescue the kidnapped crew of USS Philadelphia in 1805. Captain Jeffrey Ward, the commanding officer of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), was presented the first slice of cake as the ceremony’s guest of honor. Marine Major Daeyong Ku, Bonhomme Richard’s Air Operations Officer, was presented the second slice of cake as the oldest Marine present and Cpl. Justin Varga, a Marine stationed in Sasebo, Japan and a native of Detroit Michigan, was presented the third slice of cake as the youngest Marine present.

“It is an honor to celebrate the Marine Corps birthday with the Sailors of Bonhomme Richard,” said Ku during the opening remarks for the ceremony.

“We were honored to have the opportunity to celebrate on a Navy vessel and share our traditions with our sister service,” said Kesner. “This shows further integration of the blue-green team and gives us an opportunity to not just work together but to share important traditions.”

Bonhomme Richard is the lead ship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and is forward-deployed out of Sasebo, Japan in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of Operations.

• Date Taken: 11.11.2015
• Date Posted: 11.12.2015 01:06
• Story ID: 181726
• Location: USS BONHOMME RICHARD, NAGASAKI, JP