WWI E85 Forging the Fighting Fifth
In 1916, the Marine Corps was small, scattered, and barely on the Navy’s radar for large-scale war. This episode shows how that changed. We dive into the Corps’ explosive growth, the birth of its aviation wing, and the fight for combat relevance in Europe. From Parris Island tents to French trenches, we track how thousands of volunteers turned into hardened Marines. We also look at the tension between Navy leadership and the Corps over where Marines should serve, and how that tension shaped everything from battlefield assignments to post-war legacy.
WWI E84 The World Goes to War
This episode picks up as Germany’s rapid advance slows and trenches begin to dominate the Western Front. We’ll track the early battles that turned a fast war into a brutal deadlock: the Marne, the race to the sea, and the rise of trench warfare. We also look east, where Russia moved faster than anyone expected and forced Germany to divert troops. Meanwhile, new players entered the war, Italy switched sides, the Ottomans joined in, and the entire Middle East became part of the fight.
WWI E83 When Peace Collapsed: The World Before the Trenches
This episode breaks down the long fuse that burned for decades before 1914. Revolutions, collapsing empires, new ideologies, and a ruthless arms race made war inevitable. We follow the political dominoes from the Revolutions of 1848 to the Balkan wars and trace how Prussia, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire kept escalating tensions. By 1914, one shot was all it took to ignite the explosion.
Boxer Rebellion E82 Marines in the Boxer Rebellion
In our last episode, we wrapped up the story of the Marine Corps’ campaign in the Philippines. This week, we shift focus to another major deployment at the turn of the 20th century: China.
As the Qing Dynasty collapsed under foreign pressure and internal unrest, a violent nationalist movement rose up to push foreign influence out. What followed was a brutal multinational campaign, with Marines at the tip of the spear.
This episode covers the origins of the Boxer Rebellion, the first major engagement of Marines in China, and how the Corps carved out its early legacy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Philippine-American War E81 Luzon to Samar: The Corps in the Philippine Insurrection
Marines played a key role in U.S. operations in the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. What started as a campaign to drive out Spanish forces quickly turned into a brutal insurgency, as Filipinos who had fought for independence under Spain now found themselves resisting a new occupying force.
In this episode, we cover the early years of the Philippine-American War. This chapter explores tactical adaptation, challenging terrain, and the persistent reality that occupying conquered ground is far tougher than winning it.
Women in the Corps E80 The Sword and the Sock Bun: The Rise of Women Marines
When we left off in our last episode, Colonel Joseph W. Knighton posed two critical questions to Commandant General Alexander Vandegrift.
This episode picks up from that turning point. We’ll cover how the Marine Corps integrated women in the post–World War II years, how leadership resisted and adapted, and how women Marines steadily expanded their roles from clerks and administrators to instructors, technicians, and overseas support personnel. From the establishment of women’s recruit training at Parris Island to early integration milestones during the Korean War, this chapter marks the beginning of something new.
*************
Visit HistoryoftheMarineCorps.com to subscribe to our newsletter, explore episode notes and images, and see our references. Follow us on social media for updates and bonus content: Facebook and Twitter (@marinehistory) and Instagram (@historyofthemarines).
Visit AudibleTrial.com/marinehistory for a free audiobook and a 30-day trial.
Women in the Corps E79 Breaking Formation: The First Generation of Women Marines
This episode marks a critical shift in the Marine Corps' story. One that recognizes the courage, determination, and professionalism of the first women to earn the title "Marine." From Opha Mae Johnson in World War I to the 18,000+ women serving in World War II, their legacy is undeniable.
These women proved their value in every MOS available to them, challenged outdated norms, and opened permanent doors for future generations. While barriers remained, their service forced the Corps to redefine what it means to be a Marine.
*************
Visit HistoryoftheMarineCorps.com to subscribe to our newsletter, explore episode notes and images, and see our references. Follow us on social media for updates and bonus content: Facebook and Twitter (@marinehistory) and Instagram (@historyofthemarines).
Visit AudibleTrial.com/marinehistory for a free audiobook and a 30-day trial.
The Banana Wars E78 Conduct Unbecoming: Haiti and the Corps’ Dark Chapter
This episode closes out the Marine Corps' long and difficult involvement in Haiti, covering the final years of occupation, the death of rebel leader Benoit Batraville, and the ultimate withdrawal of Marines in 1934.
While Marines restored order, built infrastructure, and trained local forces, their role in suppressing rebellion and enforcing harsh policies left lasting damage. Atrocities committed during the occupation, coupled with political manipulation and economic control, raised serious questions about U.S. foreign policy and the ethical boundaries of military intervention.
The Banana Wars E77 Blood, Medals, and Morality: The Haiti Intervention Begins
This episode tells the story of one of the most daring and cinematic missions in Marine Corps history: the assassination of Haitian rebel leader Charlemagne Péralte.
Disguised as locals and guided by an undercover informant, Sergeant Herman Hanneken and Corporal William Button infiltrated six rebel outposts before reaching Charlemagne’s inner circle. In a sudden and precise strike, they killed Charlemagne and fought off repeated attacks to bring his body back as proof. Both men received the Medal of Honor for the operation. Charlemagne’s death was a major turning point in the U.S. occupation of Haiti.
It shattered the morale of the Cacos and allowed the Marines to begin restructuring the country’s military and political institutions. But the price of victory was high. Button died shortly after from malaria, and the occupation continued for more than a decade. This mission highlights the complexity, intensity, and moral weight of U.S. intervention during the Banana Wars.
The Banana Wars E76 From Trenches to Tropics: Marines in the Dominican Republic
In both the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, the U.S. moved from diplomatic oversight and economic leverage to full military occupations. Marines were running governments, rebuilding infrastructure, and enforcing American foreign policy at the ground level. In the Dominican Republic, the Corps faced years of ambushes, bandit warfare, and rising local resentment.
Despite improvements in health, education, and roads, the legitimacy of U.S. control was questioned domestically and abroad. Marines were overextended, tired, and caught between nation-building and counterinsurgency. Their actions brought temporary order but left lasting political scars. As the episode transitions to Haiti, we see a familiar pattern emerging: instability, economic manipulation, forced intervention, and long-term Marine presence.