The Hoover Institution celebrated the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) by honoring two retired Marines on Friday.
First up was 96-year old Korean War veteran Merrill Grim. Born in 1928 in San Jose, Grim enrolled in Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Santa Clara University but left the program to fight in the Korean War.
While in Korea, Grim fought in sub-zero temperatures in the 1950 Battle of Chosin, along with the “Frozen Chosin” and “The Chosin Few” — nicknames given to veterans of this battle. After his service, Grim established a career as a civil engineer in the Bay Area.
Lt. Colonel David von Bargen, who currently leads the Santa Clara University Army ROTC program, surprised Grim during Friday’s celebration. Von Bargen presented Grim with a certificate of honorary lifetime membership to the university’s ROTC Bronco battalion for Grim’s service and contributions to the Santa Clara area.
By tradition, the first slice of cake was given to the guest of honor: Michael Rocco, a retired lieutenant general with 37 years of USMC service. The second piece of cake was given to the oldest Marine present, Grim, and then passed to the youngest Marine present, Corporal Elijah Conchas.
Rocco highlighted the importance of this tradition. “The symbolism of giving a piece of cake from the oldest Marine to the youngest Marine is the symbolism of passing down that knowledge. And you start to think about who we are and why we are […] why we fight, how we fight.”
The celebration was held at the George P. Shultz Building. Shultz, who passed away in 2021, had been a Marine officer in World War II. The festivities also included a video message from Marine Corps Commandant Eric Smith and speeches from guest of honor Rocco and Hoover Fellow Colonel Jerome Greco.
“When you watch the ceremony, for a moment, you can see everybody in that room with a little twinkle, a little bit of admiration, and a little bit of ‘gosh, thank God [the Marines] are on our side,’” Rocco said.
The USMC was established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on Nov. 10, 1775. In 1921, General John A. Lejeune, the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, published Article 28 in the USMC Manual, commanding that the Marines should commemorate this date every year to “call to mind the glory of its long and illustrious history.”
All USMC officers receive a mameluke sword as part of their uniform, in honor of the Battle of Derna in the 1805 Tripoli campaign, where Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon was presented with a mameluke sword by the Ottoman viceroy Pasha Hamet as a sign of respect. The battle also marked the first time the U.S. flag was raised on foreign soil. At every USMC birthday celebration at Hoover, Shultz’s sword has been used to cut the cake, Greco said.
Rocco said the Marine Corps, represented by a logo of an eagle, globe and anchor, isn’t about the fancy equipment and weaponry, but about the people.
“Everyone fights,” Rocco said. “That’s the creed of the Marine Corps […] God Bless the Marine Corps and God Bless our great nation. Semper fidelis.”