When it comes to famous Marine Corps veterans, everyone remembers Lewis “Chesty” Puller, John Basilone, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Daly, and a slew of other legendary devil dogs. But to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday, it’s important to remember that the Corps has no end of heroes, many of whom fade away further and further with time.
So we don’t forget the Marines who fought with distinction, but may not have been as quotable as Chesty, as political as Smedley Butler, or as smart as John Glenn, here are a few more worth remembering.
1. Brig. Gen. Joe Foss
Joe Foss earned his wings in March 1941, months before America officially entered World War II. After Pearl Harbor, the young Marine aviator shipped out to the South Pacific and joined the Cactus Air Force over Guadalcanal, where the air was thick with heat, malaria, and Zeros. Across three brutal months, he hunted enemy bombers and fighters, sometimes limping home with holes in his Wildcat, ditching in the drink and getting fished out. By war’s end in the Solomons, he had racked up 26 confirmed victories, matching Eddie Rickenbacker’s World War I record, and earned him the Medal of Honor.
The fight didn’t end with Japan’s surrender. Foss helped stand up the South Dakota Air National Guard, then returned to combat in Korea with that same unit, trading the island jungles for cold skies and climbing the ladder to brigadier general. Off the flight line, he was the first commissioner of the upstart American Football League, a job description that tells you everything about his appetite for building things and breaking molds. He kept serving veterans in civilian life for decades and passed away in 2003.
2. Cpl. Joseph Vittori
Cpl. Joseph Vittori carved his name into Hill 749 on September 16, 1951. Marines had just taken the crest when a fierce Chinese counterattack punched a hundred-yard gap in the line that could have broken the whole position. Vittori sprinted into the breach with an automatic rifle, grabbed a machine gun when he could, and turned that gap into a killing zone.
He fought for hours while rounds snapped the grass and the hill shook. A bullet tore through his chest; he stayed on the gun. More Marines went down around him. When he was hit again, he told his buddy to fall back to the ridge and live to hold it. Together, they broke one more wave, buying the time the battalion needed. A final shot to the face killed him at his post. For that stand, Vittori received the Medal of Honor.
3. Sgt. Maj. Gilbert “Hashmark” Johnson
Gilbert “Hashmark” Johnson entered the Marine Corps with more time in uniform than many of his instructors, having already served 15 years in the Army and Navy. As one of the first African Americans to join the Corps, he trained at Montford Point and quickly became one of its earliest Black drill instructors. Recruits knew him for his demanding standards and sharp discipline, and his work helped set the tone for a new generation of Marines who had fought for the chance to wear the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
When World War II moved to the Central Pacific, Johnson asked for combat duty and got it. On Guam, he led 25 patrols under fire, showing the same command presence he had on the training field. After the war, he continued to break ground, rising to the rank of sergeant major and using his voice and example to push the Corps toward greater inclusion and professionalism.
4. Sgt. Charles “Chuck” Mawhinney
Sgt. Charles “Chuck” Mawhinney wasn’t the most visible or outspoken sniper of the Vietnam War, yet he logged 103 confirmed kills, which is ten more than the legendary Carlos Hathcock’s tally. For years, his record lived in the shadows until the book “Dear Mom: A Sniper’s Vietnam” brought his story to light and confirmed that he holds the top mark in Marine Corps history.
One of his coldest performances came on Valentine’s Day during a night river crossing. An enemy platoon slipped into the water to strike an American base. Mawhinney was alone on overwatch with an M14 paired to a starlight scope. He let the point men wade out, waited until the formation was committed in midstream, and then opened up. Sixteen shots and the attack —and attackers—were dead in the water.
5. Master Gunnery Sgt. Leland “Lou” Diamond
Leland “Lou” Diamond built a reputation as one of the Marine Corps’ toughest and most skillful enlisted leaders. He enlisted during World War I and served with the 4th Marine Brigade in France, where he learned the blunt, practical craft of infantry combat. In the interwar years, he stayed in the Corps, honing heavy-weapons skills and serving with the China Marines in Shanghai. By the late 1930s, he was the archetype of the old-school salty Marine: gravel-voiced, demanding, and fiercely protective of his juniors.
In World War II, he deployed with the 1st Marine Division to the Solomon Islands. He became famous for his mortar work (at age 52) that opened the way for advances on Guadalcanal and drove off a Japanese cruiser. His precision, calm under fire, and knack for improvisation made him a natural field leader and a legend to the Marines who fought beside him. After overseas combat, he returned to stateside duty as an instructor, passing on combat lessons to new Marines before retiring.
Read About Other Profiles in Courage
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