List of historic United States Marines

The following is a list of the essential names in U. S. Marine Corps lore — the people who make up what the Marines call "Knowledge". Names in this list are notable for actions made as a Marine; individuals whose notability is unrelated to service in uniform can be found at List of United States Marines.


 * Vernice Armour &mdash; first female African-American combat pilot in United States military
 * John Basilone &mdash; only enlisted Marine Medal of Honor recipient to return to combat and be killed
 * John Bolt &mdash; only Marine aviator to achieve the title of ace in both WWII and the Korean War; remains to this day the only Marine jet aircraft ace
 * Gregory "Pappy" Boyington &mdash; Medal of Honor recipient who commanded the famous "Black Sheep Squadron" (VMA-214) during WWII
 * Frederick C. Branch &mdash; first African-American Marine officer
 * Smedley Butler &mdash; awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts of heroism; outspoken critic of war profiteers, testified in Congress regarding a plot to overthrow the government
 * Marion Carl &mdash; First Marine Ace(18.5 victories), member of the Cactus Air Force, first Marine helicopter pilot,
 * Evans Carlson &mdash; commanded the WWII Marine Raiders
 * Alfred Cunningham &mdash; patron of Marine Corps aviation; innovative thinker in introducing air support; helped create the Advanced Base Force
 * Louis Cukela &mdash; awarded both Navy and Army Medals of Honor
 * Dan Daly &mdash; awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts of heroism
 * Pedro del Valle &mdash; played an instrumental role in defeating Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa (1945)
 * Lou Diamond &mdash; "Mr. Leatherneck," namesake of the actor Lou Diamond Phillips
 * Merritt A. Edson &mdash; Medal of Honor recipient and commander of the 1st Marine Raiders Battalion
 * Earl H. Ellis &mdash; conducted espionage missions in Micronesia that influenced the planning of the island-hopping campaigns of World War II
 * John L. Estrada &mdash; the first person of Hispanic descent promoted to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
 * Joe Foss &mdash; was the leading fighter ace of the United States Marine Corps during World War II and a 1943 recipient of the Medal of Honor, recognizing his role in the air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign.
 * Guy Gabaldon &mdash; captured (or persuaded to surrender) about 1,000 Japanese soldiers and numerous civilians during the Battle of Saipan (1944)
 * Annie Neal Graham &mdash; first African American woman Marine
 * Carlos Hathcock &mdash; renowned Marine sniper with 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War
 * Ira Hayes &mdash; Iwo Jima flag raiser
 * Archibald Henderson &mdash; "Grand old man of the Marine Corps," longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps (1820–1859)
 * Opha May Johnson &mdash; recognized officially as the first woman Marine
 * James L. Jones, Sr. &mdash; commanded the Observer Group, the first amphibious reconnaissance unit in the United States; father of James L. Jones, Jr., the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps.
 * Victor H. Krulak &mdash; developed new concepts in expeditionary warfare, such as use of Higgins landing craft and helicopters; father of Charles C. Krulak, 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps
 * John A. Lejeune &mdash; 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps and author of the birthday message read aloud at every Marine Corps Birthday Ball ceremony
 * Jacklyn H. Lucas &mdash; youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor.
 * John F. Mackie &mdash; first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor
 * Alfred Masters &mdash; the first African American in the United States Marines Corps
 * Dennis M. McCarthy &mdash; first Reserve General Officer to command an active duty Marine Division
 * Alford L. McMichael &mdash; first African American Marine to serve as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
 * Samuel Nicholas &mdash; first Commandant of the Marine Corps
 * Presley O'Bannon &mdash; famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War
 * Peter J. Ortiz &mdash; parachuted into France to aid the Resistance, Recipient of two (2) Navy Cross Medals.
 * Peter Pace &mdash; first Marine to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005–2007), previously the Vice Chairman (2001–2005)
 * Chuck Mawhinney &mdash; Marine sniper with most confirmed kills, all occurring during the Vietnam War
 * Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller &mdash; most-decorated Marine in history including five Navy Crosses and the Army Distinguished Service Cross
 * Félix Rigau Carrera &mdash; first Hispanic Marine fighter pilot
 * John Ripley &mdash; highly decorated Marine, only living person (at the time) to be memorialized in the Naval Academy's museum, first "all-Marine" inducted into the Ranger hall of fame.
 * Angela Salinas &mdash; the first Hispanic female to obtain a general rank in the Marines.
 * France Silva &mdash; the first Marine of Hispanic descent to be awarded the Medal of Honor
 * Dion Williams &mdash; patron of naval and amphibious reconnaissance; hoisted the first American flag raised over Spanish soil in the Spanish-American War