The motto “no man left behind” is commonly associated with the United States Marine Corps. It expresses the ethos that Marines will make every effort to recover fallen comrades in combat and not abandon their fellow Marines in times of need. This article will examine the origins and meaning behind the motto, how it is applied in practice, and whether the Marines truly uphold this principle in all situations.
What is the origin of “no man left behind”?
The specific phrase “no man left behind” was first used in a Marine Corps document in 1899, in landing party rules which stated “No man shall be left behind on account of darkness or the advanced hour of the night.” However, the concept behind the motto has much earlier roots. The Marines view themselves as an elite fighting force that forms unbreakable bonds between members. This goes back to their origins in the Revolutionary War era. After gaining experience fighting alongside the British Royal Marines, the Continental Marines were established in 1775 with the belief that every member was critical to the team. This forged a culture of never abandoning a fellow fighter.
Is it an official Marine Corps motto?
While “no man left behind” is incredibly important to Marines, it is not one of the Corps’ 14 official mottos. The closest official motto is “Semper Fidelis” (always faithful), reflecting their dedication to the nation, the Corps, and their fellow Marines. However, “no man left behind” is an unwritten rule that Marines pride themselves on upholding. It is a creed demonstrating that Marines never leave their own behind enemy lines, on the battlefield, or in any perilous circumstances.
How is this motto applied in combat situations?
On the battlefield, “no man left behind” means Marines will put themselves at great risk to retrieve injured or killed comrades and bring home their remains. It is unacceptable to leave a Marine who has fallen in combat. All feasible efforts must be made to evacuate the wounded so they can receive medical treatment. Recovering remains of the fallen is also critically important to provide closure to families. The motto requires that no living or dead Marine is abandoned on the field of battle if there is any way possible to retrieve them.
Risking lives to uphold the motto
There are many cases where Marines risked or sacrificed their own lives to uphold “no man left behind” in combat. Some examples include:
- The Battle of Roberts Ridge in Afghanistan in 2002, where Marines endured enemy fire for 5 days to recover fallen comrades.
- Operation Red Wings in 2005, where Marcus Luttrell was the only survivor but Marines still recovered the bodies of his 3 teammates who were killed.
- The Battle of Ramadi in 2006, where Marines braved a sandstorm and enemy fire to recover fallen Marines trapped in a downed helicopter.
In each case, Marines faced extreme danger but persisted through fierce fighting to bring home their fallen brothers in arms. This demonstrates their deep commitment to the motto.
How are rescues conducted when a service member is isolated or captured?
The Marine Corps also follows “no man left behind” when service members are geographically or socially isolated from their units. If a Marine is separated, captured, or reported as missing, exhaustive efforts are made to find and retrieve them. This can involve rescue missions beyond enemy lines or negotiations for release from captivity.
Efforts to retrieve POWs throughout history
The Marine Corps has a long history of striving to return prisoners of war (POWs) to American control. Some examples include:
- After WWII and the Korean War, the Marines conducted dedicated efforts to return any troops still imprisoned by enemy forces.
- During the Vietnam War, Marines took part in air and ground raids to free POWs from North Vietnamese jails.
- In the Iraq War, the Marines were central to rescue efforts when Army soldier Jessica Lynch was captured and later freed from an Iraqi hospital.
Retrieving isolated, captured, or missing Marines is a obligation the Corps takes extremely seriously to demonstrate its commitment to never abandoning members.
Does the Marine Corps have any exceptions to “no man left behind”?
The Marine Corps does not have any official exceptions to the “no man left behind” motto. It is considered an inviolable moral obligation to return all Marines from combat situations, captivity, or isolation if humanly possible. However, there are some rare situations where recovering a fallen Marine is outside the limits of what can be done:
- When recovery would require even more loss of life beyond acceptable risk.
- When the situation makes recovery physically impossible, such as a Marine falling overboard at sea.
- When the location of a missing Marine cannot be found after extensive searches.
These cases are exceptions by necessity, not desire. The Marine Corps still strives to recover all members unless it is truly beyond feasibility. Some service members are still considered “missing in action” decades after Vietnam, demonstrating the Marines’ commitment to eventually bring home all men.
What efforts are made to return remains of deceased Marines?
The Marine Corps has gone to extraordinary efforts to recover, identify, and return the remains of Marines killed in past conflicts. Teams excavate remote crash and battle sites to find traces of those missing in action. The Corps spends decades identifying remains using DNA analysis and other techniques. Each fallen member is seen as deserving the dignity of a proper burial with military honors. Some examples of efforts made for Marines killed long ago:
- Teams continue excavating Tarawa where 500 Marines died in WWII.
- The remains of 68 Marines were identified and returned from the USS Oklahoma, sunk at Pearl Harbor.
- DNA analysis and digging at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific has led to 9 Marines from WWII being posthumously identified and returned to families just within the last few years.
The Marine Corps’ commitment has no expiration date. They uphold “no man left behind” by making good on the promise that every Marine comes home, whether alive or in spirit, decades after paying the ultimate sacrifice.
Does the “no man left behind” ethos apply after active service?
The Marine Corps pledges to take care of its own not just in combat but after they return from service. The Marines offer programs to look after the wellbeing of active and former Marines for life. Some examples include:
- The Wounded Warrior Regiment provides medical support, rehabilitation, and assistance transitioning to civilian life for wounded Marines.
- The Marine For Life program connects Marines leaving active duty with job opportunities and local support networks.
- The Marine Corps League, with over 37,000 members, provides community and fellowship for current and former Marines.
So in a philosophical sense, “no man left behind” also means continuously serving Marines after their active duty by ensuring their needs are met and honoring their service.
Does the commitment to leave no one behind create issues?
The extreme commitment required to leave no Marine behind can sometimes cause operational issues:
- Missions may be constrained by too many resources diverted for rescue and recovery efforts.
- The determination to retrieve remains may expose more Marines to harm.
- The safety of a unit may be compromised to save an isolated member.
However, Marines take pride in these potential dilemmas because they reflect the extreme bonds and loyalty between members of the force. No life is more important than another. These issues also encourage resourcefulness – such as swift but precise rescue missions. Overall, the Marine Corps sees leaving no one behind as a strategic advantage reflecting uncompromising dedication.
How does this differ from other branches?
While all US military branches value recovering the isolated, wounded, deceased, and captured, the Marine Corps is known for having an unparalleled and uncompromising dedication to “no man left behind.” Some ways the Marines may differ:
- Assigning highest priority to return of remains at great risk when other branches may cut losses.
- Considering it a moral obligation rather than just strategic goal.
- Allocating more resources expressly for recovery missions.
- Persisting for decades after conflicts to find and identify remains.
Of course, comparisons are subjective and other branches make significant efforts to uphold similar ideals. But the Marine Corps’ fixation on “no man left behind” is woven into traditions and culture in a particularly powerful way.
Conclusion
In summary, “no man left behind” is an unwritten rule, not official motto, that is central to Marine Corps traditions and values. It originated centuries ago from the earliest days of the Corps, and requires Marines on the battlefield and throughout service to dedicate themselves fully to the recovery, return, and care for their fellow Marines – whether that be returning casualties under fire, rescuing the isolated from behind enemy lines, identifying remains decades later, or providing a lifetime safety net after active duty. This loyalty earns immense respect but also occasionally causes operational dilemmas. But for the Marines, the motto is an irrevocable moral obligation – a pact between members of an elite tribe who will stop at nothing to uphold their bond and bring home their brothers and sisters in arms. No matter what it takes, or how severe the sacrifice, the Marine Corps pledges to stay true to “no man left behind.”