You've miscounted. While the Navy its origins to the Continental Navy, the Continental Navy was disbanded immediately after the Revolutionary War ended. The United States was without a naval force until 1790 when "a system of cutters" was authorized by Congress to combat smuggling and protect the coast. (That system of cutters was called the Revenue Marine and then the Revenue Cutter Service before have its name change to U.S. Coast Guard, but I digress.)
The current U.S. Navy was created when the U.S. Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 for the construction of six heavy frigates, the first ships of the U.S. Navy. That makes the U.S. Navy 225 years old.That is a historical fact, by the way. Therefore the U.S. Navy is only 225 years old because for almost two decades, there was no Navy. The Navy can claim otherwise but that doesn't change the facts.
So, Happy 225th Birthday to all of you former or currently serving members of the JUNIOR seagoing service.
Edit: It should be noted that the U.S. Marines traces its founding back to 10 November 1775. Since the two battalions were never disbanded following the war, it is accurate to say the Marines are older than the U.S. Coast Guard.
I remember a book I read sometime during high school, it mentioned (and stuck in my mind) that during one of the years during which George Washington was President, the U.S. Army consisted of four (count 'em, 4 !) people. I've not seen any other source even mentioning military numbers during the early decades of U.S. history.
Just to clear up my statement on Navy 244th Birthday, these weren’t my calculations, my information came from Military.com,Newsweek, Department of Defense , last but not least The USO, I get updates from all these organizations. Regardless, my Birthday wish for the men and women of the USN was my main point.
@mapletop When you served with your brothers (and sisters)-in-arms, you earn the right to continue making rivalry comments and jokes.
I doubt if you could post any Coast Guard (it's is capitalized when speaking of the U.S. Coast Guard )that I haven't already seen or jokes I haven't heard.
As I told a blue water Navy sailor who asked how I could be in the Coast Guard if I wasn't six-feet tall I said it was simple, "Icebreaker Coasties learn how to walk on water."
Funny thing..... I've observed the same behavior amongst various clergy over several decades. Of course, this all went on well away from laity. You wouldn't believe the jokes........
No idea how old this is, or who wrote it. Surprisingly, those units where I've heard this quoted, it has had very little variation to the text. (I sometimes wonder if this is also meant to be sort of a passive-aggressive brag.)
@PappyJoe,maybe a bit of a surprise, but I agree with you on your comment about military rivals. You know as well as me that service rivalry has been going on forever and will continue as long As their are different branches of the military. In other words it not just a bunch of 60-plus guys reliving glorious or not so glorious days.
There was a bit of a dust-up a couple of years ago between a retired? Army vet and a fan of the Marines (not clear if he was a vet). I am not sure of their actual status (retired/discharged etc.?), the Marine fan may have just had an opinion that the Marines were better, not sure if he was an actual vet. Anyway the other was an Army vet 63 years old and the other was much younger 40 I think. Well anyway the rivalry got out of hand after a few too many adult beverages were consumed by both parties. It ended up with the GI stabbing the Marine fan to death in the street....well actually he cut his face and slit his throat. The Vietnam vet told the police. “I just did what I was trained to do, he’s dead....the knife is on the table”. This happened August 2014 in Laurel, Montana.
As some of you know, I am a Jarhead. That being said, I never cease to amaze people when I tell them that my best friend while I served was a Navy man. Yep, you guessed it. He was our Corpsman... one of the greatest guys I ever knew...
@KA9FFJ That sounds exactly like my brother Dave. He is a jarhead and one of his best friends is a Navy man. Yep, you guessed it, he was the corpsman when they were in Iraq. I am not sure if he was with my brother in Afghanistan, but I do know he served at least one tour there as well.
Having served on an amphibious assault ship during my time in the navy my favorite reply to Marines trash talkin the Navy was always " what does it say on your pay check"?
I spent 4 years in the USMC. Never bought into the whole rivalry thing. Always had respect for them and the job they did. Without the Navy, Marines wouldn't exsist.
@BobbyG, I appreciate your comment. Having served as a sailor in the tin can navy, I appreciated everything the marines did in the air, land, sea and shore. I never understood the rivalry thing. As far as the DHS (coasties) go, I value all the joint missions and support they did with us on our many DI missions off the coast of Florida.
Well I would say their can be no doubt concerning military rivalries, good to hear that not all service personnel played into it, bottom line is we all were on the same overall mission. For some of us as we get older we begin to appreciate all who have served regardless of what branch.
Comments
While the Navy its origins to the Continental Navy, the Continental Navy was disbanded immediately after the Revolutionary War ended. The United States was without a naval force until 1790 when "a system of cutters" was authorized by Congress to combat smuggling and protect the coast. (That system of cutters was called the Revenue Marine and then the Revenue Cutter Service before have its name change to U.S. Coast Guard, but I digress.)
The current U.S. Navy was created when the U.S. Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 for the construction of six heavy frigates, the first ships of the U.S. Navy. That makes the U.S. Navy 225 years old.That is a historical fact, by the way. Therefore the U.S. Navy is only 225 years old because for almost two decades, there was no Navy. The Navy can claim otherwise but that doesn't change the facts.
So, Happy 225th Birthday to all of you former or currently serving members of the JUNIOR seagoing service.
Edit: It should be noted that the U.S. Marines traces its founding back to 10 November 1775. Since the two battalions were never disbanded following the war, it is accurate to say the Marines are older than the U.S. Coast Guard.
Age 244 years
People can say what they want but it doesn't change the fact that there was no U.S. Navy from the end of the Revolutionary War until 1794.
I really don't mind them claiming to be older, it just proves how jealous they are of the Coast Guard.
When you served with your brothers (and sisters)-in-arms, you earn the right to continue making rivalry comments and jokes.
I doubt if you could post any Coast Guard (it's is capitalized when speaking of the U.S. Coast Guard
As I told a blue water Navy sailor who asked how I could be in the Coast Guard if I wasn't six-feet tall I said it was simple, "Icebreaker Coasties learn how to walk on water."
Of course, this all went on well away from laity.
You wouldn't believe the jokes........
That was around in 1972 so it was probably old even then.
Yep, you guessed it. He was our Corpsman... one of the greatest guys I ever knew...
That sounds exactly like my brother Dave. He is a jarhead and one of his best friends is a Navy man. Yep, you guessed it, he was the corpsman when they were in Iraq. I am not sure if he was with my brother in Afghanistan, but I do know he served at least one tour there as well.