Military question - what's with the US marines and Montezuma?

[BeBMan]

I mean that USMC song/hymn starting with

"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli"

I'm pretty sure the second line refers to the Tripolitan War of the US against North African countries doing piracy in the Med against US ships.

But what does this Halls of Montezuma reference mean (sounds Aztec to me, but what would that have to do with the USMC?)? The German wiki article was no help (unless I missed something), so maybe some could help me out here?

[lord of the mark]

Re: Military question - what's with the US marines and Montezuma?

Originally posted by BeBro
I mean that USMC song/hymn starting with

"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli"

I'm pretty sure the second line refers to the Tripolitan War of the US against North African countries doing piracy in the Med against US ships.

But what does this Halls of Montezuma reference mean (sounds Aztec to me, but what would that have to do with the USMC?)? The German wiki article was no help (unless I missed something), so maybe some could help me out here?

I think its the entry into Mexico City by US Marines during the Mexican-American war. Montezuma, was long gone by then, but it was a kind of romantic way of referring to Mexico City, like saying US troops entered the city of the Caesars in 1943, or the capital of Charlemagne in 1945.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapultepec_Castle

[BeBMan]

Ahh, Mexico....yes that makes sense. Thx

[Dr Strangelove]

It means that the USMC claims its ultimate heritage all the way back to Cotez's conquistadors. It's their way of proclaiming their mission of salvation to our little brown brothers.

[Az]

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
It means that the USMC claims its ultimate heritage all the way back to Cotez's conquistadors. It's their way of proclaiming their mission of salvation to our little brown brothers.

I'm pretty sure the second line refers to the Tripolitan War of the US against North African countries doing piracy in the Med against US ships.

...more precisely, against the city-state of Tripoli.

[Dr Strangelove]

The mission lives on in Iraq where many of the inhabitants who have been saved for democracy are literally exploding with enthusiasm for their saviors.

[KrazyHorse]

[Zkribbler]

Unfortunately, we can't save them from themselves.

[Unspeakable Horror]

[GhengisFarb™]

[Merkin Muffley]

The "halls of Motezuma" may also have something to do with the effects of drinking the swamp water at Paris Island.

[Tattila the Hun]

They ought to know, that you should allways take care of Monty way before Marines become available.