Browse Exhibits (7 total)
Organized under the United States Armed Forces Department of the Navy, the United States Marine Corps is the U.S. maritime land force specializing in amphibious and expeditionary warfare. Sister service to the United States Navy, the Marines trace their lineage back to the Continental Marines, formed in Philadelphia in November of 1775. Today, the USMC has is own infantry, special operations, aerial, and artillery forces.
Historically, the United States Marine Corps has been a prominent force in major conflicts and battles dating back to the American Revolution. Famously, they earned the name Teufel Hunden (Devil Dogs) at the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I for their aggressive tactics. In World War II, they partook in heavy fighting across the Pacific during the island-hopping campaigns, seeing incredibly fierce fighting in battles at Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Post-World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps has remained a premier fighting force that has seen combat in nearly every major conflict since.
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The United States Air Force can trace its lineage back to the Aeronautical Division of the United States Army Signal Corps prior to World War I. Military aviation remained under the control of the U.S. Army throughout World War I and II, until the National Security Act of 1947 established the United States Air Force as a separate branch of service.
The primary roles of the United States Air Force are establishing and maintaining air supremacy, gathering intelligence, conducting surveillance and reconnaissance, carrying out command and control operations, and providing rapid mobility capabilities. The Air Force is also responsible for the United States' land and air-based nuclear weapons.
Since its creation in the aftermath of World War II, the Air Force has played prominent roles in nearly all major U.S. conflicts. Operating a vast array of combat and logistical support aircraft, both independently and in support of the other branches of the United States Armed Forces, the U.S. Air Force is the second largest service branch.
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The United States Army is the oldest branch of the United States Armed Forces, tracings its roots back to the Continental Army in 1775. The largest service branch, the Army is the primary ground-based offensive and defensive force of the United States.
The U.S. Army consists of three components: the Regular Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve, all of which have been treated as a singular entity since the Army transitioned to an all-volunteer force after the Vietnam War. Since this reorganization, the United States Army has continued to partake in conflicts around the globe, particularly in peacekeeping and counterinsurgency capacities.
Army units are capable of combined arms manuevers, infantry combat, armored and mechanized operations, air assault, and special forces operations, as well as military logistical needs.
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The maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Navy traces its roots back to the Continental Navy, formed in 1775. The largest and most powerful navy in the world, the U.S. Navy's active fleet exceeds in size the next thirteen navies combined, including 11 U.S. allies. It operates the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet, and nearly 3000 aircraft.
Responsible for maritime security, sea control, deterrence, and equipment transport, the U.S. Navy has been continually active on the high seas since the American Revolution, aside from a decade-long gap between the American Revolution and the Barbary Wars. The Navy saw substantial combat against Great Britain during the War of 1812, as well as blockade duty against Mexico during the Mexican-American War and against the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
World War I and II saw a massive naval expansion by the United States, while the Cold War saw massive technological development and advancement. Today, the United States Navy remains a major asset, continuing to drive technological development and U.S. policy.
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The United States Coast Guard is both a humanitarian and security service branch of the United States Armed Forces. Originally formed as the Revenue-Marine in 1790, the modern Coast Guard traces its roots back to the merging of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service in 1915. The U.S. Lighthouse Service was brought into the Coast Guard in 1939.
Despite being the second smallest of the United States military branches, the Coast Guard itself is the 12th largest naval force in the world. United States Coast Guard personnel conduct port and maritime security operations, drug interdictions, search and rescue operations, migrant interdiction, and icebreaking operations around the world. The Coast Guard is most often known for its skill at search and rescue operations.
Notably, during World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard used the Hotel Ponce de Leon as a training facility, periodically using the grounds of the Castillo de San Marcos as well.
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The United States Merchant Marine consists of U.S. Civilian mariners crewing federally owned merchant vessels which operate in both the public and private commerce and transport sectors. In wartime, the Merchant Marine operates as an auxillary to the United States Navy, used to transport troops and materiel to combat zones.
Most famously, they proved critical to Allied war efforts during World War II. Braving the sub-infested waters of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the sailors of the U.S. Merchant Marine delivered the supplies necessary to keep up the fight against the Axis Powers. Their trips, however, came at an immense cost. During the Second World War, Mariners suffered the highest casualty rates of any branch, with one in every twenty-six losing their life in service.
Post World-War II, the U.S. Merchant Marine has continued to be a critical piece of U.S. Armed Forces operations in nearly every major conflict, continuing to transport supplies and equipment to American personnel serving abroad.
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Dedicated to Colonel William H. Pruitt, this exhibit contains images, awards, commendations, medals, documents, newspaper clippings, and an oral history conducted with him documenting his lifetime of military service.
A special thanks to Colonel Pruitt and his family for their willingness to share his story.
All of the information here is sourced from Colonel Pruitt's writings and oral history interview.