List of historically notable 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 - first female African-American combat pilot in United States military
- John Basilone - only enlisted Marine Medal of Honor recipient to return to combat and be killed
- John Bolt - 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 - Medal of Honor recipient who commanded the famous "Black Sheep Squadron" (VMA-214) during WWII
- Frederick C. Branch - first African-American Marine officer
- Smedley Butler - 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
- Evans Carlson - commanded the WWII Marine Raiders
- Alfred Cunningham - patron of Marine Corps aviation; innovative thinker in introducing air support; helped create the Advanced Base Force
- Louis Cukela - awarded both Navy and Army Medals of Honor
- Dan Daly - awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts of heroism
- Pedro del Valle - played an instrumental role in defeating Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa (1945)
- Lou Diamond - "Mr. Leatherneck," namesake of the actor Lou Diamond Phillips
- Merritt A. Edson - Medal of Honor recipient and commander of the 1st Marine Raiders Battalion
- Earl H. Ellis - conducted espionage missions in Micronesia that influenced the planning of the island-hopping campaigns of World War II
- John L. Estrada - the first person of Hispanic descent promoted to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
- Guy Gabaldon - captured (or persuaded to surrender) about 1,000 Japanese soldiers and numerous civilians during the Battle of Saipan (1944)
- Annie Neal Graham - first African American female Marine
- Carlos Hathcock - renowned Marine sniper with 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War
- Ira Hayes - Iwo Jima flag raiser
- Archibald Henderson - "Grand old man of the Marine Corps," longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps (1820-1859)
- Opha Mae Johnson - recognized officially as the first female Marine
- James L. Jones, Sr. - 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 - 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 - 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps and author of the birthday message read aloud at every Marine Corps Birthday Ball ceremony
- John F. Mackie - first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor
- Alford L. McMichael - first African American Marine to serve as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
- Samuel Nicholas - first Commandant of the Marine Corps
- Presley O'Bannon - famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War
- Peter J. Ortiz - parachuted into France to aid the Resistance, Recipient of two (2) Navy Cross Medals.
- Abigail D. Olmos - the first female Master Gunnery Sergeant in the history of the Marine Corps.
- Peter Pace — first Marine to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005-2007), previously the Vice Chairman (2001–2005)
- Chuck Mawhinney - Marine sniper with most confirmed kills, all occurring during the Vietnam War
- Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller - most-decorated Marine in history including five Navy Crosses and the Army Distinguished Service Cross
- Félix Rigau Carrera - first Hispanic Marine fighter pilot
- John Ripley - 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 - the first Hispanic female to obtain a general rank in the Marines.
- France Silva - the first Marine of Hispanic descent to be awarded the Medal of Honor
- Dion Williams - patron of naval and amphibious reconnaissance; hoisted the first American flag raised over Spanish soil in the Spanish-American War
