WEBVTT

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(dramatic music)

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- The year is 1847.

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The United States and
Mexico are currently engaged

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in armed conflict that
sparked over tensions

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surrounding the disputed borders of Texas,

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a republic that gained their
independence from Mexico

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and voted to become a state in late 1845.

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The Marines and American
forces were about to launch

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a campaign with the sole mission

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of capturing the Mexican capital

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and bring a swift end to
the Mexican-American War.

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This campaign will produce
one of the most famous battles

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of Marine Corps history that will shape

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the entire Marine culture
and inspire the opening words

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to the Marines' Hymn.

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This is the Battle of Chapultepec.

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(cannon firing)

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(dramatic music)

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July 1, 1847.

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A regiment of approximately
300 Marines under the command

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of Brevet Lieutenant
Colonel Samuel E. Watson

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arrived at Veracruz, Mexico.

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A few weeks later, Watson was given orders

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to join Army Major General
Winfield Scott's forces

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at Puebla in order to
attack the Mexican capital

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of Mexico City, hopefully ending the war.

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The Marines were assigned to
a brigade under the command

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of Army Brigadier General Franklin Pierce,

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who would eventually
become the 14th President

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of the United States.

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After finally arriving in Puebla,

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General Scott and his forces
were ready to move west.

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During their march to the capital,

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an armistice was agreed upon
by both sides on August 23,

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that lasted about all of two seconds.

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Okay, it actually lasted about
two weeks until September 6.

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But I digress.

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When they got closer,
General Scott and his staff

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decided to attack Chapultepec
Castle, just west of the city,

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first, in order to keep
reinforcements from coming

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to the capital.

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The morning of September
12, the Americans began

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shelling the castle with artillery fire.

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And, on September 13, they
launched their main attack

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on Chapultepec, taking the
castle by early afternoon,

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but not without taking heavy casualties.

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To this day, Marine
Non-Commissioned Officers wear

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the red blood stripe on
their trousers as a part

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of their Dress Blues uniform.

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And, although it is already
a part of the uniform,

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common tradition today
holds that the blood stripe

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represents the bloodshed of the Marines

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that bravely fought and gave
their lives at Chapultepec.

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The morning of the 14th,
the Marines received orders

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to advance into the
city to the Grand Plaza.

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Despite being prepared
for more enemy attacks,

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they were surprised to
learn the Mexican president,

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Santa Anna, and his remaining troops

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had evacuated the city during the night.

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However, Mexican robbers
and thieves still infested

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the National Palace inside the capital.

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The Marines were ordered to drive them out

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and to guard the palace
from further looting.

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They became residents in
the Halls of Montezuma,

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making their mark on history and inspiring

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the opening words to the Marines' Hymn.