Devil Dog Creed... I am An American, I was born in France. I have held the title of United States Marine, and understand the commitment of holding the title, Devil Dog. It is a tradition born at Belleau Wood in the year 1918, of a “Force in Readiness” and the “First to Fight”. As a Devil Dog, I ask no quarter and give no quarter. I will do everything in my power to uphold the objectives of the Military Order of the Devil Dogs and to carry out my duties to swift and satisfactory completion. What is a Devil Dog? The term “Devil Dog” was given to the Marines commanded by General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing at the Battle of Belleau Wood on 6 June 1918 by engaging the Germans in hand-to-hand combat. The battle was so intense that some of the marines had lost their weapons and resorted to biting the Germans. As a result of the tenacity of the marines, the German adversaries called the marines “Teufelhunde” which literally means “Dogs of the Devil”. This term is now known as “Devil Dogs”. The Military Order of the Devil Dog (MODD) was organized in 1939, in Boston, MA. The charter as a subsidiary organization of the Marine Corps League occured on 19 March 1940. The MODD is organized in nearly every state where the Marine Corps League has a presence. The MODD is the Fun and Honor Society of the Marine Corps League is comprised of only regular members of the League who have been recommended for membership by two members of the MODD. Each member undergoes a series of initiations. First as a Pup, in their Pound (the local organization), then as a Devil Dog in their Pack (the State organization), and finally as a Pedigreed Devil Dog at the Supreme Growl held in conjunction with the National Convention of the League. Each degree must be held for one full year before candidacy for the next degree may be considered. Advancement is not automatic after one year, it must be earned, it is a priveldge, NOT a right. The MODD promotes good fellowship amongst the members of the different Marine Corps League Detachments. It provides amusement and entertainment at all gatherings of the League, when and where advisable, preserves and strengthns the principles and ideals of the League, and maintains true allegiance to the United States of America and its Constitution and laws. The MODD is very active in raising funds for different charities with an emphasis on childrens charities. A recruiting poster by Charles B. Falls created in 1918 was one of the first recorded references to the term Devil Dog. Devil Dog is a motivational nickname for a U.S. Marine. It is said to be based on the apocryphal use of "Teufel Hunden" by German soldiers to describe Marines fighting in World War I. According to United States Marine Corps legend, the moniker was used by German soldiers to describe U.S. Marines who fought in the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. The Marines fought with such ferocity that they were likened to "Dogs from Hell." The Germans made several attacks against the Marines on that date and were unable to dislodge them. The article states that it was the first scrap between the Marines and the Germans. The term "Devil Dog" has its origins at Belleau Wood. It was in a dispatch from the German front lines to their higher headquarters explaining the current battle conditions that described the fighting abilities of the new, fresh Americans as fighting like "Teufel Hunden" or "Hounds from Hell." In German grammar, a compound noun is always a single word, so using two words "Teufel Hunden" is grammatically incorrect. The correct German would be Teufelshunde in nominative, genitive, and accusative cases, and Teufelshunden only in the dative. In either form, the linking element "s" steps between the words. Examples: Sie waren Teufelshunde. - they were devil dogs. Er war ein Teufelshund. - he was a devil dog. Er sprach von den Teufelshunden. - he talked about the devil dogs. The Bulldog is the USMC mascot. The term "Devil Dog" is a very common nickname for all Marines. "Devil Dog" is historically a well-accepted term of endearment, as a title of honor. The "dog" in the phrase is usually associated with the bulldog, in line with the original 1918 poster, such as the bulldog being a common mascot in the Corps. Other nicknames for Marines include "First to Fight", "Soldiers of the Sea", "Leatherneck", "Jarhead", "Jughead" and "Juggie". U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsmen assigned to Marine Corps units are sometimes referred to as "Devil Docs".
