unitedstatesmarinecorp

this may be part of the same operation headed to cuba described in a comment under www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2163505442/in/p...

If this is the Spanish American War ("Remember the Maine!" I notice that the LoC has a number of photos of the Maine's wreckage), the dates are off. Should be 1898.

No, I think the picture is correctly dated March, 1911, when troops and ships were being massed to put up a show of arms toward Mexico and the revolutionaries there.

A reader of the Boston Globe's Ideas section, where I published this photo last Sunday, sent along this excerpt from "A History of the 1st Marines," by Maj John H Johnstone. It confirms your point, Artolog. "The 1st Regiment, 1st Provisional Brigade, was organized aboard the USS PRAIRIE on 8 March 1911 for temporary foreign shore service in Cuba. Actually, this maneuver was designed as a show of force to dissuade Mexican rebel activities near the border of the United States. The Marine Corps, having demonstrated its readiness and ability to move quickly from either coast to troubled areas, returned the regiment to Philadelphia by 22 June with the knowledge that it could be readily mobilized if again needed."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Prairie_(AD-5)

Accompanying note: "A big kiss was received by Cpl. Travis Taylor from his best girl, Beth Brown, [424?] Talaflo Rd., as he shoved off for two weeks' field training at Camp [LeJeune], N. C. with the Tallahassee First Tank Company, U. S. Marine Corps Reserve. The five officers and [64?] enlisted men are scheduled to return July 30. While at camp they will concentrate on firing all weapons of the [M-55?] tank, Maj. J. Worth Owen, commanding officer, said."

Eccellente cattura!