John Armstrong: Despite Secretary of War John Armstrong's assurances to the contrary, British forces were able to invade Washington and burn the Capitol and the White House during the War of 1812.

Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone: The Marine Corps' "Manila John" led the U.S. forces who repelled hundreds of Japanese soldiers attacking Guadalcanal's Henderson Field. Later, amid homefront honors, Basilone fought to return to the fight.

Dr. Samuel Billison: During World War II, this young Navajo Marine was part of a top-secret weapon key to the U.S. war effort: the Navajo code talkers, who created what may be the only unbroken code in military history.

Gen. Leonard F. Chapman Jr.: Marine Gen. Leonard Fielding Chapman Jr. guided the Corps through the turbulence of the 1960s without losing his gentlemanly ways or compromising his values.

Sgt. Darrell S. Cole: Sgt. Darrell Samuel Cole, who began World War II as a Marine bugler, wanted to fight and lost no opportunity to prove his battlefield merit.

Maj. Louis Cukela: Maj. Louis Cukela is one of the "Giants of the Corps," whose name and picture can be found at many Marine bases around the world. He died in 1956, the last living double Medal of Honor winner.

Pvt. Rene Gagnon: On Feb. 23, 1945, five young Marines and one sailor raised the flag above Iwo Jima. Only three of them, including Gagnon, survived the bloody battle to see their moment in history become the Marine Corps War Memorial.

Col. William R. 'Rich' Higgins: On Feb. 17, 1988, Lt. Col. William R. "Rich" Higgins was driving on a coastal highway between Tyre and Naquora in southern Lebanon when he was pulled from his jeep by Iranian-backed terrorists.

Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie Howard: The Viet Cong onslaught was fierce, but Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie Howard set a courageous example for his men. With his encouragement, they held the hill.

Henry Knox: On August 7, 1789, the newborn U.S. Congress created the Department of War, appointing as its first Secretary of War the Revolutionary War artillery commander Gen. Henry Knox.