The Marine Corps has a proud history of elite soldiers who have performed some of the most daring and impressive military operations in history. These brave men are known as Marine Heroes. They are highly trained and skilled in special operations and have often undertaken dangerous missions that few others would be willing to attempt.

Here are nine of the most respected Marine Corps Heroes in history:

General James Mattis

General James Mattis
(Source: The U.S. National Archives/Archive)

General James Mattis is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the Commander of United States Central Command from 2010 to 2013. He is widely respected for his knowledge and experience in military matters and is considered one of the most influential military leaders of our time.

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North
(Source: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North is a retired United States Marine Corps officer who served as a National Security Council staff member during the Reagan administration. He played a key role in the Iran-Contra Affair and remains a controversial figure to this day.

Major General Smedley Butler

Smedley Butler
(Source: Official USMC photograph/Wikimedia)

Major General Smedley Butler was a United States Marine Corps major general who served in a variety of leadership roles during his career. He is perhaps best known for leading the 1932 invasion of Haiti and for his outspoken criticism of American military interventions overseas.

Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune

John A. Lejeune
(Source: Library of Congress/Archive)

Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune was the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving from 1920 to 1929. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the Marine Corps, and his name is still honored today with the naming of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Lieutenant Colonel Chesty Puller

Lieutenant Colonel Chesty Puller
(Source: USMC Archives/Wikimedia)

Lieutenant Colonel Chesty Puller was a highly decorated US Marine Corps officer who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He is one of the most decorated Marines in history and is considered a legend within the Corps.

Colonel John Glenn Jr.

Colonel John Glenn Jr.
(Source: pxhere)

Colonel John Glenn Jr. was a United States Marine Corps pilot who became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. He later served as a United States Senator from Ohio and was also a presidential candidate in 1984.