Final answer:
The historical relationship between the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps is marked by combined efforts in military conflicts, the strategic foresight of figures like Alfred Mahan, and their role in reflecting and enforcing U.S. foreign policies and racial integration efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historical relationship between the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps is deeply intertwined, particularly during key periods of military expansion and during conflicts.
Influential figures like Alfred Mahan advocated for a powerful, globally-reaching navy, and his strategy included the need for coaling stations—overseas bases that would ensure the operational reach of the Navy and Marine Corps.
This naval and military expansion played a notable role in historic battles such as those in the Pacific during World War II and the conquest referenced in the Marines' hymn "The Halls of Montezuma."
Furthermore, the relationship between these two branches is highlighted by their combined efforts in enforcing foreign policies like Theodore Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor Policy," as well as their cooperative endeavors in wars where they fought side by side, contributing to America's military victories and increased international stature.
Race dynamics and integration efforts within the military mirrored larger societal trends, affecting both the Navy and Marine Corps and challenging their effectiveness and unity.
Nonetheless, historic achievements such as the strategic victories in the Pacific, the successful training at institutions like West Point and the Naval Academy, and the building of naval power and global reach following Mahan's principles solidified the importance of the Navy/Marine Corps partnership in American military history.