"Space" Marines

[JohnL]

>Remember the old "Space Above and Beyond" show. That was interesting use
>of "Space Marines." In one episode they were flying the hammerhead fighters, in
>the next they were conducting guerrilla raids.

As I recall, so many fans brough up that issue that they actually addressed it in one episode. If I remember correctly, it amounted to the colonel making a speech along the lines of "I've been hearing a lot of belly-aching lately about fighter pilots being used as ground-pounders. Well, suck it up! You're in the military, you do as you're told!"

[Ed]

OK, its a slow day at work so I thought I'd do some research on the concept of the "Space Marine"  
1) In Amazing Stories:
Olsen, Bob, (Alfred John Olsen, Jr.)
--Captain Brink of the Space Marines, November, 1932.

2) In Astounding
"Sergeant Shane of the Space Marines" by Cabot (O'Brien);

3) 1960's comic Book
Fox, Gardner. “Earth Victory--By a Hair!” Strange Adventures 124 (Jan 1961): 1-8.

These are the earilest  references to the term I could find.  Its also copyrighted by  Games Workshop.  

The fun of  research
-Ed

[Menard]

In relation to games 'Space Marines' was also the a set of miniatures rules published by Fantasy Games Unlimited (FGU) around 1980. These rules could be used as an expanded set of rules for their 'Space Opera' role-playing game.