And on the 22nd of January through the 18th of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 22 January through 18 March, 1969, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9), the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (2/9), the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4), the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), and the ARVN 2nd Regiment participated in OPERATION DEWEY CANYON, an offensive against PAVN communication lines in Laos, north of the A Shau Valley in the Thua Thien Province
And on this the 27th of January through the 7th of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 27 January through 7 April, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION DESOTO, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Ngai Province.
And on this the 1st of February through 2 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 1 February through 2 March, the 1st Marines and the 5th Marines participated in OPERATION HUE CITY, to drive the PAVN/VC out of Hue during the Tet Offensive.
The Marines focus on the area south of the Perfume River, while the 1st ARVN Division is responsible for the Citadel, the old city north of the river.
HMM-165 provides lift for ARVN forces into the city.
The battle quickly devolves into typical building-to-building fighting.
And on this the 1st of Feb. through 18th of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 1 February through 18 March, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 2nd Battalion,26th Marines participated in OPERATION PRAIRIE II, a search and destroy operation to prevent the PAVN 324B Division from entering the DMZ area, around Con Thien and Gio Linh, in the Quang Tri Province.
And during the period 3 February through the 10 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1971, during the period 3 February through 10 March, Marines of the III MAF, the ROK’s 2nd Marine Brigade and the ARVN’s 51st Regiment participated in OPERATION HOANG DIEU 103, a counter-offensive in the Quang Nam Province.
And on this the 16th of Feb. through 3 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 16 February through 3 March, a Marine SLF (BLT 1/4 and HMM-363) participates in OPERATION DECKHOUSE VI, an amphibious assault at the southern tip of the Quang Ngai Province.
Although it does not meet strong resistance, Stingray teams call in supporting arms to kill more than 200 of the enemy moving out of the area.
The SLF withdraws to its ships on 26 February and conducts a new assault the next day a little farther north.
The operation terminates on 3 March.
And on this the 26th of February through 30 April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 26 February through 30 April, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Battalion, the 327th Airborne Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Airborne Infantry participated in OPERATION HOUSTON, an operation to open Route 1 between Da Nang and Phu Bai in the Thua Thien Province.
And on this the 27th of February through the 3rd of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 27 February through 3 March, Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, and HMM-163 participated in OPERATION NEW YORK, a sweep operation joining with the ARVN’s OPERATION THUA THIEN 177 east of Phu Bai in the Thua Thien Province.
And on this the 27th of February through the 8th of May in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 27 February through 8 May, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION PURPLE MARTIN, a clear and search in the Quang Tri Province.
Interestingly, this was originally named OPERATION MASSACHUSETTS BAY
And on this the 29th of February through 31 October in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 29 February through 31 October, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and the 2/1 Cavalry participated in OPERATION NAPOLEON/SALINE, an operation along the Cua Viet River in the Quang Tri Province.
March 1–10, 1776 The Raid of Nassau was a naval operation and amphibious assault by Colonial forces against the British port of Nassau, Bahamas, during the American Revolutionary War (also known as the American War of Independence). The battle is considered one of the first engagements of the newly established Continental Navy and the Continental Marines, the respective progenitors of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The action was also the Marines’ first amphibious landing. It is sometimes known as the “Battle of Nassau”.
Departing from Cape Henlopen, Delaware on February 17, 1776, the fleet arrived in the Bahamas on March 1, with the objective of seizing gunpowder and munitions known to be stored there. Two days later the Marines came ashore seizing Fort Montagu at the eastern end of the Nassau harbor, but did not advance to the town where the gunpowder was stored. That night Nassau’s governor had most of the gunpowder loaded aboard ships sailing for St. Augustine. On March 4, the Continental Marines advanced and took control of the poorly defended town.
The Continental forces remained at Nassau for two weeks and took away all the remaining gunpowder and munitions found. The fleet returned to New London, Connecticut in early April after capturing a few British supply ships, but failed to capture HMS Glasgow in an action on April 6.
During the period 1 March – 29 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 29 May through 23 June, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 7th Marines, the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and the 51st Regiment of the ARVN participated in OPERATION OKLAHOMA HILLS, an operation southwest of Da Nang, in the Quang Nam Province.
Good morning Leathernecks!
And on this the 1st day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1860, a Landing force from the Marion goes ashore at Kissembo, Angola, in Portuguese West Africa, to protect American lives and property from local unrest.
In 1895, the Marine detachment of the Yorktown (Gunboat No. 1) assumes guard of the U.S. legation at Seoul, Korea.
In 1929, Headquarters Detachment 7M of Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force, is redesignated as Marine Utility Squadron 7.
This is the birth of what will become the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252).
In 1934, a Marine detachment of one officer and six enlisted men assumes responsibility for guarding the U.S. embassy in Moscow, Soviet Union.
In 1940, the 2nd Defense Battalion is organized at San Diego.
In 1941, the 1st Marines and the 11th Marines (an artillery regiment) are reactivated at Guantanamo Bay to serve with the 1st Marine Division.
The 6th Defense Battalion is formed at San Diego.
In 1943, VMO-351 and VMB-413 (the Marine Corps first medium bomber squadron) are organized at Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Marine Corps Air Base Kearney Mesa is established adjacent to Camp Elliot, California.
In 1944, MAG-22 planes begin to arrive on Engebi Island in the Marshalls.
MBDAG-46 and VMSB-454 (later redesignated
VMTB-454) are commissioned at El Toro.
In 1945, Marine aircraft participate in TF 38 strikes on Okinawa.
Transport planes of VMR-952 make the first Marine air drops on Iwo Jima.
VMR-253 and 353 Join in over the next few days.
VMSB-332 is redesignated VMTB-332.
VMF-472 is reactivated at Mojave.
In 1950, The House Armed Services Committee issues a report calling for the inclusion of the Commandant of the Marine Corps on the JCS, more joint training, and the assignment of important air warfare roles to naval aviation.
In 1951, the Eighth Army resumes Operation Killer.
The 1st Marine Division jumps off from its positions near Hoengsong, Korea and after some heavy fighting achieves its objectives beyond the town on 4 March.
This battle highlights the shortcomings of the Air Force’s Joint Operations Center, which centralizes control of all air missions, most of which it directs toward deep targets.
Requests for close air support by the Marines on the ground go largely unmet, and 1st MAW’s skill in that area is not utilized.
Marine commanders discuss the issue with the commander of the Fifth Air Force, who begins to divert more Marine aircraft to the support of the division.
VMF-451 is reassigned from the Reserve to permanent active duty.
In 1952, VMF-312 in Korea is redesignated as Marine Attack Squadron 312 (VMA-312).
MAG-16 is activated in Santa Ana, California.
Following the second hard landing of an HMR-161 helicopter due to mechanical failure, the entire squadron is grounded until redesigned tail pylons are received.
In 1960, Marines stationed at Port Lyautey, Morocco aid in rescue and relief operations following an earthquake at Agadir.
The auxiliary air station at Beaufort, South Carolina, is redesignated a Marine Corps Air Station.
In 1961, the Marine Corps Emergency Action Center is established as a part of the G-3 division.
VMR-352 becomes the Corps’ first in-flight refueling station when it takes delivery of its Lockheed GV-1 Hercules aerial tanker.
In 1966, the 26th Marines (infantry) is reactivated at Camp Pendleton as the lead element of the revived 5th Marine Division.
After a hiatus of 7 years, HMH-463 is activated on Okinawa to command all Western Pacific ground units not deployed in Vietnam.
In 1974, the CH-53E makes its initial flight. The three engine helicopter boasts twice the lift of the CH-53D.
The Marine Corps selects 13 Women Marines to be assigned billets in the 2nd MAW, Cherry Point, and the 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.
Women can now fill rear-echelon billets within FMF.
In 1980, the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force is established in Tampa, Florida. It is a headquarters designed to control highly responsive forces (primarily amphibious and airborne) committed to a short-notice contingency, with a focus on the Middle East.
The first RDJTF commander is Marine Lieutenant General Paul X. Kelley.
In 1981, HMH-464 is activated at New River to fly the new CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, which can refuel in flight and lift twice the load of earlier models.
In 1995, during the period 1 March through 3 March, the 13th MEU(SOC), assisted by Italian Marines, provides security for the amphibious withdrawal of the last U.N. peacekeepers from the strife-torn country of Somalia in OPERATION UNITED SHIELD.
In 1997, during the period 1 March through 14 March, the recently activated Warfighting Lab conducts Hunter Warrior, an exercise at 29 Palms testing futuristic doctrine and technologies.
Although I could not find a specific date, this this also happened during the month of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1868, Marines from the Brooklyn Navy Yard again assist local authorities in closing down illegal distilleries.
In 1881, the Marines of the Alliance participate in an attempt to locate Arctic explorers lost north of Norway.
In 1949, the 1st Marine Brigade and MAG-24 depart Guam for the United States, leaving behind 3/5 and VMF-218.
In 1969, plans are finalized for a law enforcement branch in the headquarters to oversee training and other issues related to military police.
It will come into existence during fiscal year 1970.
In 1971, Marine aircraft fly 20,435 combat sorties during the month, nearly 1,200 by fixed wing aircraft, including 160 into North Vietnam.
In 1975, the Marine Corps resumes urinalysis testing to identify and rehabilitate drug users.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!