Good morning, Leathernecks! Although I could not find a specific date, this is what happened during the month of May in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1904, twenty Marines arrive at Midway Island in the Pacific to maintain order among laborers installing a transoceanic cable.
The detachment remains there until March 2008.
In 1934, Commandant Russell succeeds in convincing Congress to pass legislation allowing officer promotions by selection, rather than seniority.
In 1942, VMF-223 and 224 and VMSB-233 and 234 are reorganized at Ewa, Hawaii.
In 1944, the 29th Marines (infantry) is organized at Camp Lejeune.
In 1945, VMSB-141 is redesignated VMTB-141.
In 1946, MAG-32 returns to the United States from China.
The 1st Special Marine Brigade conducts the Corps’ first postwar training exercise (the only one in 1946), an operation in the Caribbean.
In 1961, Commandant Shoup names a Headquarters Marine Corps Reorganization Board and charges it to provide a report by 1 August.
Members are Lieutenant General Robert H. Pepper, Major General Alpha M. Bowser, and Colonel Norman Anderson.
The Corps institutes the On The Job Training (OJT) program.
It sends 20 junior officers and SNCOs per month to Vietnam to observe that country’s counter-guerrilla operations.
In 1988, for the first time since the late 1970s, female Marines are authorized to become members of MSG detachments at American embassies.
And on this the 1st day of May in the history of our beloved Corps:
1 May
In 1778, Marines assist in a night battle with the British frigate Larkin Narragansett Bay as the Providence escapes the blockade and makes it to the open sea.
In 1800, Commandant William Ward Burrows becomes the first Marine promoted to lieutenant colonel.
In 1811, Marines establish a post at Cumberland Island, off the southeast coast of Georgia, to deal with smuggling from Spanish Florida.
In 1826, the Mameluke hilt is prescribed for Marine officers’ swords.
In 1867, Marines from the steamers Wyoming and Shenandoah escort the American minister to Japan during a civil war in that country.
In 1891, The School of Application, the first formal post-commissioning training program for brand-new Marine second lieutenants, opens at Marine Barracks 8th and I.
In 1898, Marines man some secondary batteries of Admiral George Dewey’s fleet during its lopsided victory over the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay.
In 1901, a detachment of Marines assumes guard duty for the Pan-American exposition at Buffalo, New York.
In 1914, Marine detachments return to the fleet and the Marine Brigade comes under command of the U.S. Army occupation forces, which remain in Veracruz, Mexico until November.
In 1917, Marines establish the Guardia Nacional Dominica to begin the process of creating a stable military force for Santo Domingo.
In 1939, Aircraft One (Quantico) and Aircraft Two (San Diego) are renamed respectively 1st and 2nd Marine Aircraft Groups.
In 1942, the 8th Defense Battalion arrives at Wallis Island to garrison this outpost west of the Samoa’s.
In 1944, VMF(N)-544 is formed at Cherry Point.
In 1945, on Okinawa, with the 1st Marines on the right and the 5th Marines on the left, the 1st Marine Division is in position on the right of the XXIV Corps front.
In 1946, Operational control of Marine forces in China shifts from the theater command, which is dissolved, to the U.S. Seventh Fleet.
Marine Corps Reserve Bulletin No. 1 advises all personnel being released from active duty that they can retain their connection to the Corps through membership in its reserve component.
In 1947, Fleet Marine Force Western Pacific (FMFWESPAC) is activated at Tsingtao to control remaining forces in China following the departure of the 1st Marine Division and 1st MAW.
In 1949, due to the deteriorating situation in China, the 7th Marines is turned back at Pearl Harbor and only a rifle company is sent forward to reinforce the ships detachments of the U.S. squadron in Chinese waters.
In 1951, VMF(N) is reactivated at NAS Glenview, Illinois.
In 1952, in Exercise Desert Rock IV at Yucca Flats, Nevada, 2,000 Marines from the 3rd Marine Division hunker down in trenches just 7,000 feet from the blast point of an atomic bomb dropped by an Air Force bomber.
After the explosion, the ground troops conduct simulated offensive operations.
In 1953, the U.S. 25th Division begins relieving the 1st Marine Division on the MLR.
The shift is complete on 4 May, except that the 11th Marines and the 1st Tank Battalion remain to provide fire support for the soldiers.
The 1st Marine Division becomes the corps reserve and begins a period of recuperation and training at Camp Casey, 15 miles behind the lines.
In 1956, the 1st Provisional Marine Air Ground Task Force at Kaneohe Bay is redesignated the 1st Marine Brigade.
The Commandant establishes recruit training commands at Parris Island and San Diego that are separate from the base command structure.
They are commanded by Brigadier Generals and report directly to him.
He also creates a new post, lnspector General of Recruit Training.
These changes are in response to the Ribbon Creek incident.
In 1958, BLT 2/2 and HMR(L)-262 deploy as the landing force Sixth Fleet.
This marks one of the infrequent deployments of helicopters with the landing force.
The two units will return home on 17 October.
In 1965, the 4th MEB begins arriving on the Dominican Republic by sea and air from North Carolina.
It brings the total Marine force in country to over 5,500 men.
Another Marine is killed.
In 1969, during the period 1 May through 16 July, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines participated in OPERATION VIRGINIA RIDGE, an operation in the Thua Thien Province.
In 1970, the Director of the Marine Band, aka “The President’s Own”, Albert Schoepper, is promoted to the rank of Colonel, the first Marine musician to attain this rank in the 172-year history of the band.
In 1971, Marines from Quantico, Marine Barracks 8th & I, and Camp Lejeune deploy to Washington, D.C., to assist local authorities in controlling antiwar demonstrations.
They remain there until 7 May.
In 1972, Quang Tri City falls to the NVA.
MAG-29 is activated as a helicopter group at New River.
In 1992, more than 1,500 Marines from Camp Pendleton deploy to Los Angeles to assist authorities in quelling riots following the acquittal of four policemen charged with beating a motorist.
In 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom the 26th MEU(SOC) departs Mosul and returns to its ships in the Mediterranean.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!