Originally Posted April 12, 2026
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 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.
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.
And during the period, 2 March through 1 November in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1965, during the period 2 March 1965 through 1 November 1968, the USAF, U.S. Navy and RVNAF participated in OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER a sustained and escalating bombing campaign of North Vietnam to destroy military infrastructure, interdict supply routes and undermine the North’s willingness to continue the war.
During the period 15 March through 2 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 15 March through 2 May, the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines and the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines participated in OPERATION MAINE CRAG a reconnaissance in force operation along the Laotian border, west of Khe Sanh in the Quang Tri Province.
During the period 19 March through 19 April 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 19 March through 19 April, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines participated in OPERATION PRATRIE III, search and destroy operations against the PAVN 324B and 341st divisions in the DMZ.
During the period 31 March through 29 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 31 March through 29 May, the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and the ARVN 51st Regiment participated in OPERATION OKLAHOMA HILLS a clear and search operation in Happy Valley, Quang Nam Province.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 12th day of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1885, Heywood’s battalion lands at Colon, takes the train to Panama City, and establishes control of the rail line.
In 1942, in the Philippines, sailors are formed into a unit designated as 4th Battalion, 4th Marines.
In 1944, Major General H. M. Smith divides his VAC headquarters into two staffs, one for his role as VAC commander and the other for his role as Expeditionary Troops commander.
In 1945, President Roosevelt dies and Vice President Harry S. Truman is sworn in as his successor.
Marine Corsairs of TF 58 shoot down 51 kamikazes, while squadrons based on Okinawa get 16 more.
Major Herman A. Hansen, Jr., the 25-year-old CO of VMF-112, destroys three, making him an ace.
Major Archie Donahue scores five kills, giving him a total of 14.
Over the remainder of the month, Marine planes on the carriers rack up 30 additional kills.
VMTB-143 goes on board the Gilbert Islands.
The last elements of the 9th Marines depart after assisting in mopping up operations on Iwo Jima.
In 1953, the 1st Marine Division and 1st MAW, in Korea, pioneer a successful technique to use searchlights to illuminate targets for night close air support missions.
In 1961, the 16th MEB headquarters and BLT 3/6 sail from North Carolina for duty with the landing force of the Sixth Fleet.
BLT 1/2 already deployed in the Mediterranean, falls under the brigade upon its arrival overseas.
The MEB and BLT 3/6 will remain afloat until 11 October.
In 1965, the headquarters of the 3rd Marines joins the brigade to serve as the command element of the BLTs.
In 1967, Commandant Greene tells a Congressional committee that III MAF will need 40,000 more Marines to accomplish its mission.
31st MAU, reinforced by HMH-463, executes OPERATION EAGLE PULL, the heliborne evacuation of American citizens and other third-country nationals from Phnom Penh. BLT 2/4 provides security on the ground as the helicopters of HMH-462 and 463 pull out 287 people (including 84 Americans). There are no casualties, despite enemy fire directed at the landing zone.
In 1994, the 11th MEU(SOC) deploys to Mogadishu evacuates 230 civilians, including 142 Americans, who are escaping ethnic fighting in the African nation of Rwanda.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!