Originally Posted April 13, 2025
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 13th day of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1847, Marines from the Portsmouth help capture La Paz, Mexico.
In 1861, the Navy delivers 110 Marines and other forces to reinforce Fort Pickens, on an island off Pensacola, Florida.
In 1861, Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumpter, the first shots of the civil war.
In 1918, 4th Marine Brigade suffers its first significant combat casualties when the 74th Company of the 6th Regiment is hit with a barrage of mustard gas prior to dawn while billeted in a reserve area near Verdun.
A shell bursting inside a building where many men are sleeping results in unusually heavy casualties.
Losses are nearly 300 dead, of whom 40 are killed or subsequently die.
In 1954, pilots of VMA-324 ferry planes from the carrier Saipan (CVL-48) to Tourane airfield, Indochina (Vietnam to you shower-shoes), where the aircraft are turned over to French forces battling Communist insurgents.
Ground crews serve ashore until 10 May to assist in the transfer.
In 1959, VMA-225 deploys from Cherry Point on board the Essex (CV-9) for duty with the Sixth Fleet.
In 1963, Marine transport helicopters conduct their first mission with U.S. Army UH-1B helicopter gunships.
In 1965, VMFA-531 flies its first combat missions in Vietnam.
In 1966, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5) arrives in country at Chu Lai.
In 1967, during the period 13 through 17 April, the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines participated in OPERATION HUMBOLDT, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
In 1968, during the 13th day of April , the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines participated in OPERATION NO NAME 2, an operation east of Hue.
In 1971, Defense Secretary Laird reaffirms that the U.S. ground combat role would end this summer, but that air and naval forces would remain indefinitely.
HMM-364 is deactivated at Santa Ana, California.
In 1981, two Harrier squadrons (VMA-231 and 542) deploy on board ship together to test a concept for augmenting fixed-wing aviation in the fleet during a contingency.
In 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, following a dash from Baghdad, Task Force Tripoli (consisting primarily of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd LAR Battalions) takes control of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown and the last significant city held by the regime.
Along the way, the Marines find the seven remaining American POWs.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!