Good morning Leathernecks! Although I could not find a specific date, this is what happened during the month of July in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1775, Marines aboard the Spy (Connecticut Navy) participate in the capture of the Tory brig Nancy.
In 1894, during a railroad strike in California, Marines from the Mare Island Navy Yard and ships guard the mails.
In 1902, Commandant Heywood is promoted to Major General by special legislation, he is the first Marine to hold that rank.
In 1927, about 1,000 Marines are withdrawn from Nicaragua.
In 1943, the Women’s Reserve officer candidate school and recruit training programs are transferred from civilian institutions to Camp Lejeune.
In 1944, the headquarters of MAG-25 moves to Bougainville from New Caledonia.
In 1974, the 33rd MAU participates in the largest peacetime military maneuver ever staged in Australia.
In 1980, the Marine Corps activates the 7th MAB at 29 Palms as the first force dedicated to the MPF mission.
When fleshed out with subordinate elements, it stands ready to deploy by air to any port to link up with an MPF squadron.
In 1797, President John Adams signs legislation detailing the size of Marine detachments on ships, pay scales, enlistment terms, and retirement regulations.
In 1836, the 2nd Battalion of Marines under Lieutenant Colonel William H. Freeman joins Henderson’s command near Columbus, Georgia.
The combined force has been mobilized from Navy yard guards and constitutes more than half the total strength of the Corps.
In 1918, Congress authorizes an increase in the strength of the Marine Corps to 3,341 officers and 75,000 enlisted.
In 1919, Charlie Squadron absorbs the Marine Aeronautic Section at Quantico.
In 1920, Major General John A. Lejeune becomes the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In one of his first acts as Commandant, Lejeune renames the Vocational Schools Detachment at Quantico as the Marine Corps Institute and makes its correspondence courses available throughout the Marine Corps.
In 1924, the understrength 1st Regiment in Santo Domingo is redesignated as the 3rd Battalion, 6th Regiment.
In 1925, legislation goes into effect that re-establishes the Marine Corps Reserve (which had been largely dormant since WW 1).
Among other features, it provides drill pay for the first time, authorizes an honorary retirement without pay at age 64, and creates two classes of reserves.
The Fleet Marine Corps Reserve is composed of company-size units conducting training one evening per week, while the Volunteer Marine Corps Reserve consists of individuals only subject to training upon their own request.
In 1927, VO-1M is redesignated VO-8M upon its return to San Diego from Nicaragua, while VO-4M in Nicaragua becomes VO-7M.
In 1928, VF-10M in China is redesignated VF-6M.
In 1930, VF-6M in San Diego is redesignated VF-10M. VO-10M is absorbed into VO-8M.
In 1933, VF-10M in San Diego is redesignated as Marine Bombing Squadron 4 (VB-4M). VO-8M is disbanded.
In 1935, Marine Bombing Squadron 6 (VB-6M) is established at Quantico.
In 1936, the 2nd Marine Brigade is activated at San Diego to serve as the headquarters of the West Coast element of the FMF. FMF headquarters in San Diego is now in charge of a brigade on each coast.
In 1937, Marine squadrons undergo wholesale redesignation in accordance with new Navy nomenclature.
At Aircraft One in Quantico, VF-9M becomes Marine Fighting Squadron 1 (VMF-1, VO-7M becomes Marine Scouting Squadron1 (VMS-1, VB-6M becomes Marine Bombing Squadron 1 (VMB-1), and Marine Utility Squadron 6 (VJ-6M) becomes Marine Utility Squadron 1 (VMJ-1).
At Aircraft Two in San Diego, VF-4M becomes VMF-2, VO-8M becomes VMS-2, VB-4M becomes VMB-2 and VJ-7M becomes VMJ-2. VO-9M in the Virgin Islands is redesignated VMS-3.
The ten Marine Reserve squadrons are redesignated as VMS-1R through VMS-10R.
In 1942, VMF-213 and 214 are commissioned at EWA, Hawaii.
The 5th Barrage Balloon Squadron is organized at Parris Island.
In 1943, the 4th Raiders defeat the Japanese defenders of Viru Harbor, New Georgia.
Major General Vandegrift takes command of IMAC in place of Major General Vogel.
VMF-114 and VMSB-245 are organized at El Toro, VMF-115 at Santa Barbara, VMF-217 and VMTB-242 at El Centro, VMF-218 at Mojave, and VMF-322, VMSB-342, and VMD-354 at Cherry Point.
The Navy Department establishes the V-12 program at various universities to train enlisted sailors and Marines for commissioning.
In 1944, VMSB-943 is formed at Santa Barbara.
In 1945, Marine Corsairs escort the first Army Air Forces medium bomber attack on the Japanese home islands since the carrier-launched Doolittle Raid of April 1942.
The 8th Marines departs Okinawa to rejoin the 2nd Marine Division on Saipan.
Marine pilots and MASG-48 headquarters on the Block Island and the Gilbert Islands support the landing of the Australian 7th Division on Balikpapan in Borneo.
VMTB-453 is organized at El Toro.
In 1946, the U.S. conducts its first test of an atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll, to determine the effectiveness of an air burst against surface ships and other military targets.
Elements of the 6th Marines sail from Kyushu for the United States.
VMF-112, 121, 124, 321, 251, 351, and 451 and VMTB-132, 144, and 234 are reactivated as Reserve fighter squadrons.
Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake in Texas is deactivated and several auxiliary strips around the country are also closed.
Draftees and reservists with 30 months of active duty become eligible for discharge regardless of the number of points they possess.
In 1949, due to cuts in the number of personnel available for the FMF, the Marine Corps plans a reduction in the number of infantry battalions during the coming fiscal year from 11 to 8 and in aviation squadrons from 23 to 12.
In 1950, VMF-216 is reactivated.
In 1955, the 4th Marines and MAG-13 are formed into the 1st Provisional Marine Air Ground Task Force at Kaneohe Bay.
In 1958, Marine Corps Air Station Miami is closed.
In 1960, the headquarters of Air FMFLANT is merged into FMFLANT headquarters, both located at Norfolk, Virginia.
This saves billets and ties Marine air more closely to the ground forces.
In 1962, the entire Marine Corps Reserve is restructured from independent battalions and squadrons to form a complete 4th Marine Division and 4th MAW that can be activated as fully manned complements to the three division-wing teams.
Among the newly established units are the division and wing headquarters, the 23rd, 24th, and 25th Marines (infantry), the 14th Marines (artillery), and MAG-41, 43, and 46.
Roughly 1,000 Marines of the 3rd MEB in Thailand move back on board their ships as part of negotiations for a settlement in Laos.
In 1963, VMF(AW)0114 is deactivated in Japan.
HMM-365 is activated at Santa Ana.
In 1964, HMM-164 is activated at Santa Ana, California.
It will receive the new Boeing CH-64 Sea Knight helicopter.
In 1965, under the cover of a mortar barrage, Communist sappers break into the perimeter of the airbase and severely damage six USAF aircraft.
The Special Landing Force (BLT 3/7 and HMM-163) go ashore to protect a major logistics base in II Corps Zone.
HMM-165 is commissioned at Santa Ana.
In 1966, during the period 1 through 6 July, the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4), and the ARVN participated in OPERATION HOLT/LAM SON 286, a search and destroy operation in the Thua Thien Province.
In 1968, General Creighton W. Abrams replaces General Westmoreland as Commander of USMACV.
During OPERATION THOR, air, artillery, and naval surface fires blanket the Cap Mullay area of southern North Vietnam in an effort to destroy long-range artillery located there.
The operation continues through 7 July.
In 1969, MAG-49 is activated as part of the 4th MAW.
In 1971, HMA-269 is commissioned at New River.
In 1974, the Marine Corps switches to a new aptitude test for recruits, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
In 1979, General Wilson retires and is replaced by General Robert H. Barrow, the 27th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1983, General Barrow retires and is replaced by General Paul X. Kelley, the 28th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1985, the 5th MAB headquarters is activated at Camp Pendleton.
In 1987, General Kelley retires and is replaced by General Alfred M. Gray, Jr., the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1991, General Gray retires and is replaced by General Carl E. Mundy, Jr., the 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
VMF(AW)-225 is reactivated at El Toro after a hiatus of 19 years.
In 1995, General Mundy retires and is replaced by General Charles C. Krulak, the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1999, General Krulak retires and is replaced by General James L. Jones, Jr., the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!