Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 29th day of August in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1916, the National Defense Act authorizes an increase in the Marine Corps to 597 officers and 14,981 enlisted and allows the President to expand it further to 693 officers and 17,400 enlisted in case of a national emergency.
The United States Marine Corps Reserve was established when Congress passed the Naval Appropriations Act of 29 August 1916, and is responsible for providing trained units and qualified individuals to be mobilized for active duty in a time of war, national emergency, or contingency operations. This legislation provides money to purchase land for a base in San Diego.
In 1966, during the period 26 August through 6 September 1966, the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION PAWNEE, a search and destroy operation in the Thua Thien Province.
In 1944, as part of the Allied invasion of southern France, the Marine detachments of the cruisers Augusta (CA-31) and Philadelphia (CL-41) land on islands in Marseilles harbor and oversee the surrender and disarmament of the German garrisons.
In 1945, Plans are issued for IIIAC to move to northern China, with a tentative departure date of 15 September.
Naval forces begin operations to rescue Allied prisoners of war held by the Japanese.
In 1950, the first elements of the 1st Marine Division arrive in Japan and go ashore to conduct training prior to the Inchon landing.
HMX-1 conducts the first test firing of a 3.5 inch rocket from a bazooka (during my time ’63-’67, we called them 3.5 inch rocket launchers) mounted on the landing skid of a Bell HTL-3 utility helicopter.
In 1968, during the period 29 August through 9 September, The 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5), 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5), and the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines (3/7) participated in OPERATION SUSSEX BAY, a search and clear operation in the Quang Nam Province.
The campaign ends on 9 September, with an estimated 2,000 enemy dead stemming from the initial Communist offensive and its aftermath.
In 1983, Marine positions at the Beirut Airport come under heavy bombardment.
Casualties are two killed and 14 wounded. The Marines counter with their own artillery fire.
This marks a major escalation in the fighting with repeated exchanges of heavy fire thereafter.
In 1986, a CH-46 crash during an exercise in Norway results in eight Marines dead and 13 injured.
In 1995, VMFA(AW)-533 at Aviano and VMFA-312 on board the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) participate in the beginning of Operation Deliberated Force, an air offensive designed to force the Serbian government to end its brutal operations in Bosnia.
The campaign continues through 21 December, when NATO forces are fully deployed in Bosnia to enforce peace.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!