Originally Posted December 20, 2024
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 20th day of December in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1888, Marines participate in the show of force by the steam barks Galena and Yantic at Port-au-Prince to secure the release of an American commercial ship wrongfully seized by the Haitian government.
In 1904, Marine forces move into Camp Elliott, their permanent base in the Panama Canal Zone. It is located at Bas Obispo, about one-third of the way along the canal from the east coast.
In 1939, CNO Admiral Harold Stark directs the establishment of a Marine detachment on Midway Atoll.
In 1942, Marine Barracks, New river is renamed Camp Lejeune.
In 1943, VMO-4 is commissioned at Quantico.
In 1945, the 21st Marines is deactivated on Guam.
In 1954, the Secretary of Defense announces that the 1st Marine Division will be replaced in Korea by an Army Division and return to Camp Pendleton.
In 1965, OPERATION HARVEST MOON ended for Task Force Delta (2/7, 3/3, and 2/1).
More than 400 Viet Cong were killed in action.
In 1966, during the period 20 December 1966 through 16 February 1967, the 4th Marines participated in OPERATION CHINOOK, a search and destroy operation in the Thua Thien Province.
In 1971, Four Marines are killed when their helicopter crashes while on a flight from the Tripoli (LPH-10) in the Bay of Bengal.
In 1989, four days after Panamanian security forces killed Marine Lieutenant Robert Paz at a roadblock, U.S. forces launch Operation Just Cause to overthrow the Noriega dictatorship, which had been implicated in illegal drug distribution.
One company each of infantry and light armored infantry, a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Force Company participate in the operation, which is largely complete the first day.
One Marine is killed.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!