History of Our Corps – January 5

And on this the 4th through the 9th days of January 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the period 4 through 9 January 1967, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5) participated in OPERATION LINCOLN (I CORPS), a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

And on this the 5th through the 8th days of January 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, During the period 5 through 9 January 1967, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1) participated in OPERATION COUNTY FAIR 1-25, a security operation in the Quang Nam Province.

And on this the 5th through the 9th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1927, Marines and sailors from the Special Service Squadron land at several points on the Nicaraguan coast to safeguard U.S. interests.

          The Galveston’s Marines move inland to protect the U.S. Legation in Managua.

Good morning Leathernecks!

And on this the 5th day of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1781, the sloop Saratoga and her Marines defeat the 16-gun British privateer Resolution and the letter-of-marque Tonyn.

In 1861, in New York City, four officers and 250 enlisted Marines board the steamer Star of the West, bound for the relief of Fort Sumpter, South Carolina.

          The ship later is not allowed to land them at the fort.

          Forty Marines from the Washington Navy Yard garrison Fort Washington, Maryland, on the Potomac River.

In 1904, a company of Marines from the Philippines lands at Seoul, Korea, to protect the U.S. Legation during the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1944, the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments overran the 53rd Japanese infantry on New Britain.

In 1948, the 2nd Marines (a reinforced infantry battalion under the J-series T/O) departs Morehead City, North Carolina, on the Navy transports Bexar and Montague for extended service in the Mediterranean Sea.

Once in the Mediterranean, they will shift to the carrier Midway (CVB-41) and the cruisers Portsmouth (CL-102), Providence (CL-82), and Little Rock (CL-92).

They will remain afloat until 12 March.

          This initiates what will become a routine and near-continuous deployment of a Marine landing force as an element of the Sixth Fleet.

In 1950, the last FMF units (3/5 and VMF-218) depart Guam for their new home stations in California.

In 1967, during the period 4 through 8 January, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1) participated in OPERATION COUNTY FAIR 1-25, a security operation in the Quang Nam Province.

          BLT 2/4 arrives in country and relieves the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9) which returns to Okinawa.

          This is part of an ongoing rotation program, in which a fresh Okinawa battalion joins the SLF, the old SLF battalion goes into Vietnam, and the unit it replaces goes back to Okinawa to rebuild.

In 1972, Marine Air Control Squadron 7 is tasked to activate a radar site near Tucson, Arizona, in support of the Bureau of Custom’s Operation Grasshopper, an effort to detect and intercept illegal air traffic crossing the border with Mexico.

          Marines participate in the operation until 28 February.

In 1991, Operation Eastern Exit in Somalia gets underway at 0147 when two CH-53Es and a security force launch 466 miles from Mogadishu.

          Two in-flight refuelings from KC-130s are required to reach the objective.

          The dangerous, long-range mission is dictated by Somali looters attempting to invade the embassy compound.

          A return flight evacuates the first 61 civilians.

          Another 220 civilians including Soviet embassy staff, are lifted out the next day when the ships arrive off the coast.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!

-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC

And damn proud of it!