History of Our Corps – January 24

And on this the 7th through the 27th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1972, elements of the 2nd Marine Division and 2nd MAW joined naval forces of the Atlantic Fleet in cold weather landing operations at Reid State Park on the coast of Maine in Exercise Snowy Beach.

And on this the 11th day of January through the 29th day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1971, during the period 11 January through 29 March 1971, Marines of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1) and the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines (1/11) participated in OPERATION UPSHUR STREAM, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

And on the 13th of January through the 9th of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1969, during the period 13 January through 9 February 1969, Marines of HMM-362, SLF-A, ARVN 2nd Division, the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines (2/26), and HMM-164 participated in OPERATION BOLD MARINER, a part of OPERATION GAME WARDEN, a cordon, search, and sweep operation in the Batangan Peninsula, Quang Ngai Province.

          This was the largest amphibious assault of the war.

And during the period 21 January through 16 February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1968, during the period 21 January through 16 February, 1968, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1) and the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3) participated in OPERATION OSCEOLA, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Tri Province.

And on the 22nd of January through the 18th of March in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1969, during the period 22 January through 18 March, 1969, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9), the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (2/9), the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), the  2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4), the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), and the ARVN 2nd Regiment participated in OPERATION DEWEY CANYON, an offensive against PAVN communication lines in Laos, north of the A Shau Valley in the Thua Thien Province

And during the period 23 January through 26 January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1968, during the period 23 through 26 January Marines of a BLT comprised of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1) and HMM-165 participated in OPERATION BADGER CATCH/SALINE.

          On the morning of 23 January, the planning for OPERATION BADGER CATCH/SALINE began and at 19:00 that evening the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1) began landing at Blue Beach on the northern mouth of the Cua Viet River.

          The Badger Catch operational area extended 5 Km north of the Cua Viet and 7 Km inland overlapping with a large part of the Napoleon area.

And on this the 24th of January through the 28th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the period 24 January through 28 January, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines participated in OPERATION TUSCALOOSA, a search and destroy operation 24 km (15 mi) southwest of Da Nang in the Quảng Nam Province.

And on this the 24th and the 25th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the 24th and 25th of January, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION CLEVELAND, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 24th day of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1874, the Marine detachments of the ships of the Atlantic Squadron participate in a battalion field exercise under command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Heywood, as the fleet awaits possible orders to intervene in disorder in Cuba.

In 1942, a U.S. naval force battered a Japanese troop convoy in the Battle of Makassar Strait.

In 1944, the 23 Corsairs of VMF-422 fly out of Hawkins Field on Betio bound for Funafuti, 700 miles distant.

          Due to bad weather, 22 of the planes land in the water and six pilots die.

          The 1st Raider Regiment arrives on Guadalcanal from New Caledonia.

          The 2nd Raider Regiment and its battalions are recombined with the 1st.

In 1945, Planes of VMF-451 go on board the Bunker Hill.

In 1951, The most substantial fighting of the Pohang guerrilla hunt occurs after North Koreans attack the 7th Marines command post on the night of the 24th and the regiment pursues them over the next two days.

          The 7th Marines kills or captures 168 enemy.

In 1967, during the 24th and 25th of January, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4) participated in OPERATION CLEVELAND, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

          During the period 24 January through 28 January, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5), participated in OPERATION TUSCALOOSA, a search and destroy operation 24 Km (15 mi) southwest of Da Nang in the Quang Nam Province.

In 1968, the 26th Marine Regiment held the Khe Sanh Combat Base

In 1970, Recruit training increases from eight to nine weeks in length.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!

-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC

And damn proud of it!