Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 22nd day of May in the history of our beloved Corps: 1912, Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham reports for pilot training at the Navy’s flying school at Annapolis, Maryland.           This marks the birth of Marine aviation. In 1917, Congress authorizes expansion of the Marine Corps to 1,323 officers and 30,000 enlisted. In 1946, in one of the rare instances of fighting involving Marines

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 21st day of May in the history of our beloved Corps: In 1836, President Jackson accepts Colonel Commandant Henderson’s offer of a Marine regiment to assist in the fighting in Florida. In 1847, the Secretary of the Navy directs the Corps to form a regiment for service with Scott’s army in Mexico. In 1855, the Powhatan puts her Marines ashore in Shanghai for

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 30th and final day of April in the history of our beloved Corps: In 1866, the Marine detachment of St. Mary’s boards the mail steamer Golden City in the Caribbean at the request of her captain to quell a riot. In 1904, a Marine unit assumes duties at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, to conduct exhibition drills and guard displays.

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 29th and penultimate day of April in the history of our beloved Corps: In 1814, Marines participate in the sloop Peacock’s defeat of the British warship Epervier in the Atlantic. In 1862, Captain John L. Broome and 200 Marines land and occupy New Orleans pending the arrival of Army forces. In 1907, Marines from the Paducah (Gunboat No. 18) land at Laguna and