And on this the 26th of February through 30 April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 26 February through 30 April, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Battalion, the 327th Airborne Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Airborne Infantry participated in OPERATION HOUSTON, an operation to open Route 1 between Da Nang and Phu Bai in the Thua Thien Province.
And on this the 27th of February through the 8th of May in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 27 February through 8 May, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION PURPLE MARTIN, a clear and search in the Quang Tri Province.
Interestingly, this was originally named OPERATION MASSACHUSETTS BAY
And on this the 29th of February through 31 October in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 29 February through 31 October, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and the 2/1 Cavalry participated in OPERATION NAPOLEON/SALINE, an operation along the Cua Viet River in the Quang Tri Province.
During the period 1 March – 29 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 29 May through 23 June, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 7th Marines, the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and the 51st Regiment of the ARVN participated in OPERATION OKLAHOMA HILLS, an operation southwest of Da Nang, in the Quang Nam Province.
And during the period, 2 March through 1 November in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1965, during the period 2 March 1965 through 1 November 1968, the USAF, U.S. Navy and RVNAF participated in OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER a sustained and escalating bombing campaign of North Vietnam to destroy military infrastructure, interdict supply routes and undermine the North’s willingness to continue the war.
During the period 15 March through 2 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 15 March through 2 May, the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines and the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines participated in OPERATION MAINE CRAG a reconnaissance in force operation along the Laotian border, west of Khe Sanh in the Quang Tri Province.
During the period 19 March through 19 April 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 19 March through 19 April, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines participated in OPERATION PRATRIE III, search and destroy operations against the PAVN 324B and 341st divisions in the DMZ.
During the period 31 March through 29 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 31 March through 29 May, the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and the ARVN 51st Regiment participated in OPERATION OKLAHOMA HILLS a clear and search operation in Happy Valley, Quang Nam Province.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 10th day of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1833, President Andrew Jackson orders that green and buff replace the blue and scarlet as the colors of the Marine Corps uniform.
In 1944, the Marine Administrative Command is created.
VMSB-474 and 484 are organized at El Toro.
VMB-621, VMF-924, and VMSB-944 are formed at Cherry Point.
In 1945, VMB-612 arrives on Iwo Jima and begins making night anti-shipping attacks as far away as Japan, also VMSB-933 is decommissioned.
In 1948, Chinese Communist forces capture four Marine airmen after their transport plane makes a forced landing for mechanical reasons in Communist-controlled territory.
Troops fire on Marine aircraft reconnoitering the scene of the crash.
In 1951, the DOD issues an order lowering the intelligence standards for enlistment in the Air Force, Navy, and Marines to those of the Army.
The plan also calls for these three services to take draftees for the first time since WWII.
In 1958, RLT 4 begins a three-day anti-guerrilla field exercise in the Kahuku Training Area in northern Oahu, Hawaii.
In 1959, Lieutenant Colonel John Glenn is one of the first seven men selected for astronaut training.
In 1965, BLT 2/3 goes ashore at Da Nang to reinforce 9th MEB, while VMFA-531 flies onto the airfield.
A company of 2/3 helicopters flies to the airbase at Phu Bai, about 50 miles north of Da Nang, near Hue City.
Lieutenant Larry Parsons, a helicopter pilot believed killed in action near the border between Vietnam and Laos, is rescued after spending nearly 20 days in the Laotian jungle.
In 1968, during the 10th day of April through the 14th day of April, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION JASPER SQUARE, an operation with limited contact in the western sector of Go Noi in the Quang Nam Province.
In 1987, James H. Webb, Jr., a Marine Captain in Vietnam and noted author, becomes the 66th Secretary of Defense.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!