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 15th day of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1778, Marines participate in actions in which the Connecticut Navy ships Oliver Cromwell and Defence capture the British letters-of- marque Admiral Keppel and Cyrus.
In 1865, Washington Navy Yard Marines take over the guard of those accused of conspiring in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
In 1885, the second battalion of Marines arrives at Colon.
All Marine forces ashore are grouped into a brigade under command of Heywood.
This is the first brigade-size force established by the Marine Corps in its history.
In 1918, the 1st Marine Aviation Squadron becomes the 1st Marine Aviation Force with four authorized squadrons.
In 1935, Legislation creates the rank of aviation cadet in the Marine Corps Reserve and provides a means to commission these prospective pilots in the Reserve once they have successfully completed flight training.
In 1944, IMAC is redesignated III Amphibious Corps (IIIAV).
VMF-462 is formed at El Centro.
VMF-464 is organized at El Toro.
VMF(N)-543 and VMSB-931 are commissioned at Cherry Point.
In 1945, Another large kamikaze assault on Okinawa begins and lasts through the next day.
In 1946, the provisional Marine detachment on Peleliu is designated a Marine Barracks.
To achieve peacetime levels, the 1st Marine Division disbands one of its three infantry regiments and one firing battery in each of the four battalions of the 11th Marines.
In 1951, the Marine Corps convenes its first Officer Candidate School since World War II, at Parris Island.
In 1952, what will become a hallmark of the last year of the war in Korea, a platoon of Marines of Easy Company of 2/5 defeats a Chinese attempt to seize its outpost on a hill forward of the main line of resistance (MLR).
The reinforced platoon loses 11 killed and missing and 25 wounded, while inflicting more than 70 casualties on the enemy.
Before the month is over, the 1st Marine Division withdraws its permanent outposts and shifts to a policy of occupying them only during the day.
In 1967, at the direction of USMACV, III MAF begins building the barrier line just south of the DMZ.
In 1968, during the period 15 April 1968 through 28 February 1969, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 26th Marines participated in OPERATION SCOTLAND II, a series of continuing operations around the Khe Sanh Plateau upon termination of OPERATION PEGASUS..
In 1971, the CUPP program comes to an end after 18 months.
During that time it had accounted for 578 enemy killed at a cost of 46 Marines dead.
In 1972, the United States conducts its first bombing missions against Hanoi and Haiphong in North Vietnam since 1968.
In 1991, following a failed revolt against Saddam Hussein’s regime, two million Kurds are fleeing their homes in northern Iraq.
A multinational relief operation, Operation Provide Comfort, is underway, with the 24th MRU(SOC) (BLT 2/8, HMM-264, and MSSG-24) moving inland to the Turkish town of Silopi.
Within days, Marines move into northern Iraq to establish safe havens for returning refugees.
Other Marine elements from around the world begin reinforcing the MEU, including Contingency MAGTF I-91 from Okinawa.
The 24th MEU(SOC) remains part of Operation Provide Comfort until 19 July.
In 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, elements of the 26th MEU(SOC) (1/8, HMM-264, and a detachment of VMA-223) begin to flow into northern Iraq to control Mosul, a large city liberated days earlier by Kurdish forces.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!