Originally Posted April 18, 2025
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 18th day of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1847, Commodore Perry forms his squadron Marines into a battalion under Captain Edson, and they participate in the capture of three forts and the town of Tuxpan, Mexico.
In 1906, Marines from the naval stations at Yerba Buena Island and Mare Island aid civilians following an earthquake and fire in San Francisco.
In 1942, Army Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle and his 16 B-25 bombers fly off the carrier Hornet (CV-8) and bomb targets in major Japanese cities.
In 1942, VMF-211 flies onto Palmyra Atoll in the Northern Line Islands, south of Hawaii from the carrier Lexington.
In 1943, Army P-38s shoot down Admiral Yamamoto’s transport plane over Bougainville.
Marine aviators participate in planning the operation.
In 1945, Transport planes of VMR-252 make their first flight to Okinawa with vital supplies.
VMR-253, 353, and 952 join in over the next four days.
In 1953, nearly 2,000 Marines participate in a nuclear exercise (Desert Rock V) at Yucca Flats.
The trenches of the two infantry battalions are a little over two miles from the blast site.
After the bomb goes off at 0300, the four helicopter squadrons of MAG-16 participate in offensive exercises in the area by lifting some troops to an objective barely a thousand yards from the location of the detonation.
The simultaneous use of 39 helicopters marks the largest operation of its type in the United States until that time.
In 1959, RLT 3, MAG-12, and the Korean Marine Corps’ RLT 2 conduct amphibious training in Korea.
The exercise continues through 9 May.
In 1961, Company F of 2/2 and a detachment of HMR(L)-262 sail from North Carolina for a goodwill tour of North African ports, dubbed Solant Amity II.
In 1967, the 26th Marines is relieved by the 1st Marines at Khe Sanh and it moves back to Dong Ha and Camp Carroll.
In 1968, during the 18th day of April through the 17th day of May, the 1st and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment participated in OPERATION RICE, an operation in the Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces.
In 1983, a car bomb placed by Islamic terrorists destroys the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, killing 61, including 17 Americans (one of them a Marine guard).
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!