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 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 22nd day of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1800, Congress authorizes the rank of Lieutenant Colonel Commandant for the head of the Marine Corps.
In 1898, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Battalion of 14 officers and 623 enlisted sails from New York on board the transport Panther.
In 1914, the 1st Regiment, comprised of 24 officers and 810 enlisted men, lands at Veracruz, Mexico, from the transport Hancock (AP-3).
Colonel Lejeune takes command of the Marine Brigade formed from the two regiments.
In 1944, Company A, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, supports Army assault forces in the landing at Tanahmerah Bay, part of MacArthur’s campaign around Hollandia, New Guinea.
In 1945, VMTB-232 (formerly VMSB-232) arrives on Okinawa.
Marine pilots of TAF down 33 enemy planes during a kamikaze attack.
Major Jefferson D. Dorroh gets six, while Major George C. Axtell, Jr. and Lieutenant Jeremiah J. O’Keefe score five each.
In the Philippines, MAG-32 aircraft conduct a major close air support for the Army’s 41st Infantry Division that breaks the center of Japanese resistance on the island of Jolo.
MAG-24 launches its first missions from the Malabang Airfield.
In 1947, Commandant Vandegrift appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding the unification bill and returns to complete his testimony two days later.
In contrast to his ringing 1946 defense of the Corps, he expresses only mild concerns about the president’s unification bill.
In 1951, the 1st Marine Division and attached 1st KMC regiment reach the Hwachon Reservoir, an advance of 45 miles since the inception of Operation Killer in February.
That night, the Chinese launch their spring offensive.
They rout the ROK 6th Division on the immediate left of the Marines.
The 7th Marines and the 1st KMC hold against heavy enemy attacks while the 1st Marines refuses the divisions left flank.
In 1962, on Easter Sunday, HMM-362 conducts its first combat operation, lifting elements of the Vietnamese 7th Division.
In 1965, in the 9th MEB’s (out of DaNang) first significant contact, a patrol engages Viet Cong forces, killing one enemy and suffering one wounded.
A company of 1/3 sent to reinforce the patrol makes the first Marine helicopter assault of the war.
In 1966, during the period 22 through 24 April, the 3rd Battalion1st Marines (3/1), 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7), 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines (3/7), ARVN 5th Regiment, VNMC 1st Battalion, and the 5th Airborne Battalion participated in OPERATION HOT SPRINGS and OPERATION LIEN KET 36, a combined operation in the Quang Ngai Province.
In 1967, during OPERATION UNION, three Marine and three ARVN battalions conduct sweeps30 miles south of Da Nang.
Also during the 22nd day of April, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (2/3) and the Swift Boat participated in OPERATION BEAU DIDDLEY, an amphibious operation in the I Corps.
In 1969, the Senate approves legislation granting four-star rank to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, as long as the strength of the Corps exceeds 200,000 at the time of appointment.
The House had already passed the measure.
In 1970, in response to the Trinidad government, which is experiencing a military mutiny, the United States dispatches 2,000 Marines to the area to stand by as a precautionary measure for the protection of U.S. citizens.
In 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 24th MEU(SOC) begins deploying back toward its ships.
It will be the first Marine unit to depart Iraq.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!