Originally Posted April 7, 2025
And on this the 27th of January through the 7th of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 27 January through 7 April, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION DESOTO, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Ngai Province.
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 7th day of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1776, the Continental brig Lexington and her Marines defeat the British armed tender Edward off the Virginia Capes.
In 1885, a second battalion of 15 officers and 250 men departs New York for Panama, along with a battalion of sailors and some artillery.
In 1917, Marine patrols defeat a large bandit force at Las Canitas in Santo Domingo.
In 1943, Allied fighters repel the largest Japanese air raid (about 170 planes) on Guadalcanal in months.
1st Lieutenant James E. Swett of VMF-221 shoots down seven dive bombers before crash landing his damaged plane in the water.
For this action, he receives the Medal of Honor.
In 1944, VMF-482 is organized at El Toro.
In 1945, The FMF Reconnaissance Battalion scouts the remaining islands off the east coast of Okinawa and finds them free of the enemy.
IIIAC artillery begins providing support ti XXIV Corps along the southern front.
The first Marine aircraft of TAF (MAG-31’s VMF-224, 311 and 441 and VMF(N)-542) begin operating ashore on Okinawa.
Army P-51s from Iwo Jima provide the first land based fighter escort for B-29s bombing the Japanese home islands.
In 1951, the 1st MAW receives responsibility for the air defense of the Pusan-Pohang area in Korea.
In 1967, during the period 7 through 10 April, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines participated in OPERATION DIXIE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
During the period 7 through 22 April, the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, 2/1 Cavalry, 3/1 Cavalry and the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION LEJEUNE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Ngai Province.
In 1969, the 5th Marines conducts Operation Muskogee Meadows to deny the rice harvest to Communist forces in the vicinity of An Hoa. In the process, the regiment kills 162 enemy at a cost of 16 Marines dead and 121 wounded.
In 1971, the first Bell UH-1N twin-engine Huey is delivered to HMA-269 at New River.
In 1972, U.S. aircraft resume bombing operations against targets in North Vietnam.
In 1975, 33rd MAU (BLT 1/9 and HMM-165 is activated in the Philippines.
In 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 1st Marine Division crosses the Diyala River in eastern Baghdad using bridges built under fire by engineers.
British forces attached to I MEF finish securing the city of Basra.
Elements of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division reach the western bank of the Tigris River in central Baghdad.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!