Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 9th day of August in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1781, partially dismasted by a storm, the Trumbull and her Marines are defeated by the British frigate Iris off the Delaware Capes.
In 1842, the United States and Great Britain sign a treaty requiring both nations to maintain warships off the coast of Africa to suppress the slave trade.
In 1851, Marines from the Dale, in a harbor in the Comora Islands near Madagascar, put down a mutiny by civilian sailors on the American bark Paulina.
In 1866, Marines from the Wachusett land at Shanghai, China, to assist in fighting a fire.
In 1935, the overall headquarters of the FMF is transferred from Quantico to San Diego to be near the largest concentration of the U.S. fleet.
In 1942, the naval task force withdraws from the lower Solomons without completing the unloading of Marine supplies and forces.
The Marines ashore are short of critical items, including food, and begin subsisting on two meals a day to stretch out meager stocks.
In 1943, a light anti-aircraft battery of the 11th Defense Battalion arrives at Enogai, New Georgia.
In 1945, a B-29 drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
Marine PBJ bombers of VMB-413, 423, and 443 conduct the last Marine air strikes on Rabaul.
Soviet Forces invade Manchuria.
In 1948, for the first time since World War II, all services are represented in the annual CAMIO amphibious exercise at Onslow Beach, North Carolina.
In 1950, an HO3S-1 helicopter of VMO-6 makes the first night evacuation of a casualty from a brigade aid station near Chindong-ni.
In 1952, following the 1st Marine Division’s resumption of a policy of permanently occupying outposts, the Chinese attack and seize outpost Siberia just after midnight.
The 1st Marines gains it back and loses it twice more by morning the next day.
Marine losses are 17 killed and 243 wounded.
In 1960, VMA-225 is deployed to the airfield at Leeward Station on alert.
It remains there until 12 September.
In 1966, during the period 9 August through 7 September, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, a BLT (1st Battalion, 26th Marines (1/26), the 1st Australian Task Force, and the ARVN 33rd and 35th Ranger Battalions participated in OPERATION TOLEDO, a multi-battalion search and destroy operation in the May Tao Secret Zone.
The deserted Headquarters Area for the VC 5th Division was located and destroyed along with vast amounts of supplies.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!