And on the 22nd of January through the 18th of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 22 January through 18 March, 1969, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9), the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (2/9), the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4), the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), and the ARVN 2nd Regiment participated in OPERATION DEWEY CANYON, an offensive against PAVN communication lines in Laos, north of the A Shau Valley in the Thua Thien Province
And during the period 26 January through 29 February in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 26 January through 29 February, Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion participated in OPERATION SALINE, a search and clear operation to keep the Cua River supply line open.
OPERATION SALINE was combined with OPERATION NAPOLEAN on 28 Feb 1968.
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 1st of February through 2 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 1 February through 2 March, the 1st Marines and the 5th Marines participated in OPERATION HUE CITY, to drive the PAVN/VC out of Hue during the Tet Offensive.
The Marines focus on the area south of the Perfume River, while the 1st ARVN Division is responsible for the Citadel, the old city north of the river.
HMM-165 provides lift for ARVN forces into the city.
The battle quickly devolves into typical building-to-building fighting.
And on this the 1st of Feb. through 18th of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 1 February through 18 March, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 2nd Battalion,26th Marines participated in OPERATION PRAIRIE II, a search and destroy operation to prevent the PAVN 324B Division from entering the DMZ area, around Con Thien and Gio Linh, in the Quang Tri Province.
And during the period 3 February through the 10 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1971, during the period 3 February through 10 March, Marines of the III MAF, the ROK’s 2nd Marine Brigade and the ARVN’s 51st Regiment participated in OPERATION HOANG DIEU 103, a counter-offensive in the Quang Nam Province.
And on this the 16th of Feb. through 3 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 16 February through 3 March, a Marine SLF (BLT 1/4 and HMM-363) participates in OPERATION DECKHOUSE VI, an amphibious assault at the southern tip of the Quang Ngai Province.
Although it does not meet strong resistance, Stingray teams call in supporting arms to kill more than 200 of the enemy moving out of the area.
The SLF withdraws to its ships on 26 February and conducts a new assault the next day a little farther north.
The operation terminates on 3 March.
And on this the 17th of Feb. through 28 February in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 17 through 28 February, the3rd Marine Division participates in OPERATION CHINOOK II, “Street without joy” in the Thua Thien Province.
Writer Bernard B. Fall was killed by a VC mine while observing this operation.
And on this the 23rd of Feb. through 27 February in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 23 through 27 February, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION PULASKI a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 23rd day of February in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1900, a company of Marines from Olongapo burns the village of Benectican in retaliation for the ambush.
In 1945, elements of the 28th Marines seize the crest of Mt. Suribachi and hoist an American flag over the summit.
Soon after, five Marines and a Navy Corpsman replace it with a larger national ensign.
Joe Rosenthal’s of this flag raising electrifies the United States and becomes the symbol for the 7th War Bond drive.
VMF-115 Corsairs sink a midget submarine off Cebu. MAG-32 headquarters and its squadron ground echelons (the squadrons now assigned are VMSB-142, 236, 243, and 341) begin to move from Mangaldan for sea transport toward Zamboanga on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines.
In 1949, the 3rd Recruit Battalion is activated at Parris Island to train new female enlistees.
Up to this point, women regulars had been obtained from veterans of the Women’s Reserve.
The first female recruits arrive at Parris Island five days later.
In 1952, LEX Baker One begins in southern California with the reinforced 3rd Marines and HMR-162.
It is the largest amphibious exercise on the West Coast since 1949 and a major test of employing helicopters in that role.
In 1966, elements of the 1st Marine Division headquarters and the 11th Marines begin arriving in country.
In 1967, during the period 23 through 27 February, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4) participated in OPERATION PULASKI, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
In 1970, on 27 through 28 February, the Marine Corps holds a Tactical Employment conference to begin establishing doctrine for the English-built Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier, a revolutionary jet aircraft that could take off and land vertically.
In 1973, OPERATION END SWEEP, the Navy/Marine Corps minesweeping of North Vietnamese harbors and coastal waterways, begins.
HMM-164 and 165 and HMH-463 assist in the effort.
The operation continues through 18 July.
In 1975, the DOD announces that two-year enlistments will be eliminated by the end of the current fiscal year, making three-year terms the shortest available.
In 1991, the reservists of the 2nd MEB participate in Exercise Battle Griffin 91 and conduct the first full test of the Norway Airlanded MEB (NALMEB) concept; the prepositioned set of equipment and supplies created by a 1981 agreement.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!