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 25th through the 28th of February in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 25 through 28 February, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines participates in OPERATION LANOKE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
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 25th day of February in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1841, the Marines and sailors of the Wilkes Expedition land on Upola, Samoa, and burn three villages in response to the murder of an American seaman.
In 1861, the Confederate Marine Corps was organized in Richmond, Virginia.
In 1917, Marine detachments from U.S. Battleships land at Guacanayabo Bay, Cuba, to guard American owned sugar plantations and processing mills during a revolution.
Sugar is considered a vital commodity, and the Cuban supply is important not only to the United States, but also to prospective allies in Europe.
In 1918, Major General Barnett is reappointed for a second four-year term as Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1944, the 10th Defense Battalion assumes garrison duties for Eniwetok Island.
In 1945, the 3rd Marine Division assumes responsibility for the center of the corps front on Iwo Jima, with the 4th Marine Division on its right and the 5th Marine Division on the left.
VAC slugs its way slowly forward through the heaviest belt of Japanese defenses.
Marine aircraft participate in Task Force 58 strikes around Tokyo.
In 1949, a Navy-Marine Corps task force numbering 20,000 personnel completes a month-long amphibious exercise in Alaska.
In 1950, U.S. forces begin their first large-scale amphibious-airborne peacetime exercise, PORTEX, which involves an assault on Vieques Island in the Caribbean.
It is also the largest peacetime amphibious exercise to date, with 80,000 personnel from all four services, 160 ships, and over 700 planes.
The exercise concludes on 11 March.
During its course, seven personnel die in various accidents.
In 1952, the 1st MAW photographic unit is redesignated as Marine Photographic Squadron 1 (VMJ-1).
In 1953, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines makes a pre-dawn raid covered by smoke against former Outpost Detroit.
In 1967, during the period 25 through 28 February, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (2/5) participates in OPERATION LANOKE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
During OPERATION PRAIRIE II, the III MAF asks for and receives permission to begin firing artillery shells into and across the DMZ.
This leads to an escalation in the fighting as Communist forces respond.
By the time the operation ends on 18 March, the enemy have lost 694 killed and 20 captured.
In 1968, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5) and Vietnamese forces complete the seizure of the Citadel, bringing the battle for the city to an end, except for mopping up operations.
Total friendly casualties for the entire battle are more than 600 dead and almost 3,800 wounded, of which Marine losses are 142 dead and nearly 1,100 wounded.
The number of enemy killed exceeds 1,000 and is estimated to be as high as 5,000.
Since the summer of 1965, more than 30,000 Marines have voluntarily extended their tours in Vietnam for six or more months.
That equates to more than a battalion a month.
During December 1968, 3,200 of the 8,000 men scheduled to come home volunteered to remain in country.
In 1973, MAG-15, still based in Nam Phong, Thailand, begins flying combat sorties fighting Communist forces.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!