History of Our Corps – February 7

And on the 13th of January through the 9th of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1969, during the period 13 January through 9 February 1969, Marines of HMM-362, SLF-A, ARVN 2nd Division, the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines (2/26), and HMM-164 participated in OPERATION BOLD MARINER, a part of OPERATION GAME WARDEN, a cordon, search, and sweep operation in the Batangan Peninsula, Quang Ngai Province.

          This was the largest amphibious assault of the war.

And during the period 21 January through 16 February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1968, during the period 21 January through 16 February, 1968, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1) and the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3) participated in OPERATION OSCEOLA, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Tri Province.

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 on this the 25th of January through the 7th of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the period 25 January through 7 February, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines participated in OPERATION LAFAYETTE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam 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 the 27th of January through the 7th of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1969, during the period 27 January through 7 February, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines participated in OPERATION LINN RIVER a clear and search operation in Quang Nam Province.

During the period 28 January through 17 of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1966, during the period 28 January through 17 February, the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, and the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines participated in OPERATION DOUBLE EAGLE linking in with Operation Masher/White WingOperation Lien Ket 22 and Operation Thang Phuong II in the Quang Ngai and Quang Tri Provinces.

And on this the 1st through 9th of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the period 1 February through 9 February, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines2nd Battalion, 4th Marines2nd Battalion 5th Marines and the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 26th Marines  participated in OPERATION INDEPENDENCE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam 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 Marines2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines3rd Battalion, 4th Marines1st Battalion, 9th Marines3rd 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 7th through 16th of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1966, during the period 7 February through 16 February, Marines of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion participated in OPERATION TAUT BOW, a reconnaissance in force operation in “Happy Valley”, Quang Nam Province.

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 7th day of February in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1832, the frigate Potomac lands 250 Marines and sailors at Quallah Battoo, Sumatra.

          In retaliation for pirate attacks on American shipping, the force captures pirate forts and burns the town.

In 1862, Roanoke Isle, North Carolina was seized by Marines and soldiers in battle with the Confederates.

In 1868, Marines from the South Atlantic Squadron join forces from other powers in landing at Montevideo, Uruguay, during a military revolt there.

          Uruguayan forces lay down their arms.

In 1898, Marines and sailors from the Alert land at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, in response to political unrest.

In 1918, Geiger and his Aeronautic Detachment depart Philadelphia for the Naval Air Station, Miami.

In 1944, Ground elements of the 4th Marine Base Defense Air Wing arrive at Roi.

In 1966, during the period 7 through 16 February, Marines of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion participated in OPERATION TAUT BOW, a reconnaissance-in-force operation in “Happy Valley” in the Quang Nam Province.

In 1968, NVA forces using PT-76 amphibious tanks capture the Special Forces camp at Lang Vei, west of the Marine base.

In 1971, in an expansion of Lam Son 719, South Vietnamese forces, supported by U.S. helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and artillery fire, enter Laotian territory to strike at Communist base camps.

          During the operation, VMA-311, VMA(AW)-225, and VMFA-115 fly 950 sorties into Laos.

          HMH-464, supported by the gunships of HML-367, flies 2,992 sorties during the operation and loses a CH-53 helicopter in Laos.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!

-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC

And damn proud of it!