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 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.
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 Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, and the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines participated in OPERATION DOUBLE EAGLE linking in with Operation Masher/White Wing, Operation 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 Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd 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 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 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 8th day of February in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1868, the Shenandoah sends Marines and sailors ashore at Nagasaki, Japan, to protect the American consul during a period of unrest.
In 1890, Marines and seamen from the steam bark Omaha land at Nodogaya, Japan, to assist local authorities in fighting a fire at Kanagawa.
In 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was founded.
In 1919, elements of the 1st Marine Aviation Force in Miami merge into Squadron D.
This marks the birth of what will become Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 231 (VMSB-231).
It departs shortly thereafter for Santo Domingo.
During this month the 1st Marine Aviation Force is disbanded.
In 1944, Kwajalein was secured.
The 4th Marine Division begins to depart Kwajalein Atoll.
The 25 Marines is temporarily detached to remain behind as the garrison force.
The 14th and 23rd Marine Regiments with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines departed.
The 28th Marines is organized at Camp Pendleton to round out the 5th Marine Division.
In 1945, the forward echelon of VMF-452 joins the carrier Franklin (CV-13).
In 1949, most of the ground elements of FMFWESPAC sail from Tsingtao for the United States, with only a portion of the 3rd Marines (a battalion-sized force) remaining ashore.
For the time being, the city remains a Nationalist island in Communist-controlled north China.
In 1951, VMF-323 flies in to K-1 airfield, near Pusan.
VMF-214 and 312 follow over the next two days.
In 1955, Marines aided 300,000 refugees to escape Viet-Minh forces in North Vietnam.
In 1962, the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (USMACV) is established with the mission of providing support to South Vietnam in its war against Communist forces.
MAAG is absorbed into the new command, which comes under the operational control of CINCPAC.
In a test of the new XRE-1 Cataport (a portable catapult) an A4D Skyhawk is launched from less than 1,000 feet of runway at Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Combined with portable arresting gear, the capability is dubbed the Short Airfield for Tactical Support (SATS).
It allows aircraft to operate from an austere expeditionary airfield.
In 1965, Following Viet Cong attacks on U.S. forces and camps in South Vietnam, President Johnson orders the deployment of the 1st LAAM Battalion to the Da Nang area.
Battery A arrives this day.
In 1967, a ceasefire is declared during the period 8 February through 12 February, for Tet, an important Vietnamese holiday.
Although there are numerous small violations, there is no major fighting.
In 1968, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines defeats an enemy attempt to capture a platoon outpost.
In 1972, VMA-513 conducts initial sea tests of the AV-8A Harrier on the Guam.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!