History of Our Corps – January 15

Originally Posted January 15, 2025

During the period 6 through 15 January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the period 6 through 15 January 1967, a Marine SLF (1^st Battalion, 9^th Marines (1/9) and the 3^rd and 4^th Battalions of Vietnamese Marines supported by HMM-362 from the USS Iwo Jima, participated in OPERATION DECKHOUSE V/OPERATION SONG THAN, a search and destroy operation in the Kien Hoa Province.

During the period 7 through 17 January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1902, during the period 7 through 17 January 1902, Waller, with fresh Marines, searches in vain for the remainder of his force.

And on this the 7^th through the 27th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1972, elements of the 2^nd Marine Division and 2^nd MAW joined naval forces of the Atlantic Fleet in cold weather landing operations at Reid State Park on the coast of Maine in Exercise Snowy Beach.

And on this the 11^th through the 17^th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1966, during the period 11 through 17 January 1966, the 1^st Battalion, 3^rd Marines (1/3) and the 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Marines (3/7) participated in OPERATION MALLARD, a search and destroy operation in An Hoa, Quang Nam Province.

And on this the 11^th day of January through the 29th day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1971, during the period 11 January through 29 March 1971, Marines of the 1^st Reconnaissance Battalion, the 1^st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1) and the 1^st Battalion, 11^th Marines (1/11) participated in OPERATION UPSHUR STREAM, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

And on the 13th through the 15^th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1865, Admiral Porter’s fleet and its Marines again bombard Fort Fisher in Wilmington, North Carolina.

And on the 13th of January through the 9^th 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 2^nd Division, the 2^nd Battalion, 26^th 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 on this the 14^th – 17th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1924, the 5^th Marines conduct amphibious exercises simulating the seizure of the Panama Canal.

And on this the 15^th through the 17^th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1966, during the period 15 through 17 January 1966, the 2^nd Battalion, 9^th Marines (2/9) participated in OPERATION BIG LODGE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

And on the 15th of January through the 20^th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1969, during the period 15 through 20 January 1969, the 198^th Infantry Brigade, the 3^rd Battalion, 26^th Marines (3/26) and ARVN units participated in OPERATION RUSSEL BEACH, a joint operation to remove Vietnamese refugees from the area before pushing forward to root out VC troops and fortifications in the Batangan Peninsula, Quang Tin Province.

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 15th day of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1778, Marines from the frigate Randolph help fight a blaze that destroys hundreds of buildings in Charleston, South Carolina.

In 1815, in a battle against a British squadron off Long Island, the President and her Marines cripple the frigate Endymion, but suffer enough damage that they are forced to surrender to three other enemy frigates.

In 1865, four hundred Marines and 1,600 sailors of the fleet participate in the ground assault on Fort Fisher. Although the naval brigade is beaten back, it diverts the attention of Confederate defenders and allows the Union army to penetrate the defenses and capture the bastion.

In 1902, the last survivors of the Waller expedition on Samar make it to the east coast. Ten Marines had died in the interior.

In 1925, the Marine guard of the gunboat Sacramento (PG-19) goes ashore at Shanghai when the troops of the local warlord mutiny and endanger the foreign settlement.

In 1928, the leading elements of the reactivated 11^th Regiment return to Nicaragua to reinforce the 2^nd Brigade.

In 1942, Brigadier General H. R. Larsen is 1^st military Governor of American Samoa.

In 1943, Captain Joe Foss bagged three Japanese planes for a record tying total of 26 kills. This matches Army Captain Eddie Rickenbacker’s World War 1 American record.

The 2^nd Marines leave Guadalcanal for New Zealand.

The 14^th Defense Battalion is organized on Tulagi.

Anne A. Lentz becomes the first Marine woman reservist when she is commissioned a captain following her civilian work in designing the uniforms for the Women’s Reserve program.

In 1946, MAG-25 transports assist in moving truce teams around China and dropping leaflets announcing the cease fire.

In 1951, President Truman asks Congress to authorize another defense budget supplement of $41.4 billion.

Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 161 (HMR-161) is organized at El Toro.

It is the first nonexperimental squadron of its type in the world.

In 1953, 3/4 provides guards on ships carrying 14,500 Chinese prisoners who have refused repatriation to Communist China and asked to become citizens of the Republic of China on Taiwan.

In 1962, all 18 F8U-2n Crusaders of VMF(AW)-451 fly across the Pacific, refueling enroute from GV-1 tankers of VMR-153, 253, and 352.

It is the first trans-Pacific crossing by an entire single-engine jet squadron.

In 1966, during the period 15 through 17 January, the 2^nd Battalion, 9^th Marines (2/9) participated in OPERATION BIG LODGE, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

After a reduction in strength, the 2^nd Battalion, 8^th Marines (2/8) deploys to Guantanamo Bay to become the ground defense force for the naval base.

In 1969, during the period 15 through 20 January, the 198^th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 26^th Marines (3/26) and ARVN units participated in OPERATION RUSSEL BEACH.

This was a joint operation to remove Vietnamese refugees from the area before pushing forward to root out VC troops and fortifications in the Batangan Peninsula, Quang Tin Province.

In 1973, Citing progress made in the Paris negotiations, President Nixon suspends all bombing, mining, shelling, and other offensive actions throughout North Vietnam.

In 1975, the Supreme Court reverses an earlier decision by a lower court and by a 5-to-4 vote upholds a law that requires discharge of male officers who are twice passed over for promotion.

In 2003, the 2^nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (roughly 7,000 Marines and attached Navy Personnel) departs North Carolina for the Middle East embarked in Amphibious Task Force East.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!

-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC

And damn proud of it!