History of Our Corps – January 16

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 7th through the 27th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1972, elements of the 2nd Marine Division and 2nd 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 11th through the 17th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

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

And on this the 11th 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 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1) and the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines (1/11) participated in OPERATION UPSHUR STREAM, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.

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 on this the 14th – 17th days of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

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

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

In 1966, during the period 15 through 17 January 1966, the 2nd Battalion, 9th 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 20th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1969, during the period 15 through 20 January 1969, the 198th Infantry Brigade, the 3rd Battalion, 26th 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 16th day of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1893, Marines from the cruiser Boston land at Honolulu after the Hawaiian queen revoked the constitution, and American sugar planters deposed her and formed a provisional government.

In 1944, the last elements of the 3rd Marine Division return to Guadalcanal.

          Marine casualties during the Bougainville campaign total 732 dead and 1,249 wounded.

          Losses among Navy personnel serving with Marine units are 12 killed and 30 wounded.

Marine tanks on New Britain spearhead a successful Army assault that drives off Japanese forces threatening the perimeter at Arawe.

In 1947, Truman submits a new unification bill to Congress based on input from the Secretaries of War and Navy Departments.

          In an effort to placate supporters of the Marine Corps, he promises to issue an executive order that will spell out the roles and missions of the services.

In 1951, due to continuing severe maintenance problems, the jets of VMF-311 are grounded pending trouble-shooting by the manufacturer.

In 1958, the 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion, equipped with the Ontos, is activated at Camp Hansen, Okinawa.

In 1991, Marines participated in the offensive air action against Iraq as Operation Desert Storm began.

In 1967, the Marine Corps reinstitutes the practice of giving battlefield commissions to qualified enlisted men who have demonstrated exceptional leadership.

          The 10th Marines departs Lejeune for a one-month field firing exercise at Vieques, where it will work with elements of the 6th and 8th Marines, the 2nd Field Artillery Group, and the 2nd MAW.

          USMACV completes planning for the construction of a fortified line along the DMZ designed to prevent the infiltration of NVA units from the north.

In 1968, the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines (2/26) flies into the base at Khe Sanh, placing the entire 26th Marines there.

          The North Vietnamese state that they will not begin negotiations to end the war until the United States halts the bombing of North Vietnam.

          In a change of policy, the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8) moves to Guantanamo Bay to become the permanent defense force.

          Instead of rotating battalions every 90 days, personnel will now be rotated into 2/8.

In 1991, following the expiration of a deadline for Iraq to withdraw its forces from Kuwait, coalition forces (including the 3rd MAW) launch offensive air operations against Iraq.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!

-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC

And damn proud of it!