History of Our Corps – January 26

Originally Posted January 20, 2025

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 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 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 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 1^st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3) participated in OPERATION OSCEOLA, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Tri Province.

And on the 22^nd of January through the 18^th 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, 9^th Marines (3/9), the  2^nd Battalion, 4^th Marines (2/4), 3^rd Battalion, 4^th Marines (3/4), the 1^st Battalion, 9^th Marines (3/9), and the ARVN 2^nd 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 23 January through 26 January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1968, during the period 23 through 26 January Marines of a BLT comprised of the 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines (3/1) and HMM-165 participated in OPERATION BADGER CATCH/SALINE.

On the morning of 23 January, the planning for OPERATION BADGER CATCH/SALINE began and at 19:00 that evening the Marines of the 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines (3/1) began landing at Blue Beach on the northern mouth of the Cua Viet River.

The Badger Catch operational area extended 5 Km north of the Cua Viet and 7 Km inland overlapping with a large part of the Napoleon area.

And on this the 24^th of January through the 28^th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the period 24 January through 28 January, the 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Marines participated in OPERATION TUSCALOOSA, a search and destroy operation 24 km (15 mi) southwest of Da Nang in the Quảng Nam Province.

And on this the 24^th of January through the 28^th of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1967, during the period 24 January through 28 January, the 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Marines participated in OPERATION TUSCALOOSA, a search and destroy operation 24 km (15 mi) southwest of Da Nang in the Quảng Nam Province.

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

In 1967, during the period 25 January through 7 February, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd 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.

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 26th day of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1856, the sloop Decatur lands her Marines, some sailors, and a howitzer to protect American settlers in Seattle from hostile Indians.

In a night-long battle, the naval force drives away the threatening marauders.

In 1904, the emperor of Addis Ababa, Abyssinia, decorated Captain G. C. Thorpe for escorting diplomats 500 miles through the desert.

In 1942, the first U.S. troops reached Northern Ireland.

In 1955, the Navy and Marine Corps begin a series of amphibious exercises dubbed TRAEX 2-55 that will continue through 6 May.

They take place at Camp Lejeune and the Caribbean and involve elements of the 2^nd Marine Division and 2^nd MAW.

The operations simulate surprise raids to destroy guided missile launching sites.

In 1967, during OPERATION DESOTO, the 7^th Marines conducts search and destroy operations against Viet Cong units in southern Quang Ngai Province.

By the time it ends on 7 April, it accounts for 383 Communist troops killed at a cost of 69 dead and 556 wounded.

In 1968, during the period 26 January through 29 February, Marines of the 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines (3/1) and the 1^st Amphibian Tactor Battalion participated in OPERATION SALINE, a search and clear operation to keep the Cua River supply line open.

OPERATION SALINE was combined with OPERATION NAPOLEON on 28 February 1968.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!

-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC

And damn proud of it!