History of Our Corps – January 28

Originally Posted January 20, 2025

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 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.

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

In 1967, during the period 27 January through 7 April, the 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Marines participated in OPERATION DESOTO, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Ngai Province.

And on the 27^th of January through the 7^th 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 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.

Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 28th day of January in the history of our beloved Corps:

In 1778, in a surprise night attack, Marines of the sloop Providence again seize the forts at New Providence Island in the Bahamas and raise the Stars and Stripes over a foreign shore for the first time.

          They also capture five ships in the harbor.

In 1914, the Marine detachment of the battleship South Carolina (BB-26) lands at Port-Au-Prince along with British, French, and German forces to protect foreign interests during revolutionary turmoil.

In 1922, Marines assist in rescue work after the roof of a theater collapses in Washington, D.C.

In 1928, VO-6M and its six O2B-1s sail from Quantico to reinforce the brigade in Nicaragua.

In 1932, Japanese troops garrisoning their portion of the International Settlement launch a major attack on Chinese forces in the remainder of Shanghai.

The 4^th Marines establishes defensive positions on the perimeter of the U.S. enclave of the settlement.

In 1942, the 4^th Marine Regiment was assigned to support Philippine scouts on Bataan.

In 1944, the 16^th Marines (an engineer regiment) is activated at Camp Lejeune for eventual duty with the 5^th Marine Division.

In 1946, the headquarters of the 1^st Special Marine Brigade and two battalions are formed at Quantico, while a third battalion forms at Camp Lejeune.

The battalions are designated as the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Battalions; there is no regimental headquarters.

VMF-321 and VMTB-454 are deactivated.

In 1958, RLT 2 and MAG-24 participate in PHIBTRAEX I-58 at Vieques, Puerto Rico.

The amphibious exercise continues through 17 March.

In 1966, during the period 28 January through 17 February, the 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Marines (3/1), 2^nd Battalion, 3^rd Marines (2/3), 2^nd Battalion, 4^th Marines (2/4), and the 2^nd Battalion, 9^th Marines (2/9) 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.

VMFA-314 deploys into Vietnam.

In 1970, the third wave of withdrawal of U.S. forces begins.

It will result in the permanent departure of 50,000 more personnel, including 12,900 Marines, by 7 April.

The major Marine units involved are the 26^th Marines, MAG-12, VMA-223 and 211, VMFA-542, and HMH-361.

In 1971, President Nixon asks for a two-year extension of the draft and propose a 50 percent pay raise for new recruits to achieve his goal of an all-volunteer military and an end to the draft by the mid-1970s.

In 1973, the cease fire goes into effect, with NVA forces still occupying enclaves in South Vietnam.

Marine casualties during and after the Easter Offensive total 18 killed, 68 wounded and 21 missing.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!

Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!

-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC

And damn proud of it!