Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 13th day of July in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1863, a battalion of Marines forms part of the naval brigade that helps restore order during antidraft riots in New York City.
In 1900, on the 13th and 14th of July, the allied contingents, now totaling 5,650 men, attack the old, walled, Chinese portion of Tienstin.
The Marines fight next to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and establish a close bond between the two units.
In 1943, the Marine Corps Glider Base at Edenton, North Carolina, is redesignated as a Marine Corps Air Station.
MAG-61 is organized at Cherry Point.
In 1944, the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines (3/6) conducts a shore-to-shore amphibious assault and seizes Maniagassa Island off the coast of Saipan.
The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions begin recuperating and preparing for the Tinian assault.
Marine casualties on Saipan total 3,152 dead and 8,575 wounded.
Losses among Navy personnel serving with Marine units are 77 killed and 337 wounded.
In 1945, many IIIAC corps-level units begin redeployment to Guam.
The 1st Marine Division, IIIAC Artillery, and the 1st Armored Amphibian Battalion remain on Okinawa and go into rehabilitation camps on the Motobu Peninsula.
In 1946, Communist forces capture seven Marines visiting a village near Peitaiho.
Five days of patrolling by elements of the 7th Marines fail to turn up any sign of them.
Elements of the 2nd Marine Division begin to arrive at Camp Lejeune, its new permanent home station.
In 1954, the 3rd MarDiv was placed on 48-hour alert in preparation to move in support of the French in Indochina.
The alert was later cancelled.
In 1959, the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion begins a 175-mile foot march from Death Valley (the lowest point in the continental United States) to Mount Whitney (the highest).
In 1966, during the period 13 through 22 July, the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3), 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4), 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5), 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines (3/12), 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1), 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1), and the ARVN participated in OPERATION KANSAS, a III MAF operation which involved inserting a series of 13-man reconnaissance teams to observe and bring fire on the NVA and VC in the Que Son Valley of the Quang Tin and Quang Nam Provinces.
In 1972, the Paris peace talks resume.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!