Originally Posted July 16, 2024
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 16th day of July in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1861, Major J. G. Reynolds commanded 350 Marines in the first Battle of Bull Run in Virginia.
In 1863, the Marine detachment of the sloop Wyoming participates in her battle with Japanese shore batteries and ships in the straits of Shimonoseki.
In 1869, fifty Marines from the Brooklyn Navy Yard take a revenue cutter to Gardiner’s Island off Long Island and capture 125 men preparing to invade Cuba.
In 1942, Marine Barracks, Auckland, N.Z., is established.
In 1945, the first atomic bomb is successfully tested at Alamogordo, New Mexico.
In 1946, in accordance with reorganization plans emanating from the President’s office, Headquarter Marine Corps abolishes the Paymaster Department and renames the Quartermaster Department the Supply Department.
In 1947, under the guidance of its chair, Representative Clare Hoffman, the House Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments reports a modified version of the President’s unification bill that spells out the roles and missions of the Marine Corps and minimizes the merger of the War and Navy Departments.
This bill is subsequently passed by the entire House and it goes to conference with the Senate-passed version backed by Truman.
The 3rd Marine Brigade disbands at Camp Pendleton, with its personnel and equipment being absorbed by the 1st Marine Division.
In 1950, the Republic of Korea (ROK) places all its military forces under control of the Eighth Army.
In 1957, Major John H. Glenn breaks the transcontinental speed record by crossing from Los Alamitos, California, to Floyd Bennet field, New York, in 3 hours and 23 minutes in a Chance Vought F8U-1P Crusader (photo reconnaissance variant).
In 1958, in Lebanon, BLT 3/6 goes ashore at Red Beach and assumes control of the airport, as BLT 2/2 moves north to take over the port facilities and secure the U.S. Embassy and key bridges.
In 1966, during the 16th of July, the 3rdBattalion, 5th Marines (3/5 and HMM-363, participated in OPERATION DECKHOUSE II, an operation in support of OPERATION HASTINGS northeast of Dong Ha in the Quang Tri Province.
In 1967, during the period 16 July through 31 October, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (2/3), 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines (3/3), 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4),1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9), 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (2/9), 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), and the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines (3/26) participated in OPERATION KINGFISHER, a search and destroy operation in the western part of “Leatherneck Square” near Con Thien.
At a cost of 340 Marines dead and 1,461 wounded, the operation killed 1,117 enemy.
In 1969, during the period 16 July through 25 September, the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (1/4), 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4), and the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9) participated in OPERATION GEORGIA TAR, a clear and search operation northeast of Khe Sanh in the Quang Tri Province.
An element of the 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion stands by at Cape Kennedy in Florida as a secondary recovery team in case of a failed launch of APOLLO II, the mission that would place the first men on the moon.
During OPERATION VIRGINIA RIDGE, the 3rd Marines wrap up a search and clear mission north of the Rockpile (known in Vietnamese as Thon Khe Tri) which is a solitary Karst rock outcropping north of Route 9 and south of the DMZ.
Since its inception on 1 May, the operation has resulted in 560 enemy killed, at a cost of 108 Marines dead, one missing, and 490 wounded.
The 4th Marines wraps up OPERATION HERKIMER MOUNTAIN, northeast of Khe Sanh, which they had initiated on 1 May.
The regiment suffers 25 dead and 219 wounded while killing 137 enemy.
In 1970, Remaining elements of the 7th Marines begin OPERATION PICKENS FOREST, a search and clear mission southwest of Da Nang and soon uncover large food caches hidden by the enemy.
The operation ends on 24 August and accounts for 99 enemy killed at a cost of 4 marines dead and 51 wounded.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!