And on the 22nd of January through the 18th 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, 9th Marines (3/9), the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4), the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9), and the ARVN 2nd 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 27th of January through the 7th of April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 27 January through 7 April, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION DESOTO, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Ngai Province.
And on this the 1st of Feb. through 18th of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 1 February through 18 March, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 2nd Battalion,26th Marines participated in OPERATION PRAIRIE II, a search and destroy operation to prevent the PAVN 324B Division from entering the DMZ area, around Con Thien and Gio Linh, in the Quang Tri Province.
And during the period 3 February through the 10 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1971, during the period 3 February through 10 March, Marines of the III MAF, the ROK’s 2nd Marine Brigade and the ARVN’s 51st Regiment participated in OPERATION HOANG DIEU 103, a counter-offensive in the Quang Nam Province.
And on this the 26th of February through 30 April in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 26 February through 30 April, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Battalion, the 327th Airborne Infantry and the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Airborne Infantry participated in OPERATION HOUSTON, an operation to open Route 1 between Da Nang and Phu Bai in the Thua Thien Province.
And on this the 27th of February through the 8th of May in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 27 February through 8 May, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION PURPLE MARTIN, a clear and search in the Quang Tri Province.
Interestingly, this was originally named OPERATION MASSACHUSETTS BAY
And on this the 29th of February through 31 October in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 29 February through 31 October, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and the 2/1 Cavalry participated in OPERATION NAPOLEON/SALINE, an operation along the Cua Viet River in the Quang Tri Province.
March 1–10, 1776 The Raid of Nassau was a naval operation and amphibious assault by Colonial forces against the British port of Nassau, Bahamas, during the American Revolutionary War (also known as the American War of Independence). The battle is considered one of the first engagements of the newly established Continental Navy and the Continental Marines, the respective progenitors of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The action was also the Marines’ first amphibious landing. It is sometimes known as the “Battle of Nassau”.
Departing from Cape Henlopen, Delaware on February 17, 1776, the fleet arrived in the Bahamas on March 1, with the objective of seizing gunpowder and munitions known to be stored there. Two days later the Marines came ashore seizing Fort Montagu at the eastern end of the Nassau harbor, but did not advance to the town where the gunpowder was stored. That night Nassau’s governor had most of the gunpowder loaded aboard ships sailing for St. Augustine. On March 4, the Continental Marines advanced and took control of the poorly defended town.
The Continental forces remained at Nassau for two weeks and took away all the remaining gunpowder and munitions found. The fleet returned to New London, Connecticut in early April after capturing a few British supply ships, but failed to capture HMS Glasgow in an action on April 6.
During the period 1 March – 29 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 29 May through 23 June, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 7th Marines, the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and the 51st Regiment of the ARVN participated in OPERATION OKLAHOMA HILLS, an operation southwest of Da Nang, in the Quang Nam Province.
And during the period, 2 March through 1 November in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1965, during the period 2 March 1965 through 1 November 1968, the USAF, U.S. Navy and RVNAF participated in OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER a sustained and escalating bombing campaign of North Vietnam to destroy military infrastructure, interdict supply routes and undermine the North’s willingness to continue the war.
During the period 6 March through 10 March 1968 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 6 March through 10 March, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION ROCK and sweep the peninsula formed by the Vu Gia and Thu Bon Rivers, the so called “Arizona Territory” 6 Km northwest of An Hoa, in the Quang Nam Province.
During the period 10 March through 12 March 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 10 March through 12 March, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION YUBA, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 10th day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1783, Marines in fighting tops of the Alliance engage the British frigate Sybil in the West Indies and inflict heavy damage on her.
This is the last naval battle of the Revolutionary War.
In 1854, Marines on the Perry assist in seizing a slave ship off the west coast of Africa.
In 1911, Colonel Charles A Doyen activates another provisional regiment at Mare Island, California, for potential expeditionary duty in Mexico.
In 1912 the Marine battalion from the Rainbow arrives in Peking to reinforce the Legation Guard and remains there until May.
In 1945, on Iwo Jima, the 4th Marine Division eliminates the Amphitheater-Turkey Knob salient that has been holding it up in the center of its zone since 25 February and makes substantial gains.
The 3rd Marine Division largely clears the remainder of its zone.
Navy escort carriers depart Iwo Jima, leaving aerial support in the hands of Army squadrons on the island.
Elements of the U.S. Eighth Army land in the Philippines at Zamboanga on Mindinao.
MAG-12 furnishes air support for the operation, while forward elements of its ground echelons go ashore to begin manning an existing airfield.
VMF-124 and 213 are detached from the Essex and depart for the United States.
A portion of the maintenance crews remain on board to service replacement Navy squadrons in subsequent operations.
In 1946, VMTB-143, VMF-216, VMF-217, VMTB-233, VMTB-464, VMF-511, and VMB-624 are deactivated.
In 1947, Elements of the 1st Pioneer Battalion depart for Guam, where they will begin building a camp for the soon-to-be-established 1st Marine Brigade.
In 1950, the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico are reorganized into the Marine Corps Development Center (focusing on new equipment and doctrine) and the Marine Corps Educational Center (focusing on education and training programs).
In 1966, following the dismissal of the Vietnamese general commanding I Corps Zone, political unrest sweeps over South Vietnam.
It lasts into June and seriously hampers the war effort.
In 1967, during the period 10 through 12 March, the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4) participated in OPERATION YUBA, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
In 1968, 1st MAW’s fixed wing aircraft are placed under the control of Seventh Air Force as the “single manager” for tactical aviation in Vietnam.
In 1969, Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird publicly announces that some Marine units had crossed into Laos during OPERATION DEWEY CANYON.
In 1972, the 101st Airborne Division, the last U.S. combat division in Vietnam, departs the country.
In 1975, NVA units launch a large-scale offensive in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!