Originally Published March 20, 2025
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 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.
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 12 March through 26 March 1968 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 12 March through 26 March, the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and the 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment participated in OPERATION WORTH a search and destroy operation 24 Km northwest of Da Nang, in the Quang Nam Province.
During the period 14 March through 20 March 1968 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 14 March through 20 March, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, and the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines participated in OPERATION FORD a sweep of the Phu Thu Peninsula to engage the VC 804th Main Force Battalion east of Phu Bai.
During the period 15 March through 2 May 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 15 March through 2 May, the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines and the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines participated in OPERATION MAINE CRAG a reconnaissance in force operation along the Laotian border, west of Khe Sanh in the Quang Tri Province.
During the period 19 March through 19 April 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 19 March through 19 April, Marines of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines participated in OPERATION PRATRIE III, search and
destroy operations against the PAVN 324B and 341st divisions in the DMZ.
During the period 20 March through 23 March 1966 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 20 March through 23 March, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines participated in OPERATION OREGON, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Tri Province.
During the period 20 March through 25 March 1966 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 20 March through 25 March, the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, ARVN 5th Airborne Battalion and the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps participated in OPERATION TEXAS/LIEN KET 28, a combined reaction force operation landing near An Hoa to encounter the 60th and 90th battalions of the 1st VC Regiment and the 11th Battalion, 21st NVA Regiment.
During the period 20 March through 28 March 1966 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 20 March through 28 March, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines and the 3rd Tank Battalion participated in OPERATION KINGS, a search and destroy operation 25 Km southwest of Da Nang in the Quang Nam Province.
During the period 20 March through 3 April 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 20 March through 3 April, Marines of the 3rd Marine Division participated in OPERATION BEACON HILL, search and destroy operations in the Quang Tri Province.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 20th day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1777, The Connecticut Navy ship Defence and her Marines capture the British ship Grog.
In 1911, Doyen’s regiment lands at North Island in San Diego Bay and establishes a camp there. These Marines remain until July, when the disorders in Mexico come to an end.
In 1943, Marine Torpedo-Bomber Squadron 143 (VMSB-143) conducts the first aerial mine-laying mission in the South Pacific near Bougainville.
In 1944, the 4th Marines land on Emirau without opposition.
Plans for the invasion of the Marianas assign VAC (with the 2nd and 4th Marines Divisions) the mission of seizing Saipan and Tinian, while IMAC (3rd Marine Division and 1st Provisional Marine Brigade) tackles Guam.
Major General H. M. Smith doubles as overall commander of Expeditionary Troops (both corps) and commander of VAC.
The Army’s 77th Division is held in Hawaii as the theater reserve.
In 1945, the 147th Infantry arrives on Iwo Jima as the garrison force and is temporarily attached to the 3rd Marine Division.
In 1946, VMSB-231, VMTB-234, VMTB-463, VMTB-473, VMTB-632, and VMF-911 are deactivated.
In 1966, during the period 20 through 25 March, the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1), the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines (3/7), the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), the ARVN 5th Airborne Battalion, and the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps participated in OPERATION TEXAS/LIEN KET 28, a combined reaction force operation landing near An Hoa to encounter the 60th and 90th battalions of the 1st VC Regiment and the 11th Battalion, 21st NVA Regiment.
During the period 20 March through 28 March, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines (3/3), the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (2/9), and the 3rd Tank Battalion participated in OPERATION KINGS, a search and destroy operation 25 Km southwest of of Da Nang in the Quang Nam Province.
In 1967, during OPERATION BEACON HILL, the SLF (BLT ¼) makes an amphibious assault near Dong Ha and remains ashore through 1 April.
It accounts for 334 NVA soldiers killed at a cost of 29 dead and 230 wounded.
In 2003, after the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum, coalition forces launch OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. I MEF is responsible for liberating the eastern half of Iraq and securing the right flank of the U.S. Army’s V Corps while the latter force advances to Baghdad in a zone west of the Euphrates River. The Iraqi forces in the southern half of I MEF’s zone include two corps composed of two armored divisions, one mechanized division, and three infantry divisions-70,000 troops armed with 700 tanks and 500 artillery pieces. 3rd MAW conducts close air support for the MEF and deep strikes for the JFACC.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!