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 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.
During the period 21 March through 25 March 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 21 March through 25 March, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines participated in OPERATION NEW CASTLE, a search and
destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
Quick quiz: Where in New York was IRISHTOWN located?
It seems that “In like a lion, out like a lamb” has always been altruistic when describing the month of March. And that holds true for the Corps as we wind down from the Winter doldrums and move forward into the Spring, checking every day for the first jonquils or daffodils to signal a new beginning.
In like a lion refers in this case to the activation of six(6) battalions and a new air group on the west coast to reach its full complement of three (3) Divisions and three (3) air wings.
I see that the first formal uniform of the Marine Corps was approved on 25 March 1804.
Somehow, I find it hard to believe that in 1870, Marines “seized and destroyed” illicit distilleries in Brooklyn. I can buy the part about seizing, but destroying distilleries? Nah, don’t believe it, they may have commandeered the product of these distilleries for further (medicinal purposes only) testing. That makes sense.
Going out like a lamb would refer to Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Burrows record of 31 March 1801 in which he writes: “I have been all this morning engaged in riding with the President [Thomas Jefferson] looking for a proper place to fix the Marine Barracks on”. That proper place, of course is better known as 8th and I. The land was purchased on 21 June for $6,247.18.
Moving on to the more formal notes of our glorious history for the final days of March.
| 22 March 1952: | Six new Marine battalions and Marine air groups were activated on the West Coast, giving the Corps the full authorized limit of three divisions and three wings. |
| 23 March 1815: | Marines assisted the USS Hornet‘s capture of the HMS Penguin off Tristan de Cunha. |
| 24 March 1944: | The 22nd Marine Regiment captured Ebon and Namu Atolls in the Marshall Islands. |
| 25 March 1804: | The Secretary of the Navy approved the first formal uniform of the Marine Corps. |
| 25 March 1863: | Marines with Farragut’s squadron engaged Confederates at the Battle of Vicksburg in Mississippi. |
| 26 March 1943: | Battle of Komandorski Island, Aleutians. |
| 26 March 1944: | WW II, Marines of 1stProMarBrig landed on Kili island and Namorik Atoll, Marshall Islands. |
| 27 March 1953: | The 1stMarDiv defeated communist Chinese in the Battle for “Vegas” Hill in Korea. |
| 28 March 1870: | 129 Marines seized and destroyed illicit distilleries in “Irishtown” (Brooklyn), New York. |
| 28 March 1918: | Marines were placed under the command of French Marshall Foch in WW I. |
| 29 March 1917: | Marines garrisoned St. Croix to deny harbor to German submarines. |
| 30 March 1966: | The 7th Marine Regiment terminated Operation Indiana in Vietnam. |
| 31 March 1801: | LtCol W. W. Burrows, 2nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, and President Thomas Jefferson selected the site of Marine Barracks, 8th& I, Washington, DC. |
In closing, I offer you this thought.
Semper Fidelis (always faithful) has never meant more in my lifetime as we go through this period of fear and uncertainty as to what we can and cannot do to help ourselves, our families, and our neighbors in this time of crisis. For me personally, this “shelter-in-place” defense in some ways parallels the same feeling of helplessness that I felt in a bunker at the DaNang airport whenever we were being bombarded by rockets, (I also served with MABS11, MAG11, 3rd Marine Air Wing). I survived Nam and together we will survive this pandemic. Living in Exeter, NH and working only one (1) day per week in a small office thus far has kept me from being a victim of this insidious disease.
Suffice it to say that I am praying for all of us.
Semper Fi!!
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 22nd day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1836, Marines and soldiers from Fort Brooke launch an operation that results in several skirmishes with the Seminoles.
They return to Fort Brooke on 4 April.
In 1863, the Hartford’s Marines participate in a fight with Confederate batteries at Warrenton, Mississippi.
In 1941, the 2nd Parachute Company is formed as part of the 2nd Marine Division.
It is the first Marine Corps parachute unit and becomes the nucleus for the 2nd Parachute Battalion.
In 1944, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade headquarters is activated at Pearl Harbor.
The primary components of the brigade will be the 4th Marines (on Emirau) and the 22nd Marines (on Kwajalein).
In 1946, the Marine Corps issues Basic Post-War Plan No. 2.
It sets the desired strength of the Corps at 100,000 enlisted and 8,000 officers (8 per 100 enlisted – an increase from the prewar ratio 5 per 100).
The FMF will consist of two subordinate headquarters, one each for the Pacific (FMFPAC) and Atlantic (FMFLANT) fleets.
The ground forces will be comprised of two divisions (one each at Camp Lejeune and Guam) and a brigade at Camp Pendleton.
Marine aviation will have two wing-size commands.
Aircraft FMFPAC will control all ground-based squadrons in the Pacific, while another headquarters will be responsible for six Marine carrier groups.
In 1952, six new Marine Battalions and Marine Air Groups were activated on the west coast, giving the Corps the full authorized limit of three Divisions and three Air Wings.
In 1968, the Marine Aviation Cadet program, which had allowed men without college degrees a chance to earn their wings, comes to an end.
In 1968, The Basic School is increased in length from 21 weeks to 26 weeks.
In 1975, HMH-463 at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, receives orders to load on board the Hancock (CVA-19) and prepare for departure to Southeast Asia.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!