Originally Posted March 23, 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 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.
During 23 and 24 March 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during 23 and 24 March, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines participated in OPERATION EARLY, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
During the period 23 March through 27 March 1967 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 23 March through 27 March, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION PERRY, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Ngai Province.
During the period 23 March through 3 April 1969 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1969, during the period 23 March through 3 April, the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division and the ARVN 2nd Regiment participated in OPERATION MAINE CRAG a reconnaissance in force operation in the vicinity of Con Thien, in the Quang Tri Province.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 23rd day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1815, Marines assisted in the Hornet’s capture of the HMS Penguin off Tristan d’A Cunha.
In 1903, Marines from the Marietta and cruiser Olympia (C-6) land at Puerto Cortez, Honduras, to protect U.S. interests during a period of civil strife.
In 1944, elements of the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines (3/22) attack Ebon Atoll and clear it of the enemy.
In 1945, Marine aircraft of TF 38 participate in air strikes against Okinawa.
In 1964, the first Marines engage in a 12-day counterguerrilla exercise on board Camp Pendleton.
In 1967, during 23 & 24 March, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1), participated in OPERATION EARLY, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Nam Province.
During the period 23 through 27 March, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7) participated in OPERATION PERRY, a search and destroy operation in the Quang Ngai Province.
In 1969, during the period 23 March through 3 April, the 3rd Marine Division, the 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, and the ARVN 2nd Regiment participated in OPERATION MONTANA MAULER, a reconnaissance-in-force operation in the vicinity of Con Thien, in the Quang Tri Province.
In 1970, President Nixon authorizes the activation of Reserve units to assist the U.S. Postal Department in New York City during a strike.
Units included are the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines (2/25), 6th and 11th Communications Battalions, VMA-131, HMM-768, and Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 49.
In 1972, the United Stated suspends the Paris peace talks following a long period of Communist intransigence.
In 1986, during the period 23 through 27 March, Freedom of navigation exercises in the Gulf of Sidra by three carrier battle groups result in the sinking of two Libyan missile boats.
VMFA-314 and323 and VMAQ-2 participate.
In 2003, Task Force Tarawa begins operations to secure the city of An Nasiriyah and its key bridges over the Euphrates River.
In some of the fiercest fighting of the war, Iraqi forces (including many irregulars) use feigned surrenders, human shields, and suicide bombers to deny Marines free movement in the city of a half million people.
Fighting continues for two weeks.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!