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 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 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 25th day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1804, the Secretary of the Navy approved the first formal uniform of the Marine Corps.
In 1894, the Marine detachment of the sidewheel gunboat Monocacy provides the honor guard for the first visit of the Chinese Viceroy to the U.S. consulate in Tientsin.
In 1919, the 7th Regiment transfers four of its companies to Haiti to augment the 1st Marine Brigade in response to the Caco Revolt
In 1945, the 5th Marine Division wipes out the last resistance in Death Valley on Iwo Jima.
This marks the end of organized Japanese control of any terrain on Iwo Jima.
MAG-15, in the Gilberts, begins transferring to Ewa Field, Hawaii.
In 1948, Commandant Cates joins the Secretary of Defense, the three service secretaries, and the members of the JCS in testifying before Congress in favor of the requirements for a quick return of the draft and eventual implementation of universal military training.
In 1952, the 1st Marine Division is completely established in its new position astride the primary route of attack toward Seoul.
As part of the shift, the Division is now part of I Corps.
The division front totals 32 miles, but much of the left portion of this is along the Han and Imjin rivers, which provide a substantial defensive barrier.
Chinese forces man the opposite trench lines in this sector, which also includes the truce corridor at Panmunjom.
In 1953, just after dark, a Chinese regiment attacks the Nevada Cities complex in front of the 5th Marines sector.
Outposts Vegas, Reno, and Carson are each held by a platoon, while a rifle squad defends Reno Block.
Under a rain of an estimated 14,000 artillery shells, all but Carson fall to the enemy and piecemeal Marine counterattacks cannot regain the other outposts.
The fighting rages back and forth, mainly at Vegas, through to 30 March.
In the end, the 5th Marines takes back only Vegas.
The Fifth Air Force allows the 1st MAW to provide unusually heavy close air support, with 100 sorties alone on 28 March.
Division losses in the battle are 214 killed and missing and 801 wounded.
Chinese casualties counted and estimated are around 2,300.
In 1970, three hundred Marine reservists are employed at the main post office, Brooklyn, New York.
As of this date, 120 officers and 2,081 enlisted of the Marine Corps Reserve had been activated in the New York area.
The Postal Strike is resolved the next day and the reservists are demobilized.
In 1975, Hue City falls to an NVA invasion force heading south.
In 1994, the 24th MEU(SOC) evacuates 230 civilians, including 142 Americans, who are escaping ethnic fighting in the African nation of Rwanda.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!