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 16th of Feb. through 3 March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1967, during the period 16 February through 3 March, a Marine SLF (BLT 1/4 and HMM-363) participates in OPERATION DECKHOUSE VI, an amphibious assault at the southern tip of the Quang Ngai Province.
Although it does not meet strong resistance, Stingray teams call in supporting arms to kill more than 200 of the enemy moving out of the area.
The SLF withdraws to its ships on 26 February and conducts a new assault the next day a little farther north.
The operation terminates on 3 March.
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 3rd of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 27 February through 3 March, Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, and HMM-163 participated in OPERATION NEW YORK, a sweep operation joining with the ARVN’s OPERATION THUA THIEN 177 east of 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 3 March through 7 March 1968 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 3 March through 7 March, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and the 2nd battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment participated in OPERATION MINGO, a search and
destroy operation along Route 527 towards the A Shau Valley in the Quang Tri Province.
Good morning Leathernecks!
And on this the 3rd day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1776, Captain Samuel Nicholas and a battalion of Marines and sailors from Commodore Hopkins’s squadron land at New Providence Island in the Bahamas, seize the fort, and capture stores for Washington’s army.
This was the first amphibious landing by Continental Marines.
They withdrew on 16 March, 1776.
In 1801, Congress appropriates $20,000 to build a Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C.
The site at the corner of 8th and I Streets is chosen within the month and purchased by June.
In 1809, Congress authorizes an increase in the Marine Corps to 46 officers and 1,823 enlisted.
The period of enlistment is changed from three years to five.
In 1815, (the Barbary Wars) President Madison signs legislation authorizing force against Algiers.
In 1817, Congress passes the Peace Establishment Act, which sets the authorized strength of the Marine Corps at 50 officers and 942 enlisted.
In 1819, Brevet Major Anthony Gale is appointed Lieutenant Colonel Commandant.
He is the fourth Commandant of the Marine Corps.
In 1883, Congress authorizes construction of three new protected cruisers (Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago) and the unprotected cruiser Dolphin, the first steel ships of the U.S. Navy.
An “unprotected cruiser” was a type of naval warship in use from 1880 through 1905. The name was meant to distinguish it from “Protected Cruisers” which had become accepted in the 1880s. A protected cruiser did not have side armor on its hull like a battleship or “armored cruiser” but had only a curved armored deck built inside the ship (like an internal turtle-shell) which prevented enemy fire penetrating through the ship down into the most critical areas such as machinery, boilers, and ammunition storage. An unprotected cruiser lacked even this level of internal protection. An unprotected cruiser was generally cheaper and less effective than a protected cruiser, while a protected cruiser was generally cheaper and less effective than an armored cruiser.
In 1899, the President signs legislation increasing the strength of the Marine Corps to 211 Officers and 6,000 enlisted men, exclusive of the Marine Band.
In 1924, Destroyer Billingsley (DD-293) lands Marines and seamen at Telas, Honduras.
In 1941, the advance echelon of the 1st Defense Battalion lands at Johnston Atoll.
In 1945, the 3rd Marine Division clears airfield No. 3 and captures Hills 357 and 362B.
The U.S. Army wrests the last of Manila from the Japanese.
In 1964, VII MEF (composed of units from the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions, the 1st Marine Brigade, and 1st MAW) joins with Nationalist Chinese forces to conduct EXERCISE BACKPACK in Taiwan.
In 1968, during the period 3 through 7 March, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1) and the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment participated in OPERATION MINGO, a search and destroy operation along Route 527 towards the A Shau Valley in the Quang Tri Province.
In 1969, the Marines receive their first Sikorsky CH-53D, an improved model of the Corps’ heavy lift helicopter.
In 1989, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines (2/6) and the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1) are placed in cadre status as part of a reduction of three infantry battalions and the addition of a fourth rifle company to the remaining 24 active-duty battalions.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!