Originally Posted March 30, 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 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 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 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.
During the period 26 March through 6 April 1966 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 26 March through 6 April, an SLF (1st Battalion, 5th Marines) and 2 Battalions of Vietnamese Marines participated in OPERATION JACKSTAY, a search and clear operation along the Long Tau shipping channel.
During the period 28 March through 30 March 1966 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 28 March through 30 March, the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and the ARVN 5th Regiment, 2nd Division participated in OPERATION INDIANA/LIEN KET 30, an operation to reinforce the ARVN OPERATION QUYET TANG 72.
During 29 and 30 March 1966 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during 29 and 30 March, the Marines participated in OPERATION ALABAMA, a search and destroy operation throughout III Corps.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 30th and penultimate day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1847, Marines and sailors from the sloop Portsmouth land and occupy San Jose, Mexico.
Congress authorizes an increase in the Corps of 12 officers and 1,000 enlisted.
In 1945, VMB-611 arrives on Mindinao in the Philippines.
In 1949, BLT-9 departs Shanghai for the United States, with the 3rd Marines assuming its mission of protecting American citizens.
In 1952, VMF(N)-513 begins deploying from the east coast of Korea to K-8 airfield near Kunsan, on the west coast about 100 miles below Seoul.
In 1966, the 7th Marine Regiment terminated OPERATION INDIANA in Vietnam.
In 1968, Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9) conducts a dawn attack against enemy trenches and bunkers, inflicting significant casualties.
The siege is essentially ended as much of the NVA force has withdrawn.
Marine casualties between 1 November 1967 and now total 205 dead and 1,668 wounded.
Enemy confirmed dead are 1,602 with estimates of total casualties exceeding 10,000.
In 1969, III MAF engineers and naval construction forces complete building a new Liberty Bridge across the wide Thu Bon River.
In 1971, the Marine Corps Reserve Civic Action Fund closes out.
Marines and friends of the Corps had funneled $4,784,000 worth of help to the South Vietnamese people through this program.
In 1972, North Vietnam launches its long-planned conventional assault on the South.
Soon dubbed the Easter Offensive, it involves 14 divisions, 26 separate regiments, and hundreds of tanks and artillery pieces.
It has three major prongs directed against Quang Tri in the north, Pleiku in central South Vietnam, and the area around Saigon in the deep south.
The campaign initially makes significant gains.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!