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 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.
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.
During the period 4 through 7 March 1966 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1966, during the period 4 through 7 March, the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and the ARVN 2nd Division participated in OPERATION UTAH and OPERATION LIEN KET 26, a search and destroy operation against the PAVN 36th Regiment and VC Main Force units 11 Km northwest of Quang Ngai City.
This was the first USMC contact with the NVA.
During the period 6 March through 10 March 1968 in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1968, during the period 6 March through 10 March, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines participated in OPERATION ROCK and sweep the peninsula formed by the Vu Gia and Thu Bon Rivers, the so called “Arizona Territory” 6 Km northwest of An Hoa, in the Quang Nam Province.
Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 7th day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1778, the Randolph and her Marines (reinforced by Continental soldiers) take on the 64-gun ship-of-the-line Yarmouth near Barbados.
In the midst of the battle, the Randolph’s powder magazine explodes, and she sinks with the loss of 301 sailors, Marines, and soldiers.
Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, Marines join the crewmen of two armed barges in capturing two British supply ships in the Delaware River.
The barges also support General Anthony Wayne’s brigade as it forages in New Jersey for food for Washington’s army at Valley Forge.
In 1804, Lt. Colonel Burrows resigns as Commandant for health reasons.
In 1927, the headquarters of the 2nd Brigade and the remainder of the 5th Regiment arrive in Corinto, Nicaragua from the U.S.
In 1945, Hill 362-C falls to the 9th Marines on Iwo Jima.
U.S. troops took the Remagen Bridge and crossed the Rhine.
In 1951, the Eighth Army launches a new offensive dubbed OPERATION RIPPER.
The 1st Marine Division’s mission is to capture the town of Hongchon, north of Hoengsong.
Opposition is relatively light as the Communists fight small delaying actions and withdraw.
In 1960, elements of the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Brigade, 1st MAW, the Seventh Fleet, and the Nationalist Chinese Navy and Marine Corps conduct a large-scale exercise on Taiwan.
It involves the first helicopter lift of Nationalist Marines and the establishment of a Short Expeditionary Landing Field (SELF).
The exercise lasts through to 10 April.
In 1966, Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara requests an increase in the Corps to 278,184 Marines by mid-1967.
If approved, this would make the Corps the only service to grow larger than its maximum size during the Korean War.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!