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 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 9th day of March in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1778, the Alfred is defeated by the British ships Ariadne and Ceres in the Atlantic, and her sailors and Marines are taken prisoner.
In 1782, Marines served with General George Rogers Clark.
A notable officer during the American Revolution (1775-1783), Brigadier General Clark earned fame for his exploits against British and Native Americans in the “Old Northwest.”
In 1847, the ships detachments of Connor’s squadron form a battalion that lands at Vera Cruz, Mexico, as part of Brigadier General William Worth’s division of General Winfield Scott’s army.
The Marines participate in the siege of the city, which surrenders on 29 March.
In 1942, Java fell to Japan, concluding the Netherlands Indies Campaign.
In 1944, the 7th Defense Battalion departs the Ellice Islands for Hawaii.
In 1945, patrols from the 3rd Marine Division reach the northeast coast of Iwo Jima.
during the 9th and 10th of March U.S. B-29s fire bombed Tokyo at night in the most savage air raid in history (including later atomic bombings).
In 1958, Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3), VMA-332, and HMR(L)-163 deploy with elements of the Seventh Fleet off Indonesia to protect U.S. citizens and interests.
In 1965, HMM-163 of Shufly and the 1st LAAM Battalion are placed uder control of the MEB.
HMM-162 arrives.
All three units become part of MAG-16.
In 1966, during the period 9 through 12 March, Communist forces overrun a Special Forces camp.
Helicopters of HMM-163 and VMO-2 take losses in pulling out many of the survivors under heavy antiaircraft fire.
In 1969, the 1st Marine Division closes out OPERATION TAYLOR COMMON, that was initiated on December 1967.
In the area southwest of An Hoa, Marine battalions killed 1,398 enemy and captured 610, while losing 156 dead and 1,327 wounded.
In 1970, in a reversal of roles, III MAF turns over operational control of American military forces in the I Corps Zone to the Army’s XXIV Corps and becomes a subset of its former subordinate.
This took place because Marine redeployments from the area left Army forces in the majority there.
III MAF still retained direct control of the 1st Marine Division and the 1st MAW, maintaining the Marine air-ground team.
Lieutenant General Keith B. McCutcheon assumes command of III MAF from Lieutenant General Nickerson.
In 1991, the first Marine units begin departing Operation Desert Storm, for the United States.
The last Marines will depart on 27 August.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!