Good morning Leathernecks, and on this the 23rd day of September in the history of our beloved Corps:
In 1776, Continental Marines were ordered to reinforce General George Washington in New York.
In 1779, Captain John Paul Jones’s flagship Bonhomme Richard engages the British frigate Serapis off Flamborough Head, Great Britain.
In bitter fighting, both ships are badly damaged and more than 250 men are killed and wounded.
Serapis strikes her colors after Marines and sailors in the tops of Jones’s ship use grenades and musket fire to sweep the tops and weather decks of the British ship.
(Bonhomme Richard’s Marines were mainly Irishmen serving in the French Army).
In 1800, during the period 23-24 September the sloop Patapsco bombards protective forts (recently captured by French troops) in the harbor of Willemstad, Curacao.
then her Marines land and assist Dutch forces defending the town against a French invasion.
In 1899, Marines from the Baltimore, Charleston, and the gunboat Concord (PG-13) land with support of naval gunfire near Olongapo, Luzon, drive off a rebel outfit, and destroy a large-caliber coastal defense gun.
In 1902, a battalion of 17 officers and 325 enlisted Marines arrives at Colon, Panama from the United States
In 1942, in the battle of Matanikau, 1/7 is briefly trapped behind enemy lines following an amphibious landing, while strong enemy defenses prevent the 1st Raider Battalion and 2/5 from crossing the river.
Lieutenant Colonel Lewis B. Puller oversees a fighting amphibious withdrawal of 1/7.
the 5th Barrage Battalion Squadron arrives on New Caledonia.
In 1943, a Navy-Marine patrol lands from the submarine Gato (SS-212) on the northeast corner of Bougainville.
After four days of scouting, they determine the area is unfavorable for an amphibious landing.
A similar reconnaissance element goes ashore at Empress Augusta Bay on the west coast from the submarine Guardfish (SS-217). It finds the area highly defended and suitable for construction of an airfield.
In 1944, Marines seized Ulithi in the western Caroline Islands.
The remote Pacific location with an anchorage larger than Pearl Harbor was used as a staging base in preparation for major amphibious operations, including the invasion of Okinawa.
the 321st RCT, temporarily detached from the 81st Infantry Division, arrives on Peleliu from Angaur and begins replacing the 1st Marines in the lines.
In 1945, the lead squadron of MAG-22, VMF-113, lands on Omura airfield.
It is followed in the next few days by VMF-314 and 422 and VMF(N)-543.
The 2nd and 6th Marines land at Nagasaki and relieve the Marine detachments of the cruisers Biloxi (CL-80) and Wichita (CA-45).
The 2nd Marine Division has responsibility foroccupying the southern half of Kyushu Island.
VAC assumes command of the 2nd and 5th Marine Divisions.
Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas!
Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever!
-Richard W. Pettengill, Corporal USMC
And damn proud of it!