This html article is produced from an uncorrected text file through optical character recognition. Prior to 1940 articles all text has been corrected, but from 1940 to the present most still remain uncorrected. Artifacts of the scans are misspellings, out-of-context footnotes and sidebars, and other inconsistencies. Adjacent to each text file is a PDF of the article, which accurately and fully conveys the content as it appeared in the issue. The uncorrected text files have been included to enhance the searchability of our content, on our site and in search engines, for our membership, the research community and media organizations. We are working now to provide clean text files for the entire collection.
One of the most significant themes for the Marine Corps in 1982 was the increase in firepower through the introduction of new weapons, the modernization of current weapons, and the restructuring of infantry units. Indicative of this effort were the improvements to the Corps’ basic infantry weapon—the M-16 rifle—the increase in the number of antitank weapons in Marine division, and enhancements in the capabilities of Marine artillery units.
Modernization of Marine Corps aviation continued as designated fighter- attack squadrons began to turn in their F-4N Phantoms for new F/A-18 Hornets. The introduction of the CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters with their heavy lift capability continued as a second helicopter squadron received the new aircraft. Flight testing of the first full-scale development AV-8B continued toward the goal of introducing the Harrier II into the fleet in the mid-1980s.
Progress was seen in the efforts to increase naval gunfire capabilities in support of Marine landing forces. Reactivation began on the battleship Iowa (BB-61), and her sister New Jersey (BB- 62) was recommissioned in late December. Their return marks the reintroduction of major caliber guns that have long been missing from the fleet. Efforts to increase amphibious lift shipping resulted in the keel-laying of a new dock landing ship (LSD-42) in August.
The year 1982 was one of outstanding results in recruiting and retention of quality Marines. About 90% of Marine Corps recruits were high school graduates. The Commandant launched a concentrated campaign to eliminate the use of illegal drugs in the Corps during 1982 in a further effort to improve the quality of Marines on the battlefield.
The Marine Corps conducted nearly 100 exercises during the year from Thailand to northern Norway. The capability of Marine forces to operate in various environments—jungle, desert, mountain, and other extreme weather conditions—was clearly demonstrated in the numerous exercises conducted over the past year. The Marine Corps continued to program resources to pre-position equipment, supplies, and ammunition for a Marine Amphibious Brigade in Norway in order to expedite NATO reinforcement and to pre-position material and equipment on dedicated shipping in the Indian Ocean to support the deterrence mission within the Southwest Asia region.
The most visible of Marine activities during the past year were those of the amphibious units serving with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. In August, 800 men of the 32d Marine Amphibious Unit, commanded by Colonel James M. Mead, landed for a 16-day stay at Beirut, Lebanon. The 32d MAU had departed Morehead City, North Carolina, in May in anticipation of participating in major training exercises in Portugal, Italy, Turkey, and Spain. The deteriorating situa
tion in Lebanon resulted in the an- being placed on alert in early un ^mer- ticipation of a mission to evacaa na- ican citizens and designated or' "fully tionals from Lebanon. After sue jate evacuating nearly 600 officers
June, the Marines, along with t ^.g2 and men of the Navy’s Ready ratjon prepared to help supervise t*ie.eV -on and of Palestine Liberation Organs ^ Syrian soldiers from the Beiru* ® inCi- evacuation was completed W1 y0fthe dent by 1 September, and Seen- . ^ tj,e Navy John F. Lehman, Jr-. :t Com' Marines and sailors the Navy ,- j|0vving mendation. In late September, ^bathe assassination of newly e CC, anCl the nese President Bashir Gernayetj,ejr massacre of Palestinian civilian ^eagan Beirut refugee camps, Preside again ordered the Marines bac non. Once again as part of t ® qq Rational peace-keeping force, > Ry\U fines—two-thirds of the neai
—went ashore and took up Posl 32^ the Beirut International Airpor - jn MAU was relieved by the -
^(PHl o
BROCKSCHMlDT)
Hilary
1; fL
VVas 2 ()cn S^en8th °f the armed forces Marines ’°32’ of which 190-°39 were
f. ’
A
r6 'n Sanr<.nC, security guard duty vehi- !red uPon • a. Vador’ El Salvador, was r'ne House a-r,“ Was en route to the Ma-
IlYw iC- Ihe VAh;«u .... . • , , •
r' UI
/ne House "ti!1Was.en route t0 the Ma“
roH a 7 e vehicle sustained one hit - ) injur:-lllimeter weapon; there
ack So,.‘If lest>ng, Marine Fig st soi,ar (VMFA-314) was
323,Ve ,he F/aTx 3f ^CAS E' Tor° t0
, and Vivid*'18’ foll«wed by VMFA-
20; CV1V1FA-531.
Cneral R°bert H. Barrow, the
.
r~ ~ \.T “"•
I> ’ «•••'.'» iit»|
Hq/0/. r "~Qao«*^
altd y- eneral Stephen G. Olmstead C(ll,fer CC ^fm‘ral S laser Holcomb
,:*erc"l0l,an8’ Korea> during e Team Spirit 82.
ljtyg Qqj .
^ase a| °J?Cr *n Beirut, and returned to its aniP Lejeune, North Carolina.
*982 Chronology
5; An
and tacticaUdlt0rium used for weapons Corps A;_ 'nstructor training at Marine I^ed in ,8tatlon (MCAS), Yuma was .*• Bitto p°?0r ol Ille late Colonel John 'n t,1e crpn.° °nel Ditto was instrumental k'ne Avi-i» IOn and development of Mali’3:;^ at MCm v*1 WeaP°ns Squadron Bled jo . ^ *urtia. Colonel Ditto was
nhen his uUary 1981 at the age of 44 Lher"’ Point arrier crashed at MCAS
V no/ 62-mill l3:T'njUrie-s.
!!0rnet aircraft^' Marine CorPs F/A-'8 ii! tlle Norm Went on Itle assembly line 'horHe, CaPr r°P CorP°ration in Haw- .nd extensi,0rn'a' ARer final assembly ,htlack Squ;„|C testing’ Marine Fighter J Erst Sailr,°n t V M F-A - 314) was
thc FM0" a^CAS E1 Toro t0
Commandant of the Marine Corps, advised that urinalysis test results received from drug testing laboratories could be used in disciplinary proceedings involving Marines accused of drug usage for any drug except cannabis.
31: Marines of the Marine Security Guard Detachment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, responded to a fire in one of the American embassy buildings and were instrumental in extinguishing the blaze. A Marine inside the building was badly burned and was evacuated to the United States as a result.
February
1: The Commandant of the Marine Corps launched a concentrated campaign to eliminate the use of illegal drugs in the Corps following specific guidelines set in ALMAR 246. The language of the order was simple, beginning with: “The distribution, possession or use of illegal drugs is not tolerated in the United States Marine Corps,” and all Marines were subject to random urinalysis testing.
12: East Coast Marine amphibious units (MAUs) were redesignated. Under the new system, they would be numbered in the 20s with the first digit “2” reflecting the Marine amphibious force (MAF) from which each MAU originated. MAUs from II MAF would be designated 22, 24, 26, and 28 instead of 32, 34. 36, and 38.
13: Marines from III MAF participated in “Team Spirit 82,” conducted in the Republic of Korea (RoK) to exercise deployment, reception, and employment of RoK/US forces responding to possible contingencies in the Korean theater.
28: The Defense Department rejected all bids by competing companies to manufacture a new 9-millimeter handgun, which was designed to be compatible with NATO sidearms and replace the Colt .45 currently in use by U. S. armed forces. Of the four companies bidding, none was able to meet more than 11 of the 71 specifications laid down by the Defense Department, which plans to purchase 400,000 9-millimeter pistols over a 10-year period.
March
5: The Commandant announced that the Marine Corps program designed to reveal drug usage would also be applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
5: The first of 15 CH-53E “Super Stallion” helicopters was unveiled at MCAS Tustin, California, by Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465. New features of the CH-53E include the ability to refuel in flight (a first for helicopters) and lift capability twice that of earlier models. East Coast helicopter squadrons had re
ceived their first CH-53Es in 1981.
17: An attempt was made by dissident military forces of Guatemala to take over the government in that country. U.S. Marines were placed on alert inside the American embassy, but were later ordered to stand down. There were no casualties.
22: The space-shuttle Columbia
(STS-3) embarked on its third trip into space in a mission that lasted 7 days, 3 hours, and 25 minutes. The crew on board included Marine Colonel Jack R. Lousma, 46. who previously was a member of the astronaut support crews for the Apollo 9, 10, and 13 missions and pilot for Skylab 3.
23: “Woodland” camouflage utilities replaced “poplin” utilities in use throughout the Marine Corps. Improvements include reinforced knee, elbow, and seat patches, unpleated breast pockets, slightly heavier material, smaller trouser pockets, and larger collars. The cost of new utilities remained the same as the old ones.
27: A group of 120 politicians and excombat troops broke ground on the Mall near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., for a $6 million memorial to those who served and died in Vietnam.
31: A group of unidentified individuals fired a Chinese-made rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and 20 rounds of small arms ammunition at the American embassy in Guatemala. The RPG caused a 4-inch hole in the second floor. No injuries were reported.
April
1-6: Exercise “Gallant Eagle 82” employed 10,000 Marines and sailors of the 7th Marine Amphibious Brigade (MAB) at Twentynine Palms, California, in a U. S. Readiness Command exercise. The purpose was to provide a simulated combat environment to exercise, train, and evaluate the 7th MAB, along with other multi-service forces of the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, in a desert environment. In all, “Gallant Eagle 82” employed 25,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.
2: The annual Navy League awards were presented to the following: Colonel Jack B. Hammond, 2d Marine Air Wing (MAW), received the General John A. Lejeune award for inspirational leadership; Major Richard F. Vercauteren, 2d Marine Division, received the General Holland M. Smith award for operational competence; and Gunnery Sergeant J. J. Brown, 1st Marine Division, received the General Gerald C. Thomas award for inspirational leadership.
5: Approximately 15 shots were fired
We also do custom mQitary/na- val equipment, component models, sculpture for promotion, training purposes. Free brochure upon request
Dept. P583 Box 9 Belle Haven, VA 23306
SEND $1 FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOG. Also lists hundreds of WWII, njodern miniature ships, armor, aircraft models.
talion, 3d Marines, 1st Marine Brig led by Sergeant Jack Lawrence. . e 22: The 70th anniversary of aviation was observed. On 22 May ^ Lieutenant Alfred Austell Cunning^ ^ became Marine Aviator Number solo flight at Annapolis, Marylan , ^ two hours and 40 minutes of 'nstrlIC(jnjt 24: The 32d Marine Amphibious (MAU), commanded by C°*oneAnl- Mead, began deployment with 1. 6pieet. phibious Task Force, U. S. Sixt 'ptie
Corps Gazette, “Teddy Roose the Corps’ Sea-Going Mission.
ban°n'
bine
Lei
and mac|
the subject of a rocket
min'"’’
Hospital Apprentice (HA) F'rst{ Fred F. Lester, USNR. HA1 posthumously awarded the aS »
Honor for heroism while servi ^ ^ medical corpsman attached to Marine Division on Okinawa
\V3S
of
World War II.
c0fl1'
The USS Nassau (LHA-4) and USS Saipan (LHA-2) at Task Force 61 turnover at Rota, Spain, in February 1982 as Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 3-81, including the Saipan, was relieved by ARG 1-82. See page 226.
by unknown assailants using a small caliber rifle at the American embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. There were no injuries, and only minor damage to the outside of the building was incurred.
11: The Dome of the Rock shooting by unidentified assailants in Jerusalem caused extensive reexamination of political priorities throughout the Middle East. Marine security guards at overseas posts in the Middle East increased security measures for the protection of American interests and property as directed by the Secretary of State.
17: The USS Lewis B. Puller (FFG- 23) was commissioned at the Long Beach, California, Naval Shipyard. The ship is named in honor of Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, the only Marine in history to receive five Navy crosses. The 445-foot guided missile frigate had been under construction since 1979.
17-29: 29,000 sailors and Marines from the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand participated in Exercise “RIMPAC ’82” to enhance tactical capabilities of participating units in most major aspects of conventional maritime warfare.
22: The USS Iowa (BB-61), leader of the four-member class of battleships remaining in the U. S. Navy, was moved from her moorings at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in preparation for reactivation and recommissioning in January 1985.
23: Rotation of the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) units occurred with Battalion Landing Team, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (BLT 3/3), Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (HMM-165), and MAU Service Support Group 31 (MSSG-31) departing Hawaii for deployment to WestPac. These units replaced BLT 1/3, HMM-265, and MSSG-37.
27 April-16 May: Exercise “Ocean Venture 82” was conducted in the Car- ribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the southeastern United States to emphasize command and control of forces in a simulated combat environment. It included 5,500 Marines in the overall force of 45,000 active and reserve military from all the armed services and units of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Marines. The exercise was designed to signal that the United States is prepared to defend its Caribbean interests.
28: Lejeune Hall, the United States Naval Academy Physical Education Center, was dedicated. The new center was named after Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune, an 1888 graduate of the Naval Academy who became the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Lejeune Hall is a 95,000-square-foot steel, concrete, granite, and glass building. It features swimming and diving pools, six wrestling rings, strength training rooms, a 120-person classroom, and administrative offices. The grounds surrounding Lejeune Hall feature three memorial monuments.
30: Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 (HMT-303) was activated at Camp Pendleton, California, and was at- oq 3d
tached to Marine Aircraft Group ■ Marine Aircraft Wing.
May „i
21: The winner of the 1982 Ann Rifle Squad Combat Competition wa Squad, 1st Platoon, Company E, - ,e
_____________ , . sixth fi;*;
on duty in the eastern Mediterranean ^
32d MAU was composed of Ba
Landing Team, 2d Battalion, aCj.
rines, Marine Medium Helicopter p0rt
ron 261, and MAU Service
Group 32. pebs
28: The 1981 Colonel Robehjstory
Heinl Award for Marine Corps a[)j
was awarded to Mr. Jack Shuhnis
Dr. Graham A. Cosmas for the'ruaritf
in the November 1981 issue o j
veil “
June
7: The embassy in Beirut
gun attack which caused py
damage. A Marine was w°j*duty sta' shrapnel but continued in a ful'
tus’ ■ mros BasC'
8: Camp Kuwae, Marine corp ^ ^
Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okina jate
renamed Camp Lester in honor0 £|aSs
11: Colonel Michael P. Sulhv ’ cfaft manding officer of Marine £0l-p?
Group 11, became the first Marie flight pilot to achieve 4,000 accident- hours in an F-4 Phantom aircra'nlPhib'' 21 June-2 July: 7th Marine A £afnp ous Brigade (MAB) units vto Pendleton and Marine Corps 1 pal'
Combat Center at Twentynine ^.82 ticipated in Exercise “Stratmo ni;if
to exercise and test 7th MAB a pf0'
shalling, and deployment plans
cedures. Anierical!
23: Initial evacuation ot the with
embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, e
nm ^?.ar'ne security guard detachment Pro2v4'ding security.
"'as * ^mer*can embassy in Beirut Vere then abandoned due to se-
s°nn i ('ng in tlle area. Remaining per- dor’se Were relocated to the ambassa- Yar2grf?.'c*ence 'n nearby city of rity p ,^'ne Marines of the Marine secu- tuard detachment provided security. Marin ' l,ne~26 November: Over 250 the 2c]C|'. r°m d'e ^d Marine Division and fan,, ,0rce Service Support Group par- navv/ With other U. S. forces and Aitier*1^ torces from various South 1Can nations in Exercise “Unitas
1
FLEMINGS)
' M
t.v
ip
2ml
K\\X
k
Aft
r.v.
Ralph ^ Puller and Commander °f the p j^art‘n’ co>nmanding officer
e ppp -
at the ship’s commis-
s,0nin„ —’ “* me snip
lng 17 April 1982
X)UlI” . .
Pr°fessin„e,Slgned to promote military States an/lsm between the United Participating South American
Hay:
tes.
and
28:
he Marine Corps
aircraft r- ____ ~
Ss Ah^ 0fficial|y retired at Marine final fi: tation, Iwakuni, Japan, after
last C-117D
aircraft was retired at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina.
16: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164) was the first squadron recognized by the Boeing/Vertol Company, the manufacturer of the CH-46 “Sea Knight” helicopter, to reach 100,000 cumulative flight hours. HMM- 164 is based at Marine Corps Air Station (Helicopter), Tustin, California.
18: Operation “Phoenix Bear,” an all-Reserve amphibious landing exercise, was executed by the 46th Marine Amphibious Unit to test readiness of reservists and equipment for partial or complete mobilization at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
26: The USS Vandegrift (FFG-48) was launched by Todd Shipyard Corporation, Seattle, Washington. The ship was named in honor of General Alexander A. Vandegrift, the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps (January 1944-December 1947).
29: Colonel Justice M. Chambers, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism on Iwo Jima, died at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, at the age of 74. Colonel Chambers commanded the 3d Battalion, 25th Marines in the Iwo Jima landing on 19 January 1945.
August
5: General Paul X. Kelley, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of Staff, laid the keel of LSD-42 at the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, Washington. The ship is designed to transport combat-ready and equipped Marines to a deployment area.
14: President Reagan proclaimed this day a National Navajo Code Talkers Day to honor the Navajo code talkers from the New Mexico and Arizona reservations who joined the Marine Corps during World War II. They used their native language as a base for a Marine Corps communications code in operations against the Japanese throughout the Pacific.
25: Approximately 800 Marines of the 32d Marine Amphibious Unit under the command of Colonel James Mead went ashore in Beirut, Lebanon, to form the United States element of a multinational force called in to assist Lebanese armed forces and to assure the safe and orderly departure of Palestine Liberation Organization forces from Lebanon. U. S. Marines joined approximately 400 French and 800 Italian military personnel to form the peacekeeping force.
27 August-18 October: Marines from
minutes of aerial swashbuckling, starring the flying aces of “Our Fighting Navy”.
• Dec. 7th: Oscar winner John Ford's classic and bloody record of Pearl Harbor and the first Carrier attack in history.
• Battle of Midway: Academy Award Director Ford’s immortal documentary. The air assault of Japanese bombers and the battle with Attack Carriers cost the enemy 28 ships and 300 aircraft.
• Black Cats-: Catalina PBY Night Bombers; slow, ungainly sea birds. Tough planes and men taking on Jap Zeros and Heavy Cruisers. A handful of cantankerous PBY's against overwhelming odds.
• Carrier Action - Korea: Aboard the Valley Forge oft Korea. Aerial action with WW II Corsairs and AD Skyraiders sharing the scrap with F9f Panther Jets against enemy Migs. Rare footage of torpedo attacks on N. Korean dams.
All 4 programs (90 minutes) only $79.95 Send to FERDE GROFE FILMS Suite 168
702 Washington St., Marina del Rey, CA 90291
U.S. and Canada, add $2.50 shipping, foreign orders, add $3.50. CA res. add 6% Sales Tax.
Visa & Master - include card no. & expiration. ORDER TOLL-FREE (800) 854-0561, ext. 925. in Calif. (800) 432-7257, ext. 925.
r
niRESHOU)
THE BLUE ANGELS EXPERIENCE
Threshold's stark pilots-eye photography puts you into the cockpit of a 1600 mile per hour F-4 Phantom. You will fly through violent buffeting jet streams in gut-straining 8-G formation aerobatics. You and five other Blue Angel Phantoms. All within three feet of each other!
Limited Edition: Original, uncut, 89 minute theater version. Written by Frank Herbert and narrated by Leslie Nielsen. Available in V.H.S., Beta, 16 mm, and 35 mm. Contact Aero/Space Visuals Society, 2500 Seattle Tower, Seattle, WA 98101 800-426-9933 or (206) 624-9090 in Washington State.
'.flight
□ V," V.H.S. $85 □ BETA I $85
□ ’/>" BETA II $85 □ V." U MATIC $121
□ 16 M.M./35 M.M. FILM SALES/RENTAL INFO. SPECIFY MAKE/MODEL OF MACHINE:
to Naval Air Station, Cubi
°int
’ Ul th D UVUI rMl OldllUIl,
'etter une ^ePublic of the Philippines. ll7Dhad°kn as the “Skytrain,” the C- transPorti Cen USed f°r combat support, CVacUati(!n^ trooPs> cargo lift, medical c°ld we ?s’ and had been modified for Iached er 'fissions by having skis at-
B
ADD $2.50 POSTAGE AND HANDLING WASHINGTON RESIDENTS ADD 5.4% TAX □ CHECK/M.O. ENCLOSED $
□ VISA/BAC □ MASTERCHARGE EXP. DATE.
CARD #_______________ ___________________________
SIGNATURE____________ ___________________________
NAME____________________________________________
ADDRESS________________________________________
30:
Th
;as 2 ]/ /rcngth of the armed forces Marines ’7°9, of which 193,399 were
"a:
* Th
'ast Marine U-l 1A Piper Aztec
(Continued on page 250)
TELEPHONE (_
The Marine Corps in 1982
(Continued from page 75)
the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade and sailors from East Coast commands joined forces with servicemen from nine other NATO nations to participate in two exercises: “Northern Wedding ’82” and “Bold Guard ’82” in Norway, Denmark, and the Federal Republic of Germany. The exercises tested the capacity of alliance forces to bring in reinforcements and resist aggression in the Atlantic, Baltic, and Norwegian sea areas. The exercises provided an opportunity for the conduct of a combined amphibious assault in the North Sea followed by a tactical reembarkation for subsequent amphibious
landings in the Baltic approaches and the Baltic.
September
1: General Roy S. Geiger was named to the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor and will be enshrined in the Hall of Honor in May of 1983. General Geiger was the first Marine aviator to have tactical command of all Marine Corps ground forces in the Pacific during World War II, and, as a lieutenant general, became the third Marine officer to wear three stars on active duty. On 30 June 1947, Congress passed a special act promoting General Geiger posthumously to four-star rank in the Marine Corps.
2: Captain Dirk R. Ahle, of Weapons Company, 2d Battalion 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, was the recipient of the 1982 Leftwich trophy for outstanding leadership as the unit’s company commander. The award was presented to Captain Ahle who is from St. Louis, Missouri, at the evening parade at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
10: By order of the President, Marines of the 32d Marine Amphibious Unit were withdrawn from Lebanon for scheduled redeployment to Camp Lejeune.
15: The Marine Detachment, USS New Jersey, was activated at Long Beach, California. The detachment will help man the vessel that has assisted the Marine Corps in accomplishing its mission in three wars.
20: President Reagan announced that U. S. forces would again join French and Italian troops in Beirut to enable the government of Lebanon to resume control of the city. President Reagan’s decision was spurred by the massacre of hundreds of Moslem Palestinians, reportedly by Lebanese Christian militiamen, in two Beirut refugee camps.
25: Camp Pendleton, California, the largest Marine Corps amphibious base, celebrated its 40th anniversary. First dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, the Marine Corps base has been the home of the 1st, 3d, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions spanning three wars. It is currently the home of the I Marine Amphibious Force, the 1st Marine Divi-
sion, 1st Force Service Support and Marine Aircraft Group -1 ■ jation 26: The Navy Unit Cofor was awarded to Marines an s . eepin$ their handling of the U. S. P®®® on the effort in Beirut, Lebanon. W 0f the initial 16-day operation, Mann 32d Marine Amphibious Urn ^cS.
the departure of more than - ^jers-
tine Liberation Organization Qe0etd Marine Corps Commandant, ^ of Robert Barrow and the Com ^y-jjjain the Sixth Fleet, Vice Admits ^ cefe- Rowden, presented the awar s ppi-9)- mony on board the USS gejriit
about 60 miles off the coas fpG-^' 27: The laying of the keel tot at a guided missile frigate, too ship Bath Iron Works, Bath, Ma>ne_ gapiu£
Dam non xuim, ucm-, • 'nr Sa will be named in honor of V»4J Nicholas, the Revolutionary^ yon1'
who is considered the Corps mandant. ^d Mar'nt|
29: 1,200 Marines of the J . joinei) Amphibious Unit (MAU) ag^ ^df
2,200 French and Italian troop jn3- ‘ * . to
ned,al
z,/.oo riciicn auu — fthefl111^ in Beirut, Lebanon as part o sgjgne< tional peace-keeping force a ^joa protect Palestinians and Prex!eniassacre(- strife of the sort that led to t -jjages 0 at the Palestinian refugee y wa Sabra and Shatila. The 32d^ JaineS
under the command of Mead.
rCeS
eau. ,tT1„d f°r< ,
30: The strength of the a <- 7f5 ^ was 2,108,612, of which Marines. n, s
30: Corporal David L. Rea^ keep'* with the multinational P®' fvlar'nt’ force, was killed and three o jefuse wounded as they attempte ol)pds 0 piece of ordnance inside t e ^ D’U1 the international airport in
lo^
„ ............. ................ , at pn?e
Beach (CGN-9) was reactivat® ^erton- Sound Naval Shipyard, ^rn1 Washington as part of the s service following overhau • jntenafl 9: Station Operations and M Marin Squadron (SOMS) activa e g ad1'* Corps Air Station, El Toro.
,9$
October
1: The Marine Detachment
uss
250
Headquarte~S WaS- a result of sPlittinS
Thers:,;f° lorm two separate squadrons nciui ^1ac^e tbe SOMS’ command
sP°risible for „ •
I5. ,r a11 station aircraft activities, n ha ^ousand precooked and fro-
namburgers,
zen
[ ,1 . WCIC IlUl Lull 11L, do
Parts 'pi e,r French and Italian counter- shlPpe<J fm,, blar8ers were paid for and 'n respon ° cnarge by American firms
•ne Corps meet its recruiting
g0ah, but Qrw f T"................ “ &
scho0i g . j U ° of tbe recruits were high
^arinesra,,Uates' d3lc retention of quality
‘ O j cut 170L 1LSU11U
rients f.„C°nd *argest number of reenlist
- 0n record.
18* u.
Reeled*16 j?*8!1 Mobility Multipurpose
heeled
bayload v k- -------------------------- -***»■ • »«-r iwi
e 'cle that will serve as a per
and 1/4 ton
•lllel Po • “**“ ovivc aa a pci-
Vehicle wer’ cargo carrier, command alce. p capons platform, and ambuss vehinlrattS t°r the development of • e e were scheduled to be
'arded
tannin n»W concept for organizing °rCe Hea 1 8 Marine Air Ground Task
°r “ e tuaiterS- The new Plan called
for
VbrienIiS,Cd
i„a , men. Six Marine amphibia es’ tWo in each division-wing
mn„ ’ 111 eacn aivision-w
'S|cd plenned hy 65 officers and 85 22; jn ’ Were also planned.
Marines - ; rations, vt .5% ot
netv r S at ^amp Lejeune preferred ” ‘ rations over the old ones. The
th,
Ss ‘mport
to ?> that
ant feature of the new C ra-
<r*
lew fi .7 u 1111 c
• MpRXlble Package , ‘ IK£s are licht^r t
‘retort’
V nf» “fo111'-* uiai luuuii:
lgtled t0 W Packaging materials are de
Review 1983
•ion of
ron, the" iCfS 3nd Headquarters Squad- Corps (/ a(r8est squadron in the Marine
reketchup lIr8ers’ complete with bun, lJ. $ Asalt’ ar>d pickle, were shipped to Several ^r'nes serving in Beirut as part of ^eadline r?er'can companies’ reaction to Well as .I 3' Marines were not eating as
15: pln Hayton, Ohio. '
^fense'f)3* ^Car *982 was c*ted by t*le and reteme^artment as tbc pest recruiting
since the 'i°n ^6ar ^or the armed forces
did the Map1' C~ded in 1973' Not only
!ch°ol g.
, , . “IVIWIWIUUUUI kjUUIllJ'
ln the’se Unng fiscal year 1982 resulted "Hu^l „Vehicle (HMMWV), the (|t its vm, ’ rePiaced the jeep and some 'Sa basin r8er brothers. The “Humvee” - 1C four-wheel drive
son;
avv,
,nv0lvinat the end °f 1982 in a contest nental vf , M General, Teledyne Conti- "'bo Coors> and General Dynamics, >acSld/0r a $1 billion, 5-year °Pli°n f0r ^,000 vehicles including an 19; ^ another 50,000 at a later date. ,arine r ec's*on was reached by the 0 devni„ °rPs Chief of Staff Committee
tl)g * ' »
^a'Phibio|Stac'S^,rnent °f three Marine Cach head S| °rce Planning headquarters tachperc hy a brigadier general and 45 Pn,anen'ly staffed with 47 officers
eam
,eady-tnVecent test °f the new “Meal, P Marin..at fMRE) rations, 91.5% of
ttO;
the old tin cans gave way
an<1 the are lighter that C rations withstand climate and rough
*‘n8s / iyava|. —
handling stresses. The new MREs will be issued this year as old C ration supplies are depleted.
29: The 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU), under the command of Colonel Thomas M. Stokes, Jr., replaced the 32d MAU as part of the multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut, Lebanon.
29 October-3 November: The 32d Marine Amphibious Unit backloaded into five amphibious ships in Beirut en route to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
November
4: U. S. Marines extended their presence in the Lebanese capital of Beirut to the Christian eastern sector, sending their first patrol into one of the most devastated areas along the old “Green Line” that for seven years divided the war-torn city into sectarian parts. The Marines carried M16 rifles and .45-caliber pistols, while two of the jeeps were mounted with 60-millimeter machine guns.
5: Retired Marine Corps General Edwin Allen Pollock, 83, the only Marine to command both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Marine Forces, died in Charleston, South Carolina. He commanded the 1st Marine Division in Korea from August 1952-June 1953.
9: The Commandant of the Marine Corps issued a statment elaborating on the approval of the Marine Corps’ new service rifle, the M16A2. The M16AI underwent significant engineering changes to produce a more sound and reliable weapon. The Commandant stated that the Marine Corps’ well deserved reputation for military professionalism stems in part from the unique relationship that has existed between a Marine and his rifle and from the Corps’ devotion to marksmanship proficiency as a fundamental skill of all Marines. The Commandant also stated that he was confident that the selection of the M16A2 will enhance the Corps’ combat effectiveness. Due to the rapidly declining inventory of M16Als, the Corps has elected to replace them with the newer models on a one-for-one basis in fiscal year 1984, with inventory conversion completed by fiscal year 1989.
11-16: Space shuttle Columbia’s first satellite-carrying commercial flight took place with Marine Colonel Robert Over- myer on board as pilot and Vance D. Brand, who served with the Corps from 1953-1957, as shuttle commander. The four-astronaut team successfully released a massive communications satellite from the space shuttle and left it behind them in space.
13: The dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial took place at the memorial site in Washington, D.C., immediately following a parade in tribute to Vietnam Veterans. The dedication and parade were part of the week-long National Salute to Vietnam Veterans which included a candlelight vigil, unit reunion registration, and religious services, for Marine Corps Vietnam veterans and those from other services.
24: The 32d Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) arrived at Morehead City, North Carolina from Beirut, Lebanon, concluding its Mediterranean deployment. The 32d MAU was relieved in Beirut on 29 October 1982 by the 24th MAU and participated in a training exercise in Morocco prior to its return.
24: The last F-4 Phantom fighters departed Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), El Toro, California. Flight operations have been slowly phased out at MCAS El Toro due to the noise levels of modem aircraft and their incompatibility with neighboring communities. This marked the end of a 20-year era at the air station.
December
3: The new Federal Aviation Administration Building in New York City was named after Major Robert M. Fitzgerald, a highly decorated Marine aviator. Major Fitzgerald was killed in action in Ihe Quang Nam Province of Vietnam on 1 June 1970 while attempting a helicopter rescue of a six-man reconnaissance team that was engaged in combat.
3-7: The 31st Marine Amphibious Unit participated in Exercise “Jade Tiger 83” conducted at Wahibah Sands, Oman. The exercise included close air support in conjunction with the establishment of the beachhead by amphibious forces, follow-on strikes as the force moved inland, and interdiction against designated hostile surface contacts.
7: President Reagan approved the activation of a new U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM) responsible for protecting U. S. security interests in the Middle East, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean areas. The command will be empowered to draw from a pool of about 230,000 troops in the U. S. in the event of a war emergency in that critical region. The unified command is an outgrowth of the Rapid Deployment Force created by the Carter Administration in 1980, in the wake of the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afganistan.
10: A 250-man Marine Detachment assigned to Exercise “UN1TAS XXII” and the “West African Training Cruise 82” on board the USS Portland (LSD- 37) returned after a six-month deployment. Navy and embarked Marine Corps
251
personnel made goodwill visi s ous African areas conducing activities, community relations p J open houses, and other events o U. S. and African relations. s
13: U. S. Marine peace-keeping ^ began training a special unit o f.
nese Army in an expansion o ese
can role in Lebanon. Abou‘ 7Q Marines soldiers joined a company o - ajr. at the Americans’ camp near„ port for 21 days of training m ,(s try skills including helicopter 0IT1.
28: The USS New Jersey was ^ missioned. The battleship was ^/orld
ROTRON’S "EARLY WARNING” SENSOR PROTECTS THE AIR MOVERS THAT PROTECTYOUR ELECTRONICS.
Now there’s another reason to specify precision Rotron fans beside their QPL status.
It’s the Performance Sensor available on our AC and electronically commutated DC fans. This sensor responds to cooling problems before heat can damage sophisticated electronic systems designed for the military.
Using a Hall-effect sensor activated by a rotating field within the motor housing, it automatically senses any reduction in speed or line voltage, open winding or failure of the fan to start.
The sensor sends a tachometer-type signal to activate a light or sound warning, kick in a back-up blower, shut the system off or do just about anything else you want it to do.
When you consider the importance of uninterrupted cooling in the systems you design, this latest example of Rotron quality is well worth discussing.
The only thing more reliable than a Rotron fan is a Rotron fan with its own “early warning” sensor. Call or write for more information.
J^EEsE ROTRON
Custom Division
ROTRON INC., WOODSTOCK, NEW YORK 12498
Lawson H.S. Sanderson A'^l‘ ^jarine General Sanderson was tned for
.orps dive-Doniuiug u* homD1 &
iis experimental close SUP^° u]jShed 10 ixercises. The award was e ^ a yla- ecognize superior performs ine attack squadron. -minced id111
31: The Commandant ann a neVv darine Corps aviation achie g( ap. nilestone of a major mis aP . s iroximately 6.2 major Aga'ns
00,000 flight hours for 1 • set f
30,000 flight hours tor ' set for ,e 6.5 goal the Commands ( ^ 12, this represented sign te everat' s and is the lowest annual ^ile rv.m« aviation- ■
ned by Marine c.uif- “ rorpS a : ultimate goal of Marin niishaP n will continue to be a ^ent tha e, the Commandant was c j nica n,cic on successm e
the Commaiiuani ps.,,fUl nw
the emphasis on succe es already establishe , rc|stllJ rps can continue to work t 6 0 0r il by attaining a mishap s in 1983.
Crawford
Secti°n
is headoflheRefere^ Historical Center crate c ,
Corps Historical Center staIe t
ds degrees from Shipp ^ of sylvania and the Un (ory an
with the Manne Corps
SeCtion »
in,e has in u.e R^rence u
Corps Histoncal Cente she P
3eorge Washington
ed as a senior technicia
sion since 1976 rante has been in the
bi>‘
TEL.. (914) 679-5201 TWX: 510-247-9033