66TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION
Date Signed: 9/10/2008 | ALMARS Number: 038/08
ALMARS : 038/08

ALMAR 038/08
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SUBJ/66TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  I AM PLEASED TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND
SAILORS OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 66TH
ANNIVERSARY.   FROM ITS ACTIVATION ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT CAMP
ELLIOTT, CALIFORNIA, TO THE PRESENT, THE "FIGHTING THIRD" HAS EARNED
RENOWN FOR ITS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
2.  FROM THE BEACHES AND BATTLEFIELDS OF BOUGAINVILLE, THE NORTHERN
SOLOMONS, GUAM AND IWO JIMA, TO THE JUNGLES AND RICE PADDIES OF
VIETNAM; FROM THE DESERTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST, TO COMBAT OPERATIONS
IN FALLUJAH, RAMADI, AND AL ANBAR PROVINCE, THE GALLANT WARRIORS OF
THE 3D MARINE DIVISION HAVE EARNED A HALLOWED PLACE IN THE HISTORY
OF OUR CORPS.
3.  IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, YOUR RESOLUTE SERVICE IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN HAS BEEN SUPERB, AND HAS CONTRIBUTED IMMEASURABLY TO THE
FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IN THOSE TWO NATIONS.  YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE IN
SUPPORTING HUMANITARIAN RELIEF OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC HAS
ALSO EARNED THE ADMIRATION OF ALL AMERICANS.
4.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR MANY NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS, PLEASE PAUSE TO
REMEMBER YOUR FELLOW MARINES - PAST AND PRESENT - WHO GAVE THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF LIBERTY.  YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE
VALUES CHERISHED BY ALL FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE IS A FITTING TRIBUTE
TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU.
5.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS MARINES!  JAMES T. CONWAY,
GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//