4TH MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY
Date Signed: 8/12/2008 | ALMARS Number: 035/08
ALMARS : 035/08

R 161946Z MAY 08 ZYB
ALMAR 035/08
UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/4TH MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I AM PLEASED TO
CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION AS
YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 65TH ANNIVERSARY. 
2.  ACTIVATED AT CAMP PENDLETON ON 16 AUGUST 1943, THE 4TH MARINE
DIVISION WAS THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION TO DEPLOY DIRECTLY TO THE
PACIFIC FOR COMBAT WITHOUT FIRST STAGING AT AN INTERMEDIATE
LOCATION.  IN JUST 13 MONTHS, THE DIVISION CARRIED OUT FOUR
AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS - AT ROI-NAMUR, SAIPAN, TINIAN, AND IWO JIMA -
EARNING TWO PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMERS AND ONE NAVY UNIT
COMMENDATION STREAMER.
3.  THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE ESTABLISHED BY THE FIGHTING FOURTH
CONTINUES TODAY IN ITS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE WAR ON
TERROR.  ELEMENTS OF THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION HAVE SERVED WITH
DISTINCTION IN IRAQ AND THE HORN OF AFRICA, IN CONTINUING TO
STRENGTHEN THE SECURITY OF OUR GREAT REPUBLIC.
4.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR
FALLEN COMRADES, PAST AND PRESENT, WHO WILLINGLY GAVE THE LAST
MEASURE IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  YOUR DEDICATION AND ZEAL HONORS
THEIR MEMORY AND CONTINUES TO ADD LUSTER TO YOUR RICH HERITAGE.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//