R 071918Z SEP 12
UNCLASSIFIED/
ALMAR 035/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/3D MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, IT IS MY HONOR TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION AS YOU MARK YOUR 70TH ANNIVERSARY ON 16 SEPTEMBER.
2.  FORMED AT CAMP ELLIOT, CALIFORNIA IN 1942 DURING THE OPENING MONTHS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE 3D MARINE DIVISION WAS SOON TESTED AT THE LANDING BEACHES AND BATTLEFIELDS OF THE PACIFIC THEATER.  FROM ITS INITIAL AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT EMPRESS AUGUSTA BAY ON THE ISLAND OF BOUGAINVILLE TO ITS SUBSEQUENT COMBAT OPERATIONS ON BOTH GUAM AND IWO JIMA, THE NICKNAME "THE FIGHTING THIRD" WAS WELL EARNED.  CALLED TO ACTION AGAIN IN THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM, THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES THROUGH INNUMERABLE ACTS OF TENACITY, COURAGE UNDER FIRE, AND SELFLESS SACRIFICE.  IN RECENT YEARS, THE DIVISION HAS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR CORPS' SUCCESS IN THE DESERTS, VILLAGES AND CITIES OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
3.  AS YOU COMMEMORATE THIS HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY, KNOW THAT ALL MARINES, AS WELL AS YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS, VALUE YOUR HONORABLE SERVICE AND ARE PROUD OF YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.  ON THIS OCCASION, IT IS ALSO FITTING TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER THOSE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE SEVEN DECADES SINCE THE DIVISION'S FORMATION.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//