R 031940Z JUL 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 025/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS //
SUBJ/1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING (1ST MAW) AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 71ST ANNIVERSARY.  FROM YOUR ACTIVATION 7 JULY 1941 TO THE PRESENT, 1ST MAW HAS TAKEN GREAT PRIDE IN ITS ABILITY TO RAPIDLY DEPLOY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IN THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.
2.  THE HISTORY OF 1ST MAW SPANS THE BATTLEGROUNDS OF MARINE CORPS HISTORY, FROM THE FRONT LINES OF GUADALCANAL, TO THE COLDS OF THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR, TO THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM, TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.  THE SUCCESS OF EVERY ENGAGEMENT IS TESTIMONY OF 1ST MAW'S HISTORIC READINESS TO FIGHT AND WIN.  TODAY, 1ST MAW MARINES AND SAILORS CONTINUE THEIR PROUD LINEAGE, DISPLAYING SELFLESS HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AS SEEN IN THE MANY DISASTER RELIEF MISSIONS SUCCESSFULLY UNDERTAKEN AROUND THE WORLD.  1ST MAW TRULY CONTRIBUTES TO THE ROLE OF THE MARINE CORPS AS AMERICA'S EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN READINESS.
3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR ANNIVERSARY AND PROUD HERITAGE, PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER YOUR FELLOW MARINES, PAST AND PRESENT, WHO GAVE THEIR ALL IN DEFENSE OF OUR GREAT NATION.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS!  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//