R 101735Z AUG 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 030/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/4TH MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION ON THEIR 68TH ANNIVERSARY.
2.  ACTIVATED 16 AUGUST 1943 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, DURING SOME OF THE FIERCEST FIGHTING OF WORLD WAR II, THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION WAS THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION TO DEPLOY DIRECTLY TO THE PACIFIC FOR COMBAT WITHOUT STAGING AT AN INTERMEDIATE LOCATION. MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE "FIGHTING FOURTH" PARTICIPATED IN FOUR MAJOR AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS; THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, SAIPAN, TINIAN AND IWO JIMA, SUBSEQUENTLY ESTABLISHING A COMBAT RECORD AND REPUTATION THAT DEFINED THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF ALL MARINES.
3.  THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION'S TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE, ESTABLISHED AT ITS ORIGIN, REMAINS TODAY AS THE DIVISION'S MARINES AND SAILORS CONTINUE TO SERVE HONORABLY IN A TIME OF WAR.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PAUSE TO REMEMBER YOUR FALLEN COMRADES WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//