R 301510Z OCT 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 035/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO SALUTE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 67TH ANNIVERSARY.  FROM YOUR ACTIVATION AT CHERRY POINT ON 10 NOVEMBER 1942 TO YOUR CURRENT ACTIONS ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF 3D MAW HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT OF A GRATEFUL NATION.
2.  DURING WORLD WAR II AND THE KOREAN WAR, 3D MAW PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN TRAINING MARINE PILOTS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL FOR COMBAT DUTY OVERSEAS.  IN VIETNAM, DEPLOYED 3D WING SQUADRONS SERVED WITH HONOR AND DISTINCTION.  THE WARRIORS OF 3D MAW CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO COMBAT ACTIONS DURING OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM IN IRAQ AND KUWAIT.  AT THE CONCLUSION OF THOSE HOSTILITIES, 3D MAW CONTINUED TO STABALIZE THE REGION THROUGH OPERATIONS PROVIDE COMFORT AND SOUTHERN WATCH.  YOU FURTHER DEMONSTRATED YOUR VERSATILITY BY ASSISTING THE PEOPLE OF SOMALIA DURING OPERATION RESTORE HOPE.
3.  AS A VITAL COMPONENT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, 3D MAW CARRIED OUT AN AIR CAMPAIGN THAT SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENEMY'S DEFEAT AND ONCE AGAIN VALIDATED THE MARINE AIR-GROUND TEAM CONCEPT.  TODAY, THE MARINES OF 3D MAW CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS ON THE HORN OF AFRICA AND IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, DEMONSTRATING ONCE MORE THEIR READINESS TO DEFEND OUR NATION ON SHORT NOTICE.
4.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR PROUD PAST AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE, KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE GRATITUDE AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF YOUR FELLOW MARINES AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
5.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS, MARINES.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//