R 312245z Oct 08
ALMAR 048/08
UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC//
SUBJ/3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS AN HONOR ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE MARINE
CORPS TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 3D MARINE
AIRCRAFT WING AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 66TH ANNIVERSARY.  FROM ITS
ACTIVATION ON
10 NOVEMBER 1942 TO THE PRESENT, 3D MAW HAS MET EVERY CHALLENGE IN
DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
2.  DURING WORLD WAR II, 3D MAW DEPLOYED THE FIRST NIGHT-FIGHTER
SQUADRON IN SUPPORT OF THE WAR EFFORT, AND DURING THE VIETNAM WAR
WING SQUADRONS WERE DETACHED AND DEPLOYED TO SOUTHEAST ASIA.  DURING
OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, YOUR BATTLE MASTERY OF
THE SKIES OVER KUWAIT AND IRAQ WAS CRUCIAL TO THE COALITION VICTORY,
AND 3D MAW PARTICIPATION IN OPERATION RESTORE HOPE BROUGHT CRITICAL
RELIEF TO THE PEOPLE OF SOMALIA.
3.   IN TODAY'S WAR ON TERROR, THE WARRIORS OF 3D MAW HAVE ONCE
AGAIN ANSWERED THE CALL TO ACTION, AND YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT OF
OPERATIONS IN IRAQ HAVE TRULY BEEN OUTSTANDING.  YOUR VIGILANCE,
COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT TESTIFY TO 3D MAW'S WARRIOR ETHOS, JUST AS
YOUR MANY HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE
REPRESENT THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF OUR NATION.
4.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS, PLEASE PAUSE TO
REMEMBER YOUR FELLOW MARINES WHO GAVE THE HIGHEST SACRIFICE IN
DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  AS YOU STAND READY AND PREPARED TO MEET ALL
CHALLENGES, KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE RESPECT AND SUPPORT OF YOUR
FELLOW MARINES AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
5.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS!  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL,
U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//