R 312141Z JAN 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 005/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/2D MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE//
POC/SGT K. PTAK/ADMIN CHIEF/CMC STAFF GROUP/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL:PTAKKK@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS, IT IS MY
HONOR TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 2D MARINE
DIVISION AS YOU CELEBRATE 64 YEARS OF GALLANT SERVICE TO OUR NATION.
IN EVERY GENERATION, THE MEMBERS OF THE DIVISION HAVE EARNED RENOWN
FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT TO THE COUNTRY'S DEFENSE. AT
TARAWA, SAIPAN, AS STALWARTS DURING THE LONG YEARS OF THE COLD WAR,
KUWAIT, AND IN NUMEROUS PLACES TODAY IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR,
THE MEMBERS OF THE "FOLLOW ME" DIVISION HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN
UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO WARFIGHTING EXCELLENCE.
2. SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, UNITS OF THE DIVISION - IN
AFGHANISTAN, IN AN NASIRIYAH AND THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE OF IRAQ, AT
HOME, AT SEA, AND IN UNEXPECTED CRISES LIKE HAITI - HAVE
CONTINUOUSLY HIGHLIGHTED THE AGILITY, COMBAT READINESS, AND WARRIOR
ETHOS OF THE MARINE CORPS. THE ACTIONS OF THE MARINES AND SAILORS
OF THE 2D MARINE DIVISION OVER THIS PAST YEAR REFLECTED DISTINCTION
IN TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP, AND AS EVER, AN UNFLINCHING
DETERMINATION TO ACCOMPLISH DIFFICULT MISSIONS. THE CONTRIBUTIONS
OF THE DIVISION IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR HAVE MADE A MONUMENTAL
DIFFERENCE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD AND YOUR SACRIFICES ARE GREATLY
CHERISHED BY YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS.
3. CURRENTLY, MAJOR PORTIONS OF THE DIVISION ARE RIGHTLY FOCUSED ON
THEIR UPCOMING AND CHALLENGING DEPLOYMENT, WHILE OTHERS ARE
DILIGENTLY COMPLETING THEIR MISSION AND PREPARING TO RETURN HOME.
AS YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE NUMEROUS ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE
RICH LEGACY THAT LINKS EACH GENERATION OF YOUR PROUD ORGANIZATION,
KNOW THAT ALL MARINES DEEPLY RESPECT YOUR FORTITUDE AND WISH YOU
CONTINUED SUCCESS. SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING! M. W. HAGEE,
GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//