R 091500Z AUG 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 039/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/4TH 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 AN
HONOR TO SALUTE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION
ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 62ND ANNIVERSARY.  ACTIVATED ABOARD CAMP
PENDLETON ON 16 AUGUST 1943, THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION WAS THE FIRST
MARINE CORPS DIVISION TO GO DIRECTLY FROM THE UNITED STATES INTO
COMBAT. 
2.  IN FEROCIOUS BATTLES AGAINST A DETERMINED FOE ON THE MARSHALL
ISLANDS, SAIPAN, TINIAN, AND IWO JIMA, THE "FIGHTING FOURTH"
REPEATEDLY PROVED ITS METTLE, LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK IN THE
ANNALS OF MARINE CORPS HISTORY.  TODAY IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR,
THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION IS A PARAGON OF PROFESSIONALISM,
FLEXIBILITY, AND READINESS.  WITH PORTIONS OF 4TH MARDIV AGAIN
SERVING WITH DISTINCTION IN HARM'S WAY, KNOW THAT MARINES THE WORLD
OVER RESPECT YOUR SELFLESS SACRIFICE, BATTLEFIELD COURAGE, AND
CONSTANT VIGILANCE.
3.  WE ARE PROUD TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH YOU AS YOU
CELEBRATE THIS ANNIVERSARY.  SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING! M.
W. HAGEE, GENERAL, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE
MARINE CORPS.//