R 260930Z JAN 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 004/06
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 ALL MARINES, IT IS AN HONOR TO SEND
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 2D MARINE DIVISION
AS YOU CELEBRATE THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR ACTIVATION.  SINCE
1941, THE DIVISION HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF OUR CORPS' WARFIGHTING
HERITAGE.  FROM THE SANDY BEACHES OF TARAWA AND SAIPAN TO THE DUST
AND GRIME OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THE "FOLLOW ME" DIVISION HAS
CONSISTENTLY ANSWERED THE NATION'S CALL TO ARMS WITH
PROFESSIONALISM, SELFLESS SACRIFICE, AND COURAGE UNDER FIRE. 
2.  THIS YEAR YOUR IMPRESSIVE COMBAT RECORD IN IRAQ ADDS ANOTHER
LUSTROUS CHAPTER TO YOUR CELEBRATED HERITAGE.  IN ADDITION, ELEMENTS
OF THE DIVISION MOVED SWIFTLY TO RESCUE AND AID OUR FELLOW AMERICANS
IN THEIR TIME OF NEED AFTER THE DEVASTATION OF HURRICANES KATRINA
AND RITA.  2D MARINE DIVISION'S VERSATILITY AT HOME AND DEADLY
EFFECTIVENESS ABROAD MIRRORS THE DIVISION'S LEGACY OF ACTION THAT
REACHES BACK TO WORLD WAR II, REPEATEDLY CREATING STABILITY IN AN
UNSTABLE WORLD.
3.  AS WE COMMEMORATE THIS MILESTONE, IT IS FITTING THAT WE PAUSE TO
HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US, HANDING DOWN THE MANTLE OF
WARFIGHTING EXCELLENCE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION OF MARINES.
ALL MARINES TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND OFFER YOU A
HEARTFELT "JOB WELL DONE."  SEMPER FIDELIS AND KEEP ATTACKING!  M.
W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE
CORPS.//