3rd Marine Division celebrates 66th birthday

[thedrifter]

3rd Marine Division celebrates 66th birthday
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Cordero

CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa (September 26, 2008) -- The 3rd Marine Division held a birthday ceremony at the 3rd MarDiv headquarters building here Sept. 16 in celebration of the 66th anniversary of the unit's founding.

The remnants of Typhoon Sinalaku washed out the planned outdoor morning colors ceremony, but did not dampen the Division member's spirits as they moved inside their headquarters building to carry out the celebration.

"Although this is a celebration, we also need to take a moment today to renew our vows to our corps (and) to our fellow Marines and sailors," said Maj. Gen. Robert B. Neller, the commanding general of 3rd MarDiv.

During the ceremony, citations were read reflecting the infantry unit's battle history that includes Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima during World War II and missions during Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The current operational tempo of the unit keeps them active world-wide with units rotating in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan, while simultaneously supporting combined Pacific exercises such as Balikatan in the Philippines and Yama Sakura in Japan.

"During the past 12 months, this division has deployed Marines and sailors to all corners of the globe. In every endeavor, from combat to training to theater security cooperation, we have accomplished the mission and continued our professional reputation as a unit ready to go and able to perform," said Neller.

The Okinawa-based unit was activated Sept. 16, 1942, at Camp Elliott, San Diego. It was deactivated in December 1945 and then reactivated January 1952. In 1969, it moved to Camp Courtney and has remained there ever since.

Ellie