THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the MERITORIOUS
UNIT COMMENDATION to:

THIRD BATTALION, SEVENTH MARINES,
FIRST MARINE DIVISION, (REINFORCED),
FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACFIC

for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For meritorious service while participating in actions against the North Vietnameses forces in Operation OAKLAHOMA HILLS in the Son Ga Mountains, Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam from 29 March to 29 May 1969. Throughout this period, the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, successfully executed its mission of reconnaissance in force in the multi-battalion operation. Despite adverse terrain making movement hazardous and difficult and resupply problems complex, the Third Battalion, 7th Marines aggressively sought out the enemy caches and base camps. Destroying 21 enemy base camps, the Third Battalion accounted for 152 enemy killed in a small series of small unit battles fought against a tenacious foe. Sweeping over the mountainous terrain during the two-month span with burdensome individual loads, the Third Battalion captured 59 individual weapons, 10 crew-served weapons, 10 rocket launchers, three mortars, and numerous other ordnance and war materials. They also built or maintained three fire support bases to lend mobility to their operations. Plagued by incessant heat and extremely difficult area of land, the battalion utilized courageous ground and heliborne assaults complemented by intense and accurate air and artillery support to harass and continually deny the enemy freedom of movement. As a result, the Third Battalion, 7th Marines made a major contribution to the success of Operation OAKLAHOMA HILLS and its performance was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

For the Secretary of the Navy,

Signed/LEONARD F. CHAPMAN
Commandant of the Marine Corps