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In no other profession are the penalties for employing untrained personnel so appalling or so irrevocable as in the military.

-- General Douglas MacArthur

Yearly Chronologies of the United States Marine Corps - 1995

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Yearly Chronologies of the United States Marine Corps - 1995

___January ? President Clinton announced a $25 billion increase in Department of Defense spending over the next six years. The funding would be used to maintain troop readiness, increase military pay, and provide other quality-of-life improvements without drastically cutting weapons-modernization programs.

1 January ?The strength of the U.S. Armed Forces was 1,584,232 of whom 174,507 were Marines.

10 January ? The Pentagon announced that 2,600 U.S. Marines would be deployed to Somalia for Operation United Shield to assist in the final withdrawal of United Nations peacekeeping troops from Somalia. The decision came in response to a longstanding U.N. request for American protection of its peacekeeping forces serving in the war-torn African nation. The U.N. Security Council established 31 March as the deadline for the departure of all its forces participating in U.N. operations in Somalia.

17 January ? Vietnam veterans who were harmed by Agent Orange were given an extended period of time to file compensation claims. The original deadline for claims was 31 December 1994, but was extended amid a flood of last minute appeals from veterans. The Agent Orange Payment Program was established in 1985 to distribute $184 million in proceeds from a class-action lawsuit against the makers of Agent Orange, a defoliant used extensively during the Vietnam War.

17 January ? The Commandant of the Marine Corps approved the selection of Major Steven M. Zotti as the 1994 recipient of the Leftwich Trophy for outstanding leadership. At the time of the nomination, Major Zotti was a captain with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit.

20 January ? Medal of Honor recipient Franklin E. Sigler died at Morristown Memorial Hospital, New Jersey, at the age of 70. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered. Both medals were presented by President Harry S. Truman.

20 January ? Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Carl E. Mundy Jr., opened the Marine Corps History and Museums Division's exhibition commemorating the 50th Anniversary of World War II, in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes. The exhibit, "The Final Campaigns: Spring and Summer 1945," highlighted the role of American and Allied forces as they neared victory in the Pacific and European Theaters of operation.

___ February ? NASA named Marine Colonel Robert Cabana as the Chief of the Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Colonel Cabana, a naval aviator, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1971 and the Naval Test Pilot School in 1981.

2 February ? The Marine Corps Institute (MCI) celebrated 75 years of professional military education support to the Marine Corps. Although the focus of MCI changed from vocational to professional military education in the past 75 years, the original spirit and intent -- personal development through education -- would remain valid.

13 February ? Lieutenant General James P. Berkeley died in Virginia, Beach, Virginia. General Berkeley enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1927 and was commissioned in 1930. In his last duty assignment, General Berkeley served as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.

18 February ? An Arleigh Burke Class Aegis guided missile destroyer, USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), named in honor of Marine Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez, was launched at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Sergeant Gonzalez was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions in Vietnam during 1968.

19 February ? Commemoration ceremonies were held in honor of the 50th anniversary of the World War II battle for Iwo Jima at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. More than 20,000 people gathered to pay tribute to the Marines, sailors and soldiers who fought on the south Pacific Island 50 years ago.

21 February ? The Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office was awarded a $375 million contract modification for continued engineering of the Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey. Expected to be deployable in FY01, the tilt-rotor aircraft is capable of flying like a helicopter and conventional plane. The use of this technology would meet the Marine Corp's 21st century combat medium-life requirements.

22 February ? Appearing before the House National Security Committee, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Carl E. Mundy, Jr., identified vital requirements supported by the budget request, and focused on the areas of unplanned contingency funding and recruiting as personal concerns necessary to maintain Marine Corps readiness. The Commandant would also appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee on 7 March, also reiterating his 1995 Posture Statement.

28 February ? Secretary of Defense William Perry announced his intention to recommend to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission the closure or realignment of 146 military installations in the United States. Although no Marine Corps installation or facility was included for closure or disestablishment, the following installations would be impacted from previous commission decisions: Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS) El Toro and Tustin, California; MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina; and MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.

3 March ? After two years and $2 billion, the United Nations concluded its withdrawal from Somalia. Under the protective cover of a seven-nation task force, 2,500 Pakistani and Bangladeshi peacekeepers completed their withdrawal and began their journey home. About 1,800 U.S. Marines and 350 Italian Marines landed on 1 March to safeguard the movement. The 73-hour operation was successful. The Marines' return marked the second landing in Somalia in the last 27 months. In December 1992, U.S. Marines were called upon to stem the war-induced famine that claimed 350,000 Somali lives in Operation Restore Hope.

14 March ? Lieutenant General Charles C. Krulak was nominated to be the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, pending Senate confirmation. General Krulak would replace General Carl E. Mundy, Jr. and assume the position as the Corps' senior Marine and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

14 March ? Nearly 1,000 American and Japanese World War II veterans returned to Iwo Jima to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the bloodiest Pacific battles. The Iwo Jima veterans and their families covered the eight-square-mile island as they went through sulfur caves, attended ceremonies, and stood once more atop Mount Suribachi. In attendance were: U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Walter Mondale; Secretary of the Navy, John Dalton; Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Carl E. Mundy Jr.; Commandant select, Lieutenant General Charles C. Krulak; as well as Charles W. Lindberg, former Marine, who is the sole survivor of either of the two flag raisings atop Mount Suribachi.

14 March ? Secretary of the Navy, John H. Dalton, while on Iwo Jima observing the 50th anniversary of the battle, announced his decision to name the newest maritime prepositioning ship in honor of Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant Harry L. Martin, who posthumously won the Medal of Honor there five decades ago.

24 March - 8 April ? One of the Marine Corps' largest exercises of the year, Exercise Kernal Blitz '95 took place at Camp Pendleton, California. It involved more than 12,000 active duty and reserve Marines as well as units from the Navy and Army. The exercise tested the ability of Marine and Navy expeditionary forces to project combat power ashore in a major amphibious landing.

1 April ? This date marked the 50th anniversary of the battle of Okinawa. Assault forces for Okinawa, located only 360 miles from the Japanese homeland, totaled 182,000.

3 April ? Former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lieutenant General Charles H. Hayes died at the age of 89 in his home in Rancho Bernardo, California. A 1926 graduate of the Naval Academy, General Hayes was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1930. The decorated general served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1963 until his retirement in 1965.

8 April ? An Arleigh Burke Class Aegis guided missile destroyer, USS Cole (DDG 67), was launched at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship was named in the honor of Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole who was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the battle of Iwo Jima.

9 April - 30 May ? Exercise Emerald Express '95 was the second in a series of annual peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance exercises that I Marine Expeditionary Force would hold for the U.S. Central Command. The exercise, held on 22-26 May, was preceded by an ambitious two-phase, high-level conference held on 9-14 April.

13 April - The V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft exceeded 1,000 hours risk reduction flight-testing during ongoing testing at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland. With more than 860 flights, the V-22 would continue to prove that tilt-rotor technology would be a valid and essential requirement to meet the Corps' needs for the 21st century.

19 April ? Two Marines were killed and four other Marines were injured in a catastrophic explosion of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City that claimed 167 lives. The above Marines along with one injured civilian were assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station, Oklahoma City, located on the sixth floor of the building. The remains of Captain Randolph A. Guzman from Castro Valley, California, and Sergeant Benjamin L. Davis, a native of Oklahoma City, were found at their recruiting station posts on 24 April.

4-24 May ? More than 17,000 Marines and other U.S. military personnel and 9,000 Royal Thai forces participated in Exercise Cobra Gold '95 in Thailand. The annual exercise was the latest in a continuing series of U.S.-Thai military exercises designed to ensure regional peace and stability through the U.S. cooperative engagement strategy and to strengthen the ability of the Royal Thai armed forces to defend their country.

5 May ? Lieutenant General Edward W. Snedeker died at the age of 92 in Carlsbad, California. General Snedeker was awarded the Navy Cross for commanding the 7th Marines during the battle for Okinawa in World War II, in addition to the Silver and Bronze Stars for combat operations on Guadalcanal. The decorated general retired from the Marine Corps in 1963 after 37 years of military service.

8 May ? In the wake of the most devastating storm to hit the New Orleans area in more than 200 years, a group of Marines and sailors from Marine Forces Reserve demonstrated the quick response synonymous with the Navy/Marine Corps teams. Within 37 hours of being called, Marines assisted in the evacuation of 2,500 civilians, and Navy corpsmen treated 26 flood victims.

16 May ? The Veterans of Foreign Wars dedicated a memorial plaque at the U.S. Memorial, Point Salines, Grenada, to honor U.S. military men who fought to return freedom to the Grenadine people and safeguard the lives of 1,000 American citizens in October 1983.

20 May ? The Navy commissioned the USS Russell (DDG 59), Ageis guided missile destroyer, in honor of Rear Admiral John Henry Russell, USN (1827-1897), and his son, Major General John Henry Russell, Jr., USMC (1872-1947) who served as the 16th Commandant of the Marine Corps.

24 May ? The Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces delivered its final report to the Congress, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The resulting report contained an evaluation of roles, missions, and functions of the armed forces and assessed their utility for the post-cold war era. It recommended over 150 changes.

24-25 May ? Marine aviation units stationed in Northern Italy supporting NATO Operations Deny Flight and Provide Promise stepped up operational tempo. Air strikes on the Bosnian Serb ammunition dump in Pale were conducted on these dates. Also, in recent support of Operation Deny Flight, Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 533, enforced U.N. restrictions on the movement of weapons on the ground and aircraft flying over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Operation Provide Promise involved escorting an airlift of food and medical supplies into Sarajevo.

4 June - 8 July ? More than 8,000 Marines from reserve units across the country participated in Exercise Pinnacle Advance at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. The number of reserve participants dropped from 16,000 last year due to limited funding for traditional large-scale exercises.

8 June ? A Marine tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP) team from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) stationed on board the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) rescued a downed U.S. pilot from Bosnian Serb territory in Bosnia. The downed pilot, Captain Scott O'Grady, USAF, was flying an F-16C fighter near the town of Banja Luka on 2 June in support of Operation Deny Flight to enforce a no-fly zone when he was shot down by one of several Bosnian Serb surface-to-air missiles.

22 June ? This date marked the groundbreaking ceremony for the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, the nation's memorial honoring all service women. The memorial will stand at the Gate of Arlington National Cemetery honoring the 1.8 million women who have served from the American Revolution to present.

22 June ? The 50th commemoration of the Battle of Okinawa honored the veterans of the fierce World War II battle at a memorial service and wreath laying at Marine Corps Base, Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. More that 250 veterans, active duty service members, and guests were in attendance. General Carl E. Mundy, Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps, was the special guest.

25 June ? Forty-five years ago on this date, seven infantry divisions and an armored division of the North Korean People's Army swept across the 38th parallel into South Korea. The Korean War had begun, and within days U.S. air and naval forces were ordered into action.

26 June ? The Secretary of the Navy approved a new Marine Corps service ribbon recognizing the challenges and successes of Marine Corps recruiters. The Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon was the first billet-specific award established for the Marine Corps.

27 June ? The Enola Gay exhibition opened at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., after years of debate between various veterans groups, the Japanese, and museum officials. Nearly 50 years ago, the B-29, named after the mother of its pilot, dropped the atom bomb that instantly destroyed the Japanese city of Hiroshima and with the atomic bombing of Nagasaki three days later, hastened the end of World War II.

29 June ? Sergeant Major Lewis G. Lee became the 13th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. He assumed his post from Sergeant Major Harold G. Overstreet at a post and relief ceremony at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.

30 June ? General Charles C. Krulak became the nation's 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps in a change of command ceremony at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., replacing General Carl E. Mundy, Jr.

30 June ? The 3d Combat Engineer Battalion was deactivated during a ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. The battalion was activated in 1942 and participated in World War II and the Vietnam War.

10 July ? A small armada of active-duty as well as reserve ships, along with European and Latin American ships, gathered in the Caribbean to begin the Navy's annual show-the-flag cruise. The six-month deployment, dubbed Unitas, would cruise around South American. A Marine detachment from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, would participate.

11-17 July ? The Marine Corps Pistol Team took home the Gold Cup from the 1995 National Pistol Competitions held at Camp Perry, Ohio. The team challenged and prevailed over some of America's top military and civilian distinguished marksmen.

12-22 July ? Marines from the 3d Force Service Support Group and Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 172 participated in Exercise Freedom Banner near Pohang, Korea. During the exercise, Typhoon "Faye" touched down southwest of the Sea of Japan port city of Pohang. MWSS-172 provided weather support to all Marine aviation assets, issued warnings, and conducted weather briefs.

14 July ? Major General James E. Livingston, the last active duty Marine who held the Medal of Honor, retired after 33 years of service. General Livingston earned the Medal of Honor on 2 May 1968 while serving as a rifle company commander in Vietnam. He is one of 29 living Marines who hold the Medal of Honor.

17-21 July ? More than 1,700 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in Exercise Rescue Eagle with U.S. Navy and Albanian forces near the city of Durres, Albania. Rescue Eagle was a combined overland search and rescue exercise. Training was designed to emphasize humanitarian search and rescue skills.

18-25 July ? Two Marine Corps officers were among the winners of the 34th Annual Interservice Rifle Competition at Quantico, Virginia. Major Tom R. Marchegiano and Captain Patrick G. Looney won two of three matches at the competition beating out 214 shooters from Armed Forces teams across the globe.

26-29 July ? Thousands of veterans and their families gathered on the mall in Washington, D.C., for the dedication events of the Korean War Veterans Memorial honoring 5.7 million Korean War era veterans and those from 21 other countries who served in the United Nations force in Korea. President Bill Clinton and President Kim Young Sam of South Korea attended the dedication ceremonies.

___August ? The Secretary of Defense accepted an offer by the Government of Kuwait to award the Kuwait Liberation Medal to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia between August 1990 and April 1991.

1 August ? The Pentagon concluded its study on 10,000 veterans and family members who served in Operation Desert Storm complaining of one or more of a variety of symptoms. The study found that there was no clinical evidence for new or unique illnesses or syndromes among Persian Gulf veterans, and that most of the symptoms are common to the general population.

6 August ? On this date was the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in Japan. This day was marked by commemorative ceremonies in Hiroshima and an international calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

6 August ? The American flag was raised for the first time in more than 20 years over an American embassy in Vietnam. Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, attended the ceremony at the new U.S. embassy in Hanoi.

14 August ? More than 400 Pacific-based Marines and sailors deployed to the Korean peninsula to participate in Exercise Ulchi Focus Lens 95 that involved about 16,000 U.S. military personnel from units around the world. The training exercise was used to improve plans for the defense of the Republic of Korea.

16 August ? Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Charles C. Krulak, directed a revision of the physical fitness standards for women Marines. When implemented, the changes would require women to run three miles during their semiannual physical fitness test -- the same distance as required by male Marines.

27-31 August ? U.S. Marines and Russian Naval Infantry conducted their first combined training exercise on U.S. soil in Hawaii. The exercise, "Cooperation From the Sea," was a maritime disaster relief exercise that included cross training, personnel exchanges, and a combined amphibious landing.

29 August ? Two Beaufort, South Carolina-based Marine fighter attack squadrons from Marine Aircraft Group 31 were participating in NATO-directed air strikes against Bosnia Serb military targets in Bosnia as a part of Operation Deliberate Force, a new offensive air operation that was part of the ongoing Operation Deny Flight. Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 operated from Aviano Air Base, Italy, and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 operated off the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

1 September ? Retired Major General Douglas J. Preacher, USMCR, died in La Jolla, California. He was commissioned in 1936 and served on active duty in World War II. Prior to his retirement in 1972, the general served two tours as Assistant Deputy Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.

1 - 3 September ? Hawaii-based Marines were at the center of special 50th anniversary VJ Day commemorations. Ceremonies included a National Memorial Service with President Clinton as the keynote speaker, a parade of ships and airplanes, wreath laying and memorial services at the USS Arizona, and a veterans parade. More than 10,000 veterans attended and 180 veterans' organizations were invited to present memorial wreaths.

12 September ?Two Marines were awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Medal for their efforts in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City federal building bombing. Captain Matthew Cooper and Sergeant Tad Snidecor were awarded the highest peacetime medal for heroism. Both served at Recruiting Station Oklahoma City located on the sixth floor of the federal building at the time of the bombing.

18 September - 12 October ? The Marine Corps had four separate crashes involving a total of six aircraft -- three AV-8B Harrier attack jets, one F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet, and two F-5 Tiger jets. One Marine student pilot was killed and seven pilots (six Marines and one Navy officer) were unharmed or slightly injured.

21 - 24 September ? The Marine Corps Aviation Association presented annual awards at their reunion/symposium in Washington, D.C. The award winners for 1995 included: Alfred A. Cunningham Aviator of the year, LtCol W.G. Duncan; Robert M. Hanson Fighter/Attack Squadron of the year, VMFA(AW)-332; and Keith B. McCutcheon Heavy Helicopter Squadron of the year, HMH-361.

21 September - 9 October ? Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in Exercise Eager Mace 96-1 held in Kuwait. Eager Mace was a combined amphibious training exercise held with the Kuwaiti armed forces. It was designed to promote interoperability and enhance cooperation and coordination between Kuwaiti and U.S. Armed Forces.

22 September ? The Naval Medical Clinic dedicated and opened the new John H. Bradley Medical Clinic at Officer Candidates School, Quantico, Virginia. The clinic was named for Pharmacist Mate 2d Class Bradley who served as a hospital corpsman attached to a Marine rifle platoon with 2d Battalion, 28th Marines on Iwo Jima, 21 February 1945, and is known for his participation in the famous flag raising atop Mount Suribachi.

26 September ? First Lieutenant Sarah Deal completed her final flight hour at Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302, earning her the distinction of becoming the Marine Corps' first female aviator. The 26 year-old Pemberville, Ohio, native was then assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 where she would fly the Corp's premier troop carrier -- the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.

11 October ? A Joint Meeting of Congress was held to commemorate the ending of World War II, 50 years ago, and to honor its veterans. It was only the 13th meeting of its kind since 1866. Representatives from all services were present. Special guests included Marine Medal of Honor recipients General Louis H. Wilson, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Corporal Richard E. Bush. Both were presented the Medal of Honor on 5 October 1945 at the White House by President Harry Truman.

22 October ? Some 16,200 runners participated in the 20th Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Darrell General of Mitchelville, Maryland, was the top male finisher with a time of 2:16:34 and Claudia M. Kafen of Williamsburg, Virginia, was the female winner with a time of 2:49:21.

26 October ? Henderson Field, the site that was key to the Guadalcanal Campaign and whose capture and retention marked a critical turning point in the Pacific War, was rededicated in ceremonies on the island. The field was named in honor of Major Lofton R. Henderson who was killed in action during the Battle of Midway in 1942. The ceremonies were attended by Major Henderson's younger brother, Brigadier General Frederick P. Henderson, USMC (Retired) and David Vouza, son of World War II hero Sergeant Major Sir Jacob Vouza.

29 October ? At the annual awards dinner at Quantico, the Marine Corps Historical Foundation recognized three persons for exceptional writing pertinent to Marine Corps history during the last year. General Charles C. Krulak, Commandant of the Marine Corps, was the guest of honor. The General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. book award was presented to Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Retired). The Colonel Robert D. Heinl, Jr. memorial award for the best article was awarded to Major Jon T. Hoffman USMCR. The Sergeant Major Dan Daly award for the best article by an enlisted Marine was presented to Sergeant Lance M. Bacon, USMC.

10 November ? This date marked the 220th birthday of the Marine Corps. In his birthday message, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Charles C. Krulak, stated that the Marine Corps looks ahead to the 21st century and stands ready when the nation, as she always has, says "Send in the Marines."

10 -19 November ? The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in Exercise Bright Star 95 in Egypt. About 33,000 Egyptian troops along with British, French and Arab Emirates troops took part in the largest joint military exercise held in Egypt.

11 November ? On this date 50 years ago, Frederick C. Branch, a native of Hamlet, North Carolina, earned the distinction of becoming the first African American Marine Corps officer. Branch returned to Quantico to celebrate the Corps' 220th birthday and his own commissioning anniversary.

27 November ? A Marine was pulled from the North Arabian Sea by Pakistani fisherman after surviving more than 36 hours alone and adrift. Lance Corporal Zachary R. Mayo, a 20-year-old aviation mechanic with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3, fell from the aircraft carrier USS America (CV 66) on 24 November. Lance Corporal Mayo credited his Marine water survival training for keeping him alive.

27 November ? A ceremony was held at the U.S. Navy Memorial to pay tribute to the 45th anniversary of the Korean War battle of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. Marines of the 1st Marine Division suffered over 4,000 battle casualties, including 730 dead. Brigadier General James F. Lawrence, USMC (Retired) provided the main address to "Frozen Chosin" veterans and friends at the ceremony.

30 November ? A $243 billion FY96 defense appropriations bill became public law. Although the bill represented some $7 billion more than the White House wanted to spend, funding concerns for the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia were sufficient to save it from a veto. For the Marine Corps, Congress approved a budget of $9.5 billion, which was more than $441 million above the official FY96 request. The allocation would allow for an end-strength of 174,000 active Marines and 42,274 reservists.

___December ? A new Marine Corps Order was in effect that would preserve most of the Toys for Tots Program as it had been for the past 48 years. One notable change was a reversal of a 1994 directive that instructed Marine Corps reserve units to allow a civilian-run committee to assume charge of the program. The Program rebounded from a 1993 scandal that had sent donations plummeting.

5 December ? At the close of the trading day on the New York Mercantile Exchange in New York City, a team of Marine Corps generals and colonels tested their mettle with exchange traders as part of the first wargaming experiment conducted by the Commandant's Warfighting Laboratory (CWL), created by General Charles C. Krulak. The CWL would serve as the test bed for the development or enhancement of concepts, tactics, techniques, and doctrine that can be introduced into the operating forces.

10 December ? In Bosnia, 22 Marines from Marine Corps Security Force Company, Naples, Italy were among the first American troops to arrive. They provided the security for Allied Forces Southern Europe headquartered at Sarajevo. About 2,500 NATO troops would be in place by 19 December taking on the task of peace enforcement in former Yugoslavia from the U.N.

21 December ? This date marked the end of Operation Deny Flight after nearly 1,000 days and 100,000 flights supporting and enforcing the U.N. no-fly zone over Bosnia. 2d Marine Aircraft Wing squadrons were based at Aviano Air Base, Italy.

22 December ? The Commandant of the Marine Corps approved the selection of Major Jeffrey J. Sharrock as the 1995 recipient of the Leftwich Trophy for outstanding leadership. At the time of his nomination, (then) Captain Sharrock was assigned to the 3d Marine Division.

22-23 December ? The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Charles C. Krulak, visited Marines and praised his leathernecks deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, the carrier USS America (CV 66) in the Adriatic Sea, and ships of Amphibious Ready Group 3, home members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a pre-Christmas visit to the region. He was accompanied by Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Lewis G. Lee.

30 December ? Major General George H. Cloud, USMC (Retired) died in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, at the age of 91. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1930 and saw World War II service in the defense of Pearl Harbor and in the Peleliu and Okinawa campaigns.

31 December ? The strength of the U.S. Armed Forces was 1,518,224 of whom 174,049 were Marines.

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