A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring the memory of United States Marine Corps officers, Colonels Richard B. Newport and Dean Wilker; Lieutenant Colonels Ernest J. Anderson, George J. Ertlmeier, Howard Gress, James E. May, Douglas A. McCaughey, James D. Robertson, and Clarence E. Smith; Majors Thomas Nalle and Kenneth H. Stover; Captains Marx H. Branum, Stephen J. Perlin, Herman Smith, and Robert F. Warren; First Lieutenants Robert J. Lyons and Robert Williams; Second Lieutenant Donald Marlowe; and warrant officer 4 billy e. perry; and United States Air Force Colonel James H. Westberry for their service to the united states military and to the marine all‑weather fighter squadron three one two.
Whereas, 50 years ago, the United States Marine Corps determined that Lieutenant Colonel Dean Wilker, and later Lieutenant Colonel Richard B. Newport, would organize and deploy Marine All‑Weather Fighter Squadron Three One Two (VMF (AW)‑312) from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, to the Fleet Marine Forces Pacific; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Colonel Newport, a Korean War veteran, began an 18‑month process to prepare the VMF (AW)‑312 "Checkerboards" for combat. Majors Ernest J. Anderson, George J. Ertlmeier, Howard Gress, and James E. May were assigned as the principal staff officers; and
Whereas, the first six months of preparation involved joining and detaching officers and enlisted to reach organizational standards. The next year was devoted to training for air‑to‑air combat operations in all‑weather conditions both day and night, air‑to‑ground weapons delivery in support of Marine ground troops, strafing and air‑to‑air gunnery, aerial refueling, day and night carrier operations, and amphibious embarkation to enable the squadron to deploy rapidly wherever it was needed; and
Whereas, as these Marines were deployed for a routine 13‑month unaccompanied combat tour, their families had to learn how to adjust to their absence; and
Whereas, on January 1, 1965, the Checkerboards began to deploy from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro to Marine Corps Air Station Atsugi, Japan, and, upon arrival, accepted 21 F8U‑1E "Crusader" aircraft; and
Whereas, the Crusader was a single engine, single pilot, supersonic, all‑weather fighter plane. Every pilot in the squadron had flown the Crusader at 1,000 miles per hour in level flight. The F8s and their pilots were called "The Last of the Gunfighters" because the cockpit of their planes sat over four internal 20mm cannons; and
Whereas, halfway through its tour, on June 26, 1965, the squadron relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and joined two pilots; and
Whereas, on December 19, 1965, the squadron was ordered to introduce the first F8s into the First Corps Area of the Republic of Vietnam. The squadron joined Marine Aircraft Group Eleven of the First Marine Aircraft Wing at Danang, Republic of Vietnam, with 21 officers, 175 enlisted, and 18 F8s. This was a milestone event as the Marine air‑ground team now had their best single engine fighter in the country supporting Marine ground troops while another Marine All‑Weather Fighter Squadron, VMF (AW)‑212, was flying sorties over North Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Oriskany; and
Whereas, while at Danang, the Checkerboards flew 718 combat sorties. On January 31, 1966, the squadron completed its tour and was disbanded. The officers and men returned to military and civilian lives and their aircrafts were reassigned to Marine Fighter Squadron Two Three Five, VMF (AW)‑235. The squadron color was delivered to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, and the squadron was reactivated as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron Three One Two (VMFA‑312); Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives expresses its appreciation to the officers and enlisted of the Marine All‑Weather Fighter Squadron Three One Two for their service during the Vietnam War.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of the following departed American warriors: United States Marine Corps officers, Colonels Richard B. Newport and Dean Wilker; Lieutenant Colonels Ernest J. Anderson, George J. Ertlmeier, Howard Gress, James E. May, Douglas A. McCaughey, James D. Robertson, and Clarence E. Smith; Majors Thomas Nalle and Kenneth H. Stover; Captains Marx H. Branum, Stephen J. Perlin, Herman Smith, and Robert F. Warren; First Lieutenants Robert J. Lyons and Robert Williams; Second Lieutenant Donald Marlowe; and Warrant Officer 4 Billy E. Perry; and United States Air Force Colonel James H. Westberry for their roles in helping the Marine All‑Weather Fighter Squadron Three One Two be successful.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall send a certified copy of this resolution to the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.