Operation Keystone Cardinal


Operation Keystone Cardinal was the withdrawal of the 3rd Marine Division from South Vietnam, taking place from 30 September to 27 November 1969.

Background

Following the withdrawal of the 9th Marine Regiment from South Vietnam in Operation Keystone Eagle, planning began for the withdrawal of the remaining units of 3rd Marine Division in line with the plans prepared by MACV.

Operation

The Keystone Cardinal redeployments took place as follows:
Departure DateUnitStrengthDestination
30 September 1969Detachment, Headquarters, III Marine Amphibious Force70Camp Pendleton
30 September 1969OOCNE724Camp Pendleton
2 October 1969Company B, 3rd Engineer Battalion159Camp Pendleton
2 October 1969Company C, 3rd Medical Battalion24Camp Pendleton
2 October 19691st Battalion, 12th Marines662Camp Pendleton
2 October 1969Company B, 3rd Shore Party Battalion82Camp Pendleton
2 October 1969Company B, 9th Motor Transport Battalion91Camp Pendleton
4 October 19693rd Bridge Company102Camp Pendleton
4 October 1969Detachment, 11th Engineer Battalion622Camp Pendleton
4 October 1969Company B, 3rd Motor Transport Battalion68Camp Pendleton
4 October 1969Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion143Camp Pendleton
6 October 19691st Battalion, 3rd Marines1166Camp Pendleton
6 October 19692nd Battalion, 3rd Marines1166Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines91Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment61Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Headquarters, 3rd Marine Division436Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines150Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment24Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Force Logistics Command 400Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, 7th Communication Battalion193Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines118Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines118Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment100Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, 1st Special Security Communications Team 4Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969OOCNE14Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969OOCNE123Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, VMO-68Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, HMM-1648Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 36 89Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 36 164Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 11 20Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 12 20Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 13 20Camp Pendleton
6 October 1969Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 16 22Camp Pendleton
7 October 1969Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment230Camp Pendleton
7 October 19693rd Battalion, 3rd Marines1166Camp Pendleton
7 October 1969Detachment, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines118Camp Pendleton
7 October 1969HMM-265249Camp Pendleton
7 October 1969VMA-533304Camp Pendleton
7 October 1969Detachment, Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 12 69Japan
20 October 19697th Communication Battalion190Okinawa
20 October 19693rd Motor Transport Battalion20Okinawa
20 October 1969Platoon, 3rd Bridge Company21Okinawa
20 October 1969Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment100Okinawa
20 October 1969HMM-164258Okinawa
20 October 1969HMH-462233Okinawa
22 October 19691st Battalion, 4th Marines1048Okinawa
22 October 1969Detachment, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division200Okinawa
22 October 1969VMO-6234Okinawa
22 October 1969Detachment, VMO-632Okinawa
23 October 1969Battery G, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines133Okinawa
23 October 19693rd Engineer Battalion341Okinawa
23 October 19693rd Tank Battalion345Okinawa
3 November 196915th CIT16Okinawa
3 November 1969Detachment, H&HS-1818Japan
4 November 19699th Motor Transport Battalion88Okinawa
5 November 19693rd Battalion, 12th Marines328Okinawa
5 November 196917th Interrogator Translator Team 11Okinawa
5 November 196911th ITT6Okinawa
5 November 19699th ITT6Okinawa
6 November 1969Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment130Okinawa
6 November 1969Company B, 3rd Tank Battalion140Okinawa
7 November 1969H&MS-36324Okinawa
8 November 19691st SSCT6Okinawa
8 November 1969Detachment, MASS-239Okinawa
9 November 19692nd Battalion, 4th Marines1048Okinawa
9 November 1969Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division308Okinawa
9 November 1969Detachment, Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment83Okinawa
10 November 1969Battery K, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines100Okinawa
10 November 19693rd Shore Party Battalion228Okinawa
19 November 19694th Battalion, 12th Marines152Okinawa
20 November 19693rd Battalion, 4th Marines1048Okinawa
21 November 196911th Engineer Battalion103Okinawa
22 November 1969Company C, 9th Motor Transport Battalion83Okinawa
23 November 1969MABS-36318Okinawa
23 November 1969MASS-2123Japan
24 November 1969Detachment, MABS-3687Japan
24 November 1969Detachment, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division200Okinawa
24 November 19693rd Medical Battalion86Okinawa
24 November 19693rd Dental Company3Okinawa
24 November 19697th ITT11Okinawa
27 November 1969Battery H, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines110Okinawa

Aftermath

Operation Keystone Cardinal concluded on 27 November 1969.