March 8, 1965:

3,500 Marines from the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade landed at Da Nang, led by Brigadier General Frederick J. Karch. They were the first U.S. ground combat troops to be committed to the Vietnam War.

Quote of the Day: ‘‘Any Marine worth his salt can load, sight, and fire in four seconds.’’ Sergeant in Da Nang, 1965, responding to complaints by Marines of Brigadier General Karch’s order to carry personal arms unloaded after lethal accidents

Brandus, Paul. This Day in U.S. Military History (pp. 68-69). Bernan Press. Kindle Edition.