136K views · 15 reactions | On this day in 1965, Operation Starlite came to an end. It was the first regimental-sized battle of the Vietnam War. Fifty-four American lives were lost in the week-long battle. Before Starlite, the enemy had no appreciation of how the Marines could apply power from the sea. After Starlite, they never again positioned another large unit near the coast. Semper Fidelis, Marines. | U.S. Marine Corps | Facebook

The Kaman HH43 Huskie was a one-of-a-kind aircraft that made history in the US Armed Forces. Fondly remembered for its strange aesthetic design, it was one of the first helicopters to adopt intermeshing rotors that eliminated the need for a tail rotor. The HH43, better known by its call sign “Pedro,” was designed primarily for local base rescue operations and to deal with aircraft fires. It was a quick-response helicopter that could be ready in a minute with a fire suppression kit that could pro

276K views · 5.9K reactions | 53 years ago today, Operation Starlite began — the first major U.S. ground battle of the Vietnam War. | U.S. Marine Corps | Facebook