Operation Keystone Eagle

Operation Keystone Eagle was the withdrawal of the initial units of the 3rd Marine Division from South Vietnam and their redeployment to Okinawa, taking place from 29 June to 30 August 1969.

Laird forwarded the plan to Nixon in early June with the recommendation that 20–25,000 troops be withdrawn starting in July.

On 23 June after completing its involvement in Operation Utah Mesa, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines stood down at Vandegrift Combat Base.

On 14 July following a farewell ceremony at Da Nang, the 1/9 Marines boarded the USS Paul Revere, becoming the first U.S. battalion to be withdrawn.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.