# 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:$^{:167–8}$
| Departure Date | Unit | Strength | Destination |
| 30 September 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters, III Marine Amphibious Force | 70 | Camp Pendleton |
| 30 September 1969 | OOCNE | 724 | Camp Pendleton |
| 2 October 1969 | Company B, 3rd Engineer Battalion | 159 | Camp Pendleton |
| 2 October 1969 | Company C, 3rd Medical Battalion | 24 | Camp Pendleton |
| 2 October 1969 | 1st Battalion, 12th Marines | 662 | Camp Pendleton |
| 2 October 1969 | Company B, 3rd Shore Party Battalion | 82 | Camp Pendleton |
| 2 October 1969 | Company B, 9th Motor Transport Battalion | 91 | Camp Pendleton |
| 4 October 1969 | 3rd Bridge Company | 102 | Camp Pendleton |
| 4 October 1969 | Detachment, 11th Engineer Battalion | 622 | Camp Pendleton |
| 4 October 1969 | Company B, 3rd Motor Transport Battalion | 68 | Camp Pendleton |
| 4 October 1969 | Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion | 143 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines | 1166 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines | 1166 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines | 91 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment | 61 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters, 3rd Marine Division | 436 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines | 150 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment | 24 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Force Logistics Command (FLC) | 400 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, 7th Communication Battalion | 193 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines | 118 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines | 118 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment | 100 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, 1st Special Security Communications Team (SSCT) | 4 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | OOCNE | 14 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | OOCNE | 123 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, VMO-6 | 8 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, HMM-164 | 8 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 36 (MABS-36) | 89 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 36 (H&MS-36) | 164 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 11 (MABS-11) | 20 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 12 (MABS-12) | 20 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 13 (MABS-13) | 20 | Camp Pendleton |
| 6 October 1969 | Detachment, Marine Air Base Squadron 16 (MABS-16) | 22 | Camp Pendleton |
| 7 October 1969 | Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment | 230 | Camp Pendleton |
| 7 October 1969 | 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines | 1166 | Camp Pendleton |
| 7 October 1969 | Detachment, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines | 118 | Camp Pendleton |
| 7 October 1969 | HMM-265 | 249 | Camp Pendleton |
| 7 October 1969 | VMA-533 | 304 | Camp Pendleton |
| 7 October 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 12 (H&MS-12) | 69 | Japan |
| 20 October 1969 | 7th Communication Battalion | 190 | Okinawa |
| 20 October 1969 | 3rd Motor Transport Battalion | 20 | Okinawa |
| 20 October 1969 | Platoon, 3rd Bridge Company | 21 | Okinawa |
| 20 October 1969 | Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment | 100 | Okinawa |
| 20 October 1969 | HMM-164 | 258 | Okinawa |
| 20 October 1969 | HMH-462 | 233 | Okinawa |
| 22 October 1969 | 1st Battalion, 4th Marines | 1048 | Okinawa |
| 22 October 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division | 200 | Okinawa |
| 22 October 1969 | VMO-6 | 234 | Okinawa |
| 22 October 1969 | Detachment, VMO-6 | 32 | Okinawa |
| 23 October 1969 | Battery G, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines | 133 | Okinawa |
| 23 October 1969 | 3rd Engineer Battalion | 341 | Okinawa |
| 23 October 1969 | 3rd Tank Battalion | 345 | Okinawa |
| 3 November 1969 | 15th CIT | 16 | Okinawa |
| 3 November 1969 | Detachment, H&HS-18 | 18 | Japan |
| 4 November 1969 | 9th Motor Transport Battalion | 88 | Okinawa |
| 5 November 1969 | 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines | 328 | Okinawa |
| 5 November 1969 | 17th Interrogator Translator Team (ITT) | 11 | Okinawa |
| 5 November 1969 | 11th ITT | 6 | Okinawa |
| 5 November 1969 | 9th ITT | 6 | Okinawa |
| 6 November 1969 | Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment | 130 | Okinawa |
| 6 November 1969 | Company B, 3rd Tank Battalion | 140 | Okinawa |
| 7 November 1969 | H&MS-36 | 324 | Okinawa |
| 8 November 1969 | 1st SSCT | 6 | Okinawa |
| 8 November 1969 | Detachment, MASS-2 | 39 | Okinawa |
| 9 November 1969 | 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines | 1048 | Okinawa |
| 9 November 1969 | Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division | 308 | Okinawa |
| 9 November 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment | 83 | Okinawa |
| 10 November 1969 | Battery K, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines | 100 | Okinawa |
| 10 November 1969 | 3rd Shore Party Battalion | 228 | Okinawa |
| 19 November 1969 | 4th Battalion, 12th Marines | 152 | Okinawa |
| 20 November 1969 | 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines | 1048 | Okinawa |
| 21 November 1969 | 11th Engineer Battalion | 103 | Okinawa |
| 22 November 1969 | Company C, 9th Motor Transport Battalion | 83 | Okinawa |
| 23 November 1969 | MABS-36 | 318 | Okinawa |
| 23 November 1969 | MASS-2 | 123 | Japan |
| 24 November 1969 | Detachment, MABS-36 | 87 | Japan |
| 24 November 1969 | Detachment, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division | 200 | Okinawa |
| 24 November 1969 | 3rd Medical Battalion | 86 | Okinawa |
| 24 November 1969 | 3rd Dental Company | 3 | Okinawa |
| 24 November 1969 | 7th ITT | 11 | Okinawa |
| 27 November 1969 | Battery H, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines | 110 | Okinawa |

## Aftermath

Operation Keystone Cardinal concluded on 27 November 1969.$^{:168}$