1. ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE 4TH MARINE AIRCRAFT WING ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ITS COMMISSIONING. ORIGINALLY NAMED THE 4TH MARINE BASE DEFENSE AIRCRAFT WING, THE 4TH MAW WAS ACTIVATED ON 22 AUGUST 1942. SINCE THAT DAY, THE WARRIORS OF 4TH MAW HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR CORPS BOTH IN TIMES OF PEACE AND WAR.
2. 4TH MAW HAS CHANGED MUCH OVER THE LAST 65 YEARS * BUT THE PROFESSIONALISM AND EXCELLENCE OF THE WARRIORS OF 4TH MAW HAS NEVER CHANGED. THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF 4TH MAW CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH DISTINCTION IN THE LONG WAR JUST AS THEY DID IN WORLD WAR II AND KOREA. THEY HAVE PROVEN TO BE AN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO THE MAGTF AND THE TOTAL FORCE CONCEPT.
3. AS YOU CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE WING*S ACTIVATION, I ASK YOU TO REFLECT UPON YOUR MANY SUCCESSES OVER THE YEARS AND BE PROUD OF THE LEGACY YOU HAVE CREATED.
4. SEMPER FIDELIS MARINES!

JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.