1st Battalion, 3rd Marines
3d Marine Division | |
Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Hawaii |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | "Lava Dogs & Chicha Jima Marines” |
Motto(s) | "Fortuna Fortes Juvat" "Fortune Favors the Brave" |
Engagements | World War II
Vietnam War
|
Website | 1st Battalion 3d Marines |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lieutenant Colonel Mark A. Lenzi |
Notable commanders | George O. Van Orden Ronald R. Van Stockum |
1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3) is an
Subordinate units
- Headquarters and Service Company
- Alpha Company
- Bravo Company
- Charlie Company
History
World War II
On May 1, 1942, the 1st Training Battalion was activated at
The
In early 1945, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, as part of Regimental Combat Team 3, was to be the floating reserve for the amphibious assault of the Battle of Iwo Jima. However, the battalion was never called upon to land or to take part in the battle.
The battalion remained on Guam through the surrender of the Japanese in September 1945. Although the end of the war signified the end of hostilities, there was still much work to be done. The Islands in the Pacific held by the Japanese had to be demilitarized and the Japanese forces repatriated to mainland Japan, this job fell to 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, soon to be known as the “Chichi Jima” Marines. Chichi Jima was an Island fortress, often referred to as the Gibraltar of the Pacific, located in the Ogasawara Island chain 615 miles south of Tokyo. After 14 years of war in China and the Pacific, Japan had arrived at a mortifying surrender. At exactly 1015 on December 13, 1945, the Japanese flag flying over Chici Jima was lowered from its staff. The Japanese Color Guard folded the flag and presented it to the Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. At 1025, the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps sounded Colors and everyone present, American and Japanese alike, rendered a salute as Old Glory was raised to her lofty summit.
Vietnam War
1st Battalion, 3d Marines became the second American infantry unit to enter
In 1969. the United States began to slowly withdraw combat units from Southeast Asia. One of the first Marine units to be notified to commence stand down operations was 1st Battalion, 3d Marines. The unit
1980s
Throughout the 1980s, 1/3 regularly deployed to Okinawa to serve as a forward staged unit in the Western Pacific area as part of the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program. During the Unit Deployment Program, the battalion would regularly participate in exercises throughout the region, such as in Korea and Thailand. In December 1989, while at Okinawa, 1/3 responded to the 1989 Philippine coup attempt as part of an amphibious task force and sent Marines ashore to reinforce the American Embassy. The battalion formed the ground combat element of CTF-79 (Commander, Landing Force, Seventh Fleet).
The Gulf War and the 1990s
In August 1990, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines deployed to
The Global War on Terrorism
1/3 was on the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Okinawa, Japan during the Al Qaeda terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Due to their proximity to Afghanistan, the battalion's Company A was one of the first infantry units to deploy to U.S. Central Command, of which Afghanistan is a part, after the September 11 attacks.
In October 2002, an Army Special Forces Sergeant First Class (SFC) was killed in the Southern Philippines by an IED.
April 2003, 1/3 departed Kaneohe for another UDP in Okinawa, Japan. Alpha company, with Weapons company reinforcements left for the Philippines as the MSE under the guise of JTF-510. Alpha company carried out many joint missions with Navy SEAL/s, SWCC, and the CIA in terrorist surveillance activities, and security missions in Zamboanga Bay.
In June 2004, 1/3 (also known at the time as BLT 1/3, and including Battery C
On January 26, 2005, a
In January 2006, the battalion deployed to eastern
In March 2007, 1st Battalion 3d Marines deployed to Haditha,
The battalion deployed to Karma, Iraq from August 2008 - March 2009. One Marine was killed and five were injured on December 21, 2008. [1]
The battalion again deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 through June 2010, taking up positions in and around
The activities of Bravo and Charlie Companies were covered extensively in a series of articles by C. J. Chivers in The New York Times, and in the "At War Blog" posted on The New York Times website. A total of five Marines were KIA, along with one British reporter this deployment. [2]The battalion deployed once more to Afghanistan in April 2011, taking up positions south of FOB Delhi, in Garmsir District, Helmand Province.
Awards
- bronze stars
- Guam - 1944
- Vietnam - 1965 - 1967, 1967
- Afghanistan - 2010
- Navy Unit Commendation w/ 1 bronze star & w/ 1 silver star
- Bougainville - 1943
- Vietnam - 1965, 1968–1969
- Southwest Asia - 1990 - 1991
- Southwest Asia / OEF I - 2001 - 2002
- III MEF - 2003 - 2005
- OEF Afghanistan - 2006
- OIF Iraq I MEF - 2007-2008
- OIF Iraq II MEF - 2008
- Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 2 bronze stars
- Vietnam - 1967 - 1968, 1968
- Southwest Asia / OEF I - 2001-2002
- III MEF- 2008-2010
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalw/ 4 bronze stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal w/ 3 bronze stars
- Korean Service Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- silver stars
- Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 bronze stars
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantryw/ palm streamer
- Iraq Campaign Medal w/3 bronze stars
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/5 bronze stars
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
See also
Notable members
- William R. Higgins, platoon commander in C Company during the Vietnam War
- Jan C. Huly
- Iraqi Freedom
- Wayne Rollings, platoon commander
Notes
- ^ "1st Battalion, 3rd Marines". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
- ^ a b "3rd Marine Division About". www.3rdmardiv.marines.mil. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
- ^ American Forces Press Service (February 3, 2005). "Day of Remembrance Honors Fallen". DefenseLink. U.S. Department of Defense..
- ^ Leone, Diana (January 14, 2005). "'Freedom isn't free': 10 soldiers are remembered for paying the ultimate price". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
- ^ Kakesako, Gregg K (April 27, 2005). "Kaneohe Marines Return From Iraq". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
- ^ Lindsay, Sgt. Joe (March 28, 2006). "Marines win villagers' trust". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on April 6, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2006.
- U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the originalon 2006-06-06. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
- ^ Nelson, Cpl. Rick (January 1, 2008). "Lava Dogs beat the odds". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ^ Tuthill,Sgt. Brian A. (February 10, 2010). "Marines fight insurgents, secure key intersection on road to Marjeh". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-01.