1st Battalion, 9th Marines
1st Battalion 9th Marines | |
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2nd Marine Division | |
Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
Nickname(s) | "The Walking Dead" |
Engagements | World War II
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Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
The 1st Battalion 9th Marines (1/9) was an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War I, it served until the mid-2000s when it was deactivated to make room for one of three light armor reconnaissance battalions. During the Vietnam War, 1/9 sustained an especially high casualty rate, such that it received the nickname "The Walking Dead".
In late 2005, the battalion was reactivated and attached to the
As of 29 August 2014 the battalion has been deactivated due to a force shaping initiative and downsizing of the Marine Corps.[1] On the occasion of this deactivation, one of its former officers lauded: "Not a better battalion in the world".[2]
Subordinate units
The battalion was composed of four rifle infantry companies and one headquarters and services company:
- Alpha Company
- Bravo Company
- Charlie Company
- Delta Company
- Weapons Company
- Headquarters & Service Company to include Scout Sniper Platoon; Corpsmen; Battalion Command Group Sections (Operations/Plans/Training, Intelligence, Supply, and Administration) along with the Battalion Aid Section. H&S Co. also had a provisional rifle platoon composed of all marines in H&S in the '65-'66 time period. Many of these personnel were assigned to each of the four rifle infantry companies. Delta Company was never stood back up for the GWOT.
History
World War I
The battalion was activated on 20 November 1917 at Quantico, Virginia as the 9th Regiment. During December 1917 they were deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and attached to the 3rd Provisional Brigade. They were relocated during August 1918 to Fort Crockett, Galveston, Texas, and detached from 3rd Provisional Brigade. They moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during April 1919 and deactivated 25 April 1919.
World War II
The battalion was activated on 1 March 1942 at
- Bougainville Campaign(1 November 1943 – 21 August 1945)
- Northern Solomons (January 1942 – 21 August 1945)
- Battle of Guam (21 July – 10 August 1944)
- Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945)
Following the surrender of Japan the battalion was detached during December 1945 from the 3rd Marine Division and returned during December 1945 to Camp Pendleton, California. They were formally deactivated on 31 December 1945.
Vietnam War
During the
1/9 participated in the following operations during the Vietnam War:
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1980s and 1990s
During most of the 1980s and 1990s, the battalion rotated between
1st Battalion, 9th Marines, Fleet Marine Force(REIN), Camp Pendleton, California, served on several overseas deployments. 1/9 was re-designated as Battalion Landing Team One Slant Nine (BLT 1/9) and deployed as the infantry element of the 13th MEU/SOC and 11th MEU/SOC. During its deployments, the Marines and Sailors of 1/9 became a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) that was Special Operations Capable (MEU/SOC). The Marines and Sailors were trained in Counter Terrorism, Downed Airman Rescue, Embassy evacuations,
Operation Restore Hope
In September 1993, 1st Battalion 9th Marines commanded by LtCol. Silva were the battalion deployed as the
1st MEB was disestablished when the 22nd MEU (SOC) was reassigned to the Mediterranean area of operations in mid-November. The 13th MEU remained as the principle rapid response force in support of the joint task force and participated in
The 13th MEU (SOC) continued its presence mission through January, providing aircraft for the "Eyes Over Mogadishu" missions as well as sniper support at the United States Embassy compound. On 2 February 1994, the 24th MEU (SOC) relieved the 13th MEU (SOC).
The battalion was deactivated on 9 September 1994 and redesignated
Global War on Terror
In April 2005 the Marine Corps began reactivating the 1st Battalion 9th Marines. In April 2006, after only a 30-day work-up cycle, Alpha Company deployed in support of
In May 2011, 1/9 deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. This would be the first time the "Walking Dead" would fight in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The battalion detached Alpha Company and attached it to 3rd Battalion 6th Marines in the city of Marjah for this deployment. The deployment was a success, and no Marines were lost in action. From September, 2012 to December, 2012, Alpha Company deployed to Al Jaber, Kuwait, providing security forces for MAG-40. 1/9 deployed to Helmand Province Afghanistan from Sept 2013 to May 2014 in support of operation Enduring Freedom and shortly after returning from this deployment the unit cased their colors again.
Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor is the highest
Name | Rank | Unit | Place | Date of action | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wesley L. Fox |
Captain | Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division | A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam | 22 February 1969 | [9] |
John H. Leims |
Second Lieutenant |
Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division | Iwo Jima | 3 March 1945 | [10] |
Walter K. Singleton |
Sergeant | Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division | Republic of Vietnam | 24 March 1967 | [11] |
Frank P. Witek |
Private First Class |
1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division | Guam | 3 August 1944 | [12] |
The
- LCpl Jordan C. Haerter (posthumous)
- 1stSgt Jettie Rivers, Jr. (posthumous - Promoted to 2ndLt)
- SSgt Leon R. Burns
- 2ndLt William J. Christman III (posthumous)
- 1stLt Gatlin J. Howell (posthumous)
- Capt William M. Keys
- Capt Albert C. Slater
- LCpl Dana C. Darnell
- 1stLt Lee Herron (posthumous)
- LCpl Michael Edward Stewart (posthumous)
- 2nd Lt George Malone
- LCpl. James Stogner
Notable former members
- Ronald W. Lollar
- Joseph F. Dunford, Jr.
- Walter Fillmore
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. 1st Battalion, 9th Marines has been presented with the following awards:
bronze stars
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Presidential Unit Citation (Army) | |
Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze service star | |
Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars | |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars
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World War II Victory Medal | |
National Defense Service Medal with three bronze stars (WW-2; PLUS: Korea; Vietnam; Afghanistan) | |
Korean Service Medal | |
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal | |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | |
Vietnam Service Medal with two silver stars ((10 battle Campaigns)) ((44 Major Combat Operations)) | |
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer
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Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action Medal
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See also
- List of United States Marine Corps battalions
- Organization of the United States Marine Corps
- Wallace Terry, profiled 1/9 member Private First Class Reginald "Malik" Edwards in Bloods: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans (1984), pages 3–17
Notes
- ^ "'Walking Dead' Marine battalion to be deactivated". 24 May 2017.
- ^ "'Walking Dead' Marine battalion to be deactivated". The Washington Times.
- ^ p. 231 Fox, Wesley L. Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps 2003 Brasseys
- ^ "Operations".
- ISBN 9781519486301. www.tfpike.com The 3rd Battalion was also known as the K.16 NVA Battalion.
- ^ "Military Daily News".
- ^ "Regimental Lineage". Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2006.
- ^ "Title 2, Chapter V, Part 58, Sec. 578.4 "Medal of Honor"". Code of Federal Regulations. 1 July 2002. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2007.
- ^ "Colonel Wesley L. Fox, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
- ^ http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Leims_JH.htm Archived 16 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps, Retrieved 23 May 2008
- ^ "Sergeant Walter K. Singleton., USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
- ^ "Private First Class Frank P. Witek., USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- Web
- 1st Battalion 9th Marines' official website. Accessed on 10 July 2006.
- "History". 1stBattalion9thMarines.com. Retrieved 29 July 2006.
- Official Website of the 1/9 Network
- 1/9 Tribute site
- Pike, Thomas,Operations and Intelligence, I Corps Reporting February 1969, ISBN 9781519486301