3rd Battalion, 24th Marines

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3rd Battalion, 24th Marines
4th Marine Division
Garrison/HQBridgeton, Missouri
Motto(s)"Always Ready"
EngagementsWorld War II
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Austin R. Brunelli
Frank E. Garretson

3rd Battalion, 24th Marines (3/24) was a reserve

23rd Marine Regiment, with the majority of the companies becoming 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines.[1]

Units

Name Location
Headquarters and Services Company Bridgeton, Missouri
India Company Nashville, Tennessee
Kilo Company Terre Haute, Indiana
Lima Company Johnson City, Tennessee
Weapons Company Springfield, Missouri

Mission

The unit's mission is to provide a well-trained and credible force, capable of rapidly mobilizing to augment or reinforce active duty Marine Corps forces participating in missions ranging from humanitarian/peacekeeping operations to major conflicts, in time of war, national emergency or contingency operations and during peacetime to provide operation tempo relief for active forces throughout the spectrum of operations including Joint and Combined Operations. Infantry battalions are the heart and soul of the

Amphibious Assault Vehicles to become mechanized infantry).[2]

Organization

A Marine infantry battalion is organized into three rifle

scout snipers).[2]

History

World War II

Radio Operators from Comm Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, under fire during the Battle of Roi-Namur
Marines from the 24th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Roi Namur
Marines from the 24th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Iwo Jima

The unit was first activated during World War II, being formed on February 1, 1943, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, under the designation of "Headquarters Company, 3d Separate Battalion". Later during the year, the battalion was relocated to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, and redesignated as the "3rd Battalion 24th Marine Regiment", and assigned to the 4th Marine Division. During 1944, 3/24 was deployed to the Marshall Islands and participated in the Battles of Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, Roi Namur, and Iwo Jima. The battalion commanders of the unit during this period were Lieutenant Colonels Austin R. Brunelli and Alexander A. Vandegrift, Jr.—son of Commandant of the Marine Corps Alexander Vandegrift—until he was severely wounded on Iwo Jima.[3] The fighting on Iwo Jima was fierce and losses amongst the battalion were high. When the battalion reembarked after 35 days of fighting, one of its companies, Captain William T. Ketcham's Company I, which had landed on Iwo Jima the first day with 133 marines in its three rifle platoons, had only nine of these men remaining.[3] After this, during 1945 the battalion relocated to Maui, in Hawaii, before moving to Camp Pendleton, California. Following the end of the war, the battalion was deactivated on October 31, 1945.

Post-World War II

The battalion was reactivated on July 1, 1962, at New Orleans, Louisiana, and assigned to the 4th Marine Division, USMCR. During 1967, the battalion headquarters was relocated to Missouri.

The battalion deployed to Greece and Turkey from December 1972 – January 1973 for annual training. 3/24 carries the distinction of being the first Marine reserve battalion to go overseas for annual training. 3/24 performed as the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), five countries participated: Greece, Italy, Turkey, England, and the United States. 3/24 assaulted the beaches of Greece in the Marine Corps' brand new LVTP-7, commonly known as an "AAV" or "Amtrac."[4]

The battalion deployed to Panama from September to October, 1976, for annual training. 3/24 trained at the Jungle Operations Training Center based in Fort Sherman, near the Panama Canal. Courses included riverine boat operations, jungle living, mines and booby traps, expedient antennas, navigation, helo extract, rappelling, night jungle patrolling, POW rescue, reconnaissance, and rope bridges.[5]

Desert Storm/Desert Shield/Gulf War

3/24 was activated with the entire 24th Marine Regiment on November 13, 1990, for

Desert Storm. During the first week of December 1990, the command element of the 24th Marines went to Camp Pendleton. 3/24 flew to Camp Lejuene, North Carolina, where they undertook weapons firing and chemical warfare training. The regiment (minus 1/24 who were deployed to Okinawa) then flew into Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, on January 1, 1991. Throughout that month, the 24th Marines assumed the rear area security mission for I MEF. Lieutenant General Walter Boomer, Commanding General of I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), assigned the 24th Marine Regiment the mission to defend the sprawling Al Jubayl Vital Area and other key points from Iraqi military and terrorist attacks. Al Jubayl was the port of entry for the prepositioned supplies that were linked with the 7th MEB in August 1990. The Al Jubayl command post, known as the "Police Station," was under the command of Major General John Hopkins. Colonel Germann (24th Marine Regiment Commanding Officer) deployed his regiment in platoon and company defensive positions along a 200-mile line from Dhahran to Al Mishab, shifting them as requirements changed.[6]

Post Desert Storm

Companies from 3/24 deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from October – November 1994 in support of Operation Sea Signal (Joint Task Force 160) to provide refugee camp security at Camp Alpha, Camp Bravo, Camp Golf, Camp Mike and Camp X-Ray. 3/24 also served as a Quick Reaction Force to quell any refugee uprisings, built refugee housing camp facilities, escorted refugees for medical treatment, distributed food and supplies, and conducted perimeter security.[7]

In 1997, the 24th Marine Regiment began deploying reinforced companies to Panama. Their mission was to provide security for the Panama Canal. Companies of 3/24 and individual augments deployed to Panama providing Op Tempo relief until the canal came under full Panamanian control in 1999. Major General Ray Smith, Commanding General II MEF, saw the deployment as offering great opportunities for both the reserve and the Marine Corps as a whole. "It reinforces the total-force commitment of the reserves. It gives the active duty Marines here a good feeling about their reserve counterparts," said Smith, "and further, this representative unit is a better manned... company than anything we've seen out here, except for the MEUs [Marine Expeditionary Units], in the time I've been here."[6]

Global War on Terror (Iraq/Afghanistan)

[Camp Fallujah, Iraq] marines from India Company, 3/24, pay their respects to Cpl Brad McCormick, killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq (2004)
A marine from 3/24 searches for roadside bombs in the vicinity of Fallujah, Iraq (2004)

Iraq, OIF II, First Battle of Fallujah

During January 2004, the battalion was activated in support of

St. Louis, Missouri.[8]

Iraq, OIF II, Abu Ghraib Prison

In February 2004, marines from 3/24 Company K were deployed to

National Guard
units.

Global media coverage of the 2003 torture activities provoked a violent response by Iraqis in Baghdad. Following exposure of the events, Abu Ghraib was under attack nearly every day, mainly from IED, car bomb and mortor attempts.

The marines sent to Abu Ghraib were primarily from the Terre Haute, Indiana area.

Fallujah

In 2006, approximately 400 members of 3/24 augmented

Iraqi Army
.

South America 2007

In June 2007, elements of 3/24 along with the

Marine Air Ground Task Force 24 (SPMAGTF 24) for Annual Training. They trained with partner nation marines from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and soldiers from the Canadian Army as a part of Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2010.[10]

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2009

Task Force 3/24 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq (2009)

3/24 again deployed to Iraq in September 2009 with the

Operation Iraqi Freedom.[11]

Scout Sniper Platoon, H&S Company, 3/24 conducts joint training in the Black Sea (Ukraine) in support of NATO Partnership For Peace 2011.

Operations in Afghanistan

200+ marines from 3/24 were deployed to

Military Transition Teams and security detachments.[12] These marines are distinguished in being the last members of 3/24 to serve in a combat zone before the unit was officially retired in 2013. In addition, these marines were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (United States) by President Barack Obama, published by headquarters Marine Corps in administrative message (MARADMIN) 615/12.[13]

Black Sea 2011

In May 2011, 3/24 deployed with 4th Force Reconnaissance Company to the Ukraine/Black Sea in support of NATO Partnership for Peace Exercise Seabreeze 11.[14] Training consisted of combat firing, counter piracy training operations, non-combatant evacuation operations, amphibious assault, airborne operations, and board, search and seizure training aboard ship.[15]

Arctic Circle 2012

In March and April 2012, elements of 3/24 deployed to Norway/Arctic Circle for Operation Cold Response 2012.[16] The Arctic exercise brought together 16,300 troops from 15 allied nations for simulated combat, terror threats and amphibious operations in snow and ice.

Deactivation/retirement

On May 19, 2013, the battalion was deactivated (retired) as a part of 2013 Marine Corps Force Restructuring, along with the

24th Marine Regiment. 3/24 personnel were reallocated to 23rd Marine Regiment, with the majority of the companies becoming 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines.[17] The battalion colors were retired at the battalion headquarters in St. Louis, MO, and sent for safekeeping to the Museum of the Marine Corps.[1]

Unit awards

Notable former members

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 3rd Battalion 24th Marines.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "News Article Display". marforres.marines.mil. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  2. ^ a b List of United States Marine Corps battalions
  3. ^ a b "HyperWar: Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima". ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  4. ^ USMC News Release, Public Affairs Office, MSgt Mike Marino, Release No. 12-10-72, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic
  5. ^ Article: "Reserves Try Jungle School In Panama," The Midwest Reporter, November Issue, 1976.
  6. ^ a b "Marines" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on September 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "A Guantanamo Diary—Operation Sea Signal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-11-14. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  8. ^ "Documents" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  9. ^ "Detroit Free Press - Home". freep.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  10. ^ "pressreleases.kcstar.com". pressreleases.kcstar.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  11. ^ "Last Marine Battalion Leaving Iraq". outsidethebeltway.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  12. ^ "St. Louis Based Marines Among The Last to Leave Iraq - 3rd Battalion 24th Marine Regiment Due Back By January's End". Fox2Now St. Louis. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  13. ^ "Airman missing in action from Vietnam War is identified > United States Marine Corps Flagship > Messages Display". marines.mil. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  14. ^ "unit/marforres/Pages/ExerciseSeaBreeze2011Begins". marines.mil. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  15. ^ "Sea Breeze 2011 Exercise | PfP Information Management System (PIMS)". Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
  16. ^ "Norway exercise preps Marines for cold combat - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times". Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  17. ^ http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20111010/NEWS/110100309/Reserve-mission-expands-despite-drawdown [permanent dead link]
  18. ^ Richard K. Sorenson
  19. ^ John V. Power
  20. ^ "James Zarillo - Recipient". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  21. ^ "Louis Trafton - Recipient". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  22. ^ "Wray Lewis - Recipient". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  23. ^ "William Ketcham - Recipient". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  24. ^ "Ira Davidson - Recipient". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  25. ^ "William Spencer - Recipient". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  26. ^ "Colts.com | Josh Bliel - One Step at a Time". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  27. ^ "Honor Lee Marvin's Combat Record — Letters to the Editor". WSJ. Retrieved 2021-11-27.

References

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