III Marine Expeditionary Force

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III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan
Motto(s)Forward, Faithful, Focused
EngagementsWorld War II

Vietnam War

Persian Gulf War

  • Operation Desert Shield
  • Operation Desert Storm

Operation Restore Hope

Global War on Terrorism

Iraq War

  • Operation Iraqi Freedom
Lewis W. Walt
Robert E. Cushman Jr.
Carl W. Hoffman

III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of the

amphibious assault
and high-intensity combat.

It maintains a forward presence in Japan and Asia to support the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan (1960) and other alliance relationships of the United States. III MEF also conducts combined operations and training throughout the region in support of the National Security Strategy for Theater Security Cooperation.

The

combat operations to humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief.

III MEF has played a significant role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions throughout the region. The MEF assisted the relief efforts led by the Government of Japan during Operation Tomodachi after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. III MEF also conducted HA/DR missions in Thailand in October 2011, the Philippines in October 2010, and Indonesia in October 2009.[1] Most recently in response to the resulting humanitarian crisis from Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines in 2013, III MEF activated as Joint Task Force 505 to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in support of the Philippine government.[2] More than 2,495 tons of relief supplies were delivered, and over 21,000 people were evacuated.[3]

Mission

Commanded by a

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
, to conduct Phase 0 engagement and theater security cooperation events, support contingencies and emergent requirements, and prepare to rapidly execute existing operations plans in support of the theater and national military strategies.

III MEF is organized as a

Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) to provide a rapidly deployable, flexible self-contained fighting force. The Marines combine air, ground, and logistics forces to operate as a coherent, self-sufficient force. Each mission dictates the MAGTF's scale and structure, giving the Marine Corps the flexibility to respond to any crisis and making a "force in readiness." A MEF is the largest of all MAGTFs.[1]

History

III Marine Expeditionary Force was activated as I Amphibious Corps 1 October 1942 in Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. Later that month, they were deployed to

Noumea, New Caledonia
. The unit was redesignated as III Amphibious Corps 15 April 1944. III Amphibious Corps was deactivated on 10 June 1946.

III Marine Expeditionary Force was activated 6 May 1965 at

III Marine Amphibious Force
(III MAF) 7 May 1965.

III Marine Amphibious Force deployed to

Okinawa April 1971. III MAF was redesignated to III Marine Expeditionary Force 5 February 1988.[1]

World War II

During

Tianjin, China, in September 1945, where it participated in the occupation of Northern China until June 1946. III Amphibious Corps was deactivated on 10 June 1946.[1]

Camp Horn, III MAF Headquarters, Da Nang

Vietnam War

III MEF was reactivated 6 May 1965 in

Quang Ngai
. III MAF deployed to Camp Courtney, Okinawa in April 1971.

1990s–2010s

Since III MAF was redesignated to III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) 5 February 1988, they have participated in many different operations. These operations include the Persian Gulf War's

Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as the Global War on Terrorism's Enduring Freedom
.

One of the biggest roles III MEF plays in the Asia-Pacific region is

Burma from May and June 2008; Taiwan typhoon relief in August 2009; Philippine typhoon and Indonesian earthquake relief in October 2009; Philippine typhoon relief in October 2010; Operation Tomodachi in May 2011; Thailand flood relief from October through November 2011; and Philippine typhoon relief in December 2012 and again in November 2013.[4]

Structure

III Marine Expeditionary Force organization March 202Í4Í (click to enlarge)

III Marine Expeditionary Force, together with I Marine Expeditionary Force, makes up Marine Forces, Pacific.

Units

III MEF Band

As the Eastern Hemisphere’s sole musical representative of the United States Marine Corps, the III MEF Band enjoys a busy schedule filled with performances across Okinawa and the Indo-Pacific region each year. The band capitalizes on this unique position by making it a priority to present community outreach performances and by participating in bi-lateral engagements with partner and allied nations throughout Asia and the Pacific. Consisting of musicians trained in a variety of musical styles, the III MEF Band is able to provide a number of small ensembles for civilian events, including brass and woodwind quintets, jazz combo, rock band, and brass band. The band was awarded the title of 2018 Marine Corps Band of the Year in February 2018.[7][8] The III MEF Band was most recently award the 2023 Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands.

The following comprises the leadership of the band:[9]

  • Master Gunnery Sergeant
    J. Michael Stanley
  • Instrument Repair Technician –
    Gunnery Sergeant
    Mathew Medina
  • Enlisted Conductor –
    Gunnery Sergeant
    Martin Arreola, Jr.
  • Gunnery Sergeant
    Benjamin J. McNichol-Bernal
  • Production Manager –
    Gunnery Sergeant
    Joshua W. Waldie

Uniquely, the band used to have its own mascot. The history of the use of a mascot dates back to 1974, when the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing presented a Golden Retriever to the 1st MAW Band. Since then, the 1st MAW and 3D MARDIV Bands combined to form the III MEF Band and five mascots have served the unit. Since November of 2012, Sgt Chopper V continued this unique tradition and retired in 2024 after serving the Marines of the III MEF Band faithfully and honorably. [10]

Gallery

Locations and units

Japan

Okinawa

Honshu

United States

Hawaii

South Korea

List of commanders

No. Commander Term Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
-
Lawrence D. Nicholson
Lieutenant General
Lawrence D. Nicholson
(born 1956)		11 September 20152 August 20182 years, 325 days[11]
-
Eric M. Smith
Lieutenant General
Eric M. Smith		2 August 201831 May 2019302 days[12]
-
H. Stacy Clardy
Lieutenant General
H. Stacy Clardy
(born 1960)		31 May 20199 November 20212 years, 162 days[13]
-
James W. Bierman Jr.
(born 1965)
9 November 202126 January 20242 years, 78 days[14]
-
Roger B. Turner
Lieutenant General
Roger B. Turner		26 January 2024Incumbent83 days[15]

Awards and decorations

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars[1] 1965–1968, 1968–1971, 2001–2003[1] Vietnam War, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan[1]
Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star[1] 2004–2005 2019-2021[1] Iraq War, War in Afghanistan, War on Terror[1]
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign[1]
 1942–1946[1] World War II[1]
World War II Victory[1]
 1945[1] World War II[1]
China Service[1] 1945–1946[1] Occupation of North China[1]
National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars[1] 1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present[1] Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War's
Enduring Freedom[1]
Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver and three Bronze Stars[1] 1965–1971[1]
Quang Ngai[1]
Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer[1] 2001–present[1]
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer[1]
 1965–1971[1] Foreign award from South Vietnam[1]
Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions Streamer[1]
 1965–1971[1] Foreign award from South Vietnam[1]

Notable former members

Gallery

NATO Symbol
III

See also

Notes

Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag III MEF Lineage and Honors, USMC History Division
  2. ^ DoD News, "Joint Task Force 505 Activates for Operation Damayan"
  3. ^ Lum and Margesson, "Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda): U.S. and International Response to Philippines Disaster"
  4. ^ Manning, "Constant Vigilance readies Kinser, community for disaster response"
  5. ^ "III MEF stands up new MEF Information Group". marines.mil.
  6. ^ "III MEF Support Battalion: the newest battalion in the Marine Corps". III Marine Expeditionary Force. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  7. ^ "III MEF Band ends year on high note". DVIDS. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  8. ^ "III MEF Band". www.iiimef.marines.mil. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  9. ^ "III MEF Band Leaders". www.iiimef.marines.mil. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  10. ^ "III Marine Expeditionary Force > Band > Mascot". www.iiimef.marines.mil. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Nicholson takes reins of Marine Forces Japan, III MEF". Stripes.
  12. ^ "III MEF commanding general change of command ceremony". U.S. Forces Korea. 2 August 2018.
  13. ^ Landis, Francesca (31 May 2020). "III MEF Commanding General Change of Command". dvidshub.net.
  14. ^ Landis, Francesca (31 May 2020). "III MEF Commanding General". dvidshub.net.
  15. ^ Hitchcock, Owen (26 January 2024). "III MEF Change of Command Ceremony". DVIDS. III Marine Expeditionary Force. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
References used

External links

Media related to III Marine Expeditionary Force at Wikimedia Commons


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