3rd Battalion 1st Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Battalion 1st Marines


caption= 3rd Battalion 1st Marines Insignia
dates= *March 1, 1941 - October 1941
*February 16, 1942 - March 20, 1947
*August 4, 1950 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Light infantry
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver
size=
command_structure= 1st Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division
current_commander= LtCol Watson
garrison=Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "Thundering Third"
patron=
motto= The Bull's Balls Balls of the Corps
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Peleliu *Battle of Okinawa Korean War *Battle of Inchon *Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War *Operation Union *Operation Union II Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom *2003 Invasion of Iraq *Battle of Nasiriyah *Operation Phantom Fury
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

3rd Battalion 1st Marines (3/1) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Horno on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed the "Thundering Third", the battalion consists of approximately 750 Marines and Sailors and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

ubordinate Units

* Headquarters and Services Company
* Company I
* Company K
* Company L
* Weapons Company

History

Beginnings

3rd Battalion, 1st Marines was activated on March 1, 1941 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and assigned to the 1st Marine Division. In April of that year, they were relocated to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina; the unit was subsequently deactivated in October of that year.

World War II

On February 16, 1942, 3/1 was re-activated at New River, North Carolina. In July 1942, they deployed to Wellington, New Zealand and participated in the following World War II campaigns: Guadalcanal, Eastern New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa. Beginning in April 1946, they participated in the occupation of North China. The battalion was again deactivated on March 20, 1947 as part of the post war drawdown of forces. [Rottman "U.S. Marine Corps WWII Order of Battle", p.166.]

Korean War

The start of the Korean War saw the reactivation of 3/1 on August 4, 1950 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and their quick deployment to Korea in September. The battalion's first action was at the Battle of Inchon in September 1950. Following the recapture of Seoul, 3/1, along with the rest of the 1st Marine Division, was put back on ship and sailed around to the east coast of Korea. They eventually landed at Wonsan in late October and from there participated in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. During the battle they were the only battalion from the Chesty Puller's 1st Marine Regiment to make it as far north as Hagaru-ri. [Russ "Breakout". p.185.] After the withdrawal from Chosin, the battalion took part in fighting on the East Central Front and Western Front for the remainder of the war. After the ceasefire, from July 1953 to April 1955, they participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. In April 1955, the battalion re-located to MCB Camp Pendleton, California.

From October to December 1962, 3/1 was part of the amphibious task force sent to the Caribbean in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Vietnam War

From January 1966 to May 1971, the battalion fought in the Vietnam War, operating from Chu Lai, Da Nang, Thang Binh, Thanh Thu y, Ca Lu Combat Base and Hoa Vang. In May 1971, they re-located to MCB Camp Pendleton, California.

Persian Gulf War & the 1990s

The battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia in December 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield and in March 1991, they transitioned to combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. May 1992 brought a short drive up Interstate 5 to Los Angeles to aid local police in Riot Control Operations during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots

February and March 1995 saw a deployment to Somalia to support Operation United Shield, helping the remaining UN troops evacuate. The next major deployment was in October 2000 to support Operation Determined Response.cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/determined_response.htm
title=Operation Determined Response |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org]

Global War on Terror

3rd Battalion, 1st Marines deployed to Kuwait in January 2003 and in March of the year took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including the Battle of Nasiriyah. The battalion re-deployed to Camp Pendleton in the summer of 2003.

The unit then re-deployed to Iraq in mid-2004 and was based near Fallujah. As an effort of the November 2004 on the city of Fallujah, the battalion participated in Operation AL FAJR (pronounced Al Fad-jer). Before the assault commenced, the operation was known as Operation Phantom Fury. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines was part of the composition of RCT 1. RCT 1 was partly responsible for clearing the infamous Jolan District among others. Alongside RCT 7, four Marine battalions (including 1/3, 1/8, and 3/5) and two army units reclaimed the city of Fallujah from unrest.

The battalion re-deployed back to Iraq in September 2005 and were attached to 2nd Marine Regiment (known as Regimental Combat Team 2), and on 20 February 2006 were attached to the 7th Marine Regiment (known as Regimental Combat Team 7) in western Iraq, carrying out security and stabilization operations. The Battalion returned to Camp Pendleton at the end of March. [Schnell, Cpl. Adam C. [http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/4B94BCBF466F7B798525712C0041987B?opendocument "Camp Pendleton-based Marines leave no place for insurgents to hide in western Al Anbar"] , "MarineLink", March 6, 200 [6.]

On April 10, 2007, 3/1 deployed as the ground combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. They were ordered into Iraq as part of Operation Phanton Thunder. Operating north of Fallujah and Karmah in the Thar Thar region in AO Anahiem, MARSOB units attached to the MEU were operating for several days before the ground combat element began operating on June 15, 2007. They were to establish a coalition presence in an area that had only had 14 days of coalition presence since the invasion in March 2003. 3/1 finished operations in Iraq after 90 days of operating on September 20, 2007 and soon after re-embarked on the naval strike group and set sail for the United States and returned to Camp Pendleton on November 17, 2007.

3/1 is set to leave for Okinawa in early to mid July 2008 as part of the ground combat element of the 31st MEU.

Haditha killings

As of December 2006, Marines from Kilo Company (K/3/1) were under investigation for their actions on November 19, 2005 after "Time magazine" published an article accusing them of killing 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including 11 women and children. [McGirk, Tim. [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1174649,00.html "Collateral Damage or Civilian Massacre in Haditha?"] , "Time" , May 29, 2006. (URL accessed May 29, 2006)] Residents of Haditha in western Iraq claim that the Marines killed 15 civilians in response to the death of Lance Cpl. Terrazas by an improvised explosive device. The incident is currently under investigation. [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200603201245.htm "US Marines massacred 15 Iraqi civilians: report"] , "The Hindu", March 20, 2006. ] [ [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-03-21T103037Z_01_L21551475_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAQ-USA-CIVILIANS.xml "Reuters"] , March 21, 2006.] According to a May 29, 2006 report by "The Times", Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey R. Chessani was the commanding officer and was removed along with Captain Luke McConnell. [ Hamdani, Ali and Ned Parker. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2201470_1,00.html "Marines and the 'massacre': a neighbour tells of the aftermath"] , "The Times", May 29, 2006. (URL accessed May 29, 2006)] Due to lack of evidence, the case against LtCol Chessani was dismissed "without prejudice," on 17 June, 2008. An appeal was filed 19 June 2008 by the assigned prosecutors in the case.

Medal of Honor recipients from 3/1

Marines from the 3/1 have been awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during World War II and the Korean War.

World War II

* Private First Class William Adelbert Foster – Company K - 1945
* Sergeant Elbert Luther Kinser – Company I - 1945

Korean War

* Private First Class William Bernard Baugh – Weapons Company - 1950
* Major Reginald Rodney Myers, – H&S Company - 1950
* Captain Carl Leonard Sitter – Company G - 1950
* Technical Sergeant Harold Edward Wilson – Company G - 1951

Unit awards

ee also

*List of United States Marine Corps battalions
*
*Operation Phantom Fury
*Bradley Kasal

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Bibliography
*cite book
last = Russ
first = Martin
year = 1999
title = Breakout” – The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea, 1950.
publisher = Penguin Books
id = ISBN 0-14029-259-4
*cite book
last = Rottman
first = Gordon
year = 2002
title = U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945
publisher = Greenwood Publishing Company
id = ISBN 0-31331-906-5

;Web
* [http://www.usmc.mil/13thmeu/thunderingthird.htm 3/1's official website]
* [http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/ Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients]
* [http://www.3onevet.com/ Unofficial 3/1/ Page]
* [http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/msc/1mardiv/1MarReg/history.html History of the 1st Marines]
* [http://www.ingraham.ca/bob/vietnam_home.html With 3/1 in Vietnam]