1st Battalion 8th Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Battalion, 8th Marines


caption= 1st Battalion, 8th Marines insignia
dates= -April 1, 1940 - November 18, 1947
- November 1, 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= 8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
current_commander=
garrison= Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "The Beirut Battalion"
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Tarawa
* Battle of Saipan
* Battle of Tinian
* Battle of Okinawa
1983 Beirut barracks bombing
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Operation Phantom Fury
anniversaries=

1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. Nicknamed "The Beirut Battalion," they fall under the command of the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.

History

World War II

Activated April 1, 1940 at San Diego, California the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Brigade was re-designated February 1, 1941 as 2nd Marine Division. The battalion was assigned during December 1941 to 2d Marine Brigade, 2d Marine Division. Deployed during January 1942 to American Samoa and detached from the 2nd Marine Division, they participated in the following World War II campaigns:
* Guadalcanal
* Tarawa
* Saipan
* Tinian
* Okinawa.

It deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki, Japan, and participated in the occupation of Japan from September 1945 – June 1946. They relocated during June-July 1946 to MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and were deactivated November 18, 1947.

The 50's through the 90's

The battalion was reactivated November 1 1950 at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines and assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. It deployed to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean at various times from the 1950s through the 1990s. It participated in the landings on Lebanon, July-September 1958, the Cuban Missile Crisis, October-December 1962, and the intervention in the Dominican Republic, May-June 1965. During the 90's as part of the 26th MEU(SOC) the Battalion took part in Operations Joint Guard as part of IFOR (International Forces of Readiness) and then SFOR (Supplementary Forces of Readiness). The Battalion also conducted a Non Combatant Evacuation of Americans and Allies from Albania during Operation Silver Wake. Just as Operation Silver Wake wrapped up the Marines of Headquarters & Service Company, Bravo Company, and Weapons Company were sent off the Coast of Zaire/Congo for Operation Guardian Retrieval.

Beirut Bombing

The battalion participated as part of the multinational peace keeping force in Lebanon, May – November 1983. On Sunday, Oct. 23, 1983, 1/8 was the main victim of what came to be known as the Beirut Bombing when a truck bomb was detonated at its headquarters at the airport in Beirut.

ubsequent Operations Including Desert Storm

The battalion participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia during December 1990 through April 1991. Elements participated in support of Operation Provide Promise and Deny Flight, Bosnia, September – October 1993 and January 1994, Operation Sea Signal, Cuba, June- July 1994, in support of Operation Support Democracy, Caribbean Area, May – July 1994, and Operation Silver Wake in 1997.

Global War on Terror

In March 2003 Battalion Landing Team 1/8 departed Camp Lejeune, North Carolina with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The battalion deployed in support of combat operations in Mosul, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion would also take part in training exercises in Albania and Djibouti in the summer of 2003. Prior to its redeployment elements of the battalion inserted into Roberts International Airport and the port facility in Monrovia, Liberia. Lima company, 1/8 conducted airfield security operations as part of Joint Task Force Liberia in an effort to prevent rebel factions from ousting President Charles Taylor. The battalion would eventually return to Camp Lejeune in late October, 2003

The battalion deployed in June 2004 to Iraq. They conducted combat operations in Al Anbar Province and was one of the lead battalions during Operation Phantom Fury in November 2004 leading the assault into Fallujah.

ee also

* Organization of the United States Marine Corps
* List of United States Marine Corps battalions

Notes

References

;Bibliography

;Web
* [http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dmardiv/18/ 1/8's official website]
* [http://www.beirutbattalion.org Beirut Battalion Reenacting Group]