12th Marine Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 12th Marine Regiment


caption= 12th Marine Regiment Insignia
dates= October 4, 1927
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Artillery Regiment
role= Provide fires in support of 3rd Marine Division
size=
command_structure= 3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
current_commander=
garrison= Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa, Japan
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Thunder and Steel
patron=
motto= Honor, Fidelity, Valor
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Bougainville
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The 12th Marine Regiment is an artillery regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa, Japan. It is a part of the 3rd Marine Division and the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Mission

Provide close and continuous fire support by neutralizing, destroying, or suppressing targets which threaten the success of the supported unit.

Current Units

The regiment is made up of two artillery battalions and one headquarters battery:
* Headquarters Battery 12th Marines
* 1st Battalion 12th Marines
* 3rd Battalion 12th Marines

History

Activated October 4, 1927 at Tientsin, China and assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade.

World War II

The regiment was reactivated September 1, 1942 at San Diego, California, as the 12th Marines and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. They relocated during October 1942 to Camp Dunlap, California. From there the deployed during March 1943 to Auckland, New Zealand. In July 1943 they moved to Guadalcanal.

The regiment participated in the following World War II campaigns:
* Bougainville campaign (1944-45)
* Northern Solomons
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima

Following the war, 12th Marines relocated in December 1945 to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

Post World War II history

Reactivated March 17, 1952 at Camp Pendleton, California, and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. Deployed during August 1953 to Camp McNair, Japan. Redeployed during February 1956 to Okinawa. Redeployed from March-July 1965 to the Republic of Vietnam.

Participated in the War in Vietnam, May 1965 – November 1969, operating from:
* Da Nang
* Phu Bai
* Chu Lai
* Hue

Redeployed from August-November 1969 to Camp Hansen, Okinawa.

Relocated during August 1971 to Camp Hauge, Okinawa. Elements participated in the Southeast Asia Evacuations, April-June 1975. Elements participated in the recovery of the SS Mayaguez in May 1975. Relocated during August 1976 to Camp Zukeran, Okinawa. Camp Zukeran renamed Camp Foster during March 1980.

Elements participated in the Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Southwest Asia, September 1990-April 1991. Relocated during July 1998 to Camp Hansen, Okinawa

Global War on Terror

See also

* History of the United States Marine Corps
* List of United States Marine Corps regiments

References

Notes

:Marine Corps

External links

* [http://www.3div.usmc.mil/sections/12thmar/regt/index.html 12th Marines' official website]