- 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
caption= 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion insignia
courtesy of www.military-graphics.com
dates= ActivatedSeptember 16 ,1942
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Light Infantry/Special Operations
role= Reconnaissance/Direct Action
size=
command_structure=3rd Marine Division III Marine Expeditionary Force
current_commander= LtCol William Seely
garrison=Camp Schwab
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Mortalis
patron=
motto= "Celer, Silens, Mortalis"
"Swift, Silent, Deadly"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War II
*Battle of Bougainville
*Solomon Islands
* Battle of Guam
*Battle of Iwo Jima Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (3rd Recon) is a reconnaissance unit in the
United States Marine Corps based out ofCamp Smedley Butler ,Okinawa ,Japan . They consist of approximately 200 Marines and Sailors and fall under the command of the3rd Marine Division and theIII Marine Expeditionary Force .Mission
The battalion’s mission is to conduct amphibious reconnaissance, deep ground reconnaissance, surveillance, battlespace shaping, and limited scale raids in support of
III MEF ,3rd Marine Division , and other Marine Air-Ground Task forces.5th Force Recon folded into this unit, so it also carries out the Force Recon mission, which assigned to Bravo Company. The Unit also supports the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, by supplying Reconnaissance Marines to the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon, and the Deep Reconnaissance/Direct Action Platoon.
History
World War II
The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was activated on
16 September 1942 at Camp Pendleton, California as the Company E Scouts, 3rd Tank Battalion, and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division.In January-February 1943, they deployed to
Auckland, New Zealand . On20 April 1943 , they were redesignated as 3rd Scout Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. On1 July 1943 , they were redesignated as Company D (Scout), 3rd Tank Battalion. On1 April 1944 , they were redesignated Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.They participated in the following
World War II campaigns:
*Battle of Bougainville
*Solomon Islands
* Battle of Guam
*Battle of Iwo Jima In December 1945, they returned to Camp Pendleton, and were deactivated on
31 December 1945 .1950s - early 1960s
Reactivated on
1 March 1952 at Camp Pendleton, they were designated as Reconnaissance Company, Headquarters Battalion and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division,Fleet Marine Force . In August 1953, they deployed to Camp McGill, Japan; and subsequently redeployed in April 1956 to Camp Hauge, Okinawa.They were deactivated on
14 April 1958 and reactivated the following day,15 April 1958 , atCamp Schwab , Okinawa, as the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.Vietnam War
In May 1965, 3rd Recon Battalion deployed to Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, participating in the
Vietnam War from May 1965 to November 1969. Early in the war, they operated fromDanang ,Hue ,Phu Bai ; then they moved north to patrol the northern sector of theDemilitarized Zone (DMZ).Post-Vietnam
In December 1969, they returned to Camp Schwab, Okinawa.
3rd Recon Battalion deployed to various locations in the Western Pacific until its stand down and deactivation in 1992. As a result of MCO 5401.5, dated
24 August 1952 , the USMC Force Restructure and Implementation Plan, the Marine Corps shrunk its forces and as a result reconnaissance battalions were eliminated and reconnaissance companies became a part of infantry regiments.On
2 June 2000 , 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was again reactivated.Global War on Terror
In March 2004, elements of Company B deploy to the
Persian Gulf in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom II. On13 February 2005 , 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion deployed toIraq to conduct combat operations in theAl Anbar Province , and was the focus of the documentary film . On 29 September 2006, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion again deployed to Iraq to conduct combat operations in the Al Anbar Province. On 15 April, 2008 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion deployed again to Iraq to conduct combat operations in Al Anbar Province.Honors
Medal of Honor recipients
*1stLt Frank S. Reasoner, Vietnam War, KIA,
July 12 ,1965 .
*2ndLt Terrence C. Graves, Vietnam War, KIA,February 16 ,1968 .
*PFC Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Vietnam War, KIA,5 March 1969 .
*LCpl Richard A. Anderson, Vietnam War, KIA,August 24 ,1969 .Navy Cross recipients
*Alpha Company - Vietnam War, Cpl Bryant C. Collins, LCpl Manuel A. Estrada, PFC Steven D. Lopez, Cpl Roger D. See, & Sgt James N. Tycz (KIA)
*Bravo Company - Vietnam War, LCpl Robert C. Barnes, Cpl Charles W. Bryan (KIA), & Sgt Jose G. Lopez
*Charlie Company - Vietnam War, Cpl Steven M. Lowery, & LCpl Norman W. Vancor
*3rd Force Company - Vietnam War, Cpl Harry J. Corsetti, Pvt James E. Honeycutt (KIA), & Cpl. Charles T. Sextonee also
*
List of United States Marine Corps battalions
*Organization of the United States Marine Corps Notes
References
:Marine Corps
;Web
* [http://www.3div.usmc.mil/sections/3drecon2/Recon%20-%20Frames%20-%202.htm 3rd Recon's official website]
* [http://www.3rdrecon.org/ 3rd Recon Vietnam Veteran's page]
* [http://grunt.space.swri.edu/3recon.htm 3rd Recon Harborsite]
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