1st Battalion 10th Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Battalion 10th Marines


caption= 1/10 Insignia
dates= *November 1, 1940 - November 18, 1947
*December 1, 1948 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Artillery
role= Provide fires in support of 2nd Marine Division
size=
command_structure= 10th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
current_commander= LtCol Michael McCarthy
garrison=Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Nightmare
patron=
motto= "First in the World"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Saipan
* Battle of Tinian
* Battle of Okinawa
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

1st Battalion 10th Marines (1/10) is an artillery battalion comprising four firing batteries and a headquarters battery. The battalion is stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and fall under the command of the 10th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division. Its primary weapon system is the M198 Howitzer with a maximum effective range of 30km and they are currently transitioning to the M777 lightweight howitzer.

Mission

Provide direct support artillery for the 2nd Marine Division in time of conflict. That support may come in the traditional fashion of artillery support to maneuver forces, or by providing batteries to serve as provisional rifle companies. They also have the secondary mission of being the primary providers of Civilian Military Operations (CMO). CMO is defined as the activities of the commander that establish, maintain, influence, or exploit relations between military organizations, Government and civilian organizations and the civilian populace.

Current units

* Headquarters Battery
* Battery A
* Battery B
* Battery C
* Battery F

History

World War II

Activated on November 1, 1940 at San Diego, California, as the 1st Battalion,10th Marines (1/10) and were assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade, Fleet Marine Force. On February 1, 1941, the 2nd Marine Brigade was renamed the 2nd Marine Division.

During January 1942, 1/10 was deployed to American Samoa and detached from the 2nd Marine Division. In November 1942, they were redeployed to Guadalcanal and attached to the
11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force; and in December 1942, reassigned to the 9th Marines.

The 1st Battalion 10th Marines participated in the following World War II campaigns:
* Guadalcanal
* Battle of Tarawa
* Battle of Saipan
* Battle of Tinian
* Battle of Okinawaand subsequently in the occupation of Japan from September 1945 to June 1946.

During July 1946, 1/10 was relocated to MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; then deactivated on November 18, 1947.

They were then reactivated on December 1, 1948 at MCB Camp Lejeune as the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines.

1960s-1980s

1/10 deployed to Cuba in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to December 1962.

In the late-1970s and early-1980s, the battalion was deployed to Europe for participation in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercises.

In 1983, Charlie Battery was deployed to Beirut, Lebanon. They lost a number of members in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing.

During the 1980s, the battalion became a Cold Weather trained unit, conducting training at Fort Drum, New York and above the Arctic Circle. They also transitioned to the 155mm Howitzer during this time period.

1990s

The 1/10 participated in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 to February 1991.

A Detachment from B Battery aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2) during MARG 2-92 participated in Operation Provide Promise from July to November of 1992.

From August to October 1994, an element of 1/10 participated in Operation Support Democracy and Uphold Democracy in Haiti.

Global War on Terror

In February 2003, 1/10 deployed to Kuwait then participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Iraq in March 2003. During the invasion they took part in the Battle of Nasiriyah.

ee also

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

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/iimefpublic.nsf/unitsites/1bn10mar 1/10's official website]