3rd Battalion 8th Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Battalion 8th Marines


caption= 3/8 Insignia
dates= November 1, 1940 - March 26, 1946
January 15, 1951 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Infantry battalion
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver
size=
command_structure= 8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
current_commander= LtCol David L. Odom
garrison= Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= "Fortuna Favet Fortibus"
"Fortune Favors the Strong"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Tarawa
* Battle of Saipan
* Battle of Tinian
* Battle of Okinawa
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
anniversaries=

3rd Battalion 8th Marines (3/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina consisting of approximately 1,100 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the command of the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.

History

World War II

The battalion was activated on April 1, 1940 in San Diego and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade.They participated in the action at the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the surrender of Japan, they re-deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki, Japan and participated in occupation of Japan from until February 1946. The battalion was deactivated March 26, 1946.

1950s & 1960s

3/8 was reactivated on January 15, 1951 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as 3rd and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. During the 1960s they participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to December 1962 and Operation Powerpack in the Dominican Republic in 1965.

1980s & 1990s

The battalion was part of the Multi-Nation Peace Keeping Force in Lebanon from September 1982 to February 1983, and February through October 1984. Following the Gulf War 3/8 participated in Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq during April and July 1991.
* Participated in Operation Deny Flight, Bosnia, April - September 1995.
* Participated in Operation Assured Response, Liberia, June - August 1996.
* Participated in Operation Joint Endeavor Adriatic Sea October 1996.
* Elements participated in security operations Haiti and Panama November 1997 – February 1998 and January – August 1999.
* Participted in Operation Noble Anvil, Operation Shining Hope and Operation Joint Guardian, April 1999-October 1999

Global War on Terror

* Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Kabul, Afghanistan, December 2001 - September 2002.
* Participated in Operation Secured Tomorrow, Haiti, February - July 2004.
* Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom [ [http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/04/18/marines_repel_assault_in_iraq/ Marines repel assault in Iraq] ] [ [http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/C7B483B8951C840C85257180003F4FBF?opendocument Marines clean mean streets of Ramadi] ]
* Served as the ground combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit from February 2007 - February 2008, during which elements participated in Operation Sea Angel II in Bangladesh.

ee also

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

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Bibliography

;Web
* [http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/public/iimefpublic.nsf/unitsites/3bn8mar 3/8's official website]

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKe91hXmvMY&feature=related CNN report on 3/8 fighting in Ramadi, Iraq]