1st Battalion 23rd Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines


caption= 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines insignia
dates= Early 1920s
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Infantry regiment
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver
size= 1000
command_structure=23rd Marine Regiment
4th Marine Division
current_commander=
garrison= Houston, Texas
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Kwajalein
* Battle of Tinian
* Battle of Saipan
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

1st Battalion, 23rd Marines (1/23) is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout Texas and Louisiana consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the command of the 23rd Marine Regiment and the 4th Marine Division.

Current units

Mission

Provide trained combat and combat support personnel and units to augment and reinforce the active component in time of war, national emergency, and at other times as national security requires; and have the capability to reconstitute the Division, if required.

History

The battalion was mobilized for the first time since World War II in January 1990 in support of Operation Desert Storm. The unit was deployed to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California in support of the 1st Marine Division during this time.

Global War on Terror

Elements of the battalion that were activated after the September 11th attacks were Bravo Company and attachments from Alpha Company's Weapons platoon and they were deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they provided perimeter security for the base.

The battalion was again mobilized in June 2004 to conduct three months of pre-deployment training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California in preparation for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion arrived in Iraq, relieving 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in late August, 2004. They augmented the 7th Marine Regiment helping to secure the area spanning the Hit-Haditha corridor, west of Ramadi, out to the Syrian border of the Al Anbar.

Initial assignments for the battalion's companies in Iraq saw assignments in Ar-Rutbah, Al Asad Airbase and Hit. The battalion returned from Iraq in late March, 2005, having been relieved by 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines.

In May 2007, Marines that had not participated in the June 2004 mobilization were tasked to support 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines in their upcoming activation. Volunteers from the first mobilization were also part of this support.

ee also

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

Notess

References

:Marine Corps

;Bibliography
*cite book
title=U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945s
author=Rottman, Gordon L.
date=2002
publisher=Greenwood Press
id=ISBN 0-313-31906-5

;Web
* [http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/4thmardiv/23dmar/1stBn/ 1/23's Official Website]
* [http://www.c123rd.com/ C/1/23 WWII veterans site]
* [http://www.marineparents.com/units/Print.asp?ID=114 1/23 Parent's website]
* [http://www.politics1.com/usmc.htm Politics1.com 1/23 blog by Lt. Crabtree]