3rd Battalion 24th Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Battalion 24th Marines


caption= 3/24 Insignia
dates= February 1, 1943 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Infantry regiment
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver
size= 800
command_structure=24th Marine Regiment
4th Marine Division
current_commander=
garrison= Bridgeton, Missouri
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= "Always Ready"
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
Operation Enduring Freedom
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

3rd Battalion 24th Marines (3/24) is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout the Midwestern United States consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the 24th Marine Regiment and the 4th Marine Division.

Current Units

Mission

Provide a well-trained and credible force, capable of rapidly mobilizing to augment or reinforce active duty Marine Corps forces participating in missions ranging from humanitarian/peacekeeping operations to major conflicts, in time of war, national emergency or contingency operations and during in peacetime to provided operation tempo relief for active forces throughout the spectrum of operations including Joint and Combined Operations.

History

Activated on February 1, 1943 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as Headquarters Company, 3d Separate Battalion.

During 1943 the Battalion was relocated to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and redesignated, 3rd Battalion 24th Marine Regiment, and assigned to the 4th Marine Division. During 1944 the Battalion was deployed to the Marshall Islands and participated in the Battle of Kwajalein, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian, Roi Namur, and Battle of Iwo Jima. Relocated during 1945 to Maui, Territory of Hawaii and then relocated to Camp Pendleton, California the Battalion was deactivated on October 31, 1945.

The Battalion was reactivated on July 1, 1962 at New Orleans, Louisiana, and assigned to the 4th Marine Division, USMCR. During 1967 the Battalion headquarters was relocated to Missouri. During 1990, the Battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia and participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. During 1992 the Battalion returned to Missouri.

During January 2004 the Battalion was again activated. This time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Battalion was deployed to 4 different Forward Operating Bases in the Sunni Triangle area of Western Iraq, including FOB Abu Ghraib and Al Taqaddum where the battalion was headquartered during the deployment. In October 2004 3rd Battalion 24th Marines returned home to St. Louis, Missouri.

ee also

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

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/4thmardiv/24thMar/3dBn/index.htm 3/24's official website]