1st Battalion 9th Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Battalion 9th Marines


caption= 1/9 Insignia
dates= *March 1, 1942 — Sept. 9, 1994
* October 2005 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Light infantry
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver
size=
command_structure=8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
current_commander= Lt Col Brett A. Bourne
garrison= Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= The Walking Dead
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Bougainville
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Vietnam War
* Operation Deckhouse Five
* Operation Dewey Canyon
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
notable_commanders= Lemuel C. Shepherd
anniversaries=

The 1st Battalion 9th Marines (1/9) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War II, it served until the mid-1990s when it was deactivated to make room for one of three light armor reconnaissance battalions. During the Vietnam War, 1/9 sustained the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history.

In late 2005, the battalion was once again activated and attached to the 8th Marine Regiment at MCB Camp Lejeune. Although the first full company has deployed, 1/9 was not expected to be ready for deployment as a battalion until May 2008. On April 19, 2007, 1/9 was officially stood up with all of its subordinate units fully manned.

Current Units

The battalion comprises three infantry companies and one weapons company:

* Alpha Company
* Bravo Company
* Charlie Company
* Weapons Company
* Headquarters & Service Company

History

World War II

The battalion was activated on March 1, 1942 at San Diego, California and were assigned to the 2nd Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division.They were reassigned during August 1942 to Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet and shortly therafter relocated during September 1942 to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and reassigned to the 3rd Marine Division. They deployed during January-February 1943 to Auckland, New Zealand and from there participated in the following World War II Campaigns:

*Bougainville Campaign
*Northern Solomons
*Battle of Guam
*Battle of Iwo Jima

Following the surrender of Japan the battlaion was detached during December 1945 from the 3rd Marine Division and returned during December 1945 to Camp Pendleton, California. They were formally deactivated on December 31, 1945.

Vietnam War

The battalion endured the longest sustained combat and suffered the highest killed in action (KIA)" rate in Marine Corps history, especially during the Battle of July Two. The battalion was engaged in combat for 47 months and 7 days, from June 15, 1965 to October 19, 1966 and December 11, 1966 to July 14, 1969. 1/9 sustained casualties during its entire Vietnam service. Based on a typical battalion strength of 800 Marines and Navy hospital corpmen, 93.63% (747) were Killed In Action (KIA) and 0.25% (2) were Missing In Action (MIA).

1/9 participated in the following operation during the Vietnam War:

See also

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

Notes

References

:Marine Corps;Web
* [http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/1bn9mar 1st Battalion 9th Marines' official website] . Accessed on 2006-07-10.
* cite web|url=http://www.1stbattalion9thmarines.com/History/History.htm
title=History
publisher=1stBattalion9thMarines.com
accessdate=2006-07-29
* [http://www.1stbattalion9thmarinesfirebase.net/ Official Website of the 1/9 Network]
* [http://www.1stbattalion9thmarines.com/ 1/9 Tribute site]