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Suggest pages1st Battalion 8th Marines
| 1st Battalion, 8th Marines | |
|---|---|
 1st Battalion, 8th Marines insignia |
|
| Active | -April 1, 1940 - November 18, 1947 - November 1, 1950 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver |
| Part of | 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname | "The Beirut Battalion" (2006) "The Cutting Edge" (old) |
| Engagements | World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Tarawa *Battle of Saipan *Battle of Tinian *Battle of Okinawa 1983 Beirut barracks bombing Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom *2003 invasion of Iraq *Operation Phantom Fury Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LtCol Kevin Trimble |
1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The battalion consists of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors and is nicknamed "The Beirut Battalion." They fall under the command of the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.
The unit's history goes back to World War II where they fought in numerous campaigns in the Pacific including Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. After that they were part of the intervention in the Dominican Republic in 1965, saw action during the Gulf War in 1991 and since 2001 have served numerous tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The battalion is probably best known as the unit that was the victim of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing in Lebanon. 241 Marines and Sailors lost their lives that day and the majority of them were from 1/8.
Contents |
[edit] Subordinate units
- Headquarters Company
- Alpha Company
- Bravo Company
- Charlie Company
- Weapons Company
[edit] Mission
Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, and to repel the enemy's assault by fire and close-combat.
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
Activated April 1, 1940 at San Diego, California the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Brigade was re-designated February 1, 1941 as 2nd Marine Division. The battalion was assigned during December 1941 to 2nd Marine Brigade, 2nd Marine Division. Deployed during January 1942 to American Samoa and detached from the 2nd Marine Division, they participated in the following World War II campaigns:
It deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki, Japan, and participated in the occupation of Japan from September 1945 – June 1946. They relocated during June-July 1946 to MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and were deactivated November 18, 1947.
[edit] The 50's through the 60's
The battalion was reactivated November 1, 1950 at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines and assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. It deployed to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean at various times from the 1950s through the 1990s. It participated in the landings on Lebanon, July-September 1958, the Cuban Missile Crisis, October-December 1962, and the intervention in the Dominican Republic, May-June 1965.
[edit] Beirut Bombing
The battalion participated as part of the multinational peace keeping force in Lebanon, May – November 1983. On Sunday, October 23, 1983, 1/8 was the main victim of what came to be known as the Beirut Bombing when a truck bomb was detonated at its headquarters at the airport in Beirut.
[edit] Subsequent Operations Including Desert Storm
The battalion participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia during December 1990 through April 1991. Elements participated in support of Operation Provide Promise and Deny Flight, Bosnia, September – October 1993 and January 1994, Operation Sea Signal in Cuba, June - July 1994, in support of Operation Support Democracy, Caribbean Area, May – July 1994, and Operation Silver Wake in 1997. During the 1990s as part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) the battalion took part in Operation Joint Guard as part of IFOR (International Forces of Readiness) and then SFOR (Supplementary Forces of Readiness). They also conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) of Americans and Allies from Albania during Operation Silver Wake. Just as Operation Silver Wake wrapped up the Marines of Headquarters & Service Company, Bravo Company, and Weapons Company were sent off the Coast of Zaire/Congo for Operation Guardian Retrieval.
[edit] Global War on Terror
In March 2003 Battalion Landing Team 1/8 departed Camp Geiger, North Carolina with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The battalion deployed in support of combat operations in Mosul, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion would also take part in training exercises in Albania and Djibouti in the summer of 2003. Prior to its redeployment elements of the battalion inserted into Roberts International Airport and the port facility in Monrovia, Liberia. A company from 1/8 conducted airfield security operations as part of Joint Task Force Liberia in an effort to prevent rebel factions from ousting President Charles Taylor. The battalion would eventually return to Camp Lejeune in late October, 2003
The battalion deployed in June 2004 to Iraq. They conducted combat operations in Al Anbar Province and was one of the lead battalions during Operation Phantom Fury in November 2004 leading the assault into Fallujah.
In June 2006 they deployed as the ground combat element of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. On 18 July 2006, it was announced that the 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, would be directed to Lebanon, to assist in the evacuation of U.S. nationals who had become trapped in Lebanon, following a series of Israeli strikes which made the Beirut International Airport nonoperational, and similarly destroyed a number of major roads out of the country.
Later in September 2007, the battalion deployed to Ar-Ramadi Iraq. The Battalion suffered one Marine killed in action and numerous others wounded from Bravo Company.
In 2009, 1/8 deployed to Iraq again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In August 2010, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines deployed to Musa'Qaleh and Now Zad, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 10-2 as part of the International Security Assistance Force. The unit's performance in counter-insurgency operations in the two districts were integral in the stablization of the region and development of Afghan National Secruity Forces.
In January of 2012, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines deployed to Afghanistan again to conduct counter-insurgency operations North Helmand Province. They are currently deployed in support of Operation EDURING FREEDOM.
[edit] Recent Awards and Honors
For their commendatory performance and exceptional dedication to support, the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines Motor Transport Platoon was recognized as the Marine Corps Motor Transport Association's Unit of the Year for 2010. First Lieutenant Kevin Hanratty, First Lieutenant Sean O'Rourke, Gunnery Sergeant Mark Elbinger and Staff Sergeant Timothy Mooney attended the banquet to accept the honors on the platoon's behalf. The unit's call sign "Wagon Wheel" has been coined as a professional term, within the unit, to describe convoy-based logistical support resulting in excellence.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Web
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