1st Battalion 5th Marines
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| 1st Battalion 5th Marines | |
|---|---|
| Image:1-5unit logo.jpg 1/5 Insignia | |
| Active | July 13, 1914 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Light Infantry |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver |
| Part of | 5th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton |
| Nickname | "Geronimo" |
| Motto | "Make peace or die" |
| Battles/wars | World War I * Battle of Belleau Wood * Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Cape Gloucester * Battle of Peleliu * Battle of Okinawa Korean War * Battle of Inchon * Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom |
1st Battalion 5th Marines (1/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] World War I
1st Battalion, 5th Marines, was first organized on June 8, 1917 as the United States prepared for World War I. Six days later, the Battalion, manned by Spanish War and Boxer Rebellion veterans along with a large number of raw recruits, set sail for France. Campaigns and battles such as Bois de Belleau, Vierzy, Chateau Theirry, Pont-a-Mousson, Limey Sector, Fleury, Muese Argonne, Blano Mont, St Michiel, Leffincourt and Soissons proved to the world that the Battalion knew how to fight.
The French Government recognized the fighting ability of the young Battalion by presenting it the Croix De Guerre along with the Fourragere and changing the name of a French landmark, Belleau Wood, to "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" or Wood of the Marine Brigade". In August 1919 the Battalion was deactivated following World War I and less than two years later, in July 1920, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines was reactivated. For the next several years, men of the 3rd Battalion served in the Caribbean and at home, guarding the US Mail.
In March 1927, the 3rd Battalion deployed to Nicaragua to help stabilize the government against overthrow attempts by rebel forces. For the next six years, the Battalion aided the Nicaraguan Government until peace was finally restored. 1/5 was deactivated in January 1933 however shortly thereafter it was re-activated in September 1934 in Quantico, Virginia and served in the Caribbean theatre until the outbreak of World War II.
[edit] World War II
In November 1934, the 1st Battalion was reactivated for the fourth time, only to be deactivated in March 1935. Shortly before World War II in April of 1940, 1st Battalion was again reactivated. The fighting in World War II found the Marines of 1st Battalion at Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Peleliu, and Okinawa. In April 1946, their mission accomplished, 1st Battalion was disbanded and most of the Pacific Veterans returned to civilian life. See also Marine Raiders.
[edit] Korean War
During October of 1949, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines was reactivated in Camp Pendleton, California. During August 1950, the Battalion deployed to fight the Communist force invading the Republic of Korea. Names such as the Pusan Perimeter, Inchon, Seoul and Chosin Reservoir were added to the Battalion's battle vocabulary. At the close of hostilities, the 1st Battalion returned to the United States, settling at Camp Pendleton.
[edit] Vietnam War
From June 1966 to March 1971, the 1st Battalion was again in the heat of battle, this time in Vietnam. New names found their way into me Battalion's history: Chu-Lai, DaNang, Quang Nam, Que Son, An Hoa and became engraved in the memories of a different generation of Marines. The unit was deactivated in June 1974 but once again was quickly reactivated in March 1975..
[edit] Operation Desert Storm and the 1990s
In August, 1990, the Battalion answered the country's call and deployed to the Middle East in Support of Operation Desert Shield. In February 1991 the battalion took part in combat operations in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.
[edit] Global War on Terror
1st Battalion has been serving in Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion was deployed for the 2003 invasion of Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein and again in early 2004 for security and stabilization operations in western Iraq. In March 2004 the battalion, this time attached to the 1st Marine Regiment along with several other units, participated in Operation Vigilant Resolve which was part of one of the biggest battles in Iraq thus far. They were deployed a third time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, one of only two Marine Corps infantry battalions to do so at the time, in the city of Ar Ramadi, capital of the restive Al Anbar province between March and October of 2005.
