III Marine Expeditionary Force

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III Marine Expeditionary Force
Image:Iii-mef.gif III MEF Insignia
Active	October 1, 1942
Country	USA
Branch	USMC
Type	Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Role	Expeditionary combat forces
Size	17,000
Part of	Marine Forces Pacific
Garrison/HQ	Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Shield

The III Marine Expeditionary Force, is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. III MEF maintains a forward presence in Japan and Asia to support the U.S. – Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and other alliance relationships of the United States. III MEF also conducts combined operations and training throughout the region in support of the National Security Strategy for Theater Security Cooperation.

1 Subordinate units
2 History
- 2.1 World War II
- 2.2 Vietnam War
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Subordinate units

[edit] History

[edit] World War II

The III Marine Expeditionary Force was originally activated in 1942, and took part in fighting against the Japanese Empire in the Pacific theater during World War II. It took part in some of the bloodiest battles, including invading the Japanese islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The unit was Demobilized from occupying Okinawa soon after the Second World War.

[edit] Vietnam War

The force was reactivated to serve in the Vietnam War in 1965. From 1966 to 1970, III MEF was renamed III Marine Amphibious Corps (III MAF) and consisted of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Division and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The MAF's area of operations was in the northern I COrps Tactical Zone.<ref name="OMFTS">Willard Webb (1993-1994). "The Single Manager". Joint Forces Quarterly. </ref> Redeployed to a permanent forward base on Okinawa in 1988, the III Marine Expeditionary Force helps to fulfill the 1952 United States treaty obligation to defend Japan.

Since the end of the Cold War, III MEF has served in 1990 Operation Desert Shield to help protect Saudi Arabia. More recently the Marines have also engaged in humanitarian work, such as evacuating civilians in the Philippines following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, and providing disaster relief in the Japanese city of Kobe following a devastating earthquake in January 1995.