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1st Battalion, 3rd Marines

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The Third Littoral Combat Team (formerly 1/3) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Nicknamed the "Lava Dogs", the battalion consists of approximately 800 Marines and sailors and falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division.

Third Littoral Combat Team
FoundedMay 1, 1942; 82 years ago (1942-05-01)
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeLight infantry
RoleLocate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver
Part of3d Marine Regiment
3d Marine Division
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Base Hawaii
Nickname(s)"Lava Dogs & Chicha Jima Marines”
Motto(s)"Fortuna Fortes Juvat"
"Fortune Favors the Brave"
EngagementsWorld War II

Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
War on Terror

Website1st Battalion 3d Marines
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lieutenant Colonel Mark A. Lenzi
Notable
commanders		George O. Van Orden
Ronald R. Van Stockum
U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines fire a 60mm mortar system during platoon attacks as part of Large Scale Exercise 2021, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 6, 2021. LSE21 is a live, virtual, and constructive exercise employing integrated command and control, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and sensors across the joint force to expand battlefield awareness, share targeting data, and conduct long-range precision strikes in support of naval operations in a contested and distributed maritime environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Carpanzano)
U.S. Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, carry a simulated casualty at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Okinawa, Japan, August 6, 2020. The Marines were participating in an air assault to increase their proficiency at air insertions and maneuvering through simulated enemy terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Savannah Mesimer)

Subordinate units

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History

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1980s

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Alpha Company aboard USS Tuscaloosa in December 1989

Throughout the 1980s, 1/3 regularly deployed to Okinawa to serve as a forward staged unit in the Western Pacific area as part of the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program. During the Unit Deployment Program, the battalion would regularly participate in exercises throughout the region, such as in Korea and Thailand. In December 1989, while at Okinawa, 1/3 responded to the 1989 Philippine coup attempt as part of an amphibious task force and sent Marines ashore to reinforce the American Embassy. The battalion formed the ground combat element of CTF-79 (Commander, Landing Force, Seventh Fleet).

The Gulf War and the 1990s

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Weapons Platoon, Bravo Company in the Gulf War

In August 1990, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield and took up defensive positions along the coastal highway leading to Kuwait. In February 1991, 1/3 assaulted into Kuwait as part of the ground war of Operation Desert Storm to liberate the country from Iraqi occupation.

The Global War on Terrorism

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1/3 was on the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Okinawa, Japan during the Al Qaeda terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Due to their proximity to Afghanistan, the battalion's Company A was one of the first infantry units to deploy to U.S. Central Command, of which Afghanistan is a part, after the September 11 attacks.

In October 2002, an Army Special Forces Sergeant First Class (SFC) was killed in the Southern Philippines by an IED.

April 2003, 1/3 departed Kaneohe for another UDP in Okinawa, Japan. Alpha company, with Weapons company reinforcements left for the Philippines as the MSE under the guise of JTF-510. Alpha company carried out many joint missions with Navy SEAL/s, SWCC, and the CIA in terrorist surveillance activities, and security missions in Zamboanga Bay.

In June 2004, 1/3 (also known at the time as BLT 1/3, and including Battery C 1st Battalion 12th Marines - also from MCBH) set off to tour what was known as a standard deployment around the South Pacific region with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). In early September 2004, the unit arrived in Kuwait and soon after entered Iraq. The unit fought in the Second Battle of Fallujah as part of Regimental Combat Team 7 to clear the city of insurgents and reclaim the city. In one deployment, BLT 1/3 unfortunately lost more men compared to any Marine Corps Battalion during OIF/OEF. BLT 1/3 has produced one of very few nominations for the Medal of Honor thus far in the Global War on Terror, Sergeant Rafael Peralta.

On January 26, 2005, a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed in the Al-Anbar province taking with it the lives of 26 Kaneohe Bay Marines, along with one Navy Corpsman and four Marine aircrew from a mainland unit. The majority of the 27 Marines lost in the crash were from Charlie Company of Battalion Landing Team 1/3.[1] Battalion Landing Team 1/3 lost a total of 45 Marines during the course of their first combat tour in Iraq.[2][3]

In January 2006, the battalion deployed to eastern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[4] During this five-month deployment they operated throughout the Korangal Valley and were known as "Task Force Lava." On June 1, 2006, 1/3 handed over their area of operations to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment and shortly thereafter returned to Hawaii.[5]

In March 2007, 1st Battalion 3d Marines deployed to Haditha, Iraq. 1/3 lost no Marines during this deployment, which was a first for the Marine Corps since the start of OIF.[6]

The battalion deployed to Karma, Iraq from August 2008 - March 2009. One Marine was killed and five were injured on December 21, 2008. [1]

The battalion again deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 through June 2010, taking up positions in and around FOB Geronimo, within the district of Nawa-I-Barakzayi, Helmand Province. In February 2010, the battalion participated in Operation Moshtarak, the seizure of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah.[7] The activities of Bravo and Charlie Companies were covered extensively in a series of articles by C. J. Chivers in The New York Times, and in the "At War Blog" posted on The New York Times website. A total of five Marines were KIA, along with one British reporter this deployment. [2]

The battalion deployed once more to Afghanistan in April 2011, taking up positions south of FOB Delhi, in Garmsir District, Helmand Province.

Awards

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See also

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Notable members

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Notes

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  1. ^ American Forces Press Service (February 3, 2005). "Day of Remembrance Honors Fallen". DefenseLink. U.S. Department of Defense..
  2. ^ Leone, Diana (January 14, 2005). "'Freedom isn't free': 10 soldiers are remembered for paying the ultimate price". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  3. ^ Kakesako, Gregg K (April 27, 2005). "Kaneohe Marines Return From Iraq". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  4. ^ Lindsay, Sgt. Joe (March 28, 2006). "Marines win villagers' trust". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on April 6, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2006.
  5. ^ Huvane, Captain Dan (June 1, 2006). "'Lava Dogs' Hand Off Afghan Ops to 'Chosin Few'". DefendAmerica. U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 2006-06-06. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  6. ^ Nelson, Cpl. Rick (January 1, 2008). "Lava Dogs beat the odds". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  7. ^ Tuthill,Sgt. Brian A. (February 10, 2010). "Marines fight insurgents, secure key intersection on road to Marjeh". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
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