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3rd Battalion, 8th Marines

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3rd Battalion 8th Marines
Active
  • November 1, 1940 – March 26, 1946
  • January 15, 1951 – 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
Motto(s) "Fortuna Favet Fortibus"
"Fortune Favors the Strong"
Engagements

World War II

Multinational Force in Lebanon
Operation Secure Tomorrow
War on Terror

Commanders
Current
commander		 Lt. Colonel Kemper A. Jones

3rd Battalion 8th Marines (3/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, consisting of approximately 1,100 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the command of the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.

Subordinate units[]

Mission[]

The mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver and/ or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat.

History[]

World War II[]

The battalion was activated on November 1, 1940, in San Diego and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Brigade was re-designated February 1, 1941, as 2nd Marine Division. They participated in the action at the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the surrender of Japan, they re-deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki, Japan and participated in occupation of Japan from until February 1946. The battalion was deactivated March 26, 1946.

1950s & 1960s[]

3/8 was reactivated on January 15, 1951, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as 3rd and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. During the 1960s they participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to December 1962 and Operation Powerpack in the Dominican Republic in 1965.

1970s[]

3/8 went to the Med in January of 1979 as part of the 32 MAU. Major Oliver North was 3/8’s S3 officer.

1980s & 1990s[]

3/8 went to the Med in January of 1980 and 1981as part of the 32 MAU.The company first sergeant Lewis G. Lee would eventually become Sergeant Major of the Marine Corp.

The battalion was part of the Multi-Nation Peace Keeping Force in Lebanon from October 1982 to February 1983, and February through October 1984.

Global War on Terror[]

Door breaching original version

A Marine from 3/8 breaching a door during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

USMC parachutist Afghanistan 081208-M-0000J-002a

A Marine from Company I, 3/8, holds onto a parachute attached to a supply of water and food dropped by CLB-3 Marines from a C-130 cargo transport aircraft during Operation Backstop in Helmand province, Afghanistan, December 11, 2008.

  • Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Kabul, Afghanistan, December 2001 - September 2002.
  • Participated in Operation Secure Tomorrow, Port au Prince, Haiti, March - June 2004.
  • Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Karmah, Iraq, January - August 2005.
  • Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ramadi, Iraq, March - mid October 2006 [1][2]
  • Served as the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from February 2007 - February 2008, during which elements participated in Operation Sea Angel II in Bangladesh.
  • Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan October 2008 - May 2009. In December 2008, the Marines of India Company provided security for Operation Backstop — protecting large British logistics convoy that moved equipment and supplies for Coalition combat operations in Helmand Province. Mainly Nawzad, Afghanistan.[3]
  • Served as the ground combat element of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from April 2010 - May 2011, during which elements were deployed into Afghanistan from January–May 2011 in the Nahri Saraj District of Helmand province.
  • Elements participated in Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector while deployed aboard 26 MEU
  • Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 2012 - December 2012.
Defense.gov News Photo 090412-M-6159T-077

3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment conduct a local security patrol in the abandoned village, Afghanistan, on April 12, 2009

Awards[]

Marine Patrol Helmand Province w. Afghan Security Forces

Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, partnered with Afghan National Police, patrol through Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 1, 2012

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Marines repel assault in Iraq Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Marines clean mean streets of Ramadi
  3. ↑ Jones, LCpl Brian D. (14 December 2008). "U.S. Marines Provide British Forces Security in Afghanistan During Operation Backstop". DVIDS News. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/27661/us-marines-provide-british-forces-security-afghanistan-during-operation-backstop. Retrieved December 22, 2008. 

References[]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
Bibliography
  • Rottman, Gordon L., "U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945". Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. 2002.
Web

External links[]

Leadership
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Structure
Personnel
and training
Uniforms
and equipment
History
and traditions


2nd Marines
6th Marines
8th Marines
10th Marines
Other Battalions


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