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3rd Battalion, 8th Marines

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3rd Battalion, 8th Marines
Emblem of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines
3rd Battalion 8th Marines Unit insignia
Active November 1, 1940 – March 26, 1946
January 15, 1951 – May 18, 2021
Country  United States
Branch  United States Marines
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
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 John C. Miller Jr.
David H. Berger
Robert R. Blackman Jr.

3rd Battalion, 8th Marines (3/8) was an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was consisted of approximately 1,100 Marines and sailors. The battalion fell 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. It 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.

Cold War[]

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 1979 as part of the 32 MAU. Major Oliver North was 3/8’s S3 officer.

1980s[]

3/8 went to the Mediterranean Sea in January 1980 and 1981 as part of the 32 MAU. One of their company first sergeants, Lewis G. Lee, would eventually become Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.

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

1990s[]

Global War on Terrorism[]

Marine from 3/8 breaching a door in 2005.

Marine from 3/8 breaching a door in 2005.

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

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. During this time companies from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines guarded the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.
  • 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 [3][4]
  • 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.[5]
  • 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 to December 2012.
3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment conduct a local security patrol in the abandoned village, Afghanistan, on April 12, 2009

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

Deactivation[]

Commandant Gen. David H. Berger, former Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, released a press statement stating,"Developing a force that incorporates emerging technologies and a significant change to force structure within our current resource constraints will require the Marine Corps to become smaller and remove legacy capabilities". In May 2020, 3rd Battalion was listed as one of the units proposed to be deactivated. U.S. Marine Corps Col. John H. Rochford, the commanding officer of 8th Marine Regiment, and Sgt. Maj. Keith D. Hoge, the sergeant major of 8th Marine Reg., both with the 2nd Marine Division, cased the regimental colors during a deactivation ceremony on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on January 28, 2021.

Awards[]

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

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

[6]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ "Cpl. DeChristopher Curtin mans a sand-bagged position in Gnjilane, Kosovo." (in en-US). https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Photos/igphoto/2002018183/. 
  2. ↑ "History". 2025. https://www.26thmeu.marines.mil/About-Us/History/. "August 1999 -- The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit participates in Operation AVID RESPONSE, providing Humanitarian Assistance to the people of Western Turkey left homeless by a devastating earthquake." 
  3. ↑ "Marines repel assault in Iraq - The Boston Globe". http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/04/18/marines_repel_assault_in_iraq/. 
  4. ↑ "Marine Corps News -> Marines clean mean streets of Ramadi". March 26, 2007. http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/C7B483B8951C840C85257180003F4FBF?opendocument. 
  5. ↑ 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. 
  6. ↑ NAVMC 2922, MMMA, 26 November 2019 and the Historical Resources Branch, Marine Corps History Division

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[]

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