| 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment | |
|---|---|
 3/7 insignia |
|
| Active | 1 January 1941 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Infantry |
| Part of | 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms |
| Nickname | The Cutting Edge |
| Engagements | World War II *Battle of Guadalcanal *Battle of Peleliu Korean War *Battle of Inchon *Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War *Operation Starlite Operation Desert Storm Operation Restore Hope Operation Iraqi Freedom *2003 invasion of Iraq |
The 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment (3/7) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and consist of approximately 800 Marines. The battalion falls under the command of the 7th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. The battalion has seen combat in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and recently has deployed five times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Contents |
History
World War II
3rd Battalion 7th Marines was activated 1 January 1941 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade. In February 1941 they were reassigned to the 1st Marine Division. 3/7 participated in the following World War II campaigns:
- Guadalcanal
- Eastern New Guinea
- New Britain
- Peleliu
- Okinawa
After the war 3/7 participated in the occupation of northern China from September 1945 to April 1946and were then deactivated 15 April 1946
Korean War
The battalion was reactivated 11 September 1950 at Kobe, Japan and assigned to the 1st Marine Division. They deployed in September 1950 to the South Korea and participated in the Inchon-Seoul. Following the recapture of Seoul, the 1st Marine Division was pulled out of northwest Korea and sailed to the east coast where they landed at Wonsan and began to march north towards the Yalu River.
The battalion was in Yudam-ni on the evening of 27-28 November 1950 when the Battle of Chosin Reservoir began. On the first evening, the Marines of ‘’How Company’’ were overwhelmed on Hill 1403 by waves of Chinese attackers and were eventually ordered to pull back by the commanding officer (CO), Lieutenant Colonel William Harris[1] The battalion continued to fight on the hills around Yudam-ni for the next few days until 1 December[2] when the 5th Marines and 7th Marines were ordered to fight their way back to the 1st Marine Division’s main perimeter at Hagaru-ri. The 300+ remaining members of 3/7[3] provided the rearguard for the two regiments as they brokeout to Hagaru-ri and were the last Marines to leave the perimeter at Yudam-ni as it was being overrun by Chinese forces[4] 3/7 consolidated with the rest of the division at Hagaru-ri and took part in the fighting breakout towards Koto-ri where, on 7 December, all of the 1st Marine Division’s regiments were together for the first time since the landing at Wonsan in October[5] Of note during the battle, on the morning before their arrival at the Koto-ri perimeter, the battalion’s CO, who during the battle was described as “coming apart”[6] and having an “emotional breakdown and collapse”[7], disappeared and was never seen again.[8]
During the rest of the war 3/7 took part in the fighting on the East Central Front. In October 1951 it performed the first battalion sized combat helicopter air assault in history in Operation Bumblebee. After the war the battalion participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, July 1953 to March 1955.
Vietnam War
In March 1966 the battalion took part in Operation Texas. On 18 March 1966 an ARVN outpost on Hill 141 west of Quang Ngai City was overrun by the 36th North Vietnamese Regiment. A reaction/relief force was promptly put together consisting of elements from 4 Marine battalions including 3/7 and an ARVN battalion. The allied forces were inserted by ground and air on 20 and 21 March and began closing around the NVA forces. Over the next four days, "Operation Texas" claimed a total of 623 known enemy dead, but at least 57 US Marines and sailors were killed in a series of bitter fights. See the following: Operation Starlite
The Gulf War and the 1990s
Operation United Shield (Kilo Co., augmented with elements from India Co., Lima Co., and Weapons Co.)
Global war on terror
- 1st Tour
3/7 took a major role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. They originally deployed in January 2003, moved north in March and reached Baghdad by April. They then moved south for a five-month security assignment doing stabilizing operations in Karbala until September 2003. During the assignment, India Company, 3rd Battalion 7th Marines operated in Mahmudiyah, Iraq in support of Task Force Scorpion during July and August 2003. Lima Company, 3rd Battalion 7th Marines were tasked out with the training of the Iraqi Police force in Karbala, intelligence gathering and both daytime and clandestine operations all in coalition with CIA, Delta Force, and various other units in support. Lima Company is responsible for capturing and detaining some of the highest ranking Bathe Party members to date during covert operations south of Baghdad. Their training in the Kuwaiti desert and the subsequent invasion was covered in the TV documentary Virgin Soldiers which often airs on Discovery Times and Military Channel.
- 2nd Tour
After returning to the United States in September 2003, the battalion re-deployed in February 2004 to Al Qaim -- in western Al Anbar Province, abutting the Syrian border. Their area of responsibility included Husaybah, the primary border-crossing point between Syria and Iraq. They returned from that deployment in September 2004.
- 3rd Tour
3/7 was stationed in Ar Ramadi and made FOB Hurricane Point (HP) and Camp Ramadi their main base of operations. They were faced with daily attacks for the entire deployment.
- 4th Tour (OIF 06-08)
3/7 was once again stationed in Ar Ramadi and made FOB Hurricane Point (HP) and Camp Ramadi their main base of operations. This was from May to November 2007. They dispersed throughout the city to increase contact with the local residents. Since the prevalence of the Anbar Awakening, 3/7 Marines began conducting counter-insurgency (COIN) missions rather than the more "kinetic" operations on previous tours.
- 5th Tour
3/7 re-deployed in support of OIF again in August 2008, once again to the Al Qaim area—in western Al Anbar Province, abutting the Syrian border. Their area of responsibility was much larger than any other time, including Husaybah to the west, all the way east to Hit. Due to status of forces agreements with the Iraqi government, operations were very limited and the battalion served in an "operational overwatch" role for the Iraqi forces. They returned from that deployment in March 2009.
Medal of Honor recipients
- World War II
- PFC Arthur J. Jackson - 18 September 1944
- PFC Wesley Phelps - 4 October 1944
- Korean War
- 2ndLt Robert D. Reem - 6 November 1950
- Sgt James E. Johnson - 2 December 1950
- 2ndLt George H. Ramer - 12 September 1951
- SSgt William E. Shuck, Jr. - 3 July 1952
- Pvt Jack W. Kelso - 2 October 1952
- SSgt Lewis G. Watkins - 7 October 1952
- 2ndLt George H. O'Brien, Jr. - 27 October 1952
- Vietnam War
- LCpl Roy M. Wheat - 11 August 1967
- HM3 Wayne M. Caron - 28 July 1968
- LCpl Kenneth L. Worley - 12 August 1968
- LCpl Lester W. Weber - 23 February 1969
- LCpl Jose F. Jimenez - 28 August 1969
- LCpl James D. Howe - 6 May 1970
- Iraq War
- Cpl Jason Dunham - 22 April 2004[9]
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines has been presented with the following awards:
| Streamer | Award | Year(s) | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
_Streamer.jpg){kind=small} |
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Silver and four Bronze Stars | 1942, 1944, 1945, 1950, 1950, 1951, 1965 – 1966, 1966-1967, 1967-1968, 2003 | Guadalcanal, Peleliu-Ngesebus, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq |
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Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars | 1952-1953, 1965, 1990–1991 | Korea, Vietnam, Southwest Asia |
_Streamer.jpg){kind=small} |
Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer | 1968, 1968, 1969, 1990 | Vietnam, Philippines |
 |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Streamer | ||
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American Defense Service Streamer with one Bronze Star | 1941 | World War II |
| Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with one Silver Star | Guadalcanal, Eastern New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu, Okinawa | ||
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World War II Victory Streamer | 1941–1945 | Pacific War |
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Navy Occupation Service Streamer with "ASIA" | 1945-1946 | Northern China |
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China Service Streamer with one Bronze Star | September 1946 - June 1947 | North China |
 |
National Defense Service Streamer with three Bronze Stars | 1950–1954, 1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present | Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War on Terrorism |
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Korean Service Streamer with one Silver and two Bronze Stars | Korean War | |
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Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver and three Bronze Stars | July 1965 - April 1971, April - December 1975 | |
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Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars | September 1990 - February 1991 | Desert Shield, Desert Storm |
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Iraq Campaign Streamer | 2003 - present | |
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Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer | March - May 2003 | |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer | 2001–present | |
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Korea Presidential Unit Citation Streamer | ||
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Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer | ||
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Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Actions Streamer |
See also
Notes
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Russ, Martin (1999). Breakout - The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea 1950. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14029-259-4.
- Web
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