1st Battalion, 1st Marines Merchandise

"First of the First" -

1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1 Marines) is an active duty infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the jurisdiction of the 1st Marine Regiment, which is part of the 1st Marine Division.

1st Battalion 1st Marines (1/1 Marines), was brought to life on March 1, 1941, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Not long after, they moved to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina, but by June 18, 1941, they were deactivated.

1/1 Marines sprung back into action on February 7, 1942, at New River, North Carolina. Training took a few months before they set foot in Wellington, New Zealand by July 1942. During the War in the Pacific, 1/1 Marines proved their mettle in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of New Britain, Battle of Peleliu, and Battle of Okinawa. When the war came to its conclusion, they went back to MCB Camp Pendleton by September 1945 and by October 31, 1947, they were once again deactivated.

But their peace was short-lived. The Korean War broke out and 1/1 Marines was called back to duty at MCB Camp Pendleton on August 9, 1950. They traveled to Kobe, Japan and were instrumental in the Battle of Inchon's amphibious landing. After being relocated from Seoul, they landed at Wosnan in October. 1/1 Marines notable contribution was during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where they fiercely defended their perimeter around Koto-ri. From September 1950 until July 1953, they were actively engaged in the Korean War. Post-war, their duty was to guard the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a task they diligently performed from July 1953 to April 1955.

By the time of the Vietnam War, 1/1 Marines was deployed to Da Nang in August 1965. Under LtCol Donald V. McCloskey, they were attached to the 3rd Marine Division. Their operations spanned various regions such as Da Nang, Đông Hà, Con Thien, Quảng Trị, Huế, Phu Bai, and Khe Sanh until May 1971. 1/1 Marines then went back to Camp Pendleton, California. After a brief deactivation period from May 28, 1974, to October 15, 1975, they were reinstated.

During the Persian Gulf War and throughout the 1990s, 1/1 Marines was sent from Camp Pendleton in December 1990 to Saudi Arabia as a response to Saddam Hussein's threat. As part of Operation Desert Shield and later Operation Desert Storm in February 1991, they had significant combat experiences, culminating in the consolidation at Kuwait International Airport on February 27, 1991. 1/1 Marines returned to Camp Pendleton by April 24.

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, saw 1/1 Marines in Darwin, Australia. They were quickly mobilized and became the first MEU to land in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. They were responsible for securing an airstrip near Kandahar and establishing Camp Rhino. Their duties extended to Northern Pakistan as well. By March 2002, they were back in the U.S. However, they were deployed again to Afghanistan in July 2012, operating primarily in Helmand Province until December 8, 2012.

1/1 Marines involvement in Operation Iraqi Freedom had them supporting efforts in southern Iraq, mostly around Um Qasar and Basra. They briefly provided aid during the tsunami in Indonesia and Sri Lanka in early 2005.

Throughout their history, 1/1 Marines has shown their unwavering commitment and bravery. Their dedication and sacrifice have been instrumental in various battles and conflicts. They continue to uphold their motto, "First of the First," with pride and honor.