1st Battalion, 25th Marines Merchandise

The various units of the battalion are based in different locations. The Headquarters and Service Company, as well as the Weapons Company, are situated at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Alpha Company finds its home in Brunswick, Maine; Bravo Company is established in Londonderry, New Hampshire; and Charlie Company is located in Buffalo, New York.

Originating in Boston, Massachusetts as a mere infantry company in the early 1920s, 1/25 expanded and matured over the subsequent decades. Under Captain John J. Flynn's leadership by April 1926, it functioned as the 301st Company, USMCR, based at the Charlestown Navy Yard’s Marine Barracks. The battalion has seen various re-designations since its inception. Over time, it transformed from the 301st Company to an artillery company in 1928, then to the 301st Infantry Company in 1929, and later to Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Reserve Marines in 1933. By 1935, it became the 2nd Battalion, Fleet Marine Corps Reserve. Remarkably, the battalion overcame fiscal challenges between 1931 to 1934, when Congress eliminated all drill and administrative pay, forcing Marines to volunteer without compensation and buy their own uniforms.

As World War II dawned, the 2nd Battalion was activated and relocated first to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia and later to Cuba, where it was divided among several units. By May 1943, the battalion had evolved into the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Subsequently, it joined the 4th Marine Division and was deployed to the Pacific, playing pivotal roles in numerous battles including Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and notably, the Battle of Iwo Jima. Here, the battalion courageously seized Hill 382, earning a Presidential Unit Citation for its valor. Following the immense losses at Iwo Jima, the battalion was deactivated in 1945.

In the wake of WWII, the 2nd Infantry Battalion was revived in South Boston under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James J. Dugan, a distinguished WWII veteran. By 1950, the battalion was briefly mobilized for the Korean War but returned to Boston the next year. In 1962, it was re-designated as the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, and eventually shifted its headquarters to Camp Edwards, Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1977. In the subsequent years, the battalion participated in various training programs, earning multiple accolades for its combat readiness.

When the Gulf War erupted in 1990, 1/25 was summoned again to active duty, fulfilling various roles from rear area security to managing Iraqi POWs. Their involvement marked them as one of the few reserve units on the front lines. By 2000, the battalion had relocated to Devens Reserve Forces Training Area (RFTA), Massachusetts.

In 2003, as part of the Global War on Terror, 1/25 was deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom, taking on security and training missions in locations like Okinawa, the Philippines, Korea, and Bahrain. The battalion faced one of its most challenging deployments in 2006 in Anbar, Iraq, a volatile province dominated by al-Qaeda. Stationed in the city of Fallujah, they operated under the command of Regimental Combat Team 5, conducting numerous patrols and large-scale operations. Despite facing significant insurgent activity and the loss of eleven battalion members, they made important contributions, coinciding with the elimination of top al-Qaeda leaders. After their return, in 2011, the battalion was deployed to Afghanistan. Here, they not only undertook combat operations but also trained the Afghan National Army and Police, ensuring no lives were lost during their missions.

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