1st Battalion 7th Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Battalion, 7th Marines


caption= 1st Battalion, 7th Marines insignia
dates= April 1, 1921
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Light infantry
role=
size=
command_structure= 7th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
current_commander=Lieutenant Colonel Scott Fosdal
garrison= Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= First Team
First of the Seventh
patron=
motto= "Pride, Devotion, Loyalty"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Peleliu
Korean War
* Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
notable_commanders= Chesty Puller
Raymond G. Davis
James Mattis
anniversaries=

::"1/7" redirects here. For the dates, see July 1 or January 7."

The 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (1/7) 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 1000 Marines. Famous Marines who have served in 1/7 include Chesty Puller and John Basilone. The Battalion falls under the 7th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

Battalion history

The history of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines began on April 1, 1921 in San Diego, California. In September 1924, the battalion was deactivated with its personnel being absorbed by the newly organized 4th Marine Regiment. For the next twenty years 1st Battalion, 7th Marines was activated, re-designated, and disbanded on numerous occasions until being reborn on 1 January 1941.

World War II

Just over a year after its rebirth, the battalion boarded ships for the Pacific Theater and World War II, where they saw their first action of the war at Guadalcanal. Under the leadership of the Battalion Commander, LtCol Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, the Battalion distinguished themselves many times over for valor and bravery as they valiantly held their positions against the onslaught of a regiment of seasoned Japanese attackers. It was also during this campaign that the legendary Sgt "Manila John" Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor. Throughout the remainder of the war, the "First Team" distinguished themselves during many different campaigns, including Peleliu and Okinawa. Finally, the battalion deployed to North China for occupation duty at the end of the war.

Korean War

Following the occupation duty, the "First of the Seventh" was sent to Camp Pendleton, California where they were deactivated on 5 March 1947. However, in response to the Communist aggression in Korea, the Battalion was again called into action. On 21 September 1950, the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines made an amphibious landing at Inchon, Korea. Once more the "First Team" distinguished themselves in the battle as they took part in operations such as Hook, Reno, and Vegas, as well as fighting their way to and from the Chosin Reservoir. It was during the Korean Conflict that such names as 1stLt Frank Mitchell, SSgt Archie Van Winkle, and LtCol Raymond C. Davis, became part of Marine Corps history as each were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Following the cessation of hostilities in Korea and through 1965, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines spent time both in Camp Pendleton and Okinawa while maintaining its combat readiness.

Vietnam War

In August 1965, the battalion was once again called to service, this time in the Republic of Vietnam. For the next five years, the "First Team" participated in numerous operations such as Starlight, Piranha and Oklahoma Hills. During these operations and many others, the Battalion was honored repeatedly, earning the Presidential Unit Citation Streamer four times and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer three times. The battalion was also responsible for the only war crime attributable to the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. On February 19, 1970, in the village of Son Thang-4 just southwest of Danang, a five man patrol from the unit executed five women and eleven children. One member of the team would be convicted of premeditated murder [Warren, "American Spartans", p. 350]

Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm

1st Battalion, 7th Marines was the first unit to man defensive positions in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield in August 1990. The unit was an integral member of Task Force Ripper. As Desert Shield became Desert Storm, 1st battalion, 7th Marines participated in the diagonal thrust into the heart of Kuwait City, spearheading the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq. The battalion redeployed to Twentynine Palms, California in March 1991.

omalia

On December 11, 1992, the first elements of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines arrived at Mogadishu, Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. Battalion operations were conducted in Baidoa, Bardera, Oddur, Afgoye, and Mogadishu. 1st Battalion, 7th Marines relieved Task Force Mogadishu for occupation of the Stadium Complex in Mogadishu, Somalia on January 25, 1993. On April 24, 1993, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines turned over their mission and area of operations in Mogadishu to the 10th Baluch Battalion and redeployed to Twentynine Palms, California.

Global War on Terror

In January 2003, the Battalion was once again called into action for Operation Enduring Freedom and consequently Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 18 March 2003, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines crossed the Iraqi boarder from Kuwait on their march toward Baghdad. The Battalion saw significant combat action along the way to and in the streets of the Iraqi capital. On 23 April, the Battalion turned over control of their sector to the U.S. Army and took up positions in the holy city of An Najaf. After countless extensions, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, redeployed to Twentynine Palms, CA on October 5, 2003.

In August 2004, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines deployed to Western Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. There the Battalion conducted security operations in the cities and roadways along the Euphrates River and Syrian border to include Husaybah, Karabilah, Sadah, Ubaydi, Al Qa'im, Haditha, Hit and Haqlania. Involved in combat operations on a daily basis, the battalion conducted mounted and dismounted urban patrols, cordon knocks, Main Supply Route (MSR) security, sweep operations, and border security to clear the Battalions Area of Operation (AO) of enemy insurgents.

In March 2006, the battalion again deployed to Iraq and operated near the Iraqi-Syrian border, conducting dismounted urban patrols, weapons cache sweeping, and vehicle checkpoints. [cite news
url=http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/616F79CE74C6F97F8525719F004D1A9D?opendocument
title=Marines battle the elements while facing insurgents and improvised explosive devices
date=July 2, 2006
author= Cpl. Antonio Rosas
comment=story id# 20067210210
work=Marine Corps News] They returned in September, 2006. [cite web|url=http://www.op29online.com/articles/2006/10/06/news/news01.txt
title=1/7 Marines return from third deployment to warm welcome
date=October 6, 2006
work=OP-29-Online] 1/7 returned from their fourth deployment in March 2008.

1/7 Medal of Honor recipients

;World War II
*Sgt John Basilone, 24-25 October, 1942, Guadalcanal

;Korean War

*SSgt Archie Van Winkle, 2 November, 1950, Korea
*Sgt James I. Poynter, 4 November, 1950, Korea (Posthumously)
*1stLt Frank N. Mitchell, 26 November, 1950, Korea (Posthumously)
*LtCol Raymond G. Davis, 1-4 December, 1950, Korea
*PFC Herbert A. Littleton, 22 April, 1951, Korea (Posthumously)
*Sgt Frederick W. Mausert, III, 12 September, 1951, Korea
*Cpl David B. Champagne, 28 May, 1952, Korea (Posthumously)
*PFC John D. Kelly, 28 May, 1952, Korea (Posthumously)

;Vietnam War
* HM3 Robert R. Ingram, 28 March, 1966, Vietnam
* Cpl Larry E. Smedley, 20-21 December, 1967, Vietnam (Posthumously)
* PFC Ralph E. Dias, 12 November, 1969, Vietnam (Posthumously)

ee also

* History of the United States Marine Corps
* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

References

:Marine Corps;Bibliography
* cite book
last = Owen
first = Joseph R.
coauthors =
year = 1997
title = Colder Than Hell: A Marine Rifle Company at Chosin Reservoir
publisher = Ballantine Books
location =
id = ISBN 0-80411-697-0
* cite book
last = Solis
first = Gary D.
coauthors =
year = 1997
title = Son Thang: An American War Crime
publisher = United States Naval Institute Press
location =
id = ISBN 1-55750-743-0
* cite book
last = Warren
first = James A.
coauthors =
year = 2007
title = American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq
publisher = Pocket Books
location =
id = ISBN 1-41653-297-2

;Web
*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/div/7mar/1bn/default.asp
title=Official Website of 1/7
publisher=United States Marine Corps
*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.1-7marineskorea.com/history.htm
title=1st Battalion 7th Marines History
publisher=First Battalion Seventh Marines-Korea 1950-1953