1st Combat Engineer Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Combat Engineer Battalion


caption= 1st CEB insignia
dates= *February 24, 1941 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Combat Engineering
role=
size=
command_structure=1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
current_commander=
garrison=Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= The Super Breed
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of New Britain
* Battle of Peleliu
* Battle of Okinawa
'Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Operation Vigilant Resolve
* Operation Phantom Fury
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

1st Combat Engineer Battalion is a combat engineer battalion of the United States Marine Corps. The unit, nicknamed "The Super Breed", is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Mission

Provide mobility, counter mobility, survivability, and limited general engineering support to the 1st Marine Division.

Current units

* Headquarters and Service Company
* Engineer Support Company
* Alpha Company
* Bravo Company
* Charlie Company
* Mobility Assault Company

History

World War II

The battalion was formed on February 24, 1941 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the 1st Pioneer Battalion [commanded by Colonel George R. Rowan] , 1st Marine Division to be a specialized unit to conduct shore party operations during Amphibious assaults, and to provide close combat engineer support to the Marine infantry. [Lane, "Guadalcanal", p.36] The average age of the enlisted men was about 18, and they referred to themselves as "draft dodgers" because all were volunteers. They relocated during April 1941 to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina and again in September 1941 to "Tent City One" at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina

On 14 June 1942 the battalion traveled by a five-day train journey to San Francisco, with the final destination of Wellington, New Zealand which was not disclosed to personnel at the time. [Lane, "Guadalcanal", p.38,40] The sail to New Zealand was on the USAT "John Ericsson" (NY-307), a former Swedish deluxe cruise liner, departing from the Oakland Naval Base. [p.41, Lane] They were redesignated on January 12, 1943 as the 1st Battalion, 17th Marines and again on June 30, 1944 as the First Engineer Battalion

The battalion participated in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal, Eastern New Guinea, Battle of New Britain, Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the war they were sent to Tientsin, China in September 1945 as peacekeepers and returned to the United States during June 1947 to Camp Pendleton, California

Korean War

The battalion deployed during August 1950 to Kobe, Japan, joining the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade they were then sent in September 1950 to Inchon, Korea, and joined the 1st Marine Division.

During the war they participated in the following battles:
* Battle of Pusan Perimeter
* Battle of Inchon-Seoul
* Battle of Chosin Reservoir
* East-Central Front
* Western Front

Following the armistice the battalion participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from August 1953 – April 1955. They returned to Camp Pendleton, California in April 1955 and were again redesignated on May 1, 1957 as the 1st Pioneer Battalion.

Vietnam War

The battalion was again redesignated on May 1, 1963 as the 1st Engineer Battalion and redeployed during September 1965 to Camp Hansen, Okinawa. They remained there until January 1966 when they moved to Chu Lai in the Republic of Vietnam.

During the Vietnam War they participated in combat operation from January 1966 through April 1971, operating from Chu Lai and Da Nang.

1980s and 1990s

The battalion participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 until March 1991. They would later take part in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia from December 1992 – February 1993. Elements would participate in Fire-Fighting efforts in the Western United States during August and September 1994.

Global War on Terror

The battalion has participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 until the present.

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. 1st CEB has been presented with the following awards:

See also

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

Notes

References

* Lane, Kerry, "Guadalcanal Marine", University Press of Mississippi, 2004:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/div/1ceb/welcome.asp 1st CEB's official website]