Combat Assault Battalion
Combat Assault Battalion's Insignia
ActiveFebruary 16, 1942 – October 12, 2018
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeMechanized/Engineering Battalion
RoleAmphibious Assault
Part of3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Nickname(s)The Iron Fist
Motto(s)"Sui Generis"
EngagementsWorld War II

Korean War

Vietnam War
War on Terror

Commanders
Notable
commanders		Edwin B. Wheeler

The Combat Assault Battalion was a mechanized battalion of the United States Marine Corps and subordinate element of the 3rd Marine Division and the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit was last based at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan.

Mission

To conduct Amphibious Assault, Light Armored Reconnaissance and Combat Engineer operations across the Range of Military Operations (ROMO) in the Pacific Area of Responsibility (AOR) in support of MAGTF expeditionary operations.

Subordinate units

  • Headquarters and Services Company
  • Combat Engineer Company
  • Light Armored Reconnaissance Company
  • Assault Amphibian Vehicle Company

History

World War II

The 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion was activated February 16, 1942 at New River, North Carolina as part of the 1st Marine Division.[1] The battalion relocated in May 1942 to Wellington, New Zealand and participated in the following World War II campaigns:

The battalion was decommissioned on November 17, 1945 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.[1] Less than a year later that battalion was reactivated on May 1, 1946 at MCB Camp Pendleton

Korean War

The battalion participated in the Korean War from the Pusan Perimeter in operations from Inchon to Seoul, Chosin Reservoir, East to Central Front, and the Western Front. Following the war they participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from August 1953 to March 1955. They were relocated during March 1955 to Camp McGill, Japan.

Vietnam War

The battalion was reassigned March 16, 1965 to the 3d Marine Division and relocated to Camp Hansen, Okinawa.

Company A was deployed to South Vietnam on 7 May 1965 and was attached to the 4th Marine Regiment at Chu Lai Base Area. Company B deployed to South Vietnam on 8 July and was attached to the 9th Marine Regiment at Danang. On 16 July 1965 the remainder of the battalion loaded aboard USS Carter Hall for deployment to South Vietnam, offloading at Red Beach Base Area on 21 July 1965.[2]

The battalion engaged in combat operations from July 1965 through July 1969.

In April 1967 the battalion was moved to Cửa Việt Base and under the name Operation Napoleon together with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines was tasked with keeping waterways around the base open.[3]: 37  Operation Napoleon/Saline concluded on 9 December 1968.[3]: 445 

They relocated during July 1969 to Camp Schwab, Okinawa. On April 1, 1976 the battalion was re-designated as the 1st Tracked Vehicle Battalion with two companies of M60A1 (RISE Passive) Tanks and two companies of AAV-7's as well as 1 Company TOW.

1980s and 1990s

On November 10, 1988 the battalion was redesignated as the 1st Armored Assault Battalion. On September 30, 1992 it was redesignated as the Combat Support Group and finally became Combat Assault Battalion on October 5, 1994.

Deactivation

Combat Assault Battalion was deactivated October 12, 2018 with the Battalion assets divided between the rest of the 3d Marine Division. Most of the Battalion's assets including AAVs and LAV-25 mechanized vehicles were transferred to 4th Marine Regiment. The Battalion's Combat Engineer Company was reallocated to other Marine units, including 3rd Marine Regiment and 1st Combat Engineer Battalion.[4]

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 appropriate ribbon of the awarded unit citation. The Battalion's flag is decorated with the appropriate streamers. Combat Assault Battalion, and those units for which it carries lineage and honors, was awarded the following:

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Silver and one Bronze Star 1942, 1944, 1945, 1950, 1951, 1965–1967, 1968 Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam War
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with two Bronze Stars 1952–1953, 1968, 2002–2003 Korea, Vietnam, Western Pacific
Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star 1967–1968, 1968 Vietnam War
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with one Silver Star and one Bronze Star 1942–1945 Guadalcanal, Finschhafen, New Britain, Peleliu, Okinawa
World War II Victory Streamer 1942–1945 Pacific War
Navy Occupation Service Streamer with "ASIA"

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
Korean Service Streamer with two Silver Stars August 1950 - March 1955 Pusan Perimeter, Inchon-Seoul, Chosin Reservoir, East-Central Front, Western Front, Defense of the Demilitarized Zone
Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver Stars July 1965 - July 1969 Da Nang, Cua Viet
Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer 2001–present
Korea Presidential Unit Citation Streamer

Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "First Amtrac Bn disbands; Sets Outstanding War Record". The Pendleton Scout. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. 26 November 1945. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  2. ↑ "Command Diary 1965" (PDF). 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion (Rein). 13 August 1965. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 0-16-049125-8.
  4. ↑ "Combat Assault Battalion Deactivation". United States Marine Corps. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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