3rd Battalion, 8th Marines

3rd Battalion 8th Marines (3/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, consisting of approximately 1,100 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the command of the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.

3rd Battalion 8th Marines
3rd Battalion 8th Marines Unit Insignia
ActiveNovember 1, 1940 – March 26, 1946
January 15, 1951 – present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeLight infantry
RoleLocate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver
Part of8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
Garrison/HQMarine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Motto(s)"Fortuna Favet Fortibus"
"Fortune Favors the Strong"
EngagementsWorld War II
Multinational Force in Lebanon
Operation Secure Tomorrow
War on Terror
Commanders
Current
commander		LtCol Neil R.Berry
Notable
commanders		John C. Miller Jr. David H. Berger

Subordinate units
  • Headquarters and Service Company
  • Company I
  • Company K
  • Company L
  • Weapons Company

Mission

The mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver and/ or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat.

History

World War II

The battalion was activated on November 1, 1940, in San Diego and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Brigade was re-designated February 1, 1941, as 2nd Marine Division. They participated in the action at the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the surrender of Japan, they re-deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki, Japan and participated in occupation of Japan from until February 1946. The battalion was deactivated March 26, 1946.

1950s & 1960s

3/8 was reactivated on January 15, 1951, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as 3rd and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. During the 1960s they participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to December 1962 and Operation Powerpack in the Dominican Republic in 1965.

1970s

3/8 went to the Med in January 1979 as part of the 32 MAU. Major Oliver North was 3/8’s S3 officer.

1980s & 1990s

3/8 went to the Med in January 1980 and 1981as part of the 32 MAU.The company first sergeant Lewis G. Lee would eventually become Sergeant Major of the Marine Corp.

The battalion was part of the Multi-Nation Peace Keeping Force in Lebanon from October 1982 to February 1983, and February through October 1984.

Global War on Terror
A Marine from 3/8 breaching a door during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A Marine from Company I, 3/8, holds onto a parachute attached to a supply of water and food dropped by CLB-3 Marines from a C-130 cargo transport aircraft during Operation Backstop in Helmand province, Afghanistan, December 11, 2008.
3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment conduct a local security patrol in the abandoned village, Afghanistan, on April 12, 2009


Proposed Deactivation

Commandant Gen. David H. Berger, former Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, released a press statement stating,"Developing a force that incorporates emerging technologies and a significant change to force structure within our current resource constraints will require the Marine Corps to become smaller and remove legacy capabilities". In May 2020, 3rd Battalion was listed as one of the units proposed to be deactivated.

Awards
Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, partnered with Afghan National Police, patrol through Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 1, 2012

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See also

Notes
  1. Marines repel assault in Iraq Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Marines clean mean streets of Ramadi
  3. Jones, LCpl Brian D. (14 December 2008). "U.S. Marines Provide British Forces Security in Afghanistan During Operation Backstop". DVIDS News. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
  4. NAVMC 2922, MMMA, 26 November 2019 and the Historical Resources Branch, Marine Corps History Division

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
Bibliography
  • Rottman, Gordon L., "U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945". Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. 2002.
Web
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