1st Battalion, 10th Marines


1st Battalion, 10th Marines is an artillery battalion composed of four firing batteries and a headquarters battery. The battalion is stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of 10th Marine Regiment, part of 2d Marine Division. Its primary weapon system is the M777A2 155mm lightweight howitzer.

Mission

The unit's mission is to provide direct artillery support for 2d Marine Division in time of conflict. That support may come in traditional fashion, i.e. artillery support to maneuver forces, or by providing batteries to serve as temporary rifle companies.

Current units

World War II

The unit was activated on November 1, 1940, at San Diego, California, as 1st Battalion, 10th Marines and was assigned to the 2d Marine Brigade, Fleet Marine Force. The 2d Marine Brigade was renamed the 2d Marine Division on February 1, 1941.
During January 1942, 1/10 was deployed to American Samoa and detached from the 2d Marine Division. In November 1942, the unit was redeployed to Guadalcanal and attached to
11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. In December 1942, the unit was reassigned to 9th Marines.
1st Battalion, 10th Marines participated in the following World War II campaigns:
and subsequently in the occupation of Japan from September 1945 to June 1946.
During July 1946, 1/10 was relocated to MCB Camp Lejeune; then deactivated on November 18, 1947.
The unit was then reactivated to Camp Lejeune as 1st Battalion, 10th Marines on December 1, 1948.

1960s–1980s

1/10 deployed to Cuba in response to the missile crisis from October to December 1962.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the battalion was deployed to Europe for participation in North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises.
During the 1980s, the battalion became a cold-weather-trained unit, conducting training at Fort Drum, New York and above the Arctic Circle. The battalion also transitioned to the 155mm Howitzer during this period. They regularly supported training operations at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms, California.
Charlie Battery was deployed to Beirut, Lebanon in 1983 as a part of Battalion Landing Team 1/8. On 23 October, the battery lost eight Marines in the Beirut Barracks attack. While deployed to Beirut, Charlie Battery was the first U.S. artillery unit to fire the M198 155mm howitzer in combat.

1990s

First Battalion participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from August 1990 to February 1991.
A Detachment from Bravo Battery aboard the USS IWO JIMA during MARG 2–92 participated in Operation Provide Promise from July to November 1992.
From August to October 1994, an element of 1/10 participated in Operations Support Democracy and Uphold Democracy in Haiti.

Global War on Terror

In February 2003, 1/10 deployed to Kuwait, it then participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, in Iraq in March 2003. During the invasion the unit took part in the Battle of Nasiriyah.
Then again Battery B deployed to Iraq in June 2004 to February 2005 performed split-battery operations from the cities Muhumadyia and Iskandariyah providing fire support for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Between September 2007 and April 2008, 1/10 was deployed to Iraq and was stationed throughout the Al Anbar province as TFMP.
From November 2010 to May 2011, 1/10 deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.