1st Battalion 14th Marines

1st Battalion, 14th Marines

1/14 Insignia
Active
  • May 1, 1943 - March 24, 2007
Country United States
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
Type Artillery
Role Provide fire support to the 4th Marine Division
Part of Unit is decommissioned
Nickname At the Ready
Motto "Servire, Defensor, Vindico"
Engagements In World War II:
Battle of Kwajalein
Battle of Saipan
Battle of Tinian
Battle of Iwo Jima

Operation Iraqi Freedom

1st Battalion 14th Marines (1/14) was a reserve artillery battalion comprising three firing batteries and a headquarters battery. The battalion was based in Alameda, California. Its primary weapon system was the M198 Howitzer. It was part of the 14th Marine Regiment of the 4th Marine Division.

Mission

To provide artillery support to a maneuver element or reinforcing fire to another artillery organization.

Subordinate units

NameLocation
Headquarters BatteryAlameda, California
Battery AAurora, Colorado
Battery BJoliet, Illinois
Battery CJackson, Mississippi and Waterloo, Iowa

History

World War II

The battalion was activated on May 1, 1943 at Camp Lejune, North Carolina. It relocated during August 1943 to Camp Pendleton, California and was assigned to the 4th Marine Division. During World War II it participated in the Battles of Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. 1/14 redeployed in October 1945 to Camp Pendleton and was deactivated on November 15 of the same year.

Reactivation and name changes

The battalion was reactivated on February 1, 1966 at Treasure Island, San Francisco, California, as Headquarters Battery, 14th Marines and assigned to the 4th Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Marine Forces Reserve. It was redesignated February 1, 1967 as Headquarters Battery, 3rd Field Artillery Group, Force Troops. It was redesignated again on September 1, 1979 as Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 14th Marines and finally on October 1, 1985 as 1st Battalion, 14th Marines.

1990s

Charlie Battery 1st Battlion 14th Marines from Jackson, Mississippi was activated on 10 December 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield and deployed to Camp Pendleton, California and then to Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan to await final orders to deploy to the Persian Gulf. Those orders never came. The Marines from Charlie Battery returned home to Jackson, Mississippi in August of 1991. 1/14 was mobilized during January 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm and deployed to MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It demobilized during June 1991 and returned to Treasure Island. It was relocated during February 1992 to Alameda.

Global War on Terror

The battalion was mobilized in June 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and for the deployment redesignated as Task Force MP.

Decommissioning

1st Battalion, 14th Marines was deactivated on March 24, 2007 and redesignated the 4th Force Reconnaissance Headquarters.

See also

Notes

    References

     This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
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