10th Marine Regiment (United States)

10th Marine Regiment

10th Marine Regiment Insignia
Active 25 April 1914 - present
Country  United States
Branch United States Marine Corps
Type Artillery Regiment
Role Provide fires in support of 2nd Marine Division
Part of 2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Garrison/HQ Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Nickname(s) Fireball
Motto(s) King of Battle
Arm of Decision (Old)
Engagements

World War II

Operation Desert Storm
War on Terror

Commanders
Current
commander		 Col. James P. McDonough
Notable
commanders		 Thomas E. Bourke

The 10th Marine Regiment is an artillery regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. They fall under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and the II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Subordinate units

5th Battalion, 10th Marines (5/10) was disbanded on 1 June 2012.
3rd Battalion, 10th Marines (3/10) was disbanded on 26 April 2013.

Mission

Provide fires in support of 2nd Marine Division using organic indirect fire assets while coordinating both lethal and non-lethal fires from other II Marine Expeditionary Force fire support agencies in order to suppress, neutralize or destroy the enemy.

History

Early years

10th Marines was originally formed in Quantico, Virginia on 25 April 1914 as an artillery battalion under the 1st Marine Brigade. As a battalion, the unit took part in conflicts in Haiti and the Dominican Republic from August 1915 to May 1917. The battalion was expanded throughout mid-1917 and finally, on 15 January 1917 the unit was re-designated as the 10th Marine Regiment of Field Artillery.

Between World War I and II, the Regiment filled many different roles, including building their Barracks and various other construction around the base, and guarding the mail. It even participated in annual reenactments of Civil War battles. During this same time, the regiment was deployed to China and to Iceland just prior to American involvement in World War II.

World War II

During the War the Regiment was involved in the assault on Guadalcanal and later took part in the bloody battles of Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa.[1]

After World War II

After the end of World War II, the 10th Marines found themselves at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, which would be their home until present day. As the Korean War started, the 10th Marines were working with a skeleton crew, but five months later they were fully mobilized and back up to wartime strength and ready to fight. Again, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, they were mobilized to participate in the blockade of Cuba.

Modern-Day Activities

Since the end of the Korean War, that time the Regiment has participated in exercises testing the methods of firing 155mm howitzers from landing craft, as well as the twice annual Fire Exercise at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Regiment has also continuously sent firing batteries and battalions to train in Okinawa; and to participate in CAX, a desert training operation held at Twenty-Nine Palms, California on the edge of the Mojave Desert; and to northern Norway in support of NATO training exercises.

First Gulf War

In January 1990, the Regiment deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. The Regiment was tasked with providing fire support for the 2nd Marine Division in the war to oust Iraqi forces from occupied Kuwait.

Global War on Terrorism

10th Marines deployed to Kuwait in early 2003 and provided fire support for Task Force Tarawa during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Since 2003, the Regiment has continued to deploy battalion headquarters units and their subordinate batteries to Iraq to provide fire support and sometimes also act as provisional rifle companies especially in the Al Anbar province of western part of the country. Units of the regiment also continue to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit Awards

Presidential Unit Citation with 1 Bronze Star[2]

Navy Unit Commendation[3]

Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars

World War II Victory Medal

World War II Navy of Occupation Medal

See also

References

Notes
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
  1. ↑ http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/ww2/forgottenbtn.asp
  2. ↑ "Pt. 2 - Unit Awards". www.history.navy.mil. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  3. ↑ "Pt. 2 - Unit Awards". www.history.navy.mil. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
Bibliography
Web
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