8th Marine Regiment
History
The
8th Marine Regiment was formed on 9 October, 1917, at Quantico,
Virginia during the build up for World War I. While training for war,
the command was transferred to Fort Crockett, Texas to guard the nearby
Mexican oil fields. The Regiment was joined there by the 9th Marines to
form the 3d Marine Brigade; the first Advance Base Force of World War I.
As such, the Marines were held in reserve to establish and defend naval
bases in the Atlantic or the West Indies, if required. The 8th Marines
was deactivated at Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1919.
A year later, the Regiment was reactivated for
service in Haiti where Marines had been fighting the Cacos bandits since
1914. Through systematic patrolling which culminated in a number of
brief, sharp clashes, the 8th Marines eliminated Haitian banditry that
had lasted more than a hundred years. With its mission accomplished, the
8th Marines was deactivated again in 1925.
In 1940 the Regiment was formed once more, in
San Diego, California. It was a well-trained unit by the time of the
attack on Pearl Harbor and became the first Marine Regiment to deploy
into the Pacific waters to Samoa. After ten months of jungle training,
while defending the Samoan Islands, the Regiment sailed to reinforce the
engaged 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal. While there, the 8th
Marines won its first Presidential Unit Citation.
A second test was not long in coming. Joining
the 2d Marine Division in New Zealand, the 8th Marines spent several
months refitting for operation GALVANIC, the amphibious assault on
Tarawa. In 76 hours of some of the bloodiest fighting in American
history, the Marines seized that island and opened the door to the
Japanese Empire. The lessons of Tarawa were to influence the conduct of
amphibious operations for the rest of the war. For its gallant
performance, the 8th Marine Regiment received its second Presidential
Unit Citation.
After refitting in Hawaii, the 8th Marines
sailed for the Marianas, to storm the beaches of Saipan and Tinian,
capturing key bases for the air war against Japan. Reinforced with
artillery, the Regiment later joined the 1st and 6th Divisions in the
battle for Okinawa.
After a year of occupation duty in Japan, the
8th Marine Regiment left the Far East for Camp Lejeune. For the past
four decades it has provided landing forces for the 2d and 6th fleets in
the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. A demanding tempo of
training and deployments has been interrupted by service in Lebanon,
Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. In 1980, the 8th Marines provided
security forces for the Haitian/Cuban Refugee operation.
Marines from the Regimental attracted worldwide
attention in August 1982 when the 2d Battalion, 8th Marines landed in
Beirut, Lebanon, to ensure the safe evacuation of the Palestine
Liberation Organization. In October of that year, the 8th Marines
suffered a devastating loss from a terrorist attack on the BLT
headquarters.
Almost simultaneously 2d Battalion, 8th Marines
participated in Operation URGENT FURY, the successful liberation of the
Island of Grenada and the rescue of American students. Immediately after
departing Grenada, 2d Battalion, 8th Marines races to join the
Multi-National Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon ending their duties
as part of the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force and resuming their
commitment as the Landing Force Sixth Fleet (LF6F) Battalion Landing
Team.
In August 1990, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines
participated in Operation SHARP EDGE in Liberia to protect American
lives during that country's civil war. 3d Battalion, 8th Marines then
relieved 2d Battalion, 4th Marines and successfully concluded SHARP EDGE
in January 1991.
From December 1990 to April 1991 the 8th Marines
participated in Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM in Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait. 2d Battalion, 8th Marines participated in Operation
PROVIDE COMFORT in northern Iraq from April to July 1991 and 3d
Battalion, 8th Marines participated during July 1991. During December
1991, 2d Battalion, 8th Marines deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during
Operation TAKE CHARGE to assist in controlling masses of Haitian
refugees. From September 1991 to March 1992, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines
participated in the continuation of Operation Desert Storm in the
Arabian Gulf.
During 1994 and 1996 elements of the Regiment
participated in refugee control operations in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and
embassy protection operations in Monrovia, Liberia and in Bangui,
Central African Republic.
From June to July of 1999 3d Battalion, 8th
Marines participated in operation JOINT GUARDIAN in Kosovo. A year later
elements of 8th Marines were called on again for Operation EASTERN
ACCESS, April 2000 to May 2000, on the island of Vieques located near
Puerto Rico.
The Marines and Sailors of this proud Regiment
are acutely aware of their heritage and mindful of their current
mission. Our motto, "MORE THAN DUTY," underscores our commitment to
Corps and country.
