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Regimental Combat Team 1

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History Of The 1st Marine Regiment The First Marines, one of the most illustrious Regiments in the Marine Corps, was originally activated at Philadelphia on 27 November 1913. At this time it bore the designation of 2d Advance Base Regiment. On 1 July 1916, this organization was re-designated as the 1st Regiment of Marines. During the early years of its existence, the Regiment was primarily employed as a combat force in the so-called "Banana Wars", in the Caribbean area. The first of these engagements occurred in April 1914 when the Regiment, along with other Navy and Marine Units, landed and seized the Mexican port of Vera Cruz. The Regiment next participated in the Haitian campaign (1915-1916) and the Dominican Republic campaign (1916). In December 1918, the 1st Regiment returned to the Caribbean and was deployed to Cuba for approximately six months. It was a garrison force from August 1922 until July 1924.

Following its second Dominican tour of duty it was deactivated, but was subsequently reactivated at Quantico, Virginia on 15 March 1925. The Regiment received its present designation of 1st Marines on 10 July 1930. The decade of the 1930's was a period of inactivity in the 1st Marines' history, as the unit was in a deactivated status during most of this time. World War II was the occasion for the next reactivation of the Regiment. On 1 February 1941, it was brought back into existence at Culebra, Puerto Rico as part of the 1st Marine Division. After the entrance of the United States in the War, the Regiment moved to the West Coast and the South Pacific. The 1st Marines initial operation of the war was its part in the ousting of the Japanese from Guadalcanal. In the first American land offensive, the Regiment saw action against Japanese from August until December 1942. The next major encounter with the enemy came during the New Britain campaign, which began in December 1943. This was followed by the bloody battle for the island of Peleliu. The last World War II engagement for the Regiment was the Okinawa Campaign. From 1 April until 22 June 1945, the Regiment participated in the bitter fighting that led to capture of this strategic island.

In September 1945, the 1st Marines deployed to North China to take part in the garrisoning of the area and in the repatriation of former enemy personnel. It remained in China until February 1949 when it was withdrawn to the United States. After a few months at Camp Pendleton, California, 1st Marines was deactivated on 1 October. The deactivation, however, was only temporary.

The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 resuscitated the buildup of the Marine Corps. As a result, the Regiment was brought back into existence on 4 August 1950. It immediately prepared to enter the conflict. On 15 September, the 1st Marine Division, including the 1st Marines, assaulted the beaches of Inchon.

The Regiment then went on to take part in the liberation of Seoul and later in the noted Chosin Reservoir Campaign. For the next two and one-half years, the 1st Marines continued to engage the North Koreans and Chinese Communists. Following the termination of hostilities in July 1953, the Regiment remained in Korea and acted as a defensive force against possible Communist attempts to rekindle the war. The 1st Marines returned to Camp Pendleton in April 1955. There it stayed for the following ten years except for a brief deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the Caribbean during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

With the intensification of the American involvement in the war in Vietnam in 1965, the Regiment was ordered to the Far East that summer. Elements of the Regiment began arriving in the Republic of Vietnam in August. Those units not deployed in the combat zone were located on Okinawa; however, by January 1966 the entire Regiment had completed its move to the embattled nation. The first major operation in the war for a battalion of the 1st Marines was Harvest Moon in December 1965. In the succeeding months, the Regiment's battalions participated in such operations as Utah, Iowa, Cheyenne I and II, and Double Eagle. Operation Hastings in July 1966 witnessed the most ferocious fighting of the war up to that time.

By fall of 1967, the 1st Marines were operating permanently in the northern sector of the I Corps tactical zone. The following winter the communists launched their all-out Tet Offensive. The enemy overran Hue, the old imperial capital. Between 31 January and 2 March 1968, elements of the 1st Marines, along with other U.S. Marine and South Vietnamese units, fought to regain control of the city. Bitter street fighting and hand-to-hand combat characterized the battle. Hue, however, was finally recaptured after the enemy suffered nearly 1,900 killed. Heavy fighting continued for the Regiment through the rest of the year and culminated in Operation Meade River, which netted nearly 850 enemies killed. The Regiment remained deployed in South Vietnam for the next two and a half years, participating in numerous operations, both large and small. In 1971, the Regiment was ordered back to the United States at Camp Pendleton. The 1st Marines were the last Marine infantry unit to depart Vietnam.

In the spring of 1975, the 1st Marines provided primary support to the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton for preparation of a camp to house Vietnamese refugees during Operation New Arrivals. In 1983 the Commandant approved the transfer of responsibility of sourcing WESTPAC MAU from the 1st Marine Brigade, Hawaii to the West Coast. Attendant to this transfer, in 1984 and 1985 respectively, the 11th and 13th MAU's were activated, and 1st Marines was assigned responsibility to provide the Ground Combat Element.

In April 1985, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines deployed with the 11th MAU to initiate the program. During 1986, the 1st Marines were tasked to provide the Ground Combat Element of a Special Operations Capable MAU. 1st Battalion 9th Marines commenced that training and deployed in June 1987. Since the inception of the Special Operations Capable (SOC) Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU's) in support of contingency operations in the Western Pacific, the 1st Marine Regiment has been the SOC Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.

In August 1990 the training and operation cycle of the Regiment was interrupted by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, already deployed, was re-routed to the Persian Gulf from the Western Pacific. 3d Battalion, 1st Marines accelerated its training cycle and deployed as part of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in route to Southwest Asia. On 21 December the Regimental Staff and the Headquarters Company departed in January 1991. On 30 December 1990, 1st Marines was designated as Task Force Papa Bear and was comprised of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines; 1st Tank Battalion, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines; and various attachments on 30 December 1990. The Task Force attacked into Kuwait on 23 February and continued its march to the vicinity of Kuwait International Airport where hostilities ceased on 27 February. The Regimental Headquarters and the 1st Battalion returned to the United States in April 1991. The 1st Marines Regiment continues to support the forwarded deployed MAGTFs in the MEU (SOC) deployment cycle.

From 1 to 11 May 1992, elements of the Regimental Headquarters Company and 3d Battalion, 1st Marines rapidly mobilized and deployed to perform riot control operations as part of the Joint Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Los Angeles. Working closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the command assumed a prominent role in quelling the urban unrest in South Central Los Angeles.

In January 2003, the 1st Marines deployed aboard naval amphibious shipping to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Organized as a 5000-man combined arms task force known as Regimental Combat Team One [RCT-1], the regiment fought its way from Kuwait to Baghdad, with significant actions at An Nasariyah, Al Kut, and Baghdad. The RCT consisted of 3d Battalion, 1st Marines; 1st Battalion, 4th Marines; 1st Battalion, 11th Marines; 2d Battalion, 23d Marines; 1st Reconnaissance Battalion; 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; 1st Battalion, 11th Marines; Company “A”, 1st Tank Battalion; and elements of 2nd and 4th Assault Amphibian Battalions. On the night of 24-25 March, RCT-1 conducted a forward passage of lines at An Nasariyah through RCT-2 [part of Task Force Tarawa]. From 26 March to 3 April, the regiment continued offensive operations on the Route 7 corridor without secure lines of communication to the rear. At Al Kut, the RCT conducted a limited attack in coordination with RCT-7 that defeated the Republican Guard’s Baghdad Division. Attacking into Baghdad, the RCT forced a crossing of the Diyala River on 8 April. Subsequent to the collapse of the regime, the RCT conducted security and stability operations in Baghdad and Al Hillah until returning home throughout the summer of 2003.

In February of 2004, 1st Marines deployed to the Al Anbar province of Iraq. Upon arrival in theater, 1st Marines formed into a Regimental Combat Team (RCT-1) and conducted a relief-in-place with 3d Brigade of the 82d Airborne Division. RCT-1 consisted of several major subordinate commands from 1st Marine Division and various smaller attachments from throughout the Marine Corps. Once the relief-in-place was complete and all attached units were in theater, RCT-1’s table of organization consisted of HQ Company, 1st Marines; 1st Battalion, 5th Marines; 2d Battalion, 1st Marines; Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines; 4th Civil Affairs Group; Company D, 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; B Company, 2d Combat Engineer Battalion; 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, and Company A, 1st Tank Battalion.

The RCT’s area of operation (AO), consisted of numerous cities; specifically Al Karmah, Al Saqlawiyah, Nasser Wa Salem, and Al Fallujah. RCT-1’s mission to conduct stability and support operations, and train Iraqi Security Forces. This was put on hold as a result of atrocities committed by insurgents in the city of Al Fallujah. On 31 March 2004, four U.S. Citizens working for Black Water Security were attacked, mutilated and hung on a bridge in the western edge of the city. On 7 April 2004, Operation VIGILANT RESOLVE commenced in response to these murders. The ultimate mission of RCT-1 was to drive insurgent forces out in order to restore legitimate local Iraqi government and security forces to the city. After intense urban fighting, a political resolution was mandated resulting in the creation of the Fallujah Brigade. Ordered out of the city, RCT-1 then resumed security and stability operation throughout the AO.

Units continued to rotate in and out of theater throughout the summer of 2004. 3d Battalion, 1st Marines and 3d Battalion, 5th Marines arrived in theater and conducted a relief-in-place with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 2d Battalion, 1st Marines respectively. RCT-1’s table of organization then continued to expand as operations grew more complex. For the remainder of the summer, RCT-1 focused on the security of the military service roads, infrastructure development, and counter-insurgency operations in order to assist Iraq in becoming sovereign and stable. However, during September and October of 2004, insurgent presence increased in Fallujah and eventually drove out all Iraqi Government and Military presence. RCT-1 was poised for another attack on the city.

Preceding the assault on Fallujah, Operation AL FAJR, RCT-1 greatly expanded its table of organization. This new table of organization included HQ Company, 1st Marines; 3d Battalion, 1st Marines; 3d Battalion, 5th Marines; Small Craft Company(-), 1st MARDIV; Battery M, 4th Battalion, 14th Marines; Detachment, 44th Engineer Battalion; 2d Reconnaissance Battalion; Detachment, 1st ANGLICO; CBR Detachment, 14th Marines; Company C, 2d Tank Battalion; Scout Platoon, 4th Tank Battalion; Tow Platoon, 23d Marines; Company D, 2d AA Battalion; Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company; Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines; Company A, MP, 4th MLG; Detachment, 2d Radio Battalion; Detachment, 2d Intelligence Battalion; Detachment, 4th Civil Affairs Group; Detachment, 940, Company B, 9th PSYOP Battalion; Shock Trauma Platoon, 7th MLG; Truck Platoon, 2d Battalion, 14th Marines; JSOTF Sniper Team; Company B, 2d Combat Engineer Battalion; Company C, 3d AA Battalion; 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Division; Company A, 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; 1st Iraqi Specialized Special Forces Battalion; 4th Battalion 1st Brigade Iraqi Intervention Force; Company I, Iraqi National Guard; and 1st Battalion 1st Brigade Iraqi Intervention Force.

Led by 1st Marine Division, Operation AL FAJR began its assault north of the city with six infantry battalions in the attack. RCT-7 and its attachments were responsible for attacking into the eastern half of the city, while 2d Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division conducted supporting attacks on the outskirts of the city. Designated the Division Main Effort, RCT-1 crossed the line of departure on 7 November 2004. Because the insurgents had several months since Operation VIGILANT RESOLVE to fortify their city’s defenses, RCT-1 once again met a determined enemy willing to fight to the death. Having added 2 battalions of Iraqi Intervention Forces along with a heavy infantry Battalion from the 2d of the 7th Calvary, RCT-1 fought house to house through the insurgent ridden neighborhoods of the infamous Jolan district. After twelve days of intense urban combat, 1st MARDIV had broken the back of the insurgents and successfully fought its way to the southern end of the city capturing the western half of Fallujah.

RCT-1 quickly moved into Phase IV of Operation AL FAJR. In order to establish security, entry control points, regular patrols and martial law were immediately implemented. Local government and Iraqi Security Forces were reestablished in short order. Detachments of 4th Civil Affairs Group, with the help of Iraqi Intervention Forces, immediately established humanitarian assistance sites at Jolan Park, Dave’s Field, and Brahma Ranch. This effort greatly enhanced RCT-1’s mission of repairing infrastructure and restoring order to the devastated city. With in weeks, over 100,000 citizens returned to Al Fallujah. This historic effort in Al Fallujah culminated on 30 January 2005 when over 7,000 Iraqis participated in free elections for the first time in over 40 years.

After the elections, RCT-1 resumed its continuing mission to strengthen the Iraqi Security Forces positively impacting the security throughout the whole region. In addition to continued coalition security operations with participation from the 2d of the 7th Brigade, Iraqi Intervention Force, RCT-1 achieved great success by reactivating the Fallujah Police Department and the Iraq Highway Patrol.

First to fight in two of the most intense urban battles since Hue City in 1968, and later breaking historic records regarding humanitarian assistance with its civil affairs efforts, First Marines continued its magnificent legacy by once again winning battles and making history. After successfully completing a relief-in-place with RCT-8, First Marines returned to a well-deserved welcome at Camp Pendleton, California, on 5 April 2005.

Currently the deployed version of First Marines, RCT-1 is deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq to train, equip, mentor and assist the Iraqi military, police and security forces.

On this web site we will post stories, photos, and pictures of RCT-1 Marines currently deployed. Please email us with your questions and concerns