3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines

rdf:langString 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines

rdf:langString 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines

rdf:langString "Trinity", "America's Battalion"

rdf:langString A black shield with a red interior and a gold border. On the top is written "America's Battalion" and on the bottom written "Fortes Fortuna Juvat." The red interior has three "3"'s in the center with a sword running through it with a caltrop.

rdf:langString Map of the Pacific Ocean with the various locations of 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines during World War II marked, including its two battles on Bougainville and Guam.

rdf:langString Pacific_Ocean_laea_relief_location_map.jpg

rdf:langString Gulf War * Khafji * Liberation of Kuwait War in Afghanistan * Regional Command East * Helmand Province Campaign ** Nawa ** Garmsir Iraq War * Haditha * Al-Karmah

rdf:langString World War II * Bougainville * Guam * Iwo Jima Vietnam War * Starlite * Harvest Moon * Macon * Hill 881 * Kingfisher * Tet Offensive * May Offensive * Taylor Common * Virginia Ridge * Idaho Canyon Operation Eagle Claw

rdf:langString The official emblem for 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines

rdf:langString Battalion Sergeant Major

rdf:langString right

rdf:langString

rdf:langString Fortuna Fortes Juvat

rdf:langString "Trinity", "America's Battalion"

rdf:langString Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver

rdf:langString 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, abbreviated as (3/3), is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps, based out of Kaneohe, Hawaii. Known as either "Trinity" or "America's Battalion", the unit falls under the command of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division. The unit consists of approximately 1200 U.S. Marines and United States Navy Sailors. Like most battalions of the U.S. Marine Corps, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines is made up of three rifle companies (India, Kilo, and Lima), and a Headquarters and Services (H&S) company. The battalion was originally formed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in 1942 and saw action on both Bougainville and Guam during World War II, where it was awarded its first Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation. Marines in the battalion were also awarded one Medal of Honor and seven Navy Crosses during the war. Following World War II, 3rd Battalion was disbanded until 1951, when it was reformed in California. The battalion was alerted for possible deployment during the 1956 Suez War and the 1958 intervention in Lebanon. In 1965, the Marines of 3rd Battalion were deployed to the Vietnam War and participated in Operation Starlite, the first major Marine engagement of that conflict. The battalion continued to see major action through Vietnam and was rotated back to the United States in 1969. Famous alumni from its time in Vietnam include Corporal Robert Emmett O'Malley, the first Marine in Vietnam to be awarded the Medal of Honor, Oliver North, and John Ripley. Around the end of the Vietnam War, the Battalion was deactivated for a second time in 1974. In 1975, 3rd Battalion was reformed for the third (and last) time at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. During this period, the battalion conducted numerous deployments in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1983, 3rd Battalion deployed off the coast of Lebanon for several weeks during a particularly tense period in the civil war. During the 1980s, the battalion was briefly commanded by Charles Krulak, later the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, who nicknamed 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines "America's Battalion." 3rd Battalion deployed again in 1990 as part of Operation Desert Shield and saw action at the Battle of Khafji and again during the liberation of Kuwait. In the early 21st century the battalion deployed overseas six times as part of the Global War on Terror: three times for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and three times for Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. One Marine from the battalion, Dakota Meyer, was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Global War on Terror. After the 3rd Marine Regiment ended combat operations, following 3rd Battalion's final deployment to Afghanistan in 2012, the unit resumed its deployments throughout the Pacific until 2022. As part of Force Design 2030, 3rd Battalion is scheduled to be deactivated for the third time in January 2023.