3rd Reconnaissance Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion


caption= 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion insignia
courtesy of www.military-graphics.com
dates= Activated September 16, 1942
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Light Infantry/Special Operations
role= Reconnaissance/Direct Action
size=
command_structure=3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
current_commander= LtCol William Seely
garrison= Camp Schwab
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Mortalis
patron=
motto= "Celer, Silens, Mortalis"
"Swift, Silent, Deadly"
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Bougainville
* Solomon Islands
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (3rd Recon) is a reconnaissance unit in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Smedley Butler, Okinawa, Japan. They consist of approximately 200 Marines and Sailors and fall under the command of the 3rd Marine Division and the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Mission

The battalion’s mission is to conduct amphibious reconnaissance, deep ground reconnaissance, surveillance, battlespace shaping, and limited scale raids in support of III MEF, 3rd Marine Division, and other Marine Air-Ground Task forces.

5th Force Recon folded into this unit, so it also carries out the Force Recon mission, which assigned to Bravo Company. The Unit also supports the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, by supplying Reconnaissance Marines to the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon, and the Deep Reconnaissance/Direct Action Platoon.

History

World War II

The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was activated on 16 September 1942 at Camp Pendleton, California as the Company E Scouts, 3rd Tank Battalion, and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division.

In January-February 1943, they deployed to Auckland, New Zealand. On 20 April 1943, they were redesignated as 3rd Scout Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. On 1 July 1943, they were redesignated as Company D (Scout), 3rd Tank Battalion. On 1 April 1944, they were redesignated Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

They participated in the following World War II campaigns:
* Battle of Bougainville
* Solomon Islands
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima

In December 1945, they returned to Camp Pendleton, and were deactivated on 31 December 1945.

1950s - early 1960s

Reactivated on 1 March 1952 at Camp Pendleton, they were designated as Reconnaissance Company, Headquarters Battalion and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. In August 1953, they deployed to Camp McGill, Japan; and subsequently redeployed in April 1956 to Camp Hauge, Okinawa.

They were deactivated on 14 April 1958 and reactivated the following day, 15 April 1958, at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, as the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

Vietnam War

In May 1965, 3rd Recon Battalion deployed to Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, participating in the Vietnam War from May 1965 to November 1969. Early in the war, they operated from Danang, Hue, Phu Bai; then they moved north to patrol the northern sector of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Post-Vietnam

In December 1969, they returned to Camp Schwab, Okinawa.

3rd Recon Battalion deployed to various locations in the Western Pacific until its stand down and deactivation in 1992. As a result of MCO 5401.5, dated 24 August 1952, the USMC Force Restructure and Implementation Plan, the Marine Corps shrunk its forces and as a result reconnaissance battalions were eliminated and reconnaissance companies became a part of infantry regiments.

On 2 June 2000, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was again reactivated.

Global War on Terror

In March 2004, elements of Company B deploy to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. On 13 February 2005, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion deployed to Iraq to conduct combat operations in the Al Anbar Province, and was the focus of the documentary film . On 29 September 2006, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion again deployed to Iraq to conduct combat operations in the Al Anbar Province. On 15 April, 2008 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion deployed again to Iraq to conduct combat operations in Al Anbar Province.

Honors

Medal of Honor recipients

*1stLt Frank S. Reasoner, Vietnam War, KIA, July 12, 1965.
*2ndLt Terrence C. Graves, Vietnam War, KIA, February 16, 1968.
*PFC Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Vietnam War, KIA, 5 March 1969.
*LCpl Richard A. Anderson, Vietnam War, KIA, August 24, 1969.

Navy Cross recipients

*Alpha Company - Vietnam War, Cpl Bryant C. Collins, LCpl Manuel A. Estrada, PFC Steven D. Lopez, Cpl Roger D. See, & Sgt James N. Tycz (KIA)
*Bravo Company - Vietnam War, LCpl Robert C. Barnes, Cpl Charles W. Bryan (KIA), & Sgt Jose G. Lopez
*Charlie Company - Vietnam War, Cpl Steven M. Lowery, & LCpl Norman W. Vancor
*3rd Force Company - Vietnam War, Cpl Harry J. Corsetti, Pvt James E. Honeycutt (KIA), & Cpl. Charles T. Sexton

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.3div.usmc.mil/sections/3drecon2/Recon%20-%20Frames%20-%202.htm 3rd Recon's official website]
* [http://www.3rdrecon.org/ 3rd Recon Vietnam Veteran's page]
* [http://grunt.space.swri.edu/3recon.htm 3rd Recon Harborsite]