3rd Combat Engineer Battalion

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion


caption= 3rd CEB insignia
dates= September 1942 – June 6, 1995
October 1, 2007 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Combat Engineering
role=
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=MCAGCC Twentynine Palms
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= “Engineer the best fight”
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Bougainville
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

3rd Combat Engineer Battalion (3rd CEB) is a combat engineer battalion of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. The battalion was just recently reactivated on October 7, 2007 and will continue to stand up units until full mission ready in 2009. The battalion will eventually be based on Guam once construction of their facilities are complete.

Mission

Provide mobility, counter mobility, survivability, and limited general engineering support.

Current units

* Headquarters and Service Company
* Alpha Company

History

The battalion was first formed on September 16, 1942 as 1st Battalion, 19th Marine Regiment. Two years later on August 16, 1944 they were re-designated the 3rd Engineer Battalion. The battalion was deactivated at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California on November 30, 1945 [Rottman ‘’USMC WWII OOB’’, p. 221.] .From August 1957 until January 1962, the battalion served as the ‘’’3rd Pioneer Battalion’’’.

The 3rd Engineer Battalion deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1965 and remained in country until October 1969 [cite web | title = Marine units in Vietnam | publisher = 3rd Marine Division Association| url = http://1stbattalion3rdmarines.com/usmc-units-vientam.htm|accessdate = 2007-12-07 ]

The battalion reverted back to 3rd Engineer Battalion until September 1975 when redesignated to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion.

3d CEB provided three companies to Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm between August 1990 and March 1991. “Alpha” Company deployed from Marine Corps Base Hawaii with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, “Bravo” Company deployed via amphibious shipping August 15, 1990 from Okinawa,and “Charlie” Company landed in Saudi Arabia five days before the air war began. The Marines from 3d CEB participated in breaching operations with “Task Force Grizzly” and “Task Force Papa Bear.” [cite paper
author =
title = Organizations and units Serving Proudly
version =
publisher = Marine Corps Engineering Association
date = 2007
url = http://marcorengasn.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/mcea_newsltr_web_3.pdf
format =
accessdate = 2007-12-07 ]

In 1995, 3rd CEB was deactivated. Their numbers were dispersed to other combat engineers units throughout the Marine Corps. The battalion was renamed Combat Engineer Company and was folded into Combat Assault Battalion of the 3rd Marine Division.

Notable members

* Lawrence D. Rogers - recipient of the Navy Cross

See also

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

References

;Notes:Marine Corps

;Bibliography
*cite book
last = Arthur
first = Robert A. (1stLt)
coauthors = Cohlmia, Kenneth (1stLt)
title=The Thirg Marine Division
date=1948
publisher=Infantry Journal Press
id=
*cite book
title=U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’
author=Rottman, Gordon L.
date=2002
publisher=Greenwood Press
id=ISBN 0-313-31906-5

;Web
*

External links

* [http://www.3rdengbn.com/ Unofficial site of the 3rd Engineer Regiment]