LINEAGE
OF
3RD RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION
3RD MARINE DIVISION
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
1942 - 1945
ACTIVATED 16 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CA , AS COMPANY E SCOUTS,
3RD TANK BATTALION, AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION
DEPLOYED JANUARY- FEBRUARY 1943 TO AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
REDESIGN TED 20 APRIL 1943 AS 3RD SCOUT COMPANY, HEADQUARTERS BATTALION,
3RD MARINE DIVISION
REDESIGNATED 15 MAY 1943 AS COMPANY E (SCOUT), 3RD TANK BATTALION
REDESIGNATED 1 JULY 1943 AS COMPANY D (SCOUT) 3RD TANK BATTALION
REDESIGNATED 1 APRIL 1944 AS AMPHIBIOUS RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY,
HEADQUARTERS BATTALION, 3RD MARINE DIVISION
PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WWII CAMPAIGNS
BOUGAINVILLE
SOLOMON ISLANDS
GUAM
IWO JIMA
RELOCATED DECEMBER 1945 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CA
DEACTIVATED 31 DECEMBER 1945
1952 - 1964
REACTIVATED 1 MARCH 1952 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CA AS RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY,
HEADQUARTERS BATTALION AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION
FLEET MARINE FORCE
DEPLOYED AUGUST 1953 TO CAMP GIFU, JAPAN
DEPLOYED APRIL 1956 TO CAMP HAUGE, OKINAWA
DEACTIVATED 14 APRIL 1958
REACTIVATED 15 APRIL 1958 AT CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, AS THE
3RD RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION AND ASSIGNED TO THE
3RD MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE
1965 - 1969
DEPLOYED MAY 1965 TO CHU LAI, REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM
PARTICIPATED IN WAR IN VIET-NAM, MAY 1965 - NOVEMBER 1969, OPERATING FROM
DA NANG
HUE/PHU BAI
QUANG TRI
REDEPLOYED DURING DECEMBER 1969 TO CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA
DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN PACIFIC AREAS UNTIL IT'S STAND DOWN AND DEACTIVATION DURING 1992
(1) MCO 5401.5 dated 24 August 1992, USMC Force Structure
Implementation Plan. This plan laid out the framework for the
Corps of the future. In shrinking to 159,000 by Fiscal Year
1997, the
reconnaissance battalions were the first to be eliminated.
(2) In consonance with the stand down each infantry regiment was
to get a reconnaissance company comprised of 5 Officers and 87
Enlisted.
(3) On 25 November 1992 Charlie Company stood down. The men were
transferred to Bravo and Delta Companies.
(4) On 29 January 1993 Bravo Company was transferred to the Ninth
Marines and Delta Company to the 4th Marines.
(5) On 2 April 1993 Alpha Company was transferred to the Third
Marines.
(6) Headquarters and Service Company stood down and furled the
Battalion Colors.
The information on the stand down of the 3rd Reconnaissance
Battalion was provided by Major General Donald R. Gardner, USMC
Retired and member of the 3rd Recon Assn., RVN
