1st Battalion, 4th Marines (1/4) is an
infantry battalion in the
United States Marine Corps based out of
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton,
California consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the
1st Marine Regiment and the
1st Marine Division.
Although originally activated in April 1911 as part of the 4th Marine Regiment, the battalion considers August 1, 1922 as its official birthday. This was when it was first addressed as the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, in the Dominican Republic. From September 1924 to January 1927, the battalion was based in San Diego, California. During that period elements of the battalion were assigned to guard the U.S. mail. From February 1927 to November 1941, the battalion served in China, where it was first addressed as “The China Marines,” and began using the Chinese dragon in different official and unofficial logos and mastheads. During November 1941, the battalion, with the entire 4th Marine Regiment, deployed from China to the Philippines.
On February 1, 1944, a new 1/4 was activated by the redesignation of the 1st Raider Battalion. For the remainder of World War II, the battalion fought at two of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific, the Battle of Guam and the Battle of Okinawa. The battalion was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Guam and Navy Presidential Unit Commendation for Okinawa. After the war, the battalion was part of the occupation forces in Japan. The battalion served in China in 1946. It spent the Korean War stationed in Japan. In 1955 it was transferred to Hawaii and stayed there until May 1965.
In May 1965, 1/4 deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. During four years there, they fought in practically every Marine area of responsibility. As a result of its actions during operations such as Starlight and Hastings, the battalion shared with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines in the award of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm for “outstanding bravery.”
