1st Battalion 9th Marines
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| 1st Battalion 9th Marines | |
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 1/9 Insignia |
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| Active |
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| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver |
| Part of | 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname | "The Walking Dead" |
| Engagements | World War II * Battle of Bougainville * Battle of Guam * Battle of Iwo Jima Vietnam War * Operation Deckhouse Five * Operation Dewey Canyon Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lt Col Brett A. Bourne |
| Notable commanders |
Lemuel C. Shepherd |
The 1st Battalion 9th Marines (1/9) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War II, it served until the mid-1990s when it was deactivated to make room for one of three light armor reconnaissance battalions. During the Vietnam War, 1/9 sustained the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history.
In late 2005, the battalion was once again activated and attached to the 8th Marine Regiment at MCB Camp Lejeune. Although the first full company has deployed, 1/9 was not expected to be ready for deployment as a battalion until May 2008. On 19 April 2007, 1/9 officially stood up.
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[edit] Current Units
The battalion is comprises three infantry companies and one weapons company:
- Alpha Company
- Bravo Company
- Charlie Company
- Weapons Company
- Headquarters & Service Company
[edit] History
[edit] Early years
[edit] World War II
Participated in the following campaigns:
Bougainville Northern Solomons Guam Iwo Jima
[edit] Vietnam War
The battalion endured the longest sustained combat and suffered the highest killed in action (KIA)" rate in Marine Corps history, especially during the Battle of July Two. The battalion was engaged in combat for 47 months and 7 days, from June 15, 1965 to October 19, 1966 and December 11, 1966 to July 14, 1969. 1/9 sustained casualties during its entire Vietnam service. Based on a typical battalion strength of 800 Marines and Navy hospital corpmen, 93.63% (747) were Killed In Action (KIA) and 0.25% (2) were Missing In Action (MIA).
1/9 participated in the following operation during the Vietnam War:
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[edit] The 1980s & 1990s
Deactivated on September 9, 1994 and redesignated 2nd Battalion 1st Marines. The battalion remained inactive from 1994 through 2004
[edit] Global War on Terror
The 1st Battalion 9th Marines was reactivated in October 2005. In April 2006, after only a 30 day work-up cycle, Alpha Company deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and completed a successful six month deployment to Forward Operating Base Grizzly in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. During this time the company conducted security and stabilization operations north of Al Khalis in the Diyala Governorate, working jointly with Military Police, Cavalry and Field Artillery units from the Army National Guard. Alpha company returned in October of 2006 without the loss of any Marines.[1] In late March of 2008, the 1st Battalion 9th Marines once again activated and were deployed to Ramadi, Iraq. The expected deployment is seven months.
[edit] Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself "... conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States ...".[2] The following table contains the names of the men who were recipients of the Medal of Honor while serving in 1/9. They are listed in accordance to the "Date of Action" in which the MoH citation was made.
| Name | Rank | Unit | Place | Date of action | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 John H. Leims |
Second Lieutenant | Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division |
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3 March 1945 | [3] |
 Walter K. Singleton |
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Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division |
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24 March 1967 | [4] |
 Wesley L. Fox |
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Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division | A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam | 25 February 1969 | [5] |
Frank P. Witek |
Private First Class |
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3 August 1944 | [6] |
[edit] Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. 1st Battalion, 9th Marines has been presented with the following awards:
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Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) with two bronze stars |
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Presidential Unit Citation (Army) |
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Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze service star |
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Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars |
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars |
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World War II Victory Medal |
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National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars |
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Korean Service Medal |
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Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal |
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
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Vietnam Service Medal with two silver stars |
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Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer |
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Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action Medal |
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Regimental Lineage. Retrieved on 2006-07-29.
- ^ Title 2, Chapter V, Part 58, Sec. 578.4 "Medal of Honor". Code of Federal Regulations (July 1, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
- ^ [1], Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps], Retrieved May 23, 2008
- ^ Sergeant Walter K. Singleton., USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ Colonel Wesley L. Fox, USMC. Who’s Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ Private First Class Frank P. Witek., USMC (Deceased). Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
[edit] References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.- Web
- Official USMC website for 1st Battalion 9th Marines. Accessed on 2006-07-10.
- History. 1stBattalion9thMarines.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-29.
- Official Website of the 1/9 Network
- 1/9 Tribute site
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