11th Marine Expeditionary Unit

760-763-8273

13th Marine Expeditionary Unit

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

760-277-7997

1st Marine Division

760-725-6573

The 1st Marines became a division in 1941 on board the USS Texas, which makes it the oldest and largest of its kind in the Marine Corps (thanks to its many battalions and regiments totalling 25,000 Sailors and Marines.) Though some of the battalions and regiments date back to the early 1900s, the division first came together upon its deployment to Guadalcanal, battles at Peleliu and Okinawa during World War II, and occupation of North China after Japan’s surrender. The division was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations (PUC) over the course of the war. During the Korean War, the 1st Marines earned another three Citations for their support in Pusan, Inchon, and the Chosin Reservoir. 1966 saw the division sent to South Vietnam where it participated in over 40 operations, including Operation Hastings and the Tet Offensive. The division was awarded two more Presidential Unit Citations and returned to Camp Pendleton in 1971. From 1990 to 1991, along with the 2nd Marine Division, they worked ground cover in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield and then broke through Kuwait City during Desert Storm. The 1st Marines earned their 9th PUC during the Marine Corps’ longest ground march in its history while on their second deployment to Kuwait in 2003, followed by further city stabilization support of Baghdad and Tikrit. In an effort to train Afghan forces for their eventual take-over, the division spent 2012 in Afghanistan where they continue to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

1st Marine Logistics Group

760-725-5844

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

760-763-7039