5th Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion

The **5th Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion (5th LAAM Bn)** was a United States Marine Corps air defense unit activated in 1966 during the Vietnam War era. Its primary mission was to provide low- to medium-altitude air defense using the HAWK missile system, protecting Marine Corps forces and vital installations from enemy aircraft. The battalion was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, and participated in numerous training exercises to maintain combat readiness. After several years of service during the Cold War, the 5th LAAM Bn was ultimately deactivated as part of a broader realignment of Marine Corps air defense assets.