3RD TANK BATTALION

The 3rd Tank Battalion was activated on 16 September 1942 at Camp Pendleton, California, as part of the 3rd Marine Division. The battalion saw significant action in World War II, participating in the battles of Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima, where its armored units provided vital support to infantry operations. After the war, the unit was deactivated and reactivated several times, serving with distinction during the Vietnam War, including operations in Da Nang and Quang Tri. The battalion remained an essential element of the Marine Corps' armored capabilities until its deactivation in 1992.