1:8th Marines

The 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8), known as "The Beirut Battalion," is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps, formed in 1940. It saw extensive combat during World War II, notably at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. In 1983, 1/8 was deployed to Beirut, Lebanon, as part of a multinational peacekeeping force, and tragically suffered heavy casualties in the Beirut barracks bombing. Since then, 1/8 has participated in numerous operations, including Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, upholding its legacy of service and sacrifice.