1st Terrier SAM BN, 29 Palms, Calif

The 1st Terrier Surface-to-Air Missile Battalion (1st Terrier SAM BN) was a United States Marine Corps air defense unit stationed at Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms, California, during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Activated as part of the USMC’s effort to modernize its air defense capabilities during the Cold War, the battalion operated the RIM-2 Terrier missile system, one of the earliest guided surface-to-air missile platforms deployed by the Marines. The unit’s primary mission was to provide long-range air defense against high-speed, high-altitude threats, protecting critical Marine Corps assets and installations. As missile technology advanced and more effective systems were introduced, the 1st Terrier SAM BN was eventually deactivated, with its legacy contributing to the evolution of Marine air defense doctrine.