3rd LAAM Cherry Point

The 3rd Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion (3rd LAAM) was a United States Marine Corps unit activated in the late 1950s, initially at Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, California, before relocating to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The battalion was equipped with the HAWK (Homing All the Way Killer) surface-to-air missile system, providing vital air defense capabilities for Fleet Marine Forces on the East Coast. Throughout the Cold War period, 3rd LAAM participated in numerous training exercises and played a key role in advancing Marine Corps air defense doctrine. The unit was eventually deactivated in the 1970s as technological advancements and force restructuring led to changes in Marine Corps air defense organization.