7th Marine Amphibious Brigade

• Origins: The 7th Marine Amphibious Brigade (7th MAB) was activated on 23 November 1962 at Camp Pendleton, California, in response to the growing need for a rapid deployment force during the Cold War. • Vietnam War Service: The 7th MAB played a vital role in the early stages of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, deploying elements to Da Nang in 1965 as part of the initial major Marine landing. • Task Force 79: During much of its history, the 7th MAB was designated as Task Force 79, the amphibious landing force for the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. • Rapid Deployment: The brigade was designed as a "force in readiness," able to quickly embark on Navy amphibious ships and deploy anywhere in the Pacific or Indian Oceans. • Desert Storm: Reactivated as the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (7th MEB), the unit was among the first major U.S. forces to arrive in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield in 1990. • Multi-Role Capabilities: The 7th MAB was trained and equipped for amphibious assaults, humanitarian assistance, noncombatant evacuations, and conventional warfare. • Notable Commanders: The brigade was at times commanded by officers who went on to become prominent generals, such as Major General Charles H. Pitman. • Reorganization: The 7th MAB was redesignated several times, becoming the 7th MEB and eventually being absorbed into larger Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) structures, reflecting the evolving nature of Marine Corps expeditionary warfare. • Humanitarian Missions: The brigade participated in several humanitarian missions, including disaster relief in the Pacific region, notably assisting after typhoons and earthquakes. • Legacy: The lineage and honors of the 7th MAB continue today within the modern 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1st MEB), maintaining its traditions of rapid deployment and amphibious warfare excellence.