First Marine Division Batallion Headquarters

• Oldest Active Division: The 1st Marine Division, to which Battalion Headquarters units belong, is the oldest and most decorated active division in the United States Marine Corps, activated on 1 February 1941. • Nickname “The Old Breed”: The division is famously known as “The Old Breed,” a nickname that symbolizes its long and proud history. • Guadalcanal Campaign: The division’s Headquarters Battalion played a crucial role during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II, the first major Allied offensive against Japan. • Basilone's Bravery: Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, attached to Headquarters, received the Medal of Honor for heroism at Guadalcanal, and later the Navy Cross posthumously at Iwo Jima. • “Frozen Chosin”: During the Korean War, the division, including its Headquarters Battalion, fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, earning the nickname “The Chosin Few” for their heroic breakout under extreme conditions. • Vietnam Operations: The Headquarters Battalion coordinated major operations in Vietnam, including at Da Nang and Hue City during the Tet Offensive. • Command Coordination: The Battalion Headquarters provides command, control, communications, and administrative support, making it the nerve center for the division’s operations. • Operation Desert Storm: The division’s Headquarters Battalion was instrumental in the planning and execution of amphibious deception operations during the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. • Humanitarian Missions: Beyond combat, the Headquarters Battalion has supported humanitarian missions such as Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh (1991) and tsunami relief in Southeast Asia (2005). • Modern Deployments: The Headquarters Battalion continues to serve in modern conflicts, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, providing vital command support in Iraq and Afghanistan.