LINEAGE
OF
3RD RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION
3RD MARINE DIVISION
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

ACTIVATED 16 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CA , AS COMPANY E SCOUTS,
3RD TANK BATALLION, AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED JANUARY- FEBRUARY 1943 TO AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

REDESIGNATED 20 APRIL 1943 AS 3RD SCOUT COMPANY, HEADQUARTERS BATTALION,
3RD MARINE DIVISION

REDESIGNATED 15 MAY 1943 AS COMPANY E (SCOUT), 3RD TANK BATTALION

REDESIGNATED 1 JULY 1943 AS COMPANY D (SCOUT) 3RD TANK BATTALION

REDESIGNATED 1 APRIL 1944 AS AMPHIBIOUS RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY,
HEADQUARTERS BATTALION, 3RD MARINE DIVISION

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WWII CAMPAIGNS
BOUGAINVILLE
SOLOMON ISLANDS
GUAM
IWO JIMA

RELOCATED DECEMBER 1945 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CA

DEACTIVATED 31 DECEMBER 1945

1952 - 1964

REACTIVATED 1 MARCH 1952 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CA AS RECONNAISSANCE COMPANY,
HEADQUARTERS BATTALION AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION
FLEET MARINE FORCE

DEPLOYED AUGUST 1953 TO CAMP McGILL, JAPAN

DEPLOYED APRIL 1956 TO CAMP HAUGE, OKINAWA

DEACTIVATED 14 APRIL 1958

REACTIVATED 15 APRIL 1958 AT CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, AS THE
3RD RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION AND ASSIGNED TO THE
3RD MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE

1965 - 1969

DEPLOYED MAY 1965 TO CHU LAI, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED IN WAR IN VIETNAM, MAY 1965 - NOVEMEBR 1969,

OPERATING FROM DANANG / HUE / PHU BAI / IN THE EARLY DAYS,

THEN MOVED NORTH AND PATROLED THE COMPLETE NORTHERN SECTOR OF THE DMZ

(See http://www.clemson.edu/caah/history/facultypages/EdMoise/marspec.html for details.)

REDPLOYED DURING DECEMBER 1969 TO CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA

DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN PACIFIC AREAS UNTIL IT'S STAND DOWN AND DEACTIVATION DURING 1992

(1) MCO 5401.5 dated 24 August 1992, USMC Force Structure Implementation Plan. This plan laid out the framework for the Corps of the future. In shrinking to 159,000 by Fiscal Year 1997, the reconnaissance battalions were the first to be eliminated.

(2) In consonance with the stand down each infantry regiment was to get a reconnaissance company comprised of 5 Officers and 87 Enlisted.

(3) On 25 November 1992 Charlie Company stood down. The men were transfered to Bravo and Delta Companies.

(4) On 29 January 1993 Bravo Company was transfered to the Ninth Marines and Delta Company to the 4th Marines.

(5) On 2 April 1993 Alpha Company was transfered to the Third Marines.

(6) Headquaters and Service Company stood down and furled the Battalion Colors.

2000 - 2003

On 2 June 2000 the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was reactivated.  

The Battalion was reactivated under the Command of Lt. Col. Douglas M. King at Camp Schwab. At the time of the reactivation 5^th Force Company and 3^rd Recon Company were combined to form the present battalion.

The information on the stand down of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was provided by Major General Donald R. Gardner, USMC Retired and member of the 3rd Recon Assn., RVN