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History of 1st Battalion, 12th Marines
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The Mission of the 12th
Marine Regiment is:BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR
To provide close and continuous fire support by
neutralizing, destroying, or suppressing targets which threaten the
success of the supported unit.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR
This is accomplished by performing the following
functions:BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR
Provide depth to combat (Long Range Fire).BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR
Provide counter fire.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR
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In August 1953, the 12th Marines sailed from San Diego for
Yokohama, Japan where it was eventually stationed at Camp McNair, Japan.
For three years, Japan was the battalion's home, although it frequently
left the islands for training maneuvers. In February 1956, the
battalion departed Japan for exercises on Iwo Jima; at the conclusion of
these exercises the entire regiment moved to Okinawa where it was based
until it joined the expeditionary forces entering Vietnam in March 1965. In Vietnam the history of the 1st Battalion parallels that of the 12th Marines of providing artillery support to the III Marine Amphibious Force.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR The first units of 1/12 landed in the Republic of Vietnam in early March 1965. Battery F was the first to arrive when it landed at Da Nang on 8 March with BLT 3/9. Two days later BLT 1/3 arrived at Da Nang; with it was Battery A. The initial missions of the batteries were to aid in the defense of the airfield at Da Nang and to support the units of the BLTs. As the rest of the battalion arrived, 1/12 began to initiate fire missions in support of South Vietnamese army operations in the area.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR The first major operations of the war that the 1st Battalion participated in were Operation STARLIGHT in Augusts 1965 and Operation HARVEST MOON which took place in late 1965. For its part in Operation STARLIGHT, the battalion was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. The 1st Battalion, 12th Marines was often involved in supporting numerous Marine infantry search and destroy missions such as Operation ORANGE which took place in the spring of 1966. In this operation 1/12 supported the 3d Marines in the area of Thoung Duc Tan.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR After its entry into Vietnam the personnel of the battalion were not only engaged in supporting combat missions but also busily engaged in civic action projects. These activities included the repair of buildings -- especially schools -- and the distribution of food, clothes, soap, and toys.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR By the end of 1966 units of the battalion were stationed in various locations in the northern sector of South Vietnam, including Da Nang, Cam Lo, Phy Bai, Khe Sanh, and Con Thein. However, by the summer of 1967 most battalion units were located in Camp Carroll. Most of the batteries were relocated there after their involvement in Operation PRAIRIE during the spring.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR The next big operation for the battalion was KINGFISHER which commenced in the summer of 1967 and terminated on 31 October, 1967. It was immediately followed by LANCASTER which included the furnishing of support once again to the 3d Marines. With the ending of the operation in January, 1968, LANCASTER II was begun. In this engagement 1/12 furnished support to the 4th Marines. Operation PEGASUS began on April 1, 1968.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR The battalion is still located in Vietnam and is presently engaged in providing artillery support to Marine Infantry units.BAJAR POWER TRANSLATOR
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