1st Battalion, 5th Marines

On order, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines locates, closes with, and destroys the enemy by fire and maneuver or repels the enemy's assault by fire and close combat.

On 13 July 1914, the battalion was formed at Vera Cruz, Mexico, and sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for service in the Caribbean theatre. The battalion was disbanded upon its return to Norfolk, Virginia on 24 December 1914. 

World War I 

On 25 May 1917, the battalion was activated and deployed to France on 1 June 1917. Throughout the final phases of World War I, 1/5 participated in the following campaigns: Aisne, Aisen-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Toulon-Troyon, Chateau-Thierry, Marabache, and Limey. The battalion made its most notable contribution at the Battle of Belleau Wood on 6 June 1918, when it conducted the first offensive actions of the battle in seizing Hill 142. The battalion, at first with only two companies due to the others not being relieved in time, assaulted across open wheat fields with bayonets fixed and under the fire of German machine gun and artillery fire. In a battle that claimed 325 lives, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson became the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor in World War I when he led a charge against German machinegun teams attempting to support a failed counterattack. From December 1918 to July 1919, the battalion participated in the occupation of the German Rhineland. It then re-deployed to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia and de-activated in August 1919. 
In July 1920 the battalion re-activated to provide security for the U.S. Mail. In March 1927, the Battalion deployed to help stabilize the government of Nicaragua against overthrow attempts by rebel forces. For the next six years, the Marines of 1/5 aided the Nicaraguan government until peace was restored. Although the battalion then deactivated in January 1933, it was quickly re-activated from September 1934 to March 1935 serve in the Caribbean theatre.

World War II 

The battalion was activated for a fifth time in April 1940 as the nation prepared for possible war.  When it came, World War II found the Marines of Geronimo at Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Peleliu, and Okinawa. At Peleliu, the 1st Battalion assaulted the island alongside the rest of the 1st Marine Division, fighting primarily to secure the island’s airstrip and prevent interference with the Allied offensive in the Philippines. Landing at Orange Beach 1 and Orange Beach 2 on D-Day, September 15th, 1944, the 1st Battalion would gain notoriety for its total destruction of an attempted Japanese tank-infantry counterattack. This aggressive counter-attack of Japanese tanks and a company-sized infantry element would be the sole instance of open Japanese maneuver during the months-long Battle of Peleliu. In April 1946, their mission accomplished, 1st Battalion was disbanded and most of its Pacific veterans returned to civilian life. 

Korean War 

As the Cold War heated up, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines was activated again in October 1949 at Camp Pendleton, California. The outbreak of hostilities in Korea saw the battalion immediately embark Naval shipping and sail west.  During August 1950, the battalion fought to preserve the Pusan Perimeter near its southern terminus and then at the Naktong Bulge, where Marines of Geronimo helped destroy the North Korean 4th Division.  Relieved from the perimeter to reembark Naval shipping, the battalion then helped lead the amphibious assault at Inchon, followed by the successful re-taking of Seoul through eight days of pitched urban battle.  A month later, Geronimo landed with the rest of 1st Marine Division at Wonsan and began advancing north.  Encircled by 10 Chinese divisions near the Chosin Reservoir, the battalion along with the rest of 5th, 1st, and 7th Marines fought to conduct a legendary breakout.  The battalion remained on the Korean peninsula through three more years of fighting, then returned to Camp Pendleton at the close of hostilities. 

Vietnam War 

In 1965, the battalion formed at Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/5 and deployed to Hawaii for a year's worth of training in preparation for combat operations in Vietnam.  As the 7th Fleet Special Landing Force in early 1966, the battalion was put ashore for Operation JACKSTAY, a clearing operation against Viet Cong staging bases in the marshy expanses south of Saigon.  By May of that year, the battalion assumed an area of operations near Chu Lai, where Marines for the next eight months conducted daily small unit operations, including implementing and expanding the Combined Action Program.  In early 1967, the battalion relocated again to Que Son, near the DMZ, and for the next year participated both in large offensive operations (Union I and II) as well as daily security tasks against enemy infiltrations.  Turning over this battlespace and relocating again at the end of 1967, Geronimo found itself just outside Hue when enemy forces took that city as part of the surprise Tet Offensive.  The battalion then joined building-by-building, block-by-block fighting to retake the city by the end of March 1968, earning the moniker the "Citadel Battalion" for its fighting on the north side of the Perfume River.  The battalion continued to support security operations in Vietnam until 1971, when it returned to Camp Pendleton.

Gulf War and the 1990s 

From 1987 to 1988, the battalion supported Operation Prime Chance, a SOCOM mission to protect U.S.-flagged oil tankers from Iranian attack in the Persian Gulf. In August 1990, the battalion returned to the area in support of Operation Desert Shield.  Geronimo subsequently took part in Operation Desert Storm as the left half of the mechanized Task Force Ripper, crossing the Iraqi mine belt, eliminating resistance and capturing Al Jaber Airfield within a single day.  The battalion consolidated with other Marine forces at Kuwait International Airport at the end of hostilities on 27 January, then backloaded at Manifeh Bay and sailed back to Camp Pendleton. 

Global War on Terror

The battalion deployed to Kuwait in 2003 to become part of the invasion force that ousted Saddam Hussein. The Marines of 1/5 were the first to enter Iraq, crossing the border and commencing combat operations the day prior to the main invasion force. The battalion continued north with the 1st Marine Division before ultimately participating in the climactic battle for Baghdad. The unit would again deploy to Iraq two more times in the next two years, taking part in Operation Vigilant Resolve in the restive city of Fallujah in 2004 and conducting security operations throughout Ar Ramadi in 2005. 

In May 2009, Geronimo deployed as part of Task Force Leatherneck to Afghanistan's Helmand Province, where the Marines conducted counterinsurgency operations against Taliban forces in the Nawa-I-Barakzai District.  In 2011, the battalion deployed again to Helmand Province, this time participating in offensive and counterinsurgency operations in the Sangin District.  

Pivot to the Pacific

Over the next decade, the battalion conducted a series of deployments with various Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs), supporting theatre security cooperation activities throughout the Western Pacific.  In 2014, Geronimo deployed as the very first battalion-sized ground combat element of the Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, marking a significant milestone in the U.S. "pivot" to the region.  Most recently, the Marines of Geronimo supported a 10-month, staggered MEU deployment across the Indo-Pacific region, leading partnered training exercises, supporting a foreign humanitarian assistance mission, and debuting the Marine Corps' new Amphibious Combat Vehicle.

Today, Geronimo continues to integrate the Marine Corps' latest capabilities, train as a team, and prepare to prevail in high-end combat against our nation's enemies.

5th Marines Equal Opportunity Advisor

Gunnery Sergeant Tyler Seavy

(760) 681-0866 (C)

tyler.w.seavy@usmc.mil 

Building 62433, Room 138B

"Every Marine and Sailor of 1st Marine Division will be treated with decency, dignity, and respect, and will be provided full and equal opportunity for professional development and success. We are an elite institution of warriors. It is our shared responsibility to ensure the continued health of our collective soul and identity"

click here: NAVMC 11512 Complaint FORM

click here: NAVMC 11513 OFFENDER FORM

 

Family Readiness

The 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Family Readiness Program (FRP) is a commander’s program that provides support to individual service members and their families. The ultimate goal of 1/5’s FRP is to help our Marines and Sailors focus on their missions knowing that their families are well-supported and informed in their absence. The command depends on the FRP to pass on important information and serve as a support and feedback system for families in the unit.

In addition, 1/5 families can count on the FRP to offer:

- Information and referrals to base, Marine Corps, and unit resources

- Deployment readiness training, resources, support and guidance

- Career/volunteer opportunities for unit family members

- Morale boosting and community building events

- Opportunities for family members to learn more about the Marine Corps, unit and the support systems available

- Intervention and support when faced with challenges

- Information from the command through official communication

- Support extended to the entire unit family to include children, spouses, parents and other extended family members.

Who Can Participate?

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate. This can include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, fiancées, children (18+), and more. If you are interested, we’d love to have you as an active member of our community. No matter how much or little time you can give, your contribution and involvement in 1/5’s FRP is valuable. You can choose to be involved in different ways.

Volunteers

Our Family Readiness Team includes the following types of volunteers:

- Advisors

- Assistants

- Morale Supporters

Family Readiness Advisors are individuals who work on the Family Readiness Command Team to provide feedback and suggestions to the Deployment Readiness Coordinator (DRC) and command. Most units have at least one Family Readiness Advisor, and typically he/she is a spouse of a senior Marine in the unit. Family Readiness Advisors embodies the commander’s goals and intents and helps ensure that all unit members have a “voice”.

Family Readiness Assistants work closely in support of the Family Readiness Command Team and the DRC by helping to execute the commander’s intent with regard to the unit FRP. They work closely in support of service members and their families to provide resources and referrals when necessary. Our goal is to have a minimum of 5 Family Readiness Assistants for the battalion.

Morale Supporters are individuals who volunteer to participate and help specific events. These volunteers assist with the planning, coordination and execution of the event.

Who Do I Contact To Sign-up and Ask Questions?

Michele Diamond

1st Battalion, 5th Marines

Deployment Readiness Coordinator

(760) 763-1252

michele.diamond@usmc.mil

If you are new to the Marine Corps Lifestyle, you should consider a L.I.N.K.S. Class.

Find out more here: http://www.mccscp.com/links/

Battalion Contacts

Officer of the Day (760) 763-1522

Adjutant/Voting Officer (760) 763-1526

Family Assistance Numbers

American Red Cross Message: (800) 951-5600

Operation Homefront: (866) 424-5210

Armed Forces YMCA (760) 385-4921

Aid Life Suicide Hotline: (800) 479-3339

CREDO/Marriage Retreats: (760) 725-4954

OneCall Now Phone Messages: (800) 342-9647

Voting Assistance Officer: (760) 763-0793

Other Contacts