Country United States Nickname(s) "Red Patchers" | Branch USMC | |
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Active 1924 - September 7th 2013 Part of 4th Marine Logistics Group Garrison/HQ Joint Base Lewis McCord WA | ||
4th Landing Support Battalion (4th LSB) was a Military Landing Support battalion of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The unit was based out of the New Orleans, Louisiana and fell under the command of the 4th Marine Logistics Group (4th MLG). The Battalion has been decommissioned.
Contents
Mission
The Landing Support Battalion provides the command, control, administration, and operational personnel required to form a nucleus for task organized support of landing support operations during either surface or helicopter amphibious and subsequent operations ashore.
Table of organization - 4th Landing Support Battalion
History
The unit was first formed in Seattle, Washington in 1924 as the 11th Infantry Company, United States Marine Corps Reserve. In 1931 the it was re-designated as the 11th Infantry Battalion, United States Marine Corps Reserve Organized. With the outbreak of worldwide hostilities in 1940 the battalion was mobilized and joined the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines for duty in Iceland.
On 24 August 1943 the unit was re-designated and activated as the 2nd Battalion, 20th Marines, (Engineers), 4th Marine Division. 28 February 1944 saw the battalion in action at Kwajalein and Majuro Atoll in the Marianas Islands. As 1943 progressed the unit participated in the capture and occupations of both Saipan and Tinian. For their service, the Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. The Battalion was again re-designated on 1 September 1944 as the 4th Pioneer Battalion, 4th Marine Division and assigned to the 25th Regimental Combat Team for the assault on Iwo Jima, the battalion was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. A Co, B Co, and C Co. were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation individually for being attached to Assault Battalions. On 31 March 1945 the 4th Pioneer Battalion re-deployed to San Diego, California. The Battalion was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Streamer with four bronze stars and the World War II Victory Streamer for service throughout World WarII.
IWO JIMA In 1944 when the 4th Marine Division was preparing for the assault on Iwo Jima it had a single Pioneer Battalion, the 4th which was assigned to the 25th RCT. 1/25 was to be the left assault Battalion on blue beach 1 and B Co was assigned to them. 3/25 was to be the right assault Battalion on blue beach 2 and C Co was assigned to them. D Co. 133 Naval Construction Battalion was posted TAD to the 4th Pioneers as their reserve. The 133rd Seabees were chosen to be the Shore Party for the 23rd RCT on yellow beaches to fill in for the Pioneer Battalion the 4th was short. A Co 4th Pioneers was split with half going to A Co. 133 and half going to B Co. 133, to provide them with the combat knowledge and experience the Seabees did not have. They were a "green" unit and Iwo was to be their first combat. 1/23 was the left assault Battalion on yellow 1 with A Co. 133 assigned to them. 2/23 was to be the right assault Battalion on yellow 2 aand B Co 133 posted to them. H-Hour was 0900 and the first shore parties were on the beach before 0930. For the next 18 days the Pioneers and Seabees worked together on yellow and blue beaches until they were relieved by the Army garrison shore party on D-plus 18. (click on 133 link in See Also section below)
The battalion remained in San Diego until 31 October 1945 when it was deactivated. On 7 August 1945 the 4th Shore Party Battalion was reactivated in Seattle, Washington and stationed at 7500 Sand Point Way, NE aboard the Naval Support Activity. During the next 31 years the battalion saw many small detachments deploy worldwide to include service in Korea and the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 December 1978 the unit remained in place in Seattle, Washington. In 1990, the 4th Shore Party Battalion was again called for service in Operations Desert Shield/Storm, and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
In October 1993, the battalion grew in size as the Landing Support Equipment Company at Vienna, Ohio, was re-designated and assigned to the battalion. The 4th Landing Support Battalion moved to Fort Lewis, Washington in January 1995. The Naval and Marine Corps Training Center was officially dedicated during a ceremony on 3 March 1995.
On September 7, 2013, 4th Landing Support Battalion conducted its official de-activation ceremony at the Battalion headquarters on Joint Base Lewis McCord WA. That same day, Combat Logistics Battalion 23 officially uncased its colors for the first time. The newest CLB in the Marine Corps, CLB-23 is organized to echo its active duty counterparts within the USMC. Combat Logistics Battalion 23 (CLB-23) is headquartered at Fort Lewis, Washington
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces have different catagories: i.e. Service, Campaign, Unit, and Valor. The 4th LSB has been presented with the following awards: