The battalion's nickname "Darkhorse" sprang from the radio call sign it used in Korea, chosen by Col Robert Taplett, who as the Battalion Commander (CO) during that time had the call sign of "Darkhorse Six." The name fell out of use until 2003; during the training to return to Iraq in 2004 the battalion's CO, Lt Col P J Malay requested use of the Darkhorse call sign as a homage to the Marines bravery in Korea. For the past ten years the nickname has stuck and the battalion now uses it on their unofficial patches.
During the 1980s the name for the battalion was the "Mangudai", named by then C.O. Lieutenant Colonel Jack Kelly, who later went on to be promoted to Brigadier General, Commanding Officer of MCRD, San Diego. Mangudai was the name used by the special forces of Genghis Khan.
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
BOX 555483
Camp Pendleton,
CA 92055
