3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed "Thundering Third". The most recent leader Lt. Col. B. Middleton's radio callsign is "Darkside". They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, and consist of approximately 1,000 Marines. The unit currently falls under the command of the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, but â?? along with its two sister battalions â?? is hosted by the 3rd Marine Division, at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, when training in jungle warfare. The 3rd falls under the 4th Marine Regiment at such times.
Active Years
1925 - ?
May 1, 1941â??May 6, 1942
February 1, 1944â??October 1, 1947
November 28, 1952â?? May 30, 2014
Activated September 17, 2015
Notable Persons
Medal Honor - Vietnam -
1stLt Frank Stanley Reasoner
First Lieutenant Frank Stanley Reasoner (MCSN: 0-85378), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 12 July 1965, while serving with Company A, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in action against armed enemy forces near DaNang, Republic of Vietnam.
Medal Honor - Vietnam -
Capt John J McGinty, III
Second Lieutenant John James McGinty, III (MCSN: 0-103889), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 18 July 1966, while serving with Company K, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in action against an armed enemy in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam.
Medal Honor - Vietnam -
Col Robert J Modrzejewski
Major Robert Joseph Modrzejewski (MCSN: 0-73356), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company K, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam.
Content
In July 2002, the battalion began to prepare by conducting mechanized operations as part of a likely invasion of Iraq. During this pre-OIF period the battalion conducted the 1st Tactical Small Unit Leaders Course (TSULC), participated in a Battalion Mechanized/Fire Support Field Exercise, and supported a STEEL KNIGHT Exercise. In January 2003, the battalion deployed to Kuwait and rehearsed mechanized operations as Task Force 3/4. On 21 March, the battalion invaded Iraq as one of the Battalion Task Forces that made up Regimental Combat Team - 7 (RCT-7). During the invasion, the battalion fought and captured key objectives to include the Basrah International Airport and the Basrah Oil Refinery. Throughout the next several weeks the Battalion Mechanized Task Force fought its way north and conducted battles along Route 1, Ad Diwaniyah, Afak, Al Budyhar, and Al Kut. Eventually the Battalion fought its way through a military complex on the east side of the Nahr Diayla Canal. It was here that the battalion executed its famous infantry assault crossing a blown up bridge at Azza Fayraniah and became officially the first Marine Corps elements to cross into the city of Baghdad. Soon after crossing into Baghdad, the Battalion fought its way through light resistance to the area near the Palestine Hotel and pulled down the Saddam Hussein Statue. This event was broadcasted live throughout the world and marked the successful overthrown of the Hussein dictatorship. The battalion redeployed back to Twentynine Palms in late May 2003. In August 2003, the Battalion executed the Summer Mountain Warfare Training Package and TSULC II at MWTC in Bridgeport. In December 2003, the battalion deployed to Camp Schwab, Okinawa (UDP). During this period, the famous call sign "Darkside" was born.
