1st Battalion 25th Marines

1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment
1st Battalion, 25th Marines insignia
Active	Early 1920s
Country	United States
Branch	USMC
Type	Infantry regiment
Role	To locate, close with and destroy the enemy by firing and maneuvering, and to repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat.
Size	1000
Part of	25th Marine Regiment 4th Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	Fort Devens, Massachusetts
Nickname(s)	"New England and Niagara's Own"
Engagements	World War II * Battle of Kwajalein * Battle of Tinian * Battle of Saipan * Battle of Iwo Jima Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol Mike Hendrickson

1st Battalion, 25th Marines (1/25) is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout the Northeastern United States consisting of approximately 750 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the 25th Marine Regiment in the 4th Marine Division.

1st Battalion, 25th Marines was originally established in Boston, Massachusetts as an infantry company in the early 1920s. It was not until some years later that the unit attained battalion status.

In April 1926, Captain John J. Flynn was named the commanding officer of the 301st company, USMCR, with headquarters at the Marine Barracks, Charlestown Navy Yard. Building 5, the Navy officers mess, was used for drill and formation until the company was called to active duty on November 8, 1940.

During its varied and illustrious history, the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines has undergone some redesignations, from its beginning as the 301st Company, the battalion has been variously redesignated as an artillery company (December 29, 1928); the 301st infantry company (December 1, 1929); Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Reserve Marines (February 15, 1933); 2nd Battalion, Fleet Marine Corps Reserve (February 1, 1935) — at that point, a battalion had an authorized strength of 256 men, comparable to an infantry company in today's table of organization.

There was an especially critical period in the life of New England's own from 1931 to 1934. During those years, Congress discontinued all drill and administrative pay. Those stalwarts who stayed with the organization did so voluntarily. New members were required to purchase their own uniforms. The fact that the battalion survived this critical period is a banner on their history.

The 2nd Battalion continued as a unit until called to active service on the eve of World War II. The battalion was sent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and then to Cuba where it was split in January 1941 to serve with various units serving in Cuba at the time.

On May 1, 1943, the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines was formed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and was then shipped off to Camp Pendleton, California, to be assigned to the 4th Marine Division. During the war, the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines saw action in the following Island-hopping campaigns: Kwajalein, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian, and the Battle of Iwo Jima. The battalion played a critical role in the seizure of Hill 382 (Turkey Knob) in an area that Marines on Iwo Jima called "the meat grinder". For its actions, the battalion earned a Presidential Unit Citation. The battalion saw no further action during the war due to having to rebuild the battalion after the heavy losses on Iwo Jima. The battalion was deactivated on October 31, 1945.