1st Battalion 5th Marines

1st Battalion, 5th Marines
1st Battalion, 5th Marines insignia
Active	13 July 1914 – 24 December 1914 25 May 1917 – 13 August 1919 17 May 1921 – 2 January 1933 1 September 1934 – 6 January 1942 14 January 1942 – 1 October 1947 1 October 1949 – 15 June 1974 31 March 1975 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Light infantry
Role	Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver
Size	1,200
Part of	5th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Nickname(s)	Geronimo
Motto(s)	"Make peace or die"
Engagements	World War I Battle of Belleau Wood Battle of Château-Thierry Battle of Saint-Mihiel Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Peleliu Battle of Okinawa Korean War Battle of Pusan Perimeter Battle of Inchon Second Battle of Seoul Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War Operation Union I & Operation Union II Operation Swift Battle of Hue Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 invasion of Iraq Operation Vigilant Resolve Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Strike of the Sword
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Col. Sullivan

World War I

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

Operation Desert Storm
Operation Iraqi Freedom

Operation Enduring Freedom

1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 800 Marines and sailors. Nicknamed Geronimo, it falls under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division. The battalion was formed in 1914 and has served in every major conflict that the United States has been involved in since then.

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 their return to Norfolk, Virginia, on 24 December 1914.

On 25 May 1917, the battalion was activated and deployed to France on 1 June 1917. 1/5 participated in the following World War I campaigns: Aisne, Aisen-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Toulon-Troyon, Chateau-Thierry, Marabache, and Limey. 1/5 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 other companies not being relieved in time, assaulted the open wheat fields of the hill with bayonets fixed under the fire of German machine gun and artillery fire. In a battle that claimed 325 1/5 lives, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson became the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor in World War I. 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.