1st Medical Battalion

1st Medical Battalion
1st Medical Battalion emblem
Active	September 6, 1940 - present
Country	United States
Branch	USN & USMC
Type	Medical
Part of	1st Marine Logistics Group
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Nickname(s)	"Cheaters of Death"
Engagements	World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq
Commanders
Current commander	Captain J. P. Wilcox, MSC, USN

1st Medical Battalion is a unit of the United States Marine Corps operated by the United States Navy that provides expeditionary Health Service Support to Marine Corps forces forward deployed to operations or humanitarian missions. The unit is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and falls under the command of 1st Marine Logistics Group.

Provides expeditionary health service support to the operating units of the First Marine Expeditionary Force to preserve and save every life and support the war fighting capability of the MEF.

Each lettered Surgical Company consists of 4 Surgical Platoons that provide Role II Light Maneuver capabilities consisting of command and control, damage control resuscitation, damage control surgery, limited patient holding, radiology, laboratory and blood banking capabilities and MEDEVAC personnel and equipment. Typically, the Surgical Companies and Surgical Platoons are task organized to support the full range of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force units.

ACTIVATED 06 SEPTEMBER 1940 AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AS THE 1ST MEDICAL BATTLION AND ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST MARINE BRIGADE

DEPLOYED DURING OCTOBER 1940 TO GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

REASSIGNED DURING FEBRUARY 1941 TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1941 TO QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AND PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

RELOCATED DURING SEPTEMBER 1941 TO NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE - JULY 1942 TO WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1945 - MAY 1947

REDEPLOYED DURING MAY 1947 TO GUAM

REACTIVATED 16 JULY 1947 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, AND ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE

DEPLOYED DURING AUGUST 1950 TO KOBE, JAPAN

PARTICIPATED IN THE KOREAN WAR, SEPTEMBER 1950 - JULY 1953, OPERATING FROM

PARTICIPATED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE, JULY 1953 - APRIL 1955

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1955 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE 1965 TO OKINAWA

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, MARCH 1966 - APRIL 1971, OPERATING FROM

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1971 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

PLACED UNDER THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE 1ST FORCE SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP, FLEET MARINE FORCE, ON 30 MARCH 1976

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, SOUTHWEST ASIA, AUGUST 1990 - APRIL 1991

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, SOMALIA, DECEMBER 1992 - JANUARY 1993

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