31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
| 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | |
|---|---|
31st MEU's Insignia
|
|
| Active | 1 March 1967 – May 1985 9 September 1992 – present |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Type | Marine Air Ground Task Force |
| Role | Forward-deployed expeditionary rapid-response force |
| Size | ~2,200 |
| Part of | III Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Hansen, MCB Camp Butler |
| Anniversaries | Activated 1 March 1967 |
| Engagements |
Vietnam War Operation Union Operation Eagle Pull Operation Frequent Wind Multinational Force in Lebanon Operation Southern Watch Operation Desert Fox Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Phantom Fury Operation Caring Response Operation Tomodachi |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Tye Wallace |
| Notable commanders |
Colonel Andrew R. MacMannis Colonel John E. Merna |
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of a company-sized command element, a battalion landing team (BLT), (an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, amphibious vehicle and other attachments), a medium tiltrotor squadron (reinforced), (which includes detachments of VTOL airplanes and heavy, light, and attack helicopters), and a combat logistics battalion. The 31st MEU is based at Camp Hansen, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. This is the only permanently forward-deployed MEU, and is America's expeditionary force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit provides a forward deployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations in the Asia-Pacific area.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit was activated on 1 March 1967 as Special Landing Force Alpha, for operations in Vietnam. It made the first of many amphibious deployments from Okinawa to the coast of Vietnam on 10 April 1967.
The first operation actually conducted was on 14 April 1967, when the MEU conducted a rescue of the crew of the SS Silver Peak, a Panamanian vessel run aground by Typhoon Violet, in vicinity of Minami Ko Shima Island, Japan.
Days later, it was committed to Operation Union, a search and destroy mission in Vietnam.
It was during this period of intense combat that Special Landing Force Alpha earned the Presidential Unit Citation. The unit participated in continuing combat operations ashore over the next three years, including the Vietnam Tet counteroffensive in 1969, while returning to Okinawa periodically for re-outfitting and the rotation of forces.
Special Landing Force Alpha was officially designated as the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) on 24 November 1970. Once more the unit returned to the Gulf of Tonkin. This time, however, the 31st MAU would not be committed to overt land operations as the Vietnam War was winding down. The 31st MAU performed presence missions and conducted a series of special operations through May 1971. From June 1971 until April 1975, the 31st MAU conducted many deployments to the waters off Vietnam.
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Wikipedia