3rd Battalion, 1st Marines

3rd Battalion 1st Marines
3rd Battalion 1st Marines Insignia
Active	1 March 1941 – October 1941 16 February 1942 – 20 March 1947 4 August 1950 – present
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Light infantry
Role	Locate, close with, and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver, and repel enemy assault through fire and close combat.
Size	1,200
Part of	1st Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Nickname(s)	"Thundering Third"
Motto(s)	The Balls of the Corps
Engagements	World War II Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Peleliu Battle of Okinawa Korean War Battle of Inchon Second Battle of Seoul Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War Operation Union Operation Union II Operation Badger Tooth Operation Badger Catch Operation Napoleon Operation Swift Saber Operation Mameluke Thrust Operation Desert Storm 1992 Los Angeles Riots Operation United Shield War on Terror Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol. Seth W. MacCutcheon

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

Operation Desert Storm
1992 Los Angeles Riots
Operation United Shield
War on Terror

3rd Battalion 1st Marines (3/1) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Horno on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed the "Thundering Third", the battalion consists of approximately 1220 Marines and Sailors and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

3rd Battalion, 1st Marines was activated on 1 March 1941 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and assigned to the 1st Marine Division. In April of that year, they were relocated to Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina; the unit was subsequently deactivated in October of that year.

On 16 February 1942, 3/1 was re-activated at New River, North Carolina. In July 1942, they deployed to Wellington, New Zealand and participated in the following World War II campaigns: Guadalcanal, Eastern New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa. Beginning in April 1946, they participated in the occupation of North China. The battalion was again deactivated on 20 March 1947 as part of the post-war drawdown of forces.