The Marines Have Landed

Eighty Years of Marine Corps Landings, 19352015

by
Annette D. Amerman

History Division
U.S. Marine Corps
Quantico, Virginia

2016

Contents

Foreword v
Preface vii
Glossary xiii
Maps identifying Marine Corps landings
xvii
The Marines Have Landed

iii

Foreword

Ms. Annette Amerman, Historical Inquiries & Research

Branch with History Division, has performed an important service in creating a research tool and database
for scholars interested in amphibious warfare and its
connection to the United States Marine Corps. It is no
coincidence that the survey begins with Marine Corps
landings that took place from 1935 to 2015. In fact, after
several years of work by senior officers and students at
Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Major General Ben H.
Fuller signed off on the Tentative Manual for Landing Operations (1934). This pathbreaking publication became
the blueprint for Marine Corps landing operations
(both big and small) that took place during World War
II and for years afterward. Moreover, the Tentative Manv

ual, along with the Small Wars Manual (1940) and General Alfred M. Grays Warfighting, FMFM-1 (1989) arguably
rank as the three most important doctrinal publications
ever produced by the Marine Corps.

The Marines Have Landed represents a unique research tool, but it is not intended to be comprehensive.
Rather than rehash the larger and more well-known
landing operations that took place during major conflicts, such as World War II or Korea, this particular database will enable students of warfare to understand the
large volume of lesser-known landing operations that
are no less important for understanding the institutional history of the Marine Corps. Most people will come
away amazed at just how frequently over the years the
Navy/Marine Corps team has been tasked to perform
these highly complex operations. It is our hope that this
research tool will be given heavy use by the faculty and
students at Marine Corps University. I predict it will become a valuable historical resource for years to come.
Dr. Charles P. Neimeyer
Director
History Division
vi

Foreword

Preface

In 1974, the U.S. Marine Corps History and Museums Division reprinted Captain Harry A. Ellsworths
One Hundred and Eighty Landings of United States Marines, 18001934; a publication still widely used today,
although woefully in need of a subsequent volume.
Ellsworths volume focused on the four basic reasons
for landings: (1) political intervention; (2) punitive actions; (3) protection of diplomatic mission, nationals, and their property; and (4) humanitarian aid. Very
little has changed in the 80 years since Ellsworth left
off; for example, Marines may not conduct punitive actions but show of force operations are often
used as deterrents against belligerent governments.

In this volume, the landings are identified as: (1)
noncombatant evacuations, (2) humanitarian/disaster
vii

relief operations, and (3) peacekeeping/stability operations, all of which involve Marines making landfall
from either aircraft or ships. Additionally, major combat operationsWorld War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert
Shield/Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistanare omitted from
this work as the topics are voluminous enough to warrant a volume of their own at a future time.

This edition, unlike Ellsworths original, is presented in chronological order and provides limited information on each operation in foreign lands. If no landing
took place during a period, the year is left blank. The
information herein was assembled from official records,
such as command chronologies and working papers
of various Headquarters Marine Corps agencies, Department of Defense and Marine Corps news releases,
and the working files of the Historical Inquiries and
Research Branch (formerly the Historical Reference
Branch) of History Division (formerly History and Museums Division). The information presented includes
the date, location, mission type, units involved, and a
short synopsis of the mission.

From 1935 to 1946, excluding World War II, the
viii

Preface

landings were often conducted by Marines that formed

detachments from a ships complement or that were
part of a legation guard already stationed nearby. After
World War II, the Marine Corps began floating a battalion landing team (BLT) on Navy ships, establishing
a floating forward-deployed unit ready to make such
landings. In the summer of 1946, Lieutenant General
Roy S. Geiger witnessed the atomic blast tests under
the cognizance of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll
in the Pacific Ocean. Three weeks later, General Geiger
wrote the Commandant, General Archibald A. Vandegrift, with his impressions from the blasts and the lasting effects on Marine Corps doctrine, stating that . . .
I cannot visualize another landing such as was executed
at Normandy or Okinawa.1 Geigers letter sparked a
flurry of planning boards and studies instituted by the
Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) to review
force structure, equipment, and amphibious doctrine in
response to the atomic weapon. The outgrowth of these
boards and studies was that the helicopter became the
LtCol Kenneth J. Clifford, Progress and Purpose: A Developmental History of the United States Marine Corps, 19001970 (Washington, DC: History and Museums Division, Headquarters Marine Corps, 1973), 71.
1

Preface

ix

tool, vertical envelopment became the doctrine, and the

Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) became the
force structure needed to take the Corps into the atomic future.
In 1953, the 1st Provisional MAGTF was activated
in Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. While the
first official MAGTF had the four basic elementscommand, air combat, ground combat, and combat service
supportthe varying sizes had not yet been established.
However, by 1962, the MAGTF concept was codified to
the three scalable levels we know today: the Marine expeditionary force (MEF), Marine expeditionary brigade
(MEB), and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU).2 The
forward-deployed MEU, an outgrowth of the original
floating battalion has been the proven workhorse of
Marine Corps landing operations since their first use in
the early 1960s. The combination of the battalion landing team (BLT), a reinforced helicopter squadron, and
an integrated logistics unit is quite effective in assisting
American citizens evacuate from hot-spots or providing humanitarian relief to victims of natural disasters.
From 1965 to 1990, the term expeditionary was replaced by amphibious.
2

Preface

The MEB, while not as heavily used as the MEU in the

same period, has participated when large-scale natural
disasters occurred, such as typhoons striking multiple
countries over great distances as seen in the Philippines
in December 2012. Understanding this shift in doctrine,
technology, and force structure within the Corps is essential to understanding why such landings and quick
reaction military responses to unstable natural and
political situations have typically fallen to the Marine
Corps during the past 80 years.
Further, the information from Ellsworths original
publication has served as a useful tool for historians and
analysts. This updated listing is intended to provide the
same purpose for historians, force structure analysts,
and policy wonks. Figure 1 represents an example of the
data that can be mined from this work. The statistical illustration answers the question: How many operations
(excluding Desert Shield/Storm) did the Marine Corps
participate in during the 1990s when the end strength of
the Corps was dramatically reduced? The chart clearly
shows that, despite the reduction, the operational tempo increased.
Preface

xi

Figure 1. U.S. Marine Corps operational tempo compared to end

strength

Lastly, not all Marine operations warrant a lengthy

narrative history or detailed analysis. Therefore, this
compilation of the smaller landings and the more wellknown operations serves as a starting point for possible
larger works and as another method of presenting the
history of the Corps over an extended period.

Annette D. Amerman
Historical Inquiries & Research Branch
History Division
xii

Preface

Glossary

ACE
Air combat element
BLT
Battalion Landing Team
CLB
Combat Logistics Battalion
CSSD
Combat Service Support
Detachment
CSSE
Combat service support
element
CV
Fleet aircraft carrier (192175);

multipurpose aircraft carrier

(1975present)
CVS
Seaplane carrier (until 1957);

antisubmarine/support carrier

(post1957)
GCE
Ground combat element
HMH
Marine Heavy Helicopter
Squadron

xiii

HMLA
Marine Light Attack Helicopter
Squadron
HMM
Marine Medium Helicopter
Squadron
JTF
Joint Task Force
LCE
Logistics combat element
LHA
Amphibious assault ship

(general purpose)
LHD
Amphibious assault ship

(multipurpose)
LPD
Amphibious transport

dock ship
LPH
Amphibious assault

helicopter carrier
LSD
Dock landing ship
MAG
Marine Aircraft Group
MAGTF
Marine Air-Ground Task Force
MAW
Marine Aircraft Wing
MEF/MAF
Marine Expeditionary Force/

Marine Amphibious Force
MEB/MAB
Marine Expeditionary Brigade/

Marine Amphibious Brigade
xiv

Glossary

MEU/MAU
Marine Expeditionary Unit/

Marine Amphibious Unit
MSSG
Marine Expeditionary Unit

Service Support Group
NGO
Nongovernmental organization
RLT
Regimental Landing Team
SPMAGTF
Special Purpose Marine Air
Ground Task Force
SPMAGTF-CR
Special Purpose Marine Air
Ground Task ForceCrisis
Response
VMA
Marine Attack Squadron
VMFA
Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron
VMFA(AW)
Marine All-Weather Fighter

Attack Squadron
VMGR
Marine Aerial Refueler

Transport Squadron
VMM
Marine Medium Tiltrotor
Squadron
VMR
Marine Transport Squadron

Glossary

xv

xvii

xviii

xix

xx

xxi

xxii

The Marines Have Landed

Eighty Years of Marine Corps Landings, 19352015

1938
DATE:
September 1937February 1938
LOCATION: Shanghai, China
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
The 6th Marines arrived in Shanghai to reinforce the
4th Marines, who had been called out to help defend
the international settlement during fighting between
the Japanese and Chinese.

1941
7 December 19412 September 1945
Second World War

1950
24 June 195027 July 1953
Korean War

1953
DATE:
August 1953
LOCATION: Ionian Isles, Greece
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Battalion Landing Team 2/6 (BLT 2/6) provided rescue
and relief missions after massive earthquake.

1954
DATE:
October 1954
LOCATION: Haiti
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Operation Sante
Marine Transport Squadron 261 (VMR-261) delivered
food, medicine, clothing, and other supplies after Hurricane Hazel struck on 12 October.

1955
DATE:
LOCATION:
2

JanuaryFebruary 1955
Tachen Islands
The Marines Have Landed

MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
The 3d Shore Party Battalion evacuated more than
26,000 people at the request of the Nationalist Chinese
government as Communist forces advanced on the islands off the coast of China.
DATE:
October 1955
LOCATION: Mexico
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Helicopters of Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) and
Marine Transport Squadrons 153 and 252 (VMR-153 and
VMR-252) aided in rescue work at Tampico, Mexico,
when floodwaters inundated the city. The helicopter
crews rescued nearly 5,500 people and delivered more
than 180,000 pounds of food and medical supplies.

1956
DATE:
OctoberNovember 1956
LOCATION: Egypt and Israel
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
BLT 3/2 arrived from Souda Bay, Crete, and evacuated
1,500 people from Alexandria, Egypt, and U.S. observers from Gaza, Israel, then occupied by Egyptian forces, who were threatened by the Anglo-French attack on
Egypt.
The Marines Have Landed

1957
DATE:
October 1957
LOCATION: Spain
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from VMR-262 (Light) aided flood victims at
Valencia, Spain. They evacuated victims and distributed
emergency supplies.
DATE:
December 1957January 1958
LOCATION: Ceylon1
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from VMR-162 engaged in rescue work due to
flooding.

1958
DATE:
April 1958
LOCATION: Morocco
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from VMR-252 aided earthquake victims, bringing in supplies and supporting search-and-rescue efforts.
DATE:
LOCATION:
1

1 July23 October 1958

Lebanon

Modern day Sri Lanka.

The Marines Have Landed

MISSION:
Stability Operation
Operation Blue Bat
In response to a political crisis caused by religious and
political tensions, the government of Lebanon requested
support from Western nations. The 2d Provisional Marine Force, consisting of BLTs 2/2, 3/6, and 1/8; 2d Battalion, 8th Marines; Regimental Landing Team 6 (RLT 6,
with 2d Battalion, 6th Marines); as well as VMRs 153,
252, 352, and 353 landed in Lebanon throughout the period to create stability and security in the country. The
Marines remained until 23 October, after the end of the
Lebanese presidential term.
DATE:
December 1958January 1959
LOCATION: Ceylon
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from VMR-162 (Light) and Marine Attack
Squadron 332 (VMA-332) assisted flood victims.

1961
DATE:
January 1961
LOCATION: Congo
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
A detachment from VMR-264 offloaded foodstuffs
from the USS Hermitage (LSD 34) in support of famine
victims.
The Marines Have Landed

DATE:
February 1961
LOCATION: Congo
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
A detachment from VMR-264 supported the evacuation of United Nations (UN) troops (Guineans) from
Matadi, Congo, to their home country.
DATE:
May 1961
LOCATION: Turkey
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Elements of VMR-262 and 3d Battalion, 6th Marines,
assisted with relief work following an earthquake in
Marmaris, Turkey.
DATE:
November 1961
LOCATION: British Honduras
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
A detachment of Marines from VMR-264, operating off
the aircraft carrier USS Antietam (CVS 36), aided the
victims of Hurricane Hattie with medical supplies and
personnel.

1962
DATE:
LOCATION:
MISSION:
6

MayAugust 1962
Thailand
Stability Operation
The Marines Have Landed

The 3d Marine Expeditionary Unit (3d MEU), including

BLT 3/9, VMR-262, and VMA-332, landed in Thailand to
support the country due to Communist pressure from
outside the country.
DATE:
November 1962
LOCATION: Guam
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Four hundred Marines from 3d Battalion, 4th Marines,
from Hawaii landed to provide security and salvage assistance following Typhoon Karen, which destroyed
more than 90 percent of the structures on the island
of Guam.

1963
DATE:
October 1963
LOCATION: Haiti
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM161) from the USS Thetis Bay (LPH 6) delivered food and
supplies to hurricane-stricken Haiti.

1964
DATE:
LOCATION:

November 1964
Vietnam

The Marines Have Landed

MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from HMM-365 from the USS Princeton (LPH
5) evacuated 1,700 flood victims, while Marines from
HMM-162 delivered more than 900 tons of supplies to
the victims.

1965
9 March 196530 April 1975
Vietnam War
DATE:
April 1965
LOCATION: Dominican Republic
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Marines from HMM-264 evacuated 556 American citizens from Haina, Dominican Republic, as the country
deteriorated into civil war.
DATE:
April 1965
LOCATION: Dominican Republic
MISSION:
Stability Operation/

Nonombatant Evacuation
Operation Barrel Bottom
The 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, part of the 6th MEU,
from the USS Boxer (CV 21) landed by helicopter to pro-

The Marines Have Landed

vide security around the American embassy and to protect American lives in and around Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The remaining portion of the MEU
landed in subsequent days. The 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (4th MEB) landed on 1 May 1965 with more
than 5,500 Marines. The Marines began withdrawing on
31 May.

1970
DATE:
June 1970
LOCATION: Peru
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Company A, 1st Battalion, 2d Marines, and HMM-365
from 32d MEU transported medical teams to remote
areas, brought back victims for medical treatment, and
delivered more than 55 tons of relief supplies to victims
of a massive earthquake.
DATE:
September 1970
LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Elements of the 3d Marine Division set up water purification units to aid victims of Typhoon Georgia in Quezon City, Philippines.

The Marines Have Landed

DATE:
October 1970
LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from HMM-164 and a detachment from BLT
2/9 conducted relief operations and delivered more than
65 tons of supplies after Typhoon Joan.

1972
DATE:
July 1972
LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marines from HMM-165 evacuated 2,000 Filipinos in
and around Luzon, the Philippines, and flew in 350 tons
of relief supplies after a devastating typhoon.

1973
DATE:
April 1973
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Stability Operation
The 34th Marine Amphibious Unit (34th MAU), made
up of BLT 2/6 and HMM-264, entered Lebanon in response to special forces units from Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) attacking several Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) targets in Beirut and Sidon, Lebanon.
10

The Marines Have Landed

DATE:
December 1973
LOCATION: Tunisia
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Helicopters from 32d MAUs HMM-261 conducted refugee search and rescue, equipment deliveries, and other
flood-associated missions.

1974
DATE:
July 1974
LOCATION: Cyprus
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
The 34th MAU, including BLT 1/8 and HMM-162, evacuated 752 personnel from the island country of Cyprus
after the Turkish invasion.
DATE:
August 1974
LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
HMM-164 from 31st MAU assisted with flood-relief efforts caused by Typhoon Nadine in central Philippines.

1975
DATE:
LOCATION:
MISSION:

12 April 1975
Cambodia
Noncombatant Evacuation

The Marines Have Landed

11

Operation Eagle Pull

The 31st MAU, including BLT 2/4 and Marine Heavy
Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462), evacuated 276
American and Cambodian personnel as Khmer Rouge
forces closed in on Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
DATE:
2930 April 1975
LOCATION: Vietnam
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Frequent Wind
The 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (9th MAB), including RLT 4 and Provisional MAG-39, served as the
final phase of evacuations for American civilians and atrisk Vietnamese, removing 6,968 personnel from Saigon
as South Vietnam began to fall to the North Vietnamese
Army.
DATE:
15 May 1975
LOCATION: Koh Tang Island, Cambodia
MISSION:
Rescue
BLT 2/9 and Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines,
conducted the safe recovery of the SS Mayaguez and her
40-man crew that were captured by Cambodian gunboats. The Marines established a foothold on the island
in the face of active resistance, which resulted in the loss

12

The Marines Have Landed

of three of five helos in the first wave and two damaged

in the second wave. As a result, extraction of the Marines was accomplished under fire.

1976
DATE:
JuneJuly 1976
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
The 32d MAU, including BLT 3/2 and HMM-263, evacuated 160 American citizens and 148 foreign nationals
from Lebanon during the early days of the Lebanese
Civil War.

1980
DATE:
October 1980
LOCATION: Algeria
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Helicopters from HMM-264, part of 32d MAU, provided assistance following an earthquake in al-Asnam,
Algeria, reported to have killed approximately 20,000
people.

The Marines Have Landed

13

1982
DATE:
June 1982
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
The 32d MAU, including BLT 2/8 and HMM-261, evacuated nearly 600 American citizens and foreign nationals
out of Beirut due to fighting between Israel and Lebanon.
DATE:
August 1982
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Evacuation
The 32d MAU, including BLT 2/8 and HMM-261, evacuat
ed the PLO from Beirut as it was driven out of Lebanon
by Israel during Israels six-month invasion of Lebanon.
The MAU withdrew on 10 September.
DATE:
29 September30 October 1982
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
The 32d MAU, including BLT 2/8 and HMM-261, landed
in Beirut on 29 September 1982 at the request of the
Lebanese government to assist French and Italian military units with keeping the peace in the capital city. It
was relieved by 24th MAU.
14

The Marines Have Landed

DATE:
1 November 198215 February 1983
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
In response to the ongoing violence throughout Lebanon, the 24th MAU deployed with BLT 3/8 and HMM263, commencing the rotation of MAUs into Lebanon
during the next two years. Each was headquartered in
Lebanons capital city, Beirut.

1983
DATE:
15 February29 May 1983
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
The 22d MAU, including BLT 2/6 and HMM-264, rotated into Lebanon.
DATE:
30 May 198318 November 1983
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
The 24th MAU, including BLT 1/8 and HMM-162, rotated into Lebanon.
DATE:
LOCATION:
MISSION:

25 October2 November 1983

Grenada
Noncombatant Evacuation

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15

Operation Urgent Fury

The 22d MAU intervened to protect and evacuate
American citizens and foreign nationals, to neutralize
Grenadian and Cuban military forces, to maintain order,
and to assist in restoring democratic government after a
revolutionary coup attempt. The 22d MAU departed on
2 November when the U.S. Army 82d Airborne arrived
to relieve the Marines. During this operation, two Marines were killed and three were wounded.
DATE:
17 November 19839 April 1984
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
The 22d MAU, including BLT 2/8 and HMM-261, rotated into and completed the withdrawal from Lebanon.
After nearly two years in Lebanon, a total of 240 Marines were killed and another 151 were wounded

1989
DATE:
December 1989January 1990
LOCATION: Panama
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
Operation Just Cause
The 6th MEB was sent in to protect American lives
in Panama City, to secure key military and canal sites,
16

The Marines Have Landed

to neutralize Panamanian Defense Forces, to establish

law and order, and to support the new U.S.-recognized
government. During this operation, two Marines were
killed and three were wounded.

1990
DATE:
May 1990January 1991
LOCATION: Liberia
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Sharp Edge
The Marines from 22d MEU, including BLT 2/4 and
HMM-261, evacuated civilians and protected the U.S.
embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, from warring factions
during the civil war. Elements of the 26th MEU and detachments from BLT 3/8 and HMM-162 rotated in August to relieve 22d MEU.
DATE:
July 1990
LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4-90 (MAGTF 4-90)
deployed to assist in search-and-rescue missions and
emergency relief after a massive earthquake across the
entire archipelago. The MAGTF flew 313 sorties, air
lifted 627,000 pounds of cargo, and evacuated 1,804 survivors.
The Marines Have Landed

17

2 August 199016 January 1991

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

1991
DATE:
January 1991
LOCATION: Somalia
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Opeartion Eastern Exit
The 4th MEB, including BLT 1/2, HMMs 263 and 365,
and a detachment from HMH-461, evacuated 260 U.S.
and foreign citizens from the American embassy in
Mogadishu, Somalia, as armed militants clashed with
government forces.
DATE:
AprilJuly 1991
LOCATION: Turkey/Northern Iraq
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
Operation Provide Comfort
In response to Kurdish refugees fleeing Iraq, the 24th
MEU, including BLT 2/8 and HMM-264, established
refugee camps and provided food and security across
Turkey.
DATE:
LOCATION:
MISSION:
18

MayJune 1991
Bangladesh
Disaster Relief
The Marines Have Landed

Operation Sea Angel

The 5th MEB, consisting of RLT 5 (BLTs 2/5 and 3/5)
and MAG-50 (HMM-265 and HMLA-169), provided
tons of relief supplies following Cyclone Marian, which
destroyed 8090 percent of the structures in the coastal region of the country and killed more than 140,000
people.
DATE:
June 1991
LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Operation Fiery Vigil
In response to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, MAGTF
4-90 (already in the Philippines) and 15th MEU, consisting of BLT 1/9 and HMM-163, performed security augmentation, heavy equipment support, cleanup, medical,
and food resupply and evacuated more than 21,000 U.S.
troops and dependants in the wake of the largest eruption to impact a densley populated area.

1992
DATE:
April 1992
LOCATION: Italy
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Operation Hot Rock
Helicopters from 24th MEUs HMM-266 carried
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19

200,000 pounds of concrete slabs, each weighing

14,000 pounds, to alter the course of volcanic lava from
Mount Etna on the island of Sicily.
DATE:
June 1992March 1996
LOCATION: Adriatic Sea, Balkans
MISSION:
Security Operation
Operation Sharp Guard
This joint naval blockade was established to enforce
UN economic sanctions against Serbia-Montenegro and
the arms embargo, which was suspended after both sets
of sanctions were terminated. Multiple MEUs were deployed to the area throughout the time period.
DATE:
August 1992February 1993
LOCATION: Somalia
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
Joint Task Force Provide Relief
A detachment of Marines from I Marine Expeditionary
Force (I MEF) airlifted food and other supplies to the
drought stricken areas of Somalia.
DATE:
December 1992May 1993
LOCATION: Somalia
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
Operation Restore Hope
Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis
20

The Marines Have Landed

Response-Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR), consisting of BLT 2/9, HMM-164, and Marine Expeditionary
Unit Service Support Group 15 (MSSG-15), assisted in humanitarian relief and peacekeeping by creating a secure
environment for the UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

1993
DATE:
May 1993March 1994
LOCATION: Somalia
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
Operation Continue Hope
A follow-on of UNOSOM activities in Operation Restore Hope, the 24th and 11th MEUs were rotated in
and out of the country during the period.
DATE:
JulyAugust 1993
LOCATION: Haiti
MISSION:
Show of Force
Operation Support Democracy 2
The 24th MEU, including BLT 3/6, HMM-266, and
While the distinction between support democracy and uphold
democracy is often blurred in literature, support democracy refers
to the preinvasion/preoccupation phase, especially maritime interdiction, while uphold democracy refers to the planning for and implementation of the invasion and occupation of Haiti.
2

The Marines Have Landed

21

MSSG-24, supported show-of-force operations in an

attempt to restore ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

1994
DATE:
April 1994
LOCATION: Rwanda
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Distant Runner
The 11th MEU, including BLT 2/5 and HMM-263 with
a detachment from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport
Squadron 252 (VMGR-252), evacuated 241 civilians and
U.S. citizens after fierce fighting broke out between
Hutus and Tutsis throughout the country.
DATE:
AugustOctober 1994
LOCATION: Rwanda
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
Operation Support Hope
In an effort to provide immediate relief for the refugees
of the Rwandan genocide and allow a smooth transition
to a full UN humanitarian management program, Marines from 15th MEU, including BLT 1/4 and HMM-166,
provided heavy lift support of food and supplies into the
city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.
22

The Marines Have Landed

DATE:
20 September1 October 1994
LOCATION: Haiti
MISSION:
Stability Operation
Operation Uphold Democracy
Marines formed SPMAGTF-Caribbean with BLT 2/2,
HMM-264, and Combat Service Support Detachment
29 and landed on 20 September in Port-au-Prince, Haiti,
to provide stability in the wake of political upheaval.

1996
DATE:
AprilAugust 1996
LOCATION: Liberia
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Assured Response
Elements from 22d MEU assisted in safeguarding and
evacuating Americans from Liberia when that nations
civil war reignited.
DATE:
MayJune 1996
LOCATION: Central African Republic
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Quick Response
Elements from 22d MEU assisted in response to civil
unrest and rebellion by rogue military elements in Bangui,
capital of the Central African Republic. Marine elements
The Marines Have Landed

23

of Joint Task Force Assured Response (JTF-Assured Response, which was responding in Liberia) successfully
provided security to the U.S. embassy and evacuated 448
people, including between 190 and 208 Americans. The
last Marines left Bangui on 22 June.

1997
DATE:
MarchJuly 1997
LOCATION: Albania
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Silver Wake
The 26th MEU evacuated 877 American citizens and
other civilians from Tirana, Albania, after the outbreak
of a civil rebellion caused by an economic crisis.
DATE:
MarchMay 1997
LOCATION: Zaire
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Guardian Retrieval
Marines from the 26th and 22d MEUs performed military and noncombatant evacuations after tensions
erupted amongst rebels in the region and across the
border into Rwanda.
DATE:
LOCATION:
24

29 May 5 June 1997

Sierra Leone
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MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Noble Obelisk
Marines from the 22d MEU evacuated 451 American citizens and 2,058 foreign nationals due to the deteriorating security situation in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

1998
DATE:
6 June 1998
LOCATION: Eritrea
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Operation Safe Departure
Due to the escalated border dispute between Eritrea
and Ethiopia, the 11th MEU with BLT 1/4 and HMM268 evacuated 172 American citizens and foreign nationals from Asmara, Eritrea.

1999
DATE:
AugustSeptember 1999
LOCATION: Turkey
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
Operation Avid Response
The 26th MEU, including BLT 3/8, HMM-365, and
MSSG-26, provided disaster relief and humanitarian assistance to western Turkey.
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DATE:
September 1999February 2000
LOCATION: East Timor
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
Operation Stabilise 3
This peacekeeping effort restored order in Dili, East
Timor, following an independence referendum. U.S
troops did not play a combat role, but provided transpor
tation, logistics, command and control, communications,
intelligence, and sustainment support. SPMAGTF-31
with BLT 1/5 and HMM-265 were deployed until November. A portion of 11th MEU also participated.

2001
October 2001TBD
Operation Enduring Freedom

2003
March 2003January 2010
Operation Iraqi Freedom
DATE:
LOCATION:
MISSION:
3

June 2003
Liberia
Noncombatant Evacuation

The spelling reflects that this was an Australian-led operation.

26

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Operation Shining Express

Elements of 2d MEB, en route to the United States after
completing their deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom, were diverted to Monrovia, Liberia, at the request
of the U.S. ambassador to evacuate of American citizens
and embassy personnel.
DATE:
July October 2003
LOCATION: Liberia
MISSION:
Peacekeeping
Joint Task Force Liberia
In response to the crisis from the Second Liberian Civil
War and the actions of President Charles G. Taylor, the
26th MEU, including BLT 1/8, HMM-264, and MSSG26, landed in Monrovia to stabilize the region and bring
in humanitarian aid.

2004
DATE:
FebruaryJune 2004
LOCATION: Haiti
MISSION:
Security Operation
Operation Secure Tomorrow
Marines from 3d Battalion, 8th Marines, restored security following the removal of President Aristide.

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2005
DATE:
January February 2005
LOCATION: Indonesia
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Operation Unified Assistance
In response to the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia,
Marines from the 15th MEU, including BLT 1/1, HMM165, and MSSG-15, delivered more than a million pounds
of humanitarian aid to the various islands of the country.
HMM-262 also participated from the USS Fort McHenry
(LSD 43).

2006
DATE:
July 2006
LOCATION: Lebanon
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
Marines from the 24th MEU, including BLT 1/8, HMM365, and MSSG-24, evacuated American citizens due to
continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

2007
DATE:
LOCATION:
28

19 November6 December 2007

Bangladesh
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MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Operation Sea Angel II
On 22 November, 22d MEU, with BLT 3/8, HMM-261,
and Combat Logistics Battalion 22 (CLB-22), arrived to
assist victims of Cyclone Sidr. The 3d MEB arrived on
27 November to take control, and on 3 December 22d
MEU was replaced by 11th MEU, with BLT 1/5, HMM166, and CLB-11. The 22d MEU delivered more than
20,000 pounds of supplies and distributed 14,309 gallons of water to victims.

2008
DATE:
May 2008
LOCATION: Myanmar
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
Operation Caring Response
In response to Cyclone Nargis, 3d MEB with 31st MEUs
BLT 2/4, HMM-166, and CLR-3 and MAG-36s Marine
All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 (VMFA[AW]-533),
and VMA-513 delivered medical capabilities providing aid
and comfort to the victims.

2009
DATE:

October 2009

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29

LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
In response to the devastating effects of Tropical Storm
Ketsana and Typhoon Parma, 31st MEU provided 1.5
million pounds of food, 39,000 bags of clothes, and 650
cases of water.
DATE:
October 2009
LOCATION: Sumatra, Indonesia
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
In response to a massive earthquake that struck the island of Sumatra, 31st MEU provided heavy-lift capabilities and more than 130,000 pounds of food, tools, and
shelters.

2010
DATE:
JanuaryMarch 2010
LOCATION: Haiti
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
Operation Unified Response
In response to a massive earthquake, 22d MEUs
BLT3/2, HMH-461, VMM-263, and CLB-22 along with
24th MEUs BLT1/9, VMM-162, and CLB-24 provided
humanitarian assistance to the victims.
DATE:
30

AugustOctober 2010
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LOCATION: Pakistan
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
The 15th MEUs helicopters from HMM-165 worked
alongside the Pakistani military to provide the government of Pakistan with medium- and heavy-lift capabilities to evacuate internally displaced persons and deliver
food and supplies. Throughout the 10 weeks on-station,
the Navy and Marine Corps team evacuated more than
9,000 people and provided more than 5 million pounds
of relief supplies to areas inaccessible by ground vehicles
across the nation.
DATE:
2123 October 2010
LOCATION: Philippines
MISSION:
Disaster Relief
The 31st MEU, with BLT 1/7, HMM-262, and CLB-22,
delivered food, water, and other supplies to isolated villages that were destroyed by Typhoon Megi. Marines
and sailors provided air support to transport tents, food,
and water to inaccessible areas as well as immediate
medical aid to those who were injured.

2012
DATE:
LOCATION:
MISSION:

December 2012
Philippines
Disaster Relief

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31

Marines and sailors from the 3d MEB, acting as the III

MEF (Forward), directed more than 750,000 pounds of
relief supplies into the Philippines over an eight-day period following Typhoon Bopha.

2014
DATE:
January 2014
LOCATION: South Sudan
MISSION:
Noncombatant Evacuation
SPMAGTF-Crisis Response evacuated Americans in
response to the violent political crisis in South Sudan.
DATE:
8 October1 December 2014
LOCATION: Liberia/Senegal
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
Operation United Assistance
SPMAGTF-Crisis Response mission to help combat
the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.

2015
DATE:
426 May 2015
LOCATION: Nepal
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
Operation Sahayogi Haat
In response to a massive earthquake, JTF-505 contrib32

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uted three Bell UH-1Y Huey helicopters and four Bell

Boeing MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to the relief effort throughout Nepal. During the operation, a Marine
helicopter went missing while delivering rice and tarps
in Charikot, Nepal. It had dropped off supplies in one
location and was en route to a second site when contact
was lost. Five Marines and two Nepalese were killed in
the crash.
DATE:
724 August 2015
LOCATION: Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands
MISSION:
Humanitarian Assistance
BLT 2/5 and the CLB from 31st MEU arrived on 7 August and immediately set to work distributing emergency relief supplies in response to a devastating typhoon.
The Marines distributed more than 285,700 gallons of
potable water, 215,075 gallons of which were purified by
the Marines, as well as 47,000 individual meals provided
by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
and distributed 10,000 pounds of emergency supplies
provided by the International Red Cross.

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