23rd Marine Regiment (United States)

The 23rd Marine Regiment (23rd Marines) is a reserve infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered in San Bruno, California and falls under the command of the 4th Marine Division and the Marine Forces Reserve.

The regiment comprises twenty units which are geographically dispersed throughout eight states from California to Alabama. The regiment consists of Marine reservists, active duty Marines and active duty Navy personnel. The regimental headquarters is located in San Bruno, California.

Subordinate units

 * Headquarters and Service Company 23d Marines (HQ/23) - San Bruno, California
 * 1st Battalion 23d Marines (1/23) - Houston, Texas
 * 2nd Battalion 23d Marines (2/23) - Pasadena, California
 * 3rd Battalion 23d Marines (3/23) - Bridgeton, Missouri
 * 2nd Battalion 24th Marines (2/24) - Chicago, Illinois
 * Truck Company 23d Marines - Las Vegas, Nevada

World War II
The 23d Marine Regiment was activated on 20 July 1942 at New River, North Carolina; was assigned to the 4th Marine Division in February 1943 and relocated during July 1943 to Camp Pendleton, California.

During World War II, the 23rd Marines participated in the following campaigns: Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and the Battle of Iwo Jima. During the fierce fighting which occurred in the Pacific Theater, four Marines of the 23rd Marine Regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor for valor: For its actions against enemy forces, 23d Marines received the following awards: Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Bronze Star,the Navy Unit Commendation, the American Campaign Streamer with four Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Streamer.
 * 1) Richard B. Anderson, 2/23, Kwajalein
 * 2) Joseph W. Ozbourn, 1/23, Tinian
 * 3) Darrell S. Cole, 1/23, Iwo Jima
 * 4) Douglas T. Jacobson, 3/23, Iwo Jima

In October 1945, the Regiment was again relocated to Camp Pendleton and was subsequently deactivated on 15 November 1945.

1950s to the 1990s
The 23rd Marine Regiment was reactivated on 1 February 1966 in Alameda, California and assigned during the same month to the 4th Marine Division, USMCR.

3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines was activated in Nov 1990 and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield. 3/23 was attached to the 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division and deployed along the Kuwait/Saudi Arabian border conducting patrolling and security operations. 2 days before G-Day, 3/23 attacked into Kuwait at Umm Gudair to secure forward artillery positions for the support of the attack into Kuwait. With this action, 3/23 became the first unit of the 2nd Marine Division to enter combat since World War II. 3/23 continued to advance as part of 8th Marines, fighting actions into Kuwait City when the ceasefire was called.

In December 1990, the 2nd Battalion and 1st Battalion were activated in January 1991 as part of the 23d Marines which were mobilized by Presidential call-up to support Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. 2/23d Marines responded to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippine islands in 1991 and provided critical humanitarian relief.

Global War on Terror
The 23rd Marine Regiment, either in whole or in part, have been activated multiple times including 2003, 2006, and 2009. In June, 2012, the 23d Marine Regimental Headquarters Company deployed to Barbados, Caribbean for Tradewinds 2012.