Combat Logistics Battalion 24

Combat Logistics Battalion 24 (CLB-24) is a logistics battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27 and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and is in direct support of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU).

Mission
The mission of CLB-24 is to provide timely, reliable, and continuous support to 24th MEU in support of the MEU commander's tactical mission and concept of operations; and to conduct, on order, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, Medical treatment and evacuation of casualties on a large scale, and Humanitarian Aid and Assistance operations.

1980s
Combat Logistics Battalion 24 has existed in one form or another since the early 1960s. It has participated in many of the important Marine Corps operations of the last half-century. During the 1960s, the Logistic Support Unit, 32d Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU), Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic was temporarily activated to participate in exercises and operations in the Caribbean and Atlantic areas. In the early 1970s, the unit underwent several re-designations and name changes to become the MAU Service Support Group 32 of the 32d MAU—which is very similar to our current name. The MSSG-32 and the 32d MAU participated in numerous exercises and operations in the Mediterranean Area in the 1970s.

On 1 December 1982, the numbering of MAUs and MSSGs was redesigned. MSSG-32 became MSSG-22 of the 22d MAU, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic. During this time and for several six-month deployments in 1983 and 1984, MSSG-22 was a part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon. When Cuban and Communist influence was threatening US citizens and US national interests in the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Caricao, President Reagan ordered the Marines, including MSSG-22, to land and take those islands in October and November 1983.

In the years after the Grenada invasion, the numbering of the MSSGs was shuffled, and MSSG-22 became MSSG-24 of the 24th MAU, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic in 1984 and MSSG-24 of the 24th MAU in 1986. MAU Service Support Group-24 became MEU Service Support Group-24 in 1988.

1990s
Following Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the 24th MEU and MSSG-24 were tasked with the humanitarian relief effort Operation Provide Comfort in support of the Kurdish people in Turkey and Northern Iraq. In 1993 and 1994, the 24th MEU and MSSG-24 helped keep warring factions in Somalia at bay during Operation Restore Hope and Operation Continue Hope. The MSSG left the shores of Somalia for the Adriatic Sea in 1994, where it supported Operation Provide Promise and Operation Deny Flight during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two weeks after returning from the Balkans in 1994, the MSSG was off to the coast of Haiti as part of Operation Support Democracy.

MSSG-24 returned to the Balkans with the MEU during its next several deployments in 1995 and 1996 to support operations against Serbian aggression. During 1995, the 24th MEU rescued Captain Scott O'Grady, an Air Force pilot who had been shot down over Bosnia. In 1996, MSSG-24 assisted in restoring a bridge over the Drina River in Bosnia. In 1997, the 24th MEU and the MSSG were diverted to the Persian Gulf to be the landing force for Fifth Fleet in support of Operation Desert Thunder. During its 1999 deployment, the 24th MEU assumed again a forward presence in the Balkans during the NATO operation against Serbian aggression in Kosovo. During this deployment, Harriers from the 24th MEU were the first such aircraft to be used in combat.

Global War on Terror
CLB-24 is currently supporting 24th MEU operations in Afghanistan with personnel located at Kandahar Airfield, Camp Bastion, Forward Operating Base Dwyer and FOB Delhi.