Seahorse5

The activation of the Fifth Regiment of Marines dates back to June 1917 just prior to embarkation to France during World War I. It was on the battlefields of France that the Regiment won its nickname the “Fighting Fifth.” So fierce were its efforts in the Battle of Belleau Wood and subsequent victories that the French government awarded the Regiment the Croix de Guerre with two palms and one gilt star. Today, each man serving in the Regiment wears the Fourragère on the left shoulder of his dress uniform.

With the advent of the U. S. mail trains in the 1900’s came bandits, and the mail service consequently suffered. After having been reactivated during June of 1920, elements of the 5th Marines became U. S. Mail Guards. While they were on the job not one Marine was killed nor one piece of mail lost to bandits. In March of 1927 the Regiment moved to Nicaragua and fought in support of established government against rebel bands until April 1930.

Troubled times prompted the reactivation of the 5th Marines on 1 September 1934. After service in the United States and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Regiment was deployed to New Zealand in 1942. During the years of World War II, the Regiment saw action at Guadalcanal, Eastern New Guinea, Peleiu and Okinawa. Post-war years found the Regiment in North China until May 1947, then Guam, and subsequently Camp Pendleton until August 1950.

The country again called upon the 5th Marines, and in August 1950 the Regiment participated in combat in the Pusan Perimeter in Korea. During the next three years the Regiment was involved in actions at Inchon-Seoul, Chosin Reservoir, East Central Front and Western Front. The 5th Marine Regiment returned to Camp Pendleton in March 1955 and was to remain there for the next eleven years.

In May 1966, the call to service was once again issued to the Regiment, and the unit arrived in the Republic of South Vietnam where it was to remain until April 1971. The name Rung Sat, Chu Lai, Phu Bai, Hue, Que Son, An Hoa, Tam Ky, and Da Nang are still remembered by members of the Regiment. The Presidential Unit Citation was awarded the tenth time since Guadalcanal upon the Regiment’s return home to Camp Pendleton.

The 5th Marine Regiment was once again called into action in support of Operation Desert Shield in August 1990. On 26 January 1991 while embarked with the largest amphibious task force since WW II, RLT-5 in conjunction with RLT-2 conduct heliborne and surface assaults for Exercise Sea Soldier IV in Southern Oman. On 25 February 1991, RLT-5 CE, BLT 2/5, BLT 3/5 and support elements disembarked in direct support of Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait.

On 11 May 1991, the 5th Marines received an executive order for humanitarian assistance and relief in Bangladesh. The 5th Marines returned to the United States on 29 June 1991. The Regiment has deployed to Yellowstone National Park and Umatilla National Forest, Oregon and Clear Creek, Idaho to combat wild fires.

In January 2003, 5th Marines deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom from March to May 2003. The Regiment returned to Iraq in February 2006 as RCT-5 and completed a successful yearlong deployment in the greater Fallujah area. The “Fighting Fifth” is the most highly decorated Regiment in the Marine Corps.