During that deployment the battalion suffered a casualty; Corporal Julio Vargas, who was killed by an IED on July 20.[1]. Chu Lai The 3rd Brigade airlifted its command post into Khe Sanh and assumed the mission of securing the area. 1st Tank Bn. On 30 December 1976 the battalion was re-designated from 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion (written as 3rd AABn). It fired more than 200,000 rounds of 105mm ammunition during its combat service. Marine Corps Tank Battles in Vietnam: In 1965 the large, loud, and highly visible tanks of 3rd Platoon, B Company, 3rd Tank Battalion landed across a beach near Da Nang, drawing unwelcome . A redesignation ceremony was held on 18 January 1982 in which the colors of Company D, 3D Tank Battalion were formally retired and replaced with the new colors of Company D (Rein), 3D Assault Amphibian Battalion. 1st Medical Bn. 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion. In a letter home, Tommy Clack expressed his worry that something bad was going to happen and it did when his unit engaged the NVA near the Cambodian border. I Corps. Home of the AmGrunts (Amphibian Tractor Infantrymen) and in The Price We Paid. In the DMZ, the 3d Marine Division maintained three distinct tactical areas designated by operational codenames. - Bougainville with 124 LVT-1s These initial forces were soon followed by Bravo, Delta, and H&S Companies of 3rd AABn. The battalion served as the primary mechanized assault support for the infantry and proved to be an invaluable asset in crossing the vast distances and urban areas of Iraq. Charlie would disappear into his holes and only come out once the Marines of Mike company had left. 1ST MARINE DIVISION KOREA. . Get different patches like military patches, magnets, Naval Aviation patches, medal patch, hook and loop patches & many more at affordable prices. Dates: Aug 13 . 1st MP Bn. LtCol Petronzio attended Officer Candidate school through the NROTC program after graduating from the During this time the battalion began upgrading its AAVP-7A1s to carry the UGWS (UpGunned Weapons Station), which mounts a .50 cal (12.7mm) M2HB machine gun and a Mk-19 40 mm grenade launcher. The 1 st Amtrac Battalion was an interesting organization in 1973-74. It was not unusual to see a Platoon Sergeant carrying a baseball bat which he was not in the least hesitant to use. In the early 1980s the battalion's LVT-7s underwent a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which converted the LVT-7 vehicles to the improved Amphibious Assault Vehicle-7A1 (AAV-7A1) by adding an improved engine, transmission, and weapons system and improving the overall maintainability of the vehicle. 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion's unit awards include: Presidential Unit Citation Streamer With Three Bronze Stars, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer With Two Bronze Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Streamer With Four Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal Streamer With Two Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Streamer, Vietnam Service Medal Streamer With Two Silver Stars, Southwest Asia Service Medal Streamer With Two Bronze Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Streamer, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Streamer, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Streamer, Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation Streamer. The 1st and 3rd Amphibian Tractor battalions served in Southeast Asia. POSTED BY: . During the Korean War, development began on a new vehicle to replace the aging amtracs. At the conclusion of World War II the battalion redeployed in March 1945 to Maui, territory of Hawaii and then relocated during February 1946 back to Camp Pendleton, California. "One of the most decorated battalions in Vietnam," he said with pride. For more information about this reunion, contact: Jim Jerry Norris (940) 631-7233 postaim16@hotmail.com . 3D Assault Amphibian Battalion was originally activated 16 September 1942 at San Diego, California, as 3D Amphibian Tractor (Amtrac) Battalion and assigned to the 3D Marine Division. After five days of combat, the two task forces, along with other other Marine task forces, British and Pan-Arab units, captured Kuwait International Airport and a cease-fire was announced. Hq . For its superior performance from 1983 - 1985, the battalion was awarded a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. A redesignation ceremony was held on 18 January 1982 in which the colors of Company D, 3rd Tank Battalion were formally retired and replaced with the new colors of Company D (Rein), 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion. The VC and NVA generally steered clear of areas where these special landing forces operated. 2. Virgina Military Institute in May 2006. The second and more lethal problem for the LVTP-5 was its vulnerability to mines. The LVTP-5 did all this despite a dangerous design fault that made most Marines reluctant to ride inside it. 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force. 1st Battalion 3rd Marines ARRIVED in Republic of Vietnam for COMBAT ACTION on 08Mar65, and was there till 06Oct69. Maintenance was always a challenge with the LVTP-5, and hard use on land strained its problematic mechanical systems. Gearhart was assigned to the 1st Amtrac Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Zachary Rodriguez, an assault amphibious vehicle crewman with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, ground guides a medical tactical vehicle into the USNS Seay (T-AKR-302) during exercise Native Fury 22 at Yanbu Commercial Port, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Aug. 27, 2022. Upon realizing the need to mechanize units participating in the Combined Arms Exercises (CAX), two platoons of AAVs were transferred to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms (MCAGCC) in July 1979. They first deployed in February 2003 to Kuwait and crossed the border into Iraq in March, attacking all the way to Baghdad. 18May67 -15Sep67. Enlarge This series primarily consists of command chronologies of U.S. Marine Corps units that served during the time of the Vietnam Conflict, and includes the records of those units that served in Vietnam as well as domestically and throughout the world. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Boot camp photo from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Platoon 122. . Eventually, 3rd Marine Division moved its headquarters to the town of Dong Ha, just ten miles south of the DMZ. In 2003, 3D Assault Amphibian Battalion participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the 1st Marine Division. 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division 91; 100; 482. When Patton took off, he went like a raped ape and woe betide those who couldnt keep up. I remember reading a story in Stars and Stripes that quoted him as saying Im going to . The 1st AMTRAC Battalion had operational control of a rotation of Marine infantry battalions. Hq . : 250 In early 1971 the 1st MP Battalion was based at Camp Stokes near Danang AB. In preparation for the assault into Kuwait, the battalion divided into two main mechanized infantry task forces, along with 1st and 3D Tank Battalions, to form Task Force Ripper and Task Force Papa Bear respectively. . 327; 434. With a three-man crew, it was designed to carry 34 troops in the hull, but in practice, the normal maximum was about 25 Marines with combat equipment. Donations and Dues qualify as Charitable Donations. The Battalions Amtracs were spread across the entire Division AOR, so the Company Commander and I spent the majority of our time traveling to the various compounds and fire bases where our vehicles were assigned. There the battalion fought in the Vietnam War from June 1966 - January 1970. During December 1942 the battalion relocated from San Diego a short distance up the coast to Camp Pendleton. 1st 155mm Howitzer Btry 1st ANGLICO. Occasionally we were fortunate enough to get a helo lift but the majority of the times the trips were by jeep, always hoping that the engineers had paid attention when they did their morning sweep of the roads. During December 1942 the battalion relocated from San Diego a short distance up the coast to Camp Pendleton. 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion deployed during February 1965 to Camp Schwab, Okinawa and redeployed again in June 1965 to the Republic of Vietnam. The battalion's actions in support of the Global War on Terror have earned it a Presidential Unit Citation Streamer, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer, National Defense Service Medal Streamer, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Streamer, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Streamer. The . A recovery and repair vehicle using the same hull was called the LVTR-1. Molina, 65, served with Kovic in H&S Co., 1st AmTrac Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in the late 1960s. I Corps. Most of these chronologies include four common sections of information: organizational data, narrative summaries of events, accomplishments . Throughout the 1980s, 3D Assault Amphibian Battalion deployed companies on its regular schedule of six month deployments to the forward units in Hawaii and Okinawa, including units aboard amphibious troop ships for fast-reaction forces in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and into the Persian Gulf. In the Northern Solomons the 3rd Marine Division made great use of 3rd Amtrac Battalion in the Swampy terrain. Normally a vehicle as big and heavy as the LVTP-5 would have some resistance to such devices, but the amtracs fuel tanks were installed in its floor: 12 cells carrying up to 456 gallons of gasoline. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Its tactical marking indicated that it was amtrac number 41, Company D, of the 3rd or 11th Amtrac Bn. Feb 67 to Apr 67 1st Battalion 3rd Marines to OKINAWA and PHILIPPINES 3D Amphibian Tractor Battalion was reactivated 1 April, 1952 at Camp Pendleton, California and assigned to Fleet Marine Force Pacific. The VC and NVA were skilled at adapting various explosives into impromptu mines using artillery shells, aircraft bombs and whatever else could be salvaged or scraped together. An engineer vehicle, the LVTE-1, weighed 82,750 pounds and could be fitted with a bulldozer blade. . On 10 August 1970, as the 3rd MP Battalion prepared for redeployment in Operation Keystone Robin Alpha, the 1st MP Battalion assumed control of the Marine war dog teams and also took over the 3rd Battalion's security responsibilities in the Danang Vital Area. It was hard to find the enemy. Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 1, Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 2, Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 4, Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 5, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Command, Mark 5, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel, Mark 5, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Recovery, Mark 1, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Engineer, Mark 1, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Howitzer, Mark 6, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel, Mark 7, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Recovery, Mark 7, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Command, Mark 7, Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Personnel, Mark 7A1, Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Recovery, Mark 7A1, Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Command, Mark 7A1. Download this stock image: U.S. Marine Sgt. Unit: Aco 1st amtrac 71-72 74-75 member: Interested Date: 03 Aug 2000. After training for a few months the battalion then deployed in FebruaryMarch 1943 to Auckland, New Zealand in preparation for combat in the Pacific theater. 1st Anti-Tank Bn. During this conflict, the battalion distinguished itself at Chu Lai, Da Nang, An Hoa, Hoi An. The 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion in 1968 "had to be one of the most unique Marine battalions of the time in terms of personnel and equipment structure." In addition to its normal complement of personnel and equipment, the battalion had attached to it: Marine . Infinite Menus, Copyright 2006, OpenCube Inc. All Rights Reserved. Iwo Jima, Redeployed during March 1945 to Maui, territory of Hawaii, Relocated during February 1946 to Camp Pendleton, California, Reactivated 1 April 1952 at Camp Pendleton, California, and assigned to Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, Reassigned during October 1955 to the 1st Marine Division, Element participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, October-December 1962, Deployed during February 1966 to Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Redeployed during March 1966 to the Republic of Vietnam, Participated in the war in Vietnam, March 1966 - January 1970, operating from: Unit: 3rd Pioneer Battalion of 3rd Marine Division 1945 member: No Date: 15 Nov 2001. . read more read less. During the march to Kuwait City, the mechanized infantry task forces were responsible for the defeat of numerous Iraqi regiments, the capture of tens of thousands of Iraqi prisoners, and the capture or destruction of thousands of enemy armored vehicles. The rocket could be launched across a suspected minefield, trailing a line charge of explosives. A prototype was ready in August 1951, and testing went forward. 1st Engineer Bn. It was deactiviated several months later on 1 May, 1946. The LVTP-5 was better adapted to riverine and brown-water operations. The Cua Viet fight demonstrated the versatility of the LVTP-5 series vehicles used by the Marines in Vietnam. One such unit, the 1st Provisional Armored Amphibian Tractor Platoon, was established for a six-month trial in 1965. 3rd AABn returned to Camp Pendleton in March 1991. Throughout Vietnam, the battalion was armed with variants of the LVT-5. George Company is of the greatest Battalion in . The Relief of Khe Sanh. Four more of the cannon-carrying vehicles, dubbed H-6s, were available for traditional indirect artillery fire support. Troy E. Black, the sergeant major of the Marine Corps, talks with Marines from 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 7, 2023. 1st Radio Bn. The company was instrumental in training Marines in desert warfare as they rotated in and out of the live-fire desert training area, a key to the Marine Corp's success in the 1991 Gulf War. 1952 - 1966. The howitzer carriers were intended mainly for indirect fire support, just like regular artillery, but were often deployed as a substitute tank to support infantry. In the Al Anbar province they conduct all manner of operations ranging from traditional infantry mechanized assault support to acting independently as motorized forces patrolling vast urban and desert areas. Infinite Menus, Copyright 2006, OpenCube Inc. All Rights Reserved. August 2023. Once laid across the minefield, the line charge detonated, clearing a path. The vehicles armor topped out at six-tenths of an inch thick, and a cupola on top mounted a .30- caliber machine gun. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. This then allowed another hero, L/Cpl. R. S. Pass, to further identify the enemy and fire back. The Division stands ready to conduct contingency response . After five days of combat the two task forces, along with other Marine task forces, British and Pan-Arab units, captured Kuwait International Airport and a cease-fire was announced. Sandwiched in those years I was fortunate to have three unforgettable years as the Marine Officer Instructor, NROTC Unit, University of Notre Dame. 3rd Marine Division - Okinawa, Japan. Originally designed to shuttle Marines and equipment from ship to shore during amphibious assaults, the vehicles performed many other duties in Southeast Asia, including work as armored personnel carriers, as assault guns, engineer vehicles and recovery vehicles. Marine armor was a key factor in the defense of Hagaru, and how a lone tank made it to Yudamni and then led the breakout across the high Toktong Pass. The battalion relocated during February 1970 to Camp Pendleton, California, and was reassigned to the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade. 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion was originally activated 16 September 1942 at San Diego, California, as 3rd Amphibian Tractor (Amtrac) Battalion and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. Find 3rd Amphibian Tractor (Amtrac) Bn unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. Kovic mentions him numerous times in the book, specifically in reference to an attack on a . An Hoa Dates: Jun 8, 2023 to Jun 11, 2023. Tulane Naval ROTC Alumni Assoication, Inc. 3rd Battalion 1st Marines (3/1), also they were known George Company or "Bloody George", is one of the Korean War's most decorated companies. There, the battalion fought in the Vietnam War from March 1966 - January 1970. Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 1, Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 2, Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 4, Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored), Mark 5, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Command, Mark 5, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel, Mark 5, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Recovery, Mark 1, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Engineer, Mark 1, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Howitzer, Mark 6, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel, Mark 7, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Recovery, Mark 7, Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Command, Mark 7, Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Personnel, Mark 7A1, Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Recovery, Mark 7A1, Assault Amphibian Vehicle, Command, Mark 7A1. 1st Armored Amphibian Co. For its actions in World War II 3D Amphibian Tractor Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Streamer, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Streamer With Four Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal Streamer. Prior to the completion of school my orders were changed and I was directed to report as a Platoon Commander to the recently formed Fifth Amphibian Vehicle (Amtrac) Battalion. Infinite Menus, Copyright 2006, OpenCube Inc. All Rights Reserved. The 1st and 3rd Amphibian Tractor battalions served in Southeast Asia. 1st 155mm Howitzer Btry 1st ANGLICO. . We were both assigned to the 3rd AmTrac Bn. Infinite Menus, Copyright 2006, OpenCube Inc. All Rights Reserved. Backing up Toners riflemen was a pair of LVTH-6 amphibious tractors mounting 105mm howitzers. I was in the 34th Replacement Battalion joining the 1st battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment on Guadalacanal in 1943. 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion was reactivated 1 April 1952 at Camp Pendleton, California, and assigned to Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. In 2010, the battalion was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 1st 8" HowitzerBtry. 1956, the Division moved to Okinawa and remained there as an expeditionary force-in-readiness until 1965. Following graduation from The Basic School at Quantico I was designated an Amphibian Vehicle Officer, and assigned to 1 st Marine Division, Vietnam, with Amphibious Vehicle School, Camp Pendleton in route. Once ashore, the LVTP-5s experienced hard use and their shortcomings became apparent, as they had been designed primarily to ferry Marines from ship to shore, including landings on contested beaches against defending enemies. Presidential Unit Citation (United States) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Presidential Unit Citation (US)) Jump to navigationJump to search Presidential Unit Citation U.S. Army U.S. Air Force U.S. Navy (and U.S. Marine Corps) U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Public Health Service Awarded by United States Armed Forces Type Ribbon (decoration) Eligibility Military units Awarded for . 1st AmTrac Bn at Cua Viet. Of the two platoons formed from Camp Pendleton, one went to Company A, 3d Tank Battalion, and the other platoon went to Company B, 3d Tank Battalion. SU 1st AmTrac Bn. The battalion served as the primary mechanized assault support for the infantry and proved to be an invaluable asset in crossing the vast distances and urban areas of Iraq. 1st Dental Co. 1st Force Reconnaissance Co. 1st Marine Division. Weighing in at 64,200 pounds, the massive vehicle was powered by an 810-HP Continental LV-1790-1 V12 engine that gave it a land speed of 30 mph and up to 6.8 mph in the water. 1st Tracs modified this LVT to make it a recovery vehicle in New Zealand in 1943. A Short History. Major general Rathvon M. Tompkins the 3rd Marine Division commander could not be sure whether this was the main thrust of the May Offensive along the DMZ or a diversion for a larger attack still to come, . 1st Recon Bn. We would like to invite all veterans to join us at our next reunion: Nov 1st - 3rd, 2023 Savannah, GA. 1st LAAM Bn. The attack began and ended with success. The two H-6s poured fire into the NVA troops, who desperately counterattacked. A British Royal Marine with Armoured Support Group Royal Marines 3 Troop, briefs U.S. Marines with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, on the capabilities of the Viking during . 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion was originally activated 16 September 1942 at San Diego, California, as 3rd Amphibian Tractor (Amtrac) Battalion and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division.During December 1942 the battalion relocated from San Diego a short distance up the coast to Camp Pendleton.After training for a few months the battalion then deployed in February-March 1943 to Auckland, New . United States Army. The vehicles ultimately modified to reduce these mechanical problems were given the A1 designation, added to the end of the model number. For its actions during Operation Restore. CUA Viet, MY LOC, VIETNAM, JUNE 68 - Aug 69, memory includes the 10 seconds to get in a bunker when the NVA guns went off, USS NJ shooting overhead at the big NVA guns, phantoms coming in, b52's, doing battalion courier duty between cua Viet, dong ha, Quang Tri running the cua Viet river every night with a 12 . It was again reassigned in August 1970 to the 5th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Subsequently, in April 1971, the battalion was reassigned to the 1st Marine Division with whom it remains to this day. For its actions during the Gulf War, the Battalion was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation Streamer, National Defense Service Medal Streamer, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal Streamer With Two Bronze Stars. A company, 1st Tracs, 3rd MARDIV. On order, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines deploys by air to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat. On May 6, 1965, the 3d Marine Division opened the Marine compound at the Da Nang Air Base in Vietnam. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, List of United States Marine Corps battalions, Organization of the United States Marine Corps, Marine Cpl. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) Lambert enlisted in the Marine Corps on, Douglas E. Gardner enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 2000 and completed recruit training at, An official website of the United States government, Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Sergeant Major, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. It wound up serving in Vietnam until 1972, supporting a South Korean Marine Brigade. In the early 1980s the battalion's LVT-7s underwent a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which converted the LVT-7 vehicles to the improved Amphibious Assault Vehicle-7A1 (AAV-7A1) by adding an upgraded engine, transmission, and weapons system improving the overall maintainability of the vehicle. The AAV is a 27.5-ton armored vehicle that carries up to 21 combat-loaded Marines and is armed with the UGWS (UpGunned Weapons Station), which mounts a .50 cal (12.7mm) M2HB machine gun and a Mk-19 40 mm grenade launcher. For the next 10 months I served as an Amtrac Platoon Commander and then as a Platoon Commander at the Infantry Training Regiment, before receiving orders to Vietnamese Language School. The AAV is a 26-ton armored vehicle that carries up to 18 combat-loaded Marines and is armed with the UGWS (UpGunned Weapons Station), which mounts a .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2HB machine . Check the below list for eligible recipients. SU 3rd Mar Div. After Vietnam, the LVTP-5 was replaced by the LVTP-7, which was improved based on the lessons from Vietnam, becoming smaller, lighter and much more durable for use on land. at C-4 area till after TET. The Korean Marine Corps had a well-deserved reputation as an excellent military force, but their success was built on the leadership principle of severe corporal punishment for any failings or transgressions. Sempre Fi! In August 1990, 3D Assault Amphibian Battalion received orders to prepare for an overseas deployment to Southwest Asia as a response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Only those crews specified below are eligible for the unit awards shown in the battalion awards list above. And finally for the past 30 plus years I have been a member of the Board of Directors, Navy Federal Credit Union. Operation Grouser I was a 3rd Marine Division search and destroy operation conducted by the 1st AmTrac Battalion to eliminate North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) forces in the area south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from the South China Sea coast west to Jones Creek, and south to the Cua Viet River. During this period the battalion was still armed with LVTs - transitioning primarily to the LVT-5 in the late 1950s. In the early 1970s the battalion transitioned from the LVT-5 to its replacement the LVT-7. 1st Medical Bn. This was accomplished after the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry successfully cleared Highway 9 to the base . The Marine Corps LVTP (landing vehicle, tracked, personnel) series of amphibious tractorscalled amtracswas a continuation of the famous World War II personnel carriers. 2nd Marine Division - Camp LeJeune, NC. He depressed the trigger while there was still several blocks of C-4 in the vehicle interior, which of course detonated the remaining charge of several thousands of pounds of C-4 as well as an estimated 200 gals of gasoline. The two platoons later merged and became Company D, 3rd Tank Battalion in September 1980. Again in another bit of Marine Corps logic, who better for the assignment then someone with Vietnamese Language training, notwithstanding the fact that the relationship between the local Vietnamese people and the Koreans was far from idyllic. A brief look at the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion from its activation on 16 February 1942 as a unit of the 1st Marine Division through today and its current designation of Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. An antiaircraft LVTP-5 variant was developed, but because of problems in testing, it never entered production. In 1950 a contract was awarded to the Borg-Wagner Corporations Ingersoll Products Division to develop the new LVTP-5 and its variants. 1st AmTracs at Cua Viet. The rest of my Marine Corps career included two unaccompanied tours on Okinawa, a comptroller tour at 29 Palms, Ca, attendance at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and far too many years assigned in various positions at Headquarters Marine Corps.