USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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HMM-163 Page 28 left: An aircrewman inspects the surrrounding area prior to take-off.

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The history }f the grunts md groundpounders Df Battalion Landing Team 1 9 On March 1, 1942, 1st Battalion, th Marines (1 9) was activated and ssigned to the 2nd Marine Division. n August 1942, 1 9 was reassigned . 3rd Marine Division at Camp endleton, California. During World War II, 1 9 partici- ated in Western Pacific military ampaigns at Bougainville, Guam nd Iwo Jima. At Bougainville, 1 9 eized Grenade Hill , and after lose-in fighting in the dense jungle, nded the Battle of Piva Forks. First ■attalion, 9th Marines also per- ormed valiantly on Guam and on wo Jima, which has been considered he bloodiest battle in Marine Corps listory. When the Japanese surren- ered, the 9th Marines remained on juam until their return to Camp ' endleton and official disbandment ■n December 31, 1945. The 9th Marines were reactivated during the Korean War on March 17, 1952. During the next year, the 9th Marines trained at: Camp Fuji - McNair, Japan; Okinawa, Japan; Camp Shinodayama, Japan; Iwo Jima, Japan; and Camp Sakai, Japan. In February 1956, 1 9 participated in a large-scale operation called FIRM LINK in Thailand. In August 1956, 1 9 displayed the effectiveness of vertically deploying marines from helicopters. The marines of 1 9 relieved battal- ion 3 9 in Vietnam on June 16, 1965 during the occupation and defense of Da Nang Air Base. In September 1966, 1 9 returned to Camp Schwab, Okinawa, and was then reassigned to the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. In November 1969, 1 9 was reas- signed to the 3rd Marine Division. During the Vietnam conflict, 1 9 op- erated from Phu Bai, Fonh Ha, Camp Carroll, Con Thien, Khe Sahn, A Shau Valley and Cam Lo. From October 1969 through Janu- ary 1980, 1 9 deployed at various times as Battalion Landing Team 1 9 with the U.S. Navy ' s 7th Fleet to the Western Pacific. The early 1980s saw 1 9 forward deployed twice to Okinawa, Japan and then deployed to the Western Pacific Ocean with Amphibious Squadron Five during the second half of the decade. In July 1989, Battalion Landing Team 1 9 finished the decade by de- ploying to the Western Pacific Ocean with Amphibious Squadron One. BLT 1 9 returned to Camp Pendleton on December 19, 1989. BLT 1 9 Page 27

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They don ' t :all them ' Ridge Runners for nothing The dominant Evil Eyes painted »n the nose of each CH-46 Sea Cnight helicopter in this squadron is mly one aspect which separates this lelicopter squadron from the rest. The Ridge Runners (named rom a phenomenal typhoon rescue nd relief effort in the mountainous lansin prefecture of Japan) of 4MM-163 were originally formed on December 1, 1951 when they were hen recognized as HMR(L)-163. The Western Pacific was the sight )f many deployments for the squad- on during the 1950 ' s and 60 ' s. From .964 through 1968, HMM-163 dis- inguished itself during four combat ours in Vietnam. The most signifi- ant c ampaign occurred in March .966, when the squadron flew in ex- :ess of 2,000 hours in 10 days. This peration was completed without my fatalities during the evacuation )f an Army Special Forces outpost in he As Hau Valley. HMM-163 was iwarded the Presidential Unit Cita- ion and Navy Unit Commendation or its conspicuous action during the init ' s tours in Vietnam. Since 1968, the squadron has dis- inguished itself by performing in a nyriad of operations, including de- ployments as far East as Pensacola, ; r lorida, as far South as Panama, and i Vest on deployments to MCAS Fu- tenma, Japan. The squadron ' s readiness was tested in January 1982, when it was called upon to be the Aviation Com- bat Element for the 17th Marine Am- phibious Unit (MAU). During this time, HMM-163 participated in a show of readiness termed Kernel Egress. September 1983 found the Ridge Runners returning from Futenma, Japan, and then being chosen to be- come the first squad ron from the West Coast to support a MAU aboard an amphibious ship. HMM-163 was the proud recipi- ent of the Marine Corps ' Helicopter Squadron of the Year Award for 1985, making it a three-time winner. The squadron previously won this award in 1979 and 1981. The squad- ron also received the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award from 1982 through 1985. HMM-163 is the only helo squadron to receive this award four years in a row. In December 1988, the squadron reached another milestone by record- ing 50,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours. In July 1989, HMM-163 continued its safe and successful ways as it de- ployed to the Western Pacific Ocean on board USS TARAWA (LHA-1). HMM-163 Page 29