3/9 Marines Reactivated After 16 Years
By Laura Vesco - (WNCT)
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are calling for more marines. Today, the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Regiment is reactivating. For almost sixteen years they remained a deactivated battalion.
With their flag flying high the men and women of 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines are marching proud, thanks to the Commandant’s request to congress for more infantry to fight in both our ongoing wars.
Veteran Tom Scheib says, “To see them come back online with the history they have and ready to go to Iran or Iraq or wherever it just makes all our hearts pound.”
From their first deployment to Guantanamo Bay in 1917 to their last in Somalia in 1992, the marines from 3/9 have a solid history. Now these troops are ready to once again become a part of history. Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Greenwood says, “It’s a big sense of responsibility and pride but not just to the marines we have today but to all the marines who have gone before us.”
For now, Lieutenant Colonel Greenwood says the marines of 3/9 have plenty of training ahead of them because in 2009 they will deploy after a sixteen year stand down. The Commandant actually received the go- ahead from congress, to activate three infantry battalions. Both 1/9 and 2/9 have already activated.
(nods to Steve in NC)
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