1st Battalion 9th Marines The 1st Battalion 9th Marines ( 1 / 9 ) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps . Formed during World War I , it served until the mid - 1990s when it was deactivated to make room for one of three light armor reconnaissance battalions . During the Vietnam War , 1 / 9 sustained the highest casualty rate in Marine Corps history . In late 2005 , the battalion was once again activated and attached to the 8th Marine Regiment at MCB Camp Lejeune . Although the first full company has deployed , 1 / 9 was not expected to be ready for deployment as a battalion until May 2008 . On 19 April 2007 , 1 / 9 was officially stood up with all of its subordinate units fully manned . Subordinate units . The battalion comprises four infantry companies , one headquarters company , and one weapons company : History . World War II . The battalion was activated on 1 March 1942 at San Diego , California and were assigned to the 2nd Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division . They were reassigned during August 1942 to Amphibious Corps , Pacific Fleet and shortly thereafter relocated during September 1942 to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California and reassigned to the 3rd Marine Division . They deployed during January – February 1943 to Auckland , New Zealand and from there participated in the following World War II Campaigns : Following the surrender of Japan the battalion was detached during December 1945 from the 3rd Marine Division and returned during December 1945 to Camp Pendleton , California . They were formally deactivated on 31 December 1945 . Vietnam War . During the Vietnam War , the unit earned the name " The Walking Dead " for its high casualty rate . The battalion endured the longest sustained combat and suffered the highest killed in action ( KIA ) rate in Marine Corps history , especially during the Battle of July Two . The battalion was engaged in combat for 47 months and 7 days , from 15 June 1965 to 19 October 1966 and 11 December 1966 to 14 July 1969 . Based on a typical battalion strength of 800 Marines and Navy hospital corpsmen , 93 . 63 % ( 747 ) were Killed In Action ( KIA ) and 0 . 25 % ( 2 ) were Missing In Action ( MIA ) . 1 / 9 participated in the following operations during the Vietnam War : The 1980s & 1990s . During most of this time period , the battalion rotated between Camp Pendleton , California and Camp Schwab , Okinawa , Japan . This consisted of six months overseas and 18 months in California . 1stBn , 9thMarines , Fleet Marine Force ( REIN ) , Camp Pendleton , California served on several overseas deployments . 1 / 9 was redesignated as Battalion Landing One Slant Nine and deployed as the 13th MEU / SOC and 11th MEU / SOC . During its deployments , the Marines became a Marine Expeditionary Unit ( MEU ) that was Special Operations Capable ( SOC ) . This designation became America ' s 911 calling card . The Marines and Sailors were well trained in Counter Terroism , Downed Airman Rescue , Embassy evacuations , SPIE rigging , fast roping , rubber raiding in their inflatable boats for boarding and insertion , and rappelling . The tempo of the times called for high speed actions at a moments notice . With the Cold War a very real threat , much of the training was spent on foreign soviet weapons and soviet military doctrine . The Battalion proudly served in Gulf War I . Operation Restore Hope . In September 1993 , 1st Battalion 9th Marines from Camp Pendleton , California commanded by LtCol . Silva were the battalion deployed as the ground combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit . The 13th MEU arrived off the coast of Somalia in early October in direct response to the Battle of Mogadishu fought on 3 and 4 October 1993 . The 13th MEU and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit formed the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade ( 1st MEB ) commanded by General Peter Pace . 1st MEB remained on station ready to provide support to United States and United Nations forces . 1st MEB was disestablished when the 22nd MEU ( SOC ) was reassigned to the Mediterranean area of operations in mid - November . The 13th MEU remained as the principle rapid response force in support of the joint task force and participated in Operation Restore Hope and Operation Continue Hope . They also developed and executed two humanitarian assistance operations . The first , Operation Show Care took place in the cities of Marka and Qoryooley from 11 – 14 November . From 1 – 3 December 1993 , Operation More Care was conducted in the Old Port of Mogadishu . Both operations provided needed medical and dental assistance to Somali citizens . The 13th MEU ( SOC ) continued its presence mission through January , providing aircraft for the “ Eyes Over Mogadishu ” missions as well as sniper support at the United States Embassy compound . 2 February 1994 , the 24th MEU ( SOC ) relieved the 13th MEU ( SOC ) . Deactivated on 9 September 1994 and redesignated 2nd Battalion 1st Marines . The battalion remained inactive from 1994 through 2004 . Global War on Terror . Marines started checking into 6th Marine regiment in April 2005 , to start forming 1st Battalion 9th Marines . In April 2006 , after only a 30 - day work - up cycle , Alpha Company deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and completed a successful six - month deployment to Forward Operating Base Grizzly in Camp Ashraf , Iraq . During this time the company conducted security and stabilization operations north of Al Khalis in the Diyala Governorate , working jointly with Military Police , Cavalry and Field Artillery units from the National Guard . Alpha company returned in October 2006 without the loss of any Marines . 1st Battalion 9th Marines was officially reactivated in April 2007 . In March 2008 , the Battalion deployed to Al Anbar Province on a 7 - month deployment , and took over sole responsibility of Ar Ramadi and all security missions in the immediate area . The Battalion was divided into Police Transition Teams ( PTT ) and worked directly with Iraqi Police developing them into a more efficient professional police force to provide a more safe and secure living environment for the local populace . 1 / 9 returned from deployment in October 2008 . In 2011 , 1 / 9 completed a successful seven - month deployment to Helmand Province , Afghanistan . From September 2012 to the present Alpha Company is deployed to Al Jaber , Kuwait providing security forces for MAG 40 . Medal of Honor recipients . The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States . It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself " . . . conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States . . . " . The following table contains the names of the men who were recipients of the Medal of Honor while serving in 1 / 9 . They are listed in accordance to the " Date of Action " in which the MoH citation was made . Navy Cross recipients . The Navy Cross is the highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor . The following names are of the men who were recipients of the Navy Cross while serving in 1 / 9 . Unit awards . A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited . Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation . 1st Battalion , 9th Marines has been presented with the following awards :