4th Assault Amphibian Battalion 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion is a mechanized battalion of the United States Marine Corps reserve . Their primary weapon system is the Amphibious Assault Vehicle and they are part of the 4th Marine Division and the Marine Forces Reserve . The unit is based out of the Tampa Bay , Florida with subordinate units in Virginia , Mississippi and Texas . Mission . To land the surface assault elements of the landing force and their equipment in a single lift from assault shipping during amphibious operations to inland objectives . To conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent operations ashore . History . 1943 - 1945 . Activated on August 19 , 1943 at Camp Pendleton , California , as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion , Division Special Troops , 4th Marine Division , Fleet Marine Force . Reassigned during January 1944 to Corps Troops , Amphibious Corps , and deployed to the Pacific area . Reassigned during April 1944 to Corps Troops , 3rd Amphibious Corps , and participated in the following campaigns in World War II : Redesignated on September 8 , 1944 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific Troops , 3rd Amphibious Corps . Detached on November 11 , 1944 from the 3rd Amphibious Corps . Redesignated on July 15 , 1945 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion , 2nd Amphibian Tractor Group ( Provisional ) , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , and deployed to Guam , Marianas Islands . Redesignated on September 30 , 1945 as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific . Redeployed during October 1945 to Camp Pendleton , California and deactivated on November 26 , 1945 . 1962 - 2000 . Reactivated on July 1 , 1962 at Tampa , Florida as the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion , Force Troops , Fleet Marine Force , United States Marine Corps Reserve Redesignated on October 1 , 1976 as the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion , Fleet Marine Force , United States Marine Corps Reserve Participated in training exercises throughout the 1970s and 1980s . Participated in southwest Asia , Desert Shield , and Desert Storm as augmentation force to sister Assault Amphibian Battalions . 2000 - present . 4th AABn have provided augmentation to its sister Assault Amphibian Battalions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom . These battalions were in the 1st Marine Division and 3rd Marine Division . 4th AABn was activated in January 2003 , and deployed to the Middle East in February 2003 . On March 18 , 2003 - hours after President George W . Bush ' s speech and aerial attacks on the country , all convoys were staged to push to Baghdad . Weeks later , Bravo Company ( - ) reservists were the first of the battalion to set foot in Baghdad . Although destroyed bridges were an obstacle to many units , B Co ( - ) ability to cross the major rivers was an integral part of the overall mission . 4th AABn has deployed company sized elements in support of Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa . In the wake of Hurricane Katrina , elements of 4th AABn were deployed to the Gulf Coast in support of rescue and recovery operations . Alpha Company , 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion , was deployed to Iraq in 2008 to support Regimental Combat Team 5 . There they conducted provisional infantry missions as Helo Quick Reaction Force and other infantry operations throughout the Al Anbar Providence . Bravo Company , 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion , was deployed in 2009 to Al Asad , Iraq , attached to 1st Battalion 8th Marines . Honors . Presidential Unit Citation - WORLD WAR II Presidential Unit Citation - OKINAWA 1945 Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Streamer with Three Bronze Stars WORLD WAR II Victory Streamer