24th Marine Regiment ( United States ) The 24th Marine Regiment ( 24th Marines ) was one of three infantry regiments in the 4th Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps . Its last headquarters before being deactivated on September 9 , 2013 was in Kansas City , Missouri . Former Mission . On order , the 24th Marine Regiment mobilizes in support of theater engagement plans , or contingency operations to provide a command element or ground combat element of a MAGTF in order to augment and reinforce the active component forces in time of war , national emergency or contingency operation . History . World War II . The 24th Marine Regiment was activated at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California on 26 March 1943 . All three battalions were organized at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune , North Carolina prior to activation of the Regimental Headquarters . 1st Battalion , 24th Marines formed on 19 October 1942 ; 2nd Battalion , 24th Marines on 20 January 1943 ; 3rd Battalion , 24th Marines on 1 February 1943 . In August of that same year the Regiment was attached to the newly created 4th Marine Division . The Regiment began movement to the combat zone in January 1944 when it sailed from San Diego , California for the enemy held Marshall Islands . The first combat assignment for the Regiment was to take part in the seizure of Roi - Namur , twin islands in the Kwajalein Atoll . On 1 February , the Regiment assaulted Namur . The 2d and 3d Battalions led the attack . On moving inland the Regiment met strong resistance . Second Battalion suffered especially heavy casualties , primarily due to the explosion of an enemy ammunition dump . The island was completely wrested from the Japanese by the following day . The 24th Marines reembarked and sailed for Hawaii two days later . While stationed there , 24th Marines took part in the preparations for the invasion of the Mariana Islands . Saipan was the first objective of the Mariana Island Campaign for the Regiment . The 24th Marines were originally placed in reserve . However , heavy fighting on the day of the landing , 15 June 1944 , forced the call - up of the Regiment . 24th Marines went ashore that afternoon joining other Marine units from the 2nd Marine Division and 4th Marine Divisions in pushing inland . The Japanese stubbornly resisted the invading Americans until 9 July when the island was declared secure . ( Academy Award - winning actor Lee Marvin was a member of " I " Company , 24th Marines , and was seriously wounded in the assault on Mount Tapochau on 18 July 1944 . ) American military forces in the Marianas next turned their attention to the neighboring island of Tinian . The 24th Marines had a leading role in the campaign to seize Tinian . The Regiment was in the first wave to hit the beaches . Enemy opposition was quickly overcome and the 24th Marines rapidly moved inland . By 1 August organized resistance had ended with the island under American control . The Regiment returned to Hawaii at the end of the month . In Hawaii , the 24th Marines received replacements for losses suffered in the Marianas and started training for its toughest battle of World War II - Iwo Jima . In late January 1945 , the 24th Marines embarked and sailed for the Japanese stronghold , landing on 19 February , with other 4th Marine Division units . From the very beginning of the operation the 24th Marines remained locked in battle , often in hand - to - hand combat . The last enemy pocket of resistance was finally crushed on 16 March . The Regiment was relieved two days later and immediately boarded naval vessels and returned to Hawaii . The ferocity of the campaign was reflected by the great number of casualties incurred by the 24th Marines . The Regiment suffered 652 killed and 1053 wounded . On 21 February 1945 , the 4th Marine Division was locked in battle against strong enemy forces protecting Motoyama Airfield # 1 . Multiple enemy defensive belts guarded this major complex on Iwo Jima ' s central plateau . The 24th Marines were assigned to drive to the O - 1 line and clear the airfield . A complex of six pillboxes with mortars in support held up the 1st Battalion , 24th Marines ' attack across the airfield , inflicting many casualties . Two M4 medium tanks went forward to knock out the pillboxes . The tanks both hit landmines and were put out of action . Maj Paul Treitel , commander of 1 / 24 , needed support to destroy the pillboxes . Gunner Ira Davidson reported to the battalion command post . Maj Treitel asked him , " Could you get at those pillboxes with a 37 ? " The Gunner nodded and moved out . Under mortar and machine gun fire , Davidson crossed the exposed airfield and headed back to his platoon assembly area . He ordered one of his 37mm sections into action . The Gunner and six of his Marines manhandled their 900 pound gun across 200 yards of fire - swept ground . One of the crew was killed , two were wounded , and another shell - shocked . Once in position , Gunner Davidson took the controls of his gun . Siting in , he engaged each pillbox in turn with 12 - 15 high explosive rounds each . Under a continuous mortar barrage , Davidson kept shooting until advancing Marines masked his arc of fire . The infantry Marines moved up and secured the enemy defensive complex . Clearing the pillboxes , they found dead Japanese troops in each . Davidson had fired so accurately , he was able to put rounds through the pillboxes ' apertures . His outstanding gunnery skills and leadership saved the lives of many of his fellow Marines . For his heroic actions on Iwo Jima , Marine Gunner Ira Davidson was later awarded the Navy Cross . Post World War II . The 24th Marines remained in Hawaii until October when it was ordered back to California , where it was deactivated on 31 October 1945 . In 1962 the Marine Corps Reserve began a reorganization process which eventually led to the formation of the 4th Marine Division / Wing Concept . The three battalions of 24th Marines were activated on 1 July 1962 . The Regimental Headquarters was not reactivated until 1 February 1966 . Operation Desert Storm / First Gulf War . In November 1990 , the 24th Marines were activated for participation in Operation Desert Shield . Initially , the regiment deployed to Camp Pendleton , California for work - up training . In January 1991 , demonstrating the flexibility of the regiment , 1st Battalion deployed to Okinawa , Japan , for duty with the 3rd Marine Division . The remainder of the 24th Marines deployed to Saudi Arabia for duty with I Marine Expeditionary Force units in support of operations against enemy forces in Kuwait . From 16 January to 28 February , the 24th Marines participated in Operation Desert Storm . In April , the regiment redeployed to the United States . In August , the 1st Battalion redeployed from Okinawa to Detroit . The Global War on Terror . Though not deployed as an entire regiment , battalions from the regiment ( 1 / 24 , 2 / 24 , and 3 / 24 ) augmented active - duty regiments and deployed to the War in Iraq for the initial invasion in 2003 ( 1 / 24 ) , and Al Anbar , Iraq in 2004 ( 3 / 24 ) , 2004 - 2005 ( 2 / 24 ) , 2006 - 2007 ( 1 / 24 ) , 2007 - 2008 ( 2 / 24 ) , and 2009 - 2010 ( 3 / 24 ) . 3 / 24 holds the distinction of being the last Marine battalion in Iraq . In addition , elements of 24th Marine Regiment Headquarters Company deployed to Africa and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on a rotational basis from 2003 - 2012 . In June , 2007 , and again in June 2010 , 24th Marine Regiment deployed to Peru , South America as Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 24 ( SPMAGTF 24 ) . They trained with partner nation Marines from Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Colombia , Ecuador , Mexico , Paraguay , Peru , Uruguay , and soldiers from the Royal Canadian Army as a part of Partnership of the Americas ( POA ) 2010 . Deactivation . The Regiment was deactivated on September 9 , 2013 in a ceremony at its headquarters in Kansas City , Missouri . The Marines and equipment of the headquarters element now constitute the newly created Combat Logistics Regiment 4 .