All three battalions were organized at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina prior to activation of the Regimental Headquarters.

The regiment began movement to the combat zone in January 1944 when it sailed from San Diego, California for the enemy held Marshall Islands.

Second Battalion suffered especially heavy casualties, primarily due to the explosion of an enemy ammunition dump.

(Academy Award-winning actor Lee Marvin was a member of "I" Company, 24th Marines, and was seriously wounded in the assault against a Japanese salient[1] on 18 June[2] 1944.

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.

A Co 24th replacement draft was attached to A Co 133rd Naval Construction Battalion as shore party to 1/23 on beach yellow 1 for the landing D-day.

On 21 February 1945, the 4th Marine Division was engaged with strong enemy emplacements encircling Motoyama Airfield #1.

It consisted of multiple lines of defense belts as a major complex on Iwo Jima's central plateau.

Six pillboxes with mortars in support held up the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines' attack across the airfield, inflicting many casualties.

Under mortar and machine gun fire, Davidson crossed the exposed airfield and headed back to his platoon assembly area.

Joseph J. McCarthy would receive the Medal of Honor for his pillbox actions at the airfield also The last pocket of enemy resistance was finally crushed on 16 March.

In January 1991, demonstrating the flexibility of the regiment, 1st Battalion deployed to Okinawa, Japan, for duty with the 3rd Marine Division.

[citation needed] 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.

They trained with partner nation Marines from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and soldiers from the Canadian Army as a part of Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2010.

The Marines and equipment of the headquarters element now constitute the newly created Combat Logistics Regiment 4.