Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm War on Terror The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (3rd Recon) conducts amphibious and ground reconnaissance in support of the 3rd Marine Division and Marine Forces Pacific (MarForPac), operating in the commander's areas of influence.

Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd split the 3rd Division's scout and sniper company into its three platoons to attach each to the brigade's regiments, the 4th and 22nd.

[1] Colonel Schneider retired with the rank of brigadier general after receiving the Navy Cross and Bronze Star.

The enemy charged in force and overran the forward Marine lines and began to penetrate the thinly held rear areas.

Using grenades, small arms, mortars, bayonet and close quarters combat, they were able to hold of the attacking Japanese army.

However, one Japanese element during their counterattack managed to reach the 75 mm pack howitzer artillery position before they were ultimately stopped by the gun crews.

At this point, the Marine defenders, all hands—clerks, cooks, and supernumeries, rallied around 1st Lt. Dennis Chavez, Jr. recon platoon.

During the last major actions beginning 3 August 1944, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9) had secured a series of roads that junctioned in Finegayan Village, in the northern section of the islands.

Recognizing the Japanese held the advantage in terrain and cover, the Marines withdrew their forces back.

Later it was determined that the attack was against a full Japanese battalion of Rikusentai, the elite Special Naval Landing Force.

In the later afternoon of 7 May 1965, elements of the 3rd Reconnassaisnce Battalion arrived at Chu Lai from Da Nang and secured the beachhead's southern flank as BLT 1/4 was setting up several kilometers inland.

On 12 July 1965, an 18-man patrol from A Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion led by Reasoner was under fire about 20 kilometers southwest of Da Nang Air Base.

Reasoner came to the operator's aid as he provided cover, killing two VC and interrupting hostile automatic weapons fire.

On 4 June 1969, the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion lost an entire 6 man recon team, call sign "Flight Time".

On the night of 3/4 June 1969 the team was attacked by an enemy force and requested both emergency extraction and immediate reinforcement.

[11] The last elements of the battalion left South Vietnam on 20 November 1969 as part of Operation Keystone Cardinal.

In March 2004, elements of B Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

From September 2006 to April 2007, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion deployed to Iraq to conduct combat operations in the Al Anbar Province.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.