The Regiment was activated on October 4, 1927, at
Tientsin,
China and assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade.
World War II of the 12th Marines, in a semi-fortified firing position on Bougainville late in 1943. The regiment was reactivated September 1, 1942, at
San Diego, California, as the 12th Marines and assigned to the
3rd Marine Division. It relocated during October 1942 to
Camp Dunlap, California. From there it deployed during March 1943 to
Auckland,
New Zealand. In July 1943 it moved to
Guadalcanal. The regiment participated in the following World War II campaigns: •
Bougainville campaign (1944–45) •
Northern Solomons •
Battle of Guam •
Battle of Iwo Jima Following the war, the 12th Marines relocated in December 1945 to
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
Post World War II history The Regiment was reactivated on 17 March 1952, at
Camp Pendleton, California, and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. Deployed during August 1953 to Camp McNair, Japan. Redeployed during February 1956 to
Okinawa. Redeployed from March–July 1965 to the
Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The Regiment participated in the War in Vietnam, May 1965 – November 1969, operating from: •
Da Nang •
Phu Bai •
Chu Lai •
Huế •
Đông Hà Redeployed from August–November 1969 to Camp Hansen, Okinawa. Relocated during August 1971 to Camp Hauge, Okinawa. Elements participated in the Southeast Asia Evacuations, April–June 1975. Elements participated in the
recovery of the SS Mayaguez in May 1975. Relocated during August 1976 to Camp Zukeran, Okinawa. Camp Zukeran renamed Camp Foster during March 1980. Elements participated in the
Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Southwest Asia, September 1990-April 1991. Relocated during July 1998 to Camp Hansen, Okinawa.
Global war on terror Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale global war on terrorism. Marines from the battalion took part in the
Helmand Province Campaign, particularly the
Battle of Sangin.
Littoral Regiment The regiment was redesignated as the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment on 15 November 2023, during a ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. == See also ==