USMC 12th Marines Patch — USMC Embroidered Patch
12th Marine Regiment — The Thunder
The 12th Marine Regiment is one of the United States Marine Corps' premier artillery regiments, providing devastating fire support to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. With a lineage dating back to World War I, the 12th Marines have served in nearly every major conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries, delivering precision fires that have shaped the outcome of battles from the beaches of the Pacific to the deserts of the Middle East.
First activated on 12 January 1927 as part of the 3rd Marine Brigade in China, the regiment saw its first major combat during World War II, providing artillery support during the campaigns at Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. The 12th Marines' batteries delivered withering fire support during the brutal fighting on Iwo Jima, where the regiment's guns helped break through entrenched Japanese defenses. During the Vietnam War, the regiment deployed to I Corps and provided sustained fire support operations across the northern provinces.
In the modern era, the 12th Marines have continued to evolve with the changing face of warfare. The regiment has supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, providing both conventional artillery support and forward observer capabilities. Currently assigned to the 3rd Marine Division at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, the 12th Marines maintain forward-deployed readiness as part of III Marine Expeditionary Force, prepared to deliver fires in support of operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
Perfect For: Veterans of the 12th Marine Regiment, Marine artillerymen and forward observers, Marines of the 3rd Marine Division and III MEF, Okinawa-based Marines, and collectors of Marine Corps artillery heritage.
This patch honors the 12th Marines' thunder — nearly a century of delivering devastating fire support wherever Marines fight.
