1st Battalion 23rd Marines Patch
First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division
The 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines (1/23) serves as a reserve infantry battalion within the 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, United States Marine Corps Reserve. The 23rd Marine Regiment traces its distinguished lineage to activation on 30 September 1942 during World War II, when the regiment was formed as part of the 4th Marine Division—one of the most combat-decorated divisions in Marine Corps history.
The 4th Marine Division fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War, and the 23rd Marines saw fierce combat at Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands in January 1944, followed by the brutal fighting on Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands during the summer of 1944. The regiment's most iconic action came during the Battle of Iwo Jima in February-March 1945, where Marines of the 4th Division stormed the volcanic island's heavily fortified beaches and fought through an entrenched Japanese defense in some of the costliest fighting in Marine Corps history. The 4th Marine Division earned the nickname "The Fighting Fourth" through its distinguished combat record.
Reactivated as a reserve unit, 1/23 carries forward this extraordinary combat legacy while maintaining readiness to augment and reinforce active duty Marine forces when called upon. As a reserve infantry battalion, 1/23 trains to provide ground combat forces capable of conducting offensive, defensive, and stability operations across the full spectrum of military operations. The battalion's Marines maintain their combat proficiency through regular training exercises, annual training deployments, and readiness drills while serving in their civilian careers.
Perfect For: 1st Battalion 23rd Marines members and veterans, 23rd Marine Regiment personnel, 4th Marine Division reservists, Marine Corps Reserve infantry community members, and World War II Pacific Campaign history enthusiasts.
Carrying forward the Fighting Fourth's legacy from the beaches of Iwo Jima to the training fields of today, ready when the nation calls.