7th Communication Battalion

The 7th Communication Battalion is a communications battalion in the United States Marine Corps.

7th Communication Battalion
Battalion insignia
Active1 October 1957 – present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
TypeCommunications
Part ofIII Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group
EngagementsVietnam War
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Restore Hope
Commanders
Current
commander		Lieutenant Colonel William J Matkins

Mission

7th Communication Battalion will establish, maintain, and defend communication networks and services simultaneously for Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) command elements (CE), Marine component headquarters, and/or a Combined/Joint Task Force headquarters (C/JTF HQ) in order to facilitate a commander's ability to command and control forces.

History

The 7th Communication Battalion was activated in 1957 at Camp Pendleton, California. Its first deployment of was to Taiwan in 1960, where they spent February–April stationed at Kaohsiung. The 7th was later relocated to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.[1]

The 7th participated in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1969. They operated first from Da Nang (Hill 34) with elements operating at the Phu Bai Combat Base while assigned to the 1st Marine Division. While in Vietnam, members of the unit were assigned or attached to other USMC units. Wiremen from 7th Communication Battalion incurred particularly high casualties (see declassified log available via web search). Subsequently, they operated out of Da Nang. They were briefly reassigned to Okinawa in late 1969, before returning several months later to Vietnam, and serving there until 1972, except for a short break in late 1971 to early 1972.[1] The 7th Communications Battalion also participated in Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind at the official conclusion of the Vietnam War in April 1975.

After Vietnam

The 7th were deployed to Thailand in May 1972, until 1973 as part of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Task Force. They participated in minesweeping off the North Vietnam coast in 1973,[1] before aiding in evacuations, and search and rescue in Southeast Asia in 1974–75.

1990s to present

The battalion participated in support of Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from December 1990 to April 1991. They also participated in Operation Desert Shield, at around the same time. They participated in Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh in mid-1991, and also served in Somalia in 1992 and 1993.[1]

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The 7th Communication Battalion has been presented with the following awards:

Streamer Award Year(s) Additional Info
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer two Bronze Stars 1966–1967, 1967–1968 Vietnam
Meritorious Unit Commendation with two Bronze Stars 1968, 2010, 2019-2021 Vietnam
National Defense Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars 1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present Vietnam War, Gulf War, War on Terrorism
Vietnam Service Streamer with one Silver and three Bronze Stars Chu Lai, Da Nang
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer

See also

References
  1. "7th Communication Battalion > Lineage". Retrieved 24 January 2017.
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