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The history of the Dayton Marine Corps Reserve dates back to the post World War II era.
In 1949, Dayton, Ohio was selected as the home of the 7th Howitzer Battalion, initially comprised of 23 Reserve officers and 300 Reserve enlisted Marines commanded by Major Jack Padley. The first address of the unit was located at 1212 East Third Street. The supervising/instructing staff was comprised of two active duty officers and 14 active duty enlisted Marines.
In the summer of 1950, the unit attended its first summer camp at Camp Barrett, in Quantico, Va., and during that year, the unit experienced its first transition. The Korean War call-up of Marine Reserve Forces to active duty included most of the Marines in the Howitzer Battalion. Those left on board were redesignated as the 2nd Supply Company, commanded by Major J.M. Rutledge.
The 2nd Supply Company was busy recruiting men and carrying on local community affairs. During Christmas 1952, the Dayton Marines began participating in the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, which gained national attention in 1949. Through community support, the program provides new toys to needy children each Christmas and is widely known as an "American Christmas" tradition.
In 1958, the present Training Center, located at 410 North Gettysburg Avenue, opened and the 2nd Supply Company moved in one wing of the building. It provided more space for training and equipment storage for the Dayton Marines.
In 1962, the Dayton Marines were again redesignated as the 8th Truck Company, assigned to support logistical operations, including assets of 30 trucks. Its highlight was an 800-mile motor march to Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune, N.C.
The next major change occurred in 1963 when the 8th Truck Company was redesignated as the 4th Motor Transport Maintenance Company. Its primary mission changed from driving to maintenance and repair of its fleet trucks.
The Vietnam War brought about a complete restructuring of the Marine Corps Reserve. The 4th Marine Division was formed and the 6th Motor Transport Battalion was created. Its headquarters was located in Middlesex, N.J., and Company B was designated in Dayton. The Dayton Marine's mission of maintaining and repairing trucks continued during this transition.
In May 1976, Company B, 6th Motor Transport Battalion, changed its primary mission to ground infantry when it was redesignated to Company B, 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment. Its mission was to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or to repel assault by fire and close combat.
Due to increased requirements for military police in the 4th Marine Division, the Dayton Marines were restructured to their current designation in January of 1982 and the Military Police Platoon (Reinforced), Headquarters and Service Battalion of 4th Force Service Support Group was formed. Its primary mission capabilities include law enforcement, battlefield circulation control, area security, prisoner of war processing and mortuary affairs duties.
Reserve Marines from the Dayton area have been activated for all our country's wars and major crises. In November of 1990, when the Dayton Marines were activated in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Marines from Company C were attached to various units in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Most recently, the unit's mortuary affairs platoon deployed to Iraq in January 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom. Two months later, Military Police Company C joined the mortuary affairs platoon in Iraq/Kuwait where they performed military police missions throughout Iraq and customs duties in Kuwait.
Tours of annual training have varied throughout the years and include Camp Pendleton, Calif., Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., Bridgeport, Calif., Coronado, Calif., and Ft. Hunter-Ligget, Calif.; Viegues, Puerto Rico; Camp LeJeune, N.C.; Little Creek and Ft. Lee, Va.; Beaufort and Parris Island, S.C.; Ft. Gordon, Ga.; Ft. McClellan, Ala.; Camp Ripley, Minn.; Ft. Chaffee, Ark.; and Ft. Drum, N.Y.
Military exercises the unit has participated in include locations such as Albania, Korea, Australia, Norway, and Curacao.
As they were in 1949 and throughout their change in missions, the Dayton Marines today remain a viable asset to the Marine Corps Reserve in service of their country and local community.
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