The 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion

The Battalion was activated 16 February 1942 at New River, North Carolina as the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 1st Marine Division. It relocated during May 1942 to Wellington, New Zealand, and participated in the following World War II campaigns: Guadalcanal, Finschhafen, New Brittain, Pelelieu, and Okinawa. The unit was deactivated 17 November 1945 at San Diego, California

The Battalion was reactivated 1 May 1946 at Camp Pendleton, California as the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF. It participated in the Korean War from the Pusan Perimeter in operations from Inchon to Seoul, Chosin reservoir, East to Central Front, and the Western Front. It subsequently participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone from August 1953 to March 1955.

The unit relocated during March 1955 to Camp McGill, Japan, and was reassigned 16 March 1965 to the 3d Marine Division and relocated to Camp Hansen, Okinawa. It deployed during July 1965 to Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, and participated in the war in Vietnam, July 1965-July 1969, operating from Da Nang and Cua Viet.

It relocated during July 1969 to Camp Schwab, Okinawa, and was re-designated 1 April 1976 as the 1st Tracked Vehicle Battalion. It was re-designated 10 November 1988 as the 1st Armored Assault Battalion, re-designated 30 September 1992 as the Combat Support Group, and re-designated 5 October 1994 as the Combat Assault Battalion.

The 1st Combat Assault Battalion conducts and supports amphibious operations and other operations as required by landing and transporting to inland objectives the surface assault elements and their equipment, conducting close combat engineer support; and by conducting light armored reconnaissance and limited offensive and defensive operations. When task-organized with infantry, tanks and other forces, the battalion conducts combined arms operations as a separate maneuver element in support of the Marine Division.