The City Council of the City of Laguna Hills passed a Resolution on August 28, 2007, adopting the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton on behalf of the Laguna Hills Community. The 3/5, call sign “Darkhorse,” was originally activated on June 1, 1917 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and deployed that summer to France to participate in World War I offensive campaigns. More recently, the 3/5 Battalion has been serving in Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Battalion was deployed in 2003 for the push to Baghdad to oust Saddam Hussein. The Battalion was again deployed in 2004 to capture the city of Fallujah from insurgents’ control. In November 2004, the Battalion, along with several other units, participated in Operation Phantom Fury and was part of one of the biggest battles in Iraq thus far. The 3/5 is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq next month. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, because of its pride and professionalism in combat, has accumulated seventy-seven decorations, which solidify its battle tested colors. The 3/5 continually trains to maintain combat readiness in the event their nation requires their combat services. For more information about the 3/5, visit their website at www.i-mef.usmc.mil/div/5mar/3bn/default.asp.
Residents and businesses interested in getting involved and supporting the 3/5 Battalion may contact them directly through their website, or may contact the 3/5 battalion adoption committee at (949) 632-8395 or the committee’s email at darkhorse92653@cox.net. (See disclaimer below.)
Disclaimer: The 3/5 battalion adoption committee (“Committee”) is comprised of local volunteers and other interested members of the public. The Committee is not an official committee of the City of Laguna Hills (“City”), nor is it affiliated with any governmental agency. The City makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by the Committee, either through its members, representatives, volunteers, agents, or its website. While the City supports the Committee’s efforts to establish a relationship with and provide assistance to the members of the 3/5 Battalion and their families, the City of Laguna Hills is not in any way affiliated with the Committee. As such, the City of Laguna Hills is not responsible for the representations made by or actions of the Committee.
