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MEU Service Support Group 13 History
MEU Service Support Group 13 is task organized, equipped and assigned by
the Commanding General, 1st Force Service Support Group, from the assets of the
eight battalions organic to the FSSG. Its mission is to provide combat service
support, specifically: supply, maintenance, transportation, deliberate engineer and
health services to the forward deployed 13th MEU.
The Group was formally activated at Camp Pendleton, Calif.,
Feb. 1, 1985, but its history and lineage can be traced, indirectly,
through a composite of the subordinate battalions of 1st FSSG
from World War II through Korea and Vietnam. The predecessors
of MSSG, Marines and Sailors from 1st Landing Support
Battalion, 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 7th
Motor Transportation Battalion, 1st Dental Battalion, 1st Medical
Battalion and Headquarters and Service Battalion fought with
distinction through Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Inchon, Chosin Reservoir and Vietnam.
Although the designation of the Combat Service Support Element of the
Marine Air-Ground Task Force has changed many times, from Combat Service
Group, Force Service Regiment, Force
Logistics Command and Force Service
Support Group, each Marine and Sailor
still contributes his own specialized skill
to ensure that combat arms personnel and
equipment are prepared for combat and
contingency operations.
With less than 300 Marines and
Sailors, MSSG-13 stands ready to support
the 13th MEU across the spectrum of
combat service support requirements.
Capabilities include replenishment of all
classes of supply, vehicular transportation,
and landing support for both amphibious craft and helicopters. Services
supported through the MSSG include military police, disbursing and information
systems management.
Engineer capabilities include explosive ordnance disposal, road improvement,
water production and distribution, and bulk fuel storage and distribution.
Medical and dental support is resident in the MSSG for health maintenance,
battlefield casualty treatment and evacuation.
During an amphibious landing, while the Marines of MSSG-13 are performing
a myriad of tasks both ashore and afloat, they are always prepared to depart from
their specialized mission and assume the role of Marine riflemen should the need
arise.
While afloat, the Marines and Sailors of MSSG-13 are spread-loaded across
ships of the Amphibious Readiness Group, proudly serving as an integral part of
the Navy/Marine Corps team.
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