| 1st Battalion, 8th Marines | |
|---|---|
| Active | April 1, 1940 – November 18, 1947 November 1, 1950 – present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver |
| Part of | 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname(s) | The Beirut Battalion Foul Weather Warriors More Than Duty |
| Motto(s) | “Never Quit” |
| Engagements | World War II
Operation Blue Bat |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | LtCol. William T. Kerrigan |
| Notable commanders | John H. Miller Jan C. Huly Michael W. Hagee |
1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The battalion consists of approximately 1000 Marines and sailors and is nicknamed "The Beirut Battalion." The battalion falls under the command of the 6th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.
The unit's history dates back to World War II where it fought in numerous campaigns in the Pacific including Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. During the Cold War, it was part of Operation Blue Bat in Lebanon in 1958, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the intervention in the Dominican Republic in 1965, and the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing in Lebanon where 241 Marines, sailors and soldiers lost their lives. In 1991, it took part in operations during the Gulf War. Since 2001, 1/8 has fought the Global War on Terrorism by serving numerous tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.