Patches


HMR-163

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HMR(L)-163



HMM-163

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Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163
HMM-163

Evil Eyes

HMM-163's 50+ years of distinguished service includes typhoon relief in Japan in the 1950s, combat in Vietnam, and participation in numerous training exercise and deployments. Most recently, HMM-163 was deployed to Afghanistan as the Combat Aviation Element of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in support of Operation "Enduring Freedom".


Lineage

1951-1961

Activated 1 December 1951 at Santa Ana, California, as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 163 and assigned to Air, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

Reassigned during March 1952 to Marine Aircraft Group 16.

Deployed during August 1953 to Hanshin, Japan. Reassigned to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Redeployed during May 1954 to Oppama, Japan.

Redesignated 1 December 1956 as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron (Light) 163.

Relocated during May 1959 to Santa Ana, California. Reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.

Deployed during June 1960 to Futenma, Okinawa. Reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Relocated during August 1961 to Santa Ana, California. Reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.

1962 - 1990

Redesignated 1 February 1962 as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163.

Deployed during July 1962 to Futenma, Okinawa and reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Redeployed during August 1962 to Republic of Vietnam.

Redeployed during January 1963 to Futenma, Okinawa.

Relocated during September 1963 to Santa Ana, California.

Reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.

Deployed during December 1964 to Futenma, Okinawa. Reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

Redeployed during February 1965 to the Republic of Vietnam.

Participated in the War in Vietnam
August 1962 - January 1963
February - October 1965
January - July 1966
October 1966 - August 1968

Operating from
Soc Trang
Da Nang
Marble Mountain Air Facility
Hue/Phu Bai
Quang Tri

Temporarily located at Futenma, Okinawa
October 1965 - January 1966
August - October 1966.

Participated at various times throughout the period as part of the Special Landing Force of the Seventh Fleet.

Relocated during September 1968 to Santa Ana, California. Reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 56, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.

Reassigned during July 1971 to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing.

Marine Corps Air Station Santa Ana renamed during July 1978 as Marine Corps Air Station Tustin.

Participated in the system of Unit Deployment between Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing during the 1970s and 1980s.

Relocated to Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California.

1990-2003

Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003.


Unit Honors

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER with 3 bronze stars
Vietnam
1965 - 1967
1967
1968

Iraq
2003

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 3 bronze stars
Vietnam
1962 - 1963
1965
1968

Southwest Asia
1990 - 1991

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with 1 silver and 1 bronze star
1978 - 1980
1981 - 1982
1983 - 1985
1987
1987
1988 - 1989
1994

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER with 3 bronze stars

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER with 1 silver and 3 bronze stars

VIETNAM CROSS of GALLANTRY with PALM STREAMER