During the 1960's and 1970's, the current 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was activated at various times as the 34th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) to participate in exercises and operations in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Caribbean. In May 1982, it was redesignated the 24th MAU,and served twice as part of the multinational peace-keeping force in Lebanon (October 1982 through February 1983, and May through November 1983). It continued to make routine six-month deployments to the Mediterranean during the next three years, and provided forces for operations in the Persian Gulf from August through December 1987 while simultaneously maintaining a force-in-readiness presence in the Mediterranean. The MAU was redesignated the 24th MEU in February 1988. Following Operation Desert Storm, the 24th MEU was tasked with the herculean humanitarian relief effort in support of the Kurdish people in Turkey and Northern Iraq.
On April 16, 1991, elements of the 24th MEU, along with other U.S. and allied forces, were mobilized to complete a mission of mercy, Operation Provide Comfort. The MEU delivered food, supplies and medicine, and transported Kurds to "safe havens" and temporary tent cities. The 24th MEU took part in Operations Restore Hope and Continue Hope, keeping
Somalian clan warlords at bay during March and April 1993. The MEU furthered its mission by providing humanitarian aid to the Somalians by transporting much needed food and aid to many remote areas of Somalia. Between January and March 1994, 24th MEU returned to the shores of Somalia in support of United Nations Operation Continue Hope. The MEU then turned eastward, entering the Adriatic Sea, where from May to June 1994, it served in support of Operations Provide Promise and Deny Flight in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Immediately upon return from its six-month deployment, 24th MEU, always vigilant,
redeployed to the waters of the Caribbean, off the coast of Haiti. The MEU served there from July to August 1994 as part of Operation Support Democracy. The latest noteworty accomplishment of the MEU would be its daring daylight Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel rescue of Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady from Bosnia-Hercegovina on June 8, 1995.
The 24th MEU's decorations include: Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star; Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star; Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer; Marine Corps Expeditionary Streamer; National Defense Service Streamer; Armed Forces Service Streamer with one bronze star, Armed Forces
Expeditionary Streamer with two Bronze Stars and Southwest Asia Service Streamer.
Today, the 24th MEU, and its sister units, the 22d and 26th MEUs, operate on a rotational basis as the landing force of the United States' Sixth Fleet, conducting operations in the Mediterranean.