The 4th Marine Regiment was activated on April 16, 1914 at Pugent Sound Washington. During its firts few years, the Regiment made regular deployments to Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The men of the 4th Marines landed at Vera Cruz Mexico and participated in the capture of the customs house. After 4 days, peace was restored to the Vera Cruz area and tensions between Mexico and the United States cooled. The 4th Marines remained in Mexico, under Army command, stayed behind for several months until follow-on Army forces could take over the peace keeping duties. In the Dominican Republic, the 4th Marines were sent to put down a Revolution at the request of the Island nation's government. Sortly after the Marines landed, peace was restored. In 1916, the 4th Marines were attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade.

In 1924, the 4th Marines relocated to San Diego, CA and were detached from the 2nd Brigade. From 1926 to 1927, the 4th Marines were tasked with protecting the mail in the Western United States. Local outlaws had chosen the mail trains as a favorite target. While the Marines were guarding the mail, not a single envelope was ever stolen and no train was successfully robbed.

In 1927, the 4th Marines packed up their gear and shipped out for Shanghai China and was assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade. For the next 14 years, the 4th Marines would be the primary defense force in Shanghai protecting the International Settlement and American interests in China. The "China Marines" would become a popular duty station and a feared adversary.

With war looming on the horizon between the United States and Japan, the 4th Marines redeployed from Shanghai to Olongopo Phillipines in November of 1941. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the Marines were sent to augment the defenses of Corregidor. Over the next 6 months the Marines and Soldiers of the Phillipine Defense force fought off the invading Japanese with everything they had. In May of 1942, after being decimated by disease, starvation, and running out of ammunition with no hope of resupply, the American forces, including the 4th Marines, surrendered their positions and were captured by the Japanese. The captured defenders were forced to march to their new home, Camp O'Donnel. Over 600 Americans dies during the grueling march. After bravely defending the beaches of Corregidor and enduring the Bataan Death March, only 43 Marines from the 4th Marine Regiment survived to live at Camp O'Donnel. Before being captured, the commander of the 4th Marines burned the colors and the 4th Marines ceased to exist.

On February 1, 1944 the 1st Raider Battalion was redesignated the 4th Marine Regiment and was assigned to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. In September 1944, the 4th Marines were assigned to the 6th Marine Division. Their first stop, the Phillipines.

After the Phillipine Islands were liberated from Japanese control, the 4th Marines continued to invade and secure island after island. Ofter the Phillipines they went on to New Georgia, Bougainville, the Norther Solomons, Bismark Archipeligo, Guam, and Okinawa. After being defeated by the Japanese at Corregidor, the 4th Marines made them pay a heavy price and defeated the Japanese time after time. After securing Okinawa, the men of the 4th Marines prepared for the final invasion. Operation Olympic and the invasion of the Japanese home islands.

Fortunately, the invasion was not necessary after the Japanese surrendered after the atomic bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

For several years after the war, the 4th Marines served as part of the occupation forces in Yokosuka Japan, Northern Chica, and Tsingtao China. In September 1946, the 4th Marines returned to the United States and was assigned to the 2nd Provisional Marine Brigade at Camp Lejeune NC. On October 17, 1949 the 4th Marines were deactivated.

In response to the war on the Korean peninsula, the 4th Marines were reactivated on September 2, 1952 at Camp Pendleton CA and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. In August, 1943, the 4th Marines deployed to Camp Nara, Japan. After the cease fire was signed in Korea, the 4th Marines redeployed to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and was assigned to the 1st Provisional Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). In 1956 the 1st MAGTF was redesignated the 1st Marine Brigade.

In May of 1965, the 4th Marines were reassigned to the 3rd Marine Division and deployed to South Vietnam. Over the next 4 years, the 4th Marines were engaged in almost continuous combat with the forces of North Vietnam. The 4th Marines operated from Chu Lai, Phu Bai, Dong Ha, Camp Evans, Camp Carrol, Camp Lo, and Co Bi Thanh Tan. In November, 1969 the 4th Marines were pulled out of Vietnam and sent to Camp Hansen Okinawa. The 4th Marines returned to Vietnam in 1975 to protect the evacuating Americans and Allies as they left South Vietnam. When the evacuation was comepleted, the 4th Marines returned to Okinawa, this time to Camp Sschwab.

Today the 4th Marines do not deploy as a Regiment. The 3 battalions that make up the 4th Marines make their home in different places, and are an integral part of the 1st Marine Division. The 1st BN 4th Marines are assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, CA. The 2nd BN 4th Marines are stationed with the 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton CA, and the 3rd BN 4th Marines are with the 7th Marine Regiment at 29 Palms California and regularly deploy to the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa Japan. The battalions of the 4th Marines deploy regularly as part of Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU). During operation Desert Shield/Storm the 1st BN 4th Marines, as part of the 13th MEU, stood ready for the amphibious landing of Kuwait that, fortunately, was not necessary. In August of 1992, the 1st BN 4th Marines, this time with the 11th MEU, were the first Marines on station in Somalia to protect the fist elements of the humanitarian mission while elements from Pakistan's Army prepared to take over.

On December 9, 1999 6 Marines and 1 Sailor from 1st Battalion, 4th Marines were killed when their CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed while attempring to land aboard USNS Pecos. The landing gear of the helicopter became entangled in the deck edge safety netting and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. 11 Marines were rescued and survived. Those 7 warriors were:

Gunnery Sgt. James Paige Jr.
Staff Sgt. William C. Dame
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jay J. Asis
Staff Sgt. David E. Galloway
Staff Sgt. Vincent A. Sebasteanski
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey R. Starling
Cpl. Mark M. Baca
Throughout its history, the 4th Marines has been honored time and again. The streamers attcahed to its battle flag include:

Marine Corps Expeditionary Streamer with One Bronze Star
World War I Victory Streamer with ?West Indies?
Yangtze Service StreamerChina Service Streamer with One Bronze Star
American Defense Service Streamer with One Bronze Star
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with Four Bronze Stars
World War II Victory StreamerNational Defense Service Streamer with One Bronze Star
Korean Service Streamer
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer
Vietnam Service Streamer with Two Silver Stars and One Bronze Star
Philippines Defense Streamer with One Bronze Star
Philippines Presidential Unit Citation Streamer
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Streamer with Palm
Soutwest Asia Service Streamer with Three Bronze Stars
Liberation of Kuwait (Saudi Arabia) Streamer
Liberation of Kuwait (Kuwait) Streamer
Joint Meritorious Unit Stremer