The 1 St Marine Division

and Its Regiments

by

Danny J. Crawford, Robert V. Aquilina

Ann A. Ferrante, and Shelia P Gramblin

Reference Section, Historical Branch

HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION

HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS

WASHINGTON, D.C.

1999
PCN 190 003148 00

For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328

ISBN 0-16-050101-6
Table of Contents

1st Marine Division . 1 The Leaders of the Division on Guadalcanal 8

1st Marine Division Generals 9

1st Marine Division Lineage 11

1st Marine Division Honors 13

The 1st Division Patch 15

The 1st Marines 16

Commanding Officers, 1st Marines 23

1st Marines Lineage 27

1st Marines Honors 30

The 5th Marines 32

Commanding Officers, 5th Marines 39

5th Marines Lineage 42

5th Marines Honors 45

The 7th Marines 47

Commanding Officers, 7th Marines 54

7th Marines Lineage 56

7th Marines Honors 59

The 11th Marines 61

Commanding Officers, 11th Marines 69

11th Marines Lineage 71

11th Marines Honors 74

111

The 1st Marine Division

The 1st Marine Division is the direct descendant

of the Advance Base Brigade, which was activated

on 23 December 1913 at Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania. During the early years of its existence, the brigade was deployed to a number of

troubled areas in the Caribbean. The brigade was

employed in a combat capacity in the "Banana

Wars" in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic, and

also participated in the landing at Vera Cruz,

Mexico.

After a number of redesignations, the organization ultimately received its present designation of

1st Marine Division on 1 February 1941, while stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The unit thus

became the first division in Marine Corps history,

and its eventual composition included the 1st, 5th,

and 7th infantry regiments, and the 11th Marines

artillery regiment.

Following the 7 December 1941 outbreak of

war between the United States and Japan, the division deployed to the southwest Pacific to participate in the initial American invasion of Japaneseoccupied territory. On 7 August 1942, the 1st

Marine Division (reinforced), supported by two

naval task forces and other escorting naval units,

made amphibious landings on Guadalcanal and

Medal of Honor recipients for heroism on Guadalcanal at a formation at Balcombe, Australia, on 21

May 1943 were, from left, MajGen Alexander A. Vandegrift, Col Merritt A. Edson, 2dLt Mitchell Paige,

and PltSgt John Basilone.

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Above, a Marine throws a hand grenade at a Japanese emplacement on "Suicide Ridge," Pelellu, in

September 1944. Below, Marines of the 1st Division assault former Japanese barracks In the town of

Shun, Okinawa, in late May 1945.

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Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. After a hard-fought,

six-months campaign, the struggle for Guadalcanal

ended with a resounding American victory. The

Guadalcanal campaign marked the first ground

defeat of the heretofore invincible Japanese

legions. In late December 1942, the division was

withdrawn to Australia for rest and rehabilitation,

having suffered almost 3,000 battle casualties.

After rebuilding for nine months in Australia, the

division participated with the Sixth Army in the

New Guinea-Bismarcks theater of action. On 26

December 1943, the division landed on western

New Britain for the purpose of isolating Rabaul,

and protecting the American advance towards

New Guinea. After more than four months of

sharp conflict in rugged terrain, the Japanese

were forced from the western half of the island,

and the 1st Marine Division was relieved by Army

units. The division then moved to Pavuvu Island in

the Russells to prepare for its next operation, the

seizure of Peleliu.

On 15 September 1944, the 1st Marine Division

landed on Peleiu in a bloody assault against a wellorganized, well-led, thoroughly fortified enemy. By

aggressive assault and bold maneuver, the division

seized the campaign's prize, the Peleliu airfield,

then cut the defender's position into localized

pockets of resistance. A slow and costly battle of

attrition was waged, in which the division suffered

some 7,000 casualties before the island was

declared secure in October.

The bloody battle for Okinawa was the last campaign for the 1st Marine Division in World War II.

The valiant fighting spirit of the division was an

important contribution to the successful conquest

of Okinawa. As part of the Tenth Army's III

Amphibious Corps, the division was one of the

assault forces to land on the enemy bastion on 1

April 1945. The invasion of Okinawa marked the

end of the "ocean" drive against Japan, a drive that

began at Guadalcanal in 1942. Continuous and

bloody fighting for the division would persist on

Okinawa, however, until the island was secured in

late June 1945. The division suffered more than

8,600 casualties in the three-month campaign.

The end of the war on 14 August 1945, found

the 1st Marine Division still on Okinawa, making

preparations for the conquest of Japan. The news

of the Japanese surrender was welcomed by all the

officers and enlisted Marines. The 1st Marine

Division was awarded three Presidential Unit

Citations for its heroic participation in the

Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Okinawa campaigns. As

always, the price of victory was high, as the dlvi3

sion suffered approximately 20,000 casualties during the course of World War II, including more than

5,000 deaths.

Three weeks after the Japanese surrender, the

division was dispatched to China for occupation

duty, where it supervised the disarmament and

repatriation of Japanese troops in the northern

part of the country. While in China, elements of

the division had a number of encounters with

Chinese Communist forces. In the spring of 1947,

the division returned to the United States, where it

was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California.

Along with the rest of the Marine Corps, the 1st

Marine Division was reduced to peacetime

strength during the late 1940s. The outbreak of the

Korean War in June 1950 thus found the division

badly understrength. Nevertheless, elements of the

division left in early July 1950 to help stem the tide

of North Korean aggression. In Korea, the 5th

Marines participated in the valiant defense of the

Pusan Perimeter during July-August 1950. The rest

of the 1st Marine Division departed Camp

Pendleton in August, and on 15 September 1950,

spearheaded the amphibious assault behind enemy

lines at Inchon, which caught the enemy completely by surprise. The division went on to participate in the liberation (27 September) of the occupied Republic of Korea capital of Seoul.

After an unopposed landing in late October at

Wonsan, on the east coast of Korea, the 1st Marine

Division was ordered to advance northwest to the

Chosin (Changjin) Reservoir. In late November, the

division was assaulted by 10 Chinese Communist

divisions, which had charged down from surrounding mountains with the expressed purpose

of destroying the 1st Marine Division. In an epic

movement, the 1st Marine Division completed a

successful fighting withdrawal through 78 miles of

mountain roads in northeast Korea, before reaching the port of Hungnam. Although suffering more

than 4,000 battle casualties and uncounted

instances of frostbite, the division inflicted nearly

25,000 casualties on Communist forces.

The next two and one-half years saw 1st Marine

Division participation in many front-line operations in Korea. During 1951, the division took part

in United Nations offensive operations against

North Korean guerrillas, and later participated in

the advance through the mountains of east-central

Korea. Hard fighting erupted in the summer and

fall of 1951 near the "Punchbowl," a ridgeline overlooking a deep circular valley in the Korean mountains.

During March 1952, the 1st Marine Division was
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Above, 1st Division Marines march down the main street of Tientsin on 11 October 1945, during the

occupation of North China. Below, Marines prepare to withdraw from Koto-ri, Korea, during the

Chosin Reservoir campaign in December 1950

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reassigned to the far western end of the Eighth

Army line in western Korea, and it was here that

the division conducted its successful defense of

Outpost Bunker Hill. A winter lull during JanuaryFebruary 1953 brought some relief to Marines at

the front, while cease-fire talks at Panmunjom

remained suspended. The relative quiet on the

front was rudely shattered in late March 1953,

when Communist forces mounted a massive offensive across the United Nations front line, which hit

1st Marine Division outposts in their right sector.

Particularly bitter fighting ensued during the

"Nevada Cities" outposts campaign.

On 27 July, a truce ending three years of fighting

in Korea was finally signed at Panmunjom.

Although the fighting had ended, the 1st Marine

Division remained in defensive positions in South

Korea for nearly two more years, before redeployment to Camp Pendleton in the spring of 1955.

The Cuban Missile Crisis in the fall of 1962

caused the deployment of elements of the division

to Guantanamo Bay and the Caribbean. Less than

three years later, elements of the division were

once more deployed for the Far East, this time in

connection with the escalating war in Vietnam.

• The 1st Marine Division receives the Korean Durmg the summer of 1965, elements of the . . . .

• • • Presidential Unit Citation during ceremonies at division began their gradual deployment to the •

• • • • • . the division command post on 25 March 1953. Republic of Vietnam.The followmg March, division

Marines from Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, engage the enemy in a fire fight in the streets of

Hue, Vietnam, on 19 February 1968.

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headquarters moved from Okinawa to Chu Lai. Its

zone of operation was originally in the southern

two provinces of I Corps, Quang Tin and Quang

Ngai. During 1965, list Marine Division units participated in Operations Starlite and Piranha—the

first major engagements with the enemy for

American ground troops. By June 1966, all of the

division was located in South Vietnam. Subsequent

major engagements with the enemy included

Operation Hastings in the summer of 1966, and

Operations Union I and II in 1967.

During the 1968 Tet Offensive, units of the 1st

Marine Division were involved in fierce fighting

with both the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese

Army. Elements of the division played a significant

role assisting Republic of Vietnam forces in retaking the ancient Imperial city of Hue from

Communist forces. The battle was characterized

by bitter street fighting and hand-to-hand combat.

Hue was fmally captured, however, after the enemy

suffered heavy losses. Other major operations in

1968 in which the 1st Marine Division played a significant role included Allen Brook, Mameluke

Thrust, and Meade River. During 1969, the division

continued to take part in combat operations, as evidenced by the heavy fighting which took place in

Operations Taylor Common and Oklahoma Hills.

From late 1969 through early 1971, the 1st Marine

Division was the only Marine division operating in

the Republic of Vietnam, as a process of

"Vietnamization" turned over more responsibility

for defending the country to South Vietnamese

military forces.

During 1970, the 1st Marine Division began to

withdraw its regiments from Vietnam. Redeployment to the United States was completed in the

late spring of 1971, thus ending one of the longest

combat tours in American military history for an

organization of its size. In Vietnam, the division's

units participated in both multi-battalion-size battles, and small-unit, anti-guerrilla operations. It successfully conducted more than 160 named operations and thousands of small-unit actions while

deployed in the war zone. The valor and dedication to duty of the Marines of the 1st Division was

recognized by the three Presidential Unit Citations

which were awarded to the organization for its

Vietnam War service.

In 1975, the 1st Marine Division provided assistance in the housing, feeding, and care of

Vietnamese refugees in Operation New Arrival.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the division conMarines of Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, evacuate a wounded comrade to a waiting helicopter during Operation Taylor Common in January 1969.

6
-

Amphibious assault vehicles of the 1st Marine Division advance toward Kuwait City on 26 February

1991 during Operation Desert Storm.

ducted extensive training operations in order to

maintain its traditional high level of preparedness.

The division's operational readiness was tested

during the summer of 1990, when Iraqi forces

invaded neighboring Kuwait on 2 August, and positioned assault forces close to the Saudi Arabian border. On 7 August, President George Bush ordered

U.S. military forces to the Persian Gulf in Operation

Desert Shield as part of a multinational force to

defend Saudi Arabia against Iraqi aggression. A

major deployment of American military forces, the

largest since the Vietnam War, began immediately

and included the 1st Marine Division.

Elements of the 1st Marine Division began

deployment during mid-August to Saudi Arabia, and

by the first week of September, the division was

established as the ground combat element of I

Marine Expeditionary Force. Division personnel

conducted extensive training in the desert with

affied forces, including Arab coalition units.

On 16 January 1991, Operation Desert Shield

became Operation Desert Storm, as forces of the

affied coalition launched the air assault of the campaign. The first serious ground fighting of

Operation Desert Storm began on 29 January,

when Iraqi armored columns mounted an attack

into Saudi Arabia along a 40-mile front, while simultaneously, an Iraqi brigade assaulted and held the

evacuated coastal town of Khafji, farther to the

east. The Iraqi armored columns were destroyed

by 1st Marine Division units, and Khafji was retak7

en by Saudi and Qatari forces supported, in part, by

division artillery and attack helicopters.

On the morning of 24 February 1991, the 1st

Marine Division spearheaded the coalition ground

assault drive into southern Kuwait, in the fmal

chapter of Operation Desert Storm. The four main

task forces of the 1st Marine Division — Papa Bear,

Taro, Grizzly, and Ripper — slammed into the teeth

of Iraqi defenses, and inflicted substantial damage

to enemy forces. In 100 hours, the coalition forces

had prevailed, and handed Iraqi dictator Saddam

Hussein and his forces a humiliating defeat. A

cease-fire was declared by President Bush on 28

February. The speed of victory, the light casualties

to Marine units, and the totality of the Iraqi defeat

contributed to the soaring morale throughout the

1st Marine Division. By the end of March, more

than half the division had departed Saudi Arabia,

and the division completed its redeployment by

late April 1991.

During the post-Desert Storm years, the 1st Marine Division has maintained a high degree of operational readiness, as its units have been called upon

to assist in the defense of American interests, both

at home and abroad. Elements of the division have

participated in military operations and humanitarian missions in Somalia and Bangladesh, and have

also assisted in joint task force drug operations in

the United States. The 1st Marine Division, oldest

of the Marine Corps divisions, stands ready to meet

the challenges of a new millennium.
V "IrA'

1. Col G. R. Rowan

2. Col P. A. del Valle

3. Co1W. C.James

4. MajGen A.A.Vandegrift

5. LtCol G. C.Thomas

6. Col C. B. Cates

7. Col R. McC. Pate

8. CdrWT Brown, USN

9. Co1WJ.Whaling

10. Col F. B. Goettge

11. Col L. P Hunt

8

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12. LtCol E C. Biebush

13. LtCoI E.A. Pollock

14. LtCol E.J. Buckley

15. LtCol W. W. Barr

16. LtCol R. P. Coffman

17. LtCol ER. Geraci

18. LtCol W. E. Maxwell

19. LtCol E.G. Hagen

20. LtCol W. N. McKelvy,Jr.

21. LtCol J. N. Frisbee

22. Maj M.V. O'Connell

23. Maj W. Challant III

24. Maj D.W. Fuller

25. Maj F C.Thompson

26. Maj R. G. Ballance

27. Maj H.W. Buse,Jr.

28. Maj J. G. Frazer

29. Maj H. H. Crockett

30. LtCol L. B. Cresswell

31. Maj R. 0. Bowen

32. LtCol J.A. Bemis

33. Col K.W. Benner

34. Maj R. B. Luckey

35.LtCol S. G. Taxis

36. LtCol E. H. Price

37. LtCol M. B.Twining

38. LtCol WA. Reaves

39. LtCol J. D. Mackiln

40. LtCol H. C.Waterman

41. Maj J. C. Murray
1 St Marine Division

Commanding Generals

MajGen Holland M. Smith 1 February 1941 - 13 June 1941

MajGen Philip H. Torrey 14 June 1941 - 22 March 1942

MajGen Alexander A. Vandegrift 23 March 1942 - 7 July 1943

MajGen William H. Rupertus 8 July 1943 - 1 November 1944

MajGen Pedro A. del Valle 2 November 1944 - 8 August 1945

MajGen Dewitt Peck 9 August 1945 - 9 June 1946

MajGen Keller E. Rockey 10 June 1946 - 17 September 1946

MajGen Samuel L. Howard 18 September 1946 - 17 June 1947

Col Alva B. Lasswell (Acting) 18 June 1947 - 6 July 1947

MajGen Graves B. Erskine 7 July 1947 - 25 July 1950

MajGen Oliver P Smith 26 July 1950 - 23 February 1951

BGen Lewis B. Puller (Acting) 24 February 1951 - 4 March 1951

MajGen Oliver P Smith 5 March 1951 - 26 April 1951

MaiGen Gerald C. Thomas 27 April 1951 - 10 January 1952

MajGenJohnT. Seldon 11 January 1952- 28 August 1952

MajGen Edwin A. Pollock 29 August 1952 - 15 June 1953

MajGen Randolph McC. Pate 16 June 1953 - 11 May 1954

MajGen Robert H. Pepper 12 May 1954 - 23 July 1954

MajGen Robert E. Hogaboom 24 July 1954 - 18 January 1955

MajGen Merrifi B. Twimng 19 January 1955 - 17 August 1956

MajGen Robert 0. Bare 18 August 1956 - 30 June 1957

MajGen David M. Shoup 1 July 1957 - 2 January 1958

BGen Harvey C. Tschirgi 3 January 1958 - 4 February 1958

MajGen Edward W. Snedeker 5 February 1958 - 7 October 1959

BGen Thomas E Riley 8 October 1959 - 13 November 1959

MajGen Henry R. Paige 14 November 1959 - 6 June 1961

BGen Frederick E. Leek 7 June 1961 - 30 July 1961

MajGen James M. Masters, Sr 31 July 1961 - 14 June 1962

MajGen Herman Nickerson, Jr 15 June 1962 - 9 April 1963

MajGen William T Fairbourn 10 April 1963 - 9 July 1965

BGen Edward H. Hurst 10 July 1965 - 10 August 1965

MajGen Lewis J. Fields 11 August 1965 - 30 September 1966

MajGen Herman Nickerson, Jr 1 October 1966 - 31 May 1967

MajGen Donn J. Robertson 1 June 1967 - 26 June 1968

MajGen Carl A. Youngdale 27 June 1968 - 20 December 1968

MajGen Ormond R. Simpson 21 December 1968 - 14 December 1969

MajGen Edwin B. Wheeler 15 December 1969 - 26 April 1970

MajGen Charles E Widdecke 27 April 1970 - 29 April 1971

MajGen Ross T Dwyer, Jr 30 April 1971 - 10 August 1972

BGen Adolph G. Schwenk 11 August 1972 - 30 April 1973

9
MajGen Kenneth J. Houghton .1 May 1973 - 12 August 1974

BGen William L. McLulloch 13 August 1974 - 1 June 1975

MajGen Charles D. Mize 2 June 1975 - 29 July 1976

MajGen Edward A. Wilcox 30 July 1976 - 5 July 1977

BGen Marc A. Moore 6 July 1977 - 7 August 1977

MajGen Charles G. Cooper 8 August 1977 - 8 August 1979

MajGen Francis X. Quinn 9 August 1979 - 31 July 1980

MajGen James L. Day 1 August 1980 - 12 August 1982

MajGen Ernest C. Cheatham, Jr 13 August 1982 - 13 June 1985

MajGen Clyde D. Dean 14 June 1985 - 23 April 1986

BGen Matthew 1. Cooper 24 April 1986 - 13 August1986

MajGen James J. McMonagle 14 August 1986 - 19 July 1988

MajGen John P. Monahan 20 July 1988 - 7 August 1990

MajGen James M. Myatt 8 August 1990 - 8 July 1992

MajGen Charles E. Wilhelm 9 July 1992 - 8 December 1992

Col Jerry C. McAbee (Acting) 9 December 1992 - 23 March 1993

MajGen Charles E. Wilhelm 24 March 1993 - 22 June 1994

MajGen Frank Libutti 23 June 1994 - 6 June 1996

MajGen John H. Admire 7 June 1996 - 24 July 1998

MajGen Michael W. Hagee 25 June 1998

10
1 St Marine Division

LINEAGE

1913-1914

ACTIVATED 23 DECEMBER 1913 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS THE 1ST ADVANCE BASE BRIGADE

DEPLOYED DURING JANUARY 1914 TO CULEBRA, PUERTO RICO

RELOCATED DURING FEBRUARY 1914 TO NEW ORLEANS, LOUTSIANA

REDESIGNATED 1 APRIL 1914 AS THE 1ST BRIGADE

DEPLOYED DURING APRIL 1914 TO VERA CRUZ, MEXICO

PARTICIPATED IN THE LANDINGS AND OCCUPATION OF VERA CRUZ, MEXICO,APRIL-NOVEMBER 1914

RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1914 TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

1915-1935

DEPLOYED DURING AUGUST 1915 TO PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF HAITI,AUGUST 1915 -AUGUST 1934

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF THE DOMIMCAN REPUBLIC,JUNE-DECEMBER 1916

DEACTIVATED 15 AUGUST 1934 AT PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

REACTIVATED 1 SEPTEMBER 1935 AT QUANTICO,VIRGINIA,ASTHE 1ST BRIGADEAND ASSIGNED

TO THE FLEET MARINE FORCE

REDESIGNATED 16 SEPTEMBER 1935 AS THE 1ST MARINE BRIGADE

1940-1949

DEPLOYED DURING OCTOBER 1940 TO GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

REDESIGNATED 1 FEBRUARY 1941 AS THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING MAY 1941 TO QUANTICO,VIRGINIA,AND PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

DEPLOYED DURING APRIL-JULY 1942 TO SAMOA AND WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

GUADALCANAL

EASTERN NEW GUINEA

NEW BRITAIN

PELELIU

OKI NA WA

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1945 -JUNE 1947

RELOCATED DURING JUNE 1947 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

11
1 95 0-1964

DEPLOYED DURING JULY-SEPTEMBER 1950 TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

PARTICIPATED IN THE KOREAN WAR, SEPTEMBER 1950 -JULY 1953, OPERATING FROM

INCHON-SEOUL

CHOSIN RESERVOIR

EAST-CENTRAL FRONT

WESTERN FRONT

PARTICIPATED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE,JULY 1953 - MARCH 1955

RELOCATED DURING FEBRUARY-APRIL 195510 CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1962

1965-19 71

DEPLOYED DURiNG JULY 1965 - MAY 1966T0 THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED INTHE WAR IN VIETNAM FROM JULY 1965 -APRIL 1971, OPERATING FROM

CHU LA!

DA NANG

DONG HA

QUI NHON

HUE

PHU BA!

QUANG TR!

RELOCATED DURINGAPRIL 1971 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

19 72-1998

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION NEW ARR1VAL,THE RELOCATION OF REFUGEES FROM

INDOCHINA,APRIL-MAY AND JUNE-DECEMBER 1975

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, SOUTHWEST ASIA,

SEPTEMBER 1990 - FEBRUARY 1991

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION SEAANGEL, BANGLADESH, MAY-JUNE 1991

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, SOMALIA, DECEMBER 1992 -APRIL 1993

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN FIRE-FIGHTING EFFORTS, WESTERN UNITED STATES,JULY-SEPTEMBER 1994

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN SUPPORT OF HUNTER WARRIOR ADVANCED WARFIGHTING

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,

SEPTEMBER 1996 - MARCH 1997

12
1 St Marine Division

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND TWO BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II

GUADALCANAL-1942

PELELIU, NGESEBUS-1944

OKINAWA-1945

KOREA

1950

1950

1951

VIETNAM

1966-1967

1967-1968

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMERWITH ONE BRONZE STAR

KOREA

1952-1953

SOUTHWEST ASIA

1990-1991

MEXICAN SERVICE STREAMER

DOMINICAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER

HAITIAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITH "ASIA"

CHINA SERVICE STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND THREE BRONZE STARS

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

13
KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM STREAMER

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CWIL ACTIONS STREAMER

14
THE 1ST DIVISION PATCH

THE 1ST DIVISION SHOULDER PATCH ORIGINALLY WAS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR BY MEMBERS OF

UNITS WHO SERVED WITH OR WERE ATTACHED TO THE DIVISION IN THE PACIFIC IN WORLD WAR II;

IT WAS THE FIRST PATCH TO BE APPROVED IN THAT WAR AND SPECIFICALLY COMMEMORATED THE

DIVISION'S SACRIFICESAND VICTORY INTHE BAULE FOR GUADALCANAL. IT FEATURES THE NATIONAL COLORS - RED, WHITE, AND BLUE - IN ITS DIAMOND-SHAPED BLUE BACKGROUND WITH RED

NUMERAL "1" INSCRIBED WITH WHITE LEUERING, "GUADALCANAL." THE WHITE STARS FEATURED

ONTHE NIGHT-SKY BLUE BACKGROUND ARE INTHEARRANGEMENT OFTHE SOUTHERN CROSS CONSTELLATION, UNDER WHICH THE GUADALCANAL FIGHTING TOOK PLACE.

15
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The 1 st Marines

The 1st Marines was activated on 27 November

1913 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the 2d

Advance Base Regiment. On 1 July 1916, the organization was redesignated the 1st Regiment of

Marines. During the early years of its existence, the

regiment was employed primarily as a combat

force during the "Banana Wars" in the Caribbean.

The first of these operations took place during

April 1914 when the regiment, along with other

Navy and Marine units, landed and seized the

Mexican port of Vera Cruz in the protection of

American interests. The regiment next participated in campaigns in Haiti (1915-1916) and in the

Dominican Republic (1916). In December 1918,

the 1st Regiment was deployed for approximately

six months in Cuba. The regiment was later sent to

the Dominican Republic as a garrison force from

August 1922 until July 1924.

Following this second tour of duty in the

Dominican Republic, the regiment was deactivated, but was subsequently reactivated in March

1925 at Quantico, Virginia. The regiment received

its present designation of 1st Marines on 10 July

1930. The decade of the 1930s was a period of

inactivity in 1st Marines history, as the unit

remained in a deactivated status. The outbreak of

World War II in Europe, along with consequent

build-up of American military strength, marked the

occasion for the next reactivation of the regiment.

On 1 February 1941, the 1st Marines was reactivated at Culebra, Puerto Rico, as part of the 1st Marine

Division.

After the 8 December 1941 entrance of the

United States into World War II, the regiment

moved to the West Coast, and then deployed for

operations to the South Pacific. The regiment's liiitial operation of World War H was joining in the

assault and capture of Guadalcanal in the British

Solomon Islands. In this first American land offensive in the South Pacific, the regiment saw combat

action against Japanese forces from AugustDecember 1942. The regiment sailed during

December 1942 to Melbourne,Australia, for a wellearned period of rest and rehabilitation.

Marines man an outpost during the occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1914.

16
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Above, the command post of the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, located near the Thnaru Rivei Guadalcanal,

in 1942. Below, MajGen Pedro A. del Valle, third from left, commanding the 1st Marine Division, confers with officers of the 1st Marines on Okinawa in May 1945. From left are Capt Richard Boyd; LtCol

James C. Magee, Jr, Commanding Offflce 2d Battalion, 1st Marines; MajGen del Valle; and Col Arthur

TMason, Commanding Office 1st Marines.

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The next major encounter with the enemy took

place during the December 1943 campaign on

New Britain, in which the 1st Marines played a key

role in securing the island's airfield, and later, in

repulsing a Japanese assault in the "Battle of Coffm

Corner." The New Britain operation was followed

by the costly battle for Peleliu. On 15 September

1944, assault units of the 1st Marines landed on

Peleliu amidst a mortar barrage from Japanese

forces. For the next week, the 1st Marines engaged

in some of the most vicious and costly fighting of

the entire Pacific campaign. The regiment later

moved to a rest area on the east coast of the island,

in preparation for its fmal operation of the war, the

invasion of Okinawa.

The regiment landed on 1 April 1945 on

Okinawa, as part of the 1st Marine Division

reserve, and followed the assault regiments of the

division across the beach and inland. From 1 April

until 15 June 1945, the 1st Marines participated in

the bitter, close-in fighting that led to the capture

of this strategic island.

Following the 2 September 1945 surrender of

Japan, the 1st Marines deployed to North China, to

take part in the garrisoning of the country, and in

the repatriation of former enemy personnel. The

regiment remained in China until February 1949,

when it was withdrawn to the United States. After

several months at Camp Pendleton, California, the

regiment was deactivated on 1 October 1949.

The sudden outbreak of the Korean War in late

June 1950 necessitated an immediate build-up of

the Marine Corps. Accordingly, the 1st Marines was

reactivated on 4 August 1950, and began intensive

training to enter the conflict. On 15 September

1950, the 1st Marines participated in the assault

behind enemy lines at Inchon, Korea, in a bold

stroke that caught North Korean forces completely off-guard. The regiment went on to take part in

the liberation of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

From late November to mid-December 1950, the

1st Marines participated in the heroic Chosin

Reservoir campaign, where the 1st Marine Division

fought its way out from an encirclement of 10

Chinese Communist divisions.

For the next two and one-half years, the 1st

A Marine machine gun crew guards a train during the occupation of North China in November 1945.

18
Above, air officers and corpsmen of the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, in Korea, direct a helicopter to a

landing strzp just behind the front lines. Below, members of the 1st Marines cross Freedom Gate Bridge

on their way to Ascom City, Korea, for redeployment to the United States.

19
:

S I

I.-

Marines continued to engage North Korean and

Chinese Communist forces. During September

1952, the regiment participated in the 1st Marine

Division offensive against enemy forces in the

Punchbowl area of Korea. Almost one year later,

action along the division's western front increased

in intensity; with the most persistent enemy efforts

centered around the "Bunker Hill" and "Siberia Hill"

complexes in the 1st Marines sector. In the last

few months of fighting in Korea in the spring and

summer of 1953, the 1st Marines withstood numerous enemy attacks on division positions, which

resulted in heavy North Korean casualties. After

the signing of the 25 July 1953 armistice, the regiment remained in Korea for several years as a

defensive force against possible Communist

attempts to rekindle the conflict.

The 1st Marines returned to Camp Pendleton in

April 1955, and participated in numerous training

exercises over the course of the following decade.

The regiment deployed briefly to Guantanamo Bay,

Cuba, during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

The intensification of the American involvement

in the Vietnam War during the summer of 1965

included the first deployment of Marine combat

units to Southeast Asia. Elements of the 1st

20

Marines began arriving during August 1965 in the

Republic of Vietnam. By January 1966, the entire

regiment completed its move to Vietnam. The first

major operation of the war for the regiment was

Operation Harvest Moon in December 1965. In

succeeding months, the regiment participated in

an increasing number of combat operations,

including Utah, Iowa, Cheyenne, and Double Eagle.

During July 1966, Operations Hastings witnessed

some of the most bitter fighting of the conflict up

to that time.

By the fall of 1967, the 1st Marines was operating permanently in the northern sector of the I

Corps Tactical Zone. The following winter, during

late January 1968, Communist forces launched the

Tet Offensive, and overran the ancient imperial

capital of Hue. Elements of the 1st Marines took an

active role, alongside other U.S. Marine and South

Vietnamese units, in recapturing the city. Heavy

fighting continued throughout the war, culminating in the regiment's participation in Operation

Meade River.

The 1st Marines remained in the Republic of

Vietnam for the next two and one-half years.

During this period, the regiment participated in

numerous combat operations in the I Corps

A helicopter rapidly dispatches combat-ready members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines,

southwest of Quang Tri Vietnam, in October 1967.
L4-tI-4*;

• 444 ':'.j • a —

• -

A vehicle from 1st Tank Battalion supports Marines from Company L, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, in an

operation south of Marble Mountain, Vietnam, in March 1969.

Tactical Zone, including bitter fighting in

Operations Oklahoma Hills and Pipestone Canyon.

Early in 1971, the regiment was ordered back to

the United States. All combat activity ceased at the

end of May, and redeployment to Camp Pendleton

was completed by June 1971.

In the spring of 1975, the 1st Marines provided

primary support to Marine Corps Base, Camp

Pendleton, for preparation of a camp to house

Vietnamese refugees during Operation New

Arrival. During the 1980s, the regiment took part

in many training exercises, in order to maintain the

traditional high standards set by the regiment

throughout its history

On 2 August 1990, Iraqi military forces invaded

Kuwait, and threatened the stability of the entire

Persian Gulf region. Although not immediately

deployed to the Persian Gulf, the 1st Marines at

Camp Pendleton, California, initially provided support for the early troop deployments to Saudi

Arabia by augmenting the 7th Marines with personnel and equipment. During November the 1st

Marines received word that elements of the regiment would deploy to the gulf in support of

21

Operation Desert Shield. By the end of December,

elements of the regiment began arriving at Al

Jubayl, Saudi Arabia.

The fmal 1st Marine Division task organization,

on the eve of the coalition ground assault into

Kuwait saw the 1st Marines configured as Task

Force Papa Bear, a mechanized task force which

included assault amphibian, tank, combat engineer,

and engineer support units. On 24 February 1991,

the ground offensive of Operation Desert Storm

began with coalition thrusts into southern Kuwait.

Task Force Papa Bear pushed forward on the 1st

Marine Division's right flank in support of Task

Force Grizzly. Iraqi defenses crumbled under withering fire from Marine TOW missiles, and enemy

soldiers soon began to surrender in large numbers.

On 28 February, a ceasefire ended all division

offensive operations. In early March, Task Force

Papa Bear withdrew to Saudi Arabia, in preparation

for deployment home, and the 1st Marines

returned to Camp Pendleton in April.

Through the 1990s, the regiment has participated in numerous training exercises, and elements of

the regiment have taken part in operations in
a a a a a a a -. — ——

'a—

T —

a

It, I' A. S II,, I

twit ,s, M

0

Marines move across the Saudi Arabian desert back to their camp following an exercise during

Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Kuwait and Somalia. More recently, elements of Iraq. As the Marine Corps approaches a new centhe regiment deployed during February 1998 to tury the 1st Marines stands ready to meet any chalthe Persian Gulf because of rising tensions with lenge.

22
Commanding Officers

1 St Marines

LtCol Charles G. Long 27 November 1913 - 5 May 1914

Col James E. Mahoney 6 May 1914 - 4 December 1914

LtCol Charles G. Long 5 December 1914 - 7 August 1915

Cot Theodore P. Kane 8 August 1915 - 15 August 1915

Cot Eli K. Cole 16 August 1915 - 8 May 1916

LtCol Laurence H. Moses 9 May 1916 - 24 June 1916

Col Eli K. Cole 25 June 1916 - 30 June 1916

Cot Theodore P. Kane 1 July 1916 - 11 August 1916

Maj Hiram I. Bearss 12 August 1916 - 17 October 1916

Col Theodore P Kane 18 October 1916 - 31 October 1916

Cot Charles G. Long 25 January 1917 - 4 September 1917

BGen Ben H. Fuller 5 September 1917 - 30 August 1918

Cot Thomas C. Threadwell 31 August 1918 - 20 January 1919

LtCol Edward A. Greene 21 January 1919 - 22 February 1919

Cot Louis M. Gulick 23 February 1919 - 14 April 1919

LtCol Edward A. Greene 15 April 1919 - 28 April 1919

Col Charles S. Hill 29 April 1919 - 6 August 1919

LtCo1 Edward A. Greene 7 August 1919 - 18 September 1919

LtCol Alexander S.Williams 19 September 1919 - 25 September 1919

Col Harry Lee 26 September 1919 - 14 May 1920

Maj William P Upshur 15 May 1920 - 30 September 1920

Capt Thomas J. Curtis 1 October 1920 - 17 October 1920

IstLt Oliver T Francis 18 October 1920 - 10 November 1920

2dLt Augustus Aiken 11 November 1920 - 5 January 1921

Capt Lucian W. Burnham 6 January 1921 - 7 May 1921

LtCol Frederic M. Wise 8 May 1921 - 11 October 1921

Maj Samuel P Budd 12 October 1921 - 22 October 1921

Cot Frederic M.Wise 23 October 1921 - 11 April 1922

Capt John F Blanton 12 April 1922 - 22 April 1922

Cot Charles C. Carpenter 1 August 1922 - 18 July 1923

LtCol Charles T Westcott 19 July 1923 - 31 August 1923

Cot Charles C. Carpenter 1 September 1923 - 11 May 1924

Cot Harold C. Snyder 12 May 1924 - 1 July 1924

LtCot Edward A. Greene 15 March 1925 - 23 March 1925

Cot Charles C. Carpenter 24 March 1925 - 30 April 1925

LtCot Edward A. Greene 1 May 1925 - 24 January 1926

Maj George H. Osterhaut, Jr 25 January 1926 - 30 April 1926

Maj Harry W Weitzel 1 May 1926 - 31 May 1926

LtCol Theodore E. Backstron 1 June 1926 - 17 August 1926

Capt Merwin H. Silverthorn 18 August 1926 - 30 August 1926

23
Col Randolph C. Berkeley 31 August 1926 - 8 May 1927

Capt Merwin H. Silverthorn 9 May 1927 - 15 June 1927

Maj William S. Harrison 16 June 1927 - 13 November 1927

Col Randolph C. Berkeley 14 November 1927 - 28 December 1927

Maj William S. Harrison 29 December 1927 - 20 February 1928

Maj Maurice E. Shearer 21 February 1928 - 7 March 1928

Col Randolph C. Berkeley 8 March 1928 - 24 May 1928

Capt Emmett W. Skinner 25 May 1928 - 2lJune 1928

2dLt Leonard B. Cresswell 22 June 1928 - 30 June 1928

Capt Howard N. Stent 1 July 1928 - 15 August 1928

LtCol James T Butterick 16 August 1928 - 24 June 1929

Maj Nedom A. Eastman 25 June 1929 - 8 August 1929

Maj Marion B. Humphrey 9 August 1929 - 10 September 1929

Maj Nedom A. Eastman 11 September 1929 - 16 September 1929

LtCol Charles F Williams 17 September 1929 - 20 June 1930

LtCol Andrew B. Drum 1 July 1930 - 13 November 1930

Maj Arthur Kingston 14 November 1930 - 26 April 1931

LtCo[ Edward W. Sturdevant 27 April 1931 - 9 August 1931

Maj Philip H.Torrey 10 August 1931 - 26 August 1931

Maj John Q.Adams 27 August 1931 - 1 November 1931

Col David L. S. Brewster 1 March 1941 - 1 April 1941

LtCol James F Moriarty 2 April 1941 - 22 March 1942

LtCol Julian N. Frisbie 23 March 1942 - 3 May 1942

Col Clifton B. Cates 4 May 1942 - 9 February 1943

Col William J.Whaling 10 February 1943 - 28 February 1944

Cot Lewis B. Puller 1 March 1944 - 3 November 1944

LtCol Richard P. Ross,Jr 4 November 1944 - 12 December 1944

Col Kenneth B. Chappell 13 December 1944 - 5 May 1945

Col Arthur T. Mason 6 May 1945 - 19 September 1946

LtCol James M. Ranck,Jr 20 September 1946 - 7 October 1946

Col John E. Curry 8 October 1946 - 26 August 1947

Col George W. McHenry 27 August 1947- 17 February 1948

Maj Edwin H. Wheeler 18 February 1948 - 8 March 1948

Col George W. McHenry 9 March 1948 - 27 April 1948

Col Miles S. Newton 28 April 1948 - 13 April 1949

LtCol Thomas W. BrundageJr 14 April 1949 - 12 June 1949

Col John A. White 13 June 1949 - 30 September 1949

Col Lewis B. Puller 5 August 1950 - 24 January 1951

Col Francis M. McAlister 25 January 1951 - 18 May 1951

Col Wilburt S. Brown 19 May 1951 - 17 July 1951

Cot Thomas A. Wornham 18 July 1951 - 11 October 1951

Col Sidney S. Wade 12 October 1951 - 7 April 1952

.Col Walter N. Flournoy 8 April 1952 - 24 July 1952

Col Walter P Layer 25 July 1952 - 20 November 1952

Col Hewitt D.Adams 21 November 1952 - 30 April 1953

24
Col Wallace N. Nelson .1 May 1953 - 10 October 1953

Col Ormond R. Simpson 11 October 1953 - 15 February 1954

Col William K. Jones 16 February 1954 - 9 July 1954

Col Witmer E. Barnes 10 July 1954 - 24 January 1955

Col Nelson K. Brown 25 January 1955 - 30 September 1955

Col Robert C. McGlashan 1 October 1955 - 1 May 1956

Col Edward W. Durant, Jr 2 May 1956 - 1 February 1957

ColWilliamA:Kengla 2 February 1957 - 11 November 1957

Col Charles L. Banks 12 November 1957 - 5 January 1959

Col Clarence R. Schwenke 6 January 1959 - 4 January 1960

Col Anthony Walker 5 January 1960 - 14 November 1960

Col Charles T. Hodges 15 November 1960 - 14 November 1961

Col Thomas T Grady 15 November 1961 - 27 May 1962

Col Sidney H. Altman 28 May 1962 - 15 February 1963

Col Donald M. Beck 16 February 1963 - 10 June 1963

Col Harold Wallace 11 June 1963 - 30 September 1963

Col Angus M. Fraser 1 October 1963 - 20 April 1964

Col Carl W. Hoffman 21 April 1964 - 28 June 1965

Col Bryon B. Mitchell 29 June 1965 - 18 August 1966

Col Donald L. Mallory 19 August 1966 - 28 January 1967

Col Emil J. Radics 29 January 1967 - 11 July 1967

Col Herbert E. Ing, Jr 12 July 1967 - 21 January 1968

Col Stanley S. Hughes 22 January 1968 - 16 June 1968

Col Ross T Dwyer, Jr 17 June 1968 - 14 August 1968

Col Robert G. Lauffer 15 August 1968 - 24 February 1969

Col Charles S. Robertson 25 February 1969 - 16 August 1969

Col Herbert L. Wilkerson 17 August 1969 - 9 February 1970

Col Edward A. Wilcox 10 February 1970 - 28 June 1970

Col Paul X. Kelley 29 June 1970 - 3 June 1971

LtCol Marc A. Moore 4 June 1971 - 30 July 1971

LtCol Jack D. Rowley 31 July 1971 9 August 1971

Col Edward J. Bronars 10 August 1971 - 1 June 1972

LtCol Robert J. Mule 2 June 1972 - 17 July 1972

Col Dwight E. Howard 18 July 1972 - 11 February 1973

Col Emil W. Herich 12 February 1973 - 12 May 1974

LtCol John H. Smith 13 May 1974 - 21 November 1974

Col Edward W. Snelling 22 November 1974 - 16 August 1976

Col Francis Riney 17 August 1976 - 17 August 1977

Col James R. Van Den Elzen 18 August 1977 - 26 July 1978

Col Donald J. Norris 27 July 1978 - 16 November 1979

Col Joseph P. Hoar 17 November 1979 - 24 April 1981

Col Thomas F Qualls 25 April 1981 - 29 June 1982

Col John A. Studds 30 June 1982 - 26 April 1984

Col George D. Navadel 27 April 1984 - 24 July 1985

Col Frederick J. Mahady, Jr 25 July 1985 - 17 June 1987

25
Cot Gary E.Brown . 18 June 1987 - 8 December 1988

Cot Jimmy W. McClung 9 December 1988 - 3 July 1990

Cot Richard W. Hodory 4 July 1990 - 27 February 1992

Col Clifford L. Stanley 28 February 1992 - 13 July 1993

Cot Raymond Cole 14 July 1993 - 30 January 1995

Cot Peterl. Miller 31 January 1995 - 10 December 1996

Cot Robert P. McAleer 11 December 1996 - 16 June 1998

Col John M. Paxton, Jr 17 June 1998 -

26
1 St Marines

LINEAGE

1913-1917

ACTIVATED 27 NOVEMBER 1913 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS THE 2D ADVANCE BASE REGIMENT

RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1913 TO PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

ASSIGNED DURING JANUARY 1914 TO THE 1ST ADVANCE BASE BRIGADE

PARTICIPATED IN THE VERA CRUZ OPERATION, MARCH-NOVEMBER 1914

RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1914 TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

PARTICIPATED IN THE HAITIAN CAMPMGN,AUGUST 1915 - MAY 1916

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, MAY-DECEMBER 1916

REDESIGNATED 1 JULY 1916 AS THE 1ST REGIMENT

REASSIGNED DURING NOVEMBER 1916 TO THE 2D PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

DEACTIVATED 20 DECEMBER 1916 AT SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

REACTIVATED 25 JANUARY 1917 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,AND ASSIGNED

TO THE FIXED DEFENSE FORCE

191&1931

RELOCATED DURING NOVEMBER 1918 TO GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

REASSIGNED DURING DECEMBER 1918 TO THE 6TH PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

RELOCATED DURING JUNE 1919 TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAMA,AND DETACHED FROM

THE 6TH PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

RELOCATED DURING OCTOBER 1920 TO QUANTICO,VIRGINIIA

ASSIGNED DURING DECEMBER 1920 TO THE 3D BRIGADE

DEACTIVATED 22 APRIL 1922

REACTIVATED 1 AUGUST 1922 AT SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,

AINI) ASSIGNED TO THE 2D BRIGADE

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,AUGUST 1922 -JULY 1924

DEACTIVATED 1 JULY 1924 AT SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

REACTIVATED 15 MARCH 1925 AT QUANTICO,VIRGINIA

27
REDESIGNATED 1OJIJLY 1930 AS THE 1ST MAPJNES

DEACTIVATED 1 NOVEMBER 1931

194 1-1949

REACTIVATED 1 MARCH 1941 AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA,AND ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1941 TO PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

RELOCATED DURING FEBRUARY 1942 TO NEW RWER, NORTH CAROLINA

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE-JULY 1942 TO WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

GUADALCANAL

EASTERN NEW GUINEA

NEW BRITAIN

PELELIU

OKINAWA

PARTICTPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1945 - MAY 1947,

OCTOBER 1947 - FEBRUARY 1949

DEACTIVATED 20 MAY 1947 WHILE ON BOARD THE USS HENRJCO INTHEYELLOW SEA

REACTIVATED 1 OCTOBER 1947 AT TSINGTAO, CHINA,AND ASSIGNED TO FLEET MARINE FORCE,

WESTERN PACIFIC

RELOCATED DURING FEBRUARY 1949 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, ANI) REASSIGNED

TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

DEACTIVATED 1 OCTOBER 1949

1950-1964

REACTIVATED 4 AUGUST 1950 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,AND ASSIGNED TO THE

1ST MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1950 TO KOBE,JAPAN

PARTICIPATED IN THE KOREAN WAR, SEPTEMBER 1950 -JULY 1953, OPERATING FROM

INCHON-SEOUL

CHOSIN RESERVOIR

EAST CENTRAL FRONT

WESTERN FRONT

PARTICIPATED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE, JULY 1953 -APRIL 1955

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1955 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

28
PARTICIPATED IN THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1962

1965-1971

DEPLOYED BETWEEN AUGUST 1965 -JANUARY 1966 TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR INVIETNAM,AUGUST 1965 -JUNE 1971,

OPERATING FROM

DA NANG

CHU LA!

PHU BA!

QUANG TRI

HUE

CAMPJ E. MUIR

CAMP D. M PERDUE

DONG HA

CUA VIET

KHE SANH

DUONG SON

DETACHED DURING APRIL 1971 FROM THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION AND REASSIGNED

TO THE 3D MARINE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE

RELOCATED DURING MAY-JUNE 1971 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, AND REASSIGNED

TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION,

19 72-1998

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION NEWARRIIVAL,THE RELOCATION OF REFUGEES FROM INDOCHINA,

APRIL-MAY 1975

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM,

SOUTHWEST ASIA,AUGUST 1990-APRIL 1991

ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION UNITED SHIELD,

SOMALIA, FEBRUARYMARCH 1995

29
1 St Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS

WORLD WAR II

GUADALCANAL-1942

PELELIU-NGESEBUS-1944

OIUNAWA-1945

KOREA

1950

1950

1951

VIETNAM

1965-1966

1966-1967

1967-1968

1968

1968

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

KOREA

1952-1953

SOUTHWEST ASIA

1990-1991

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER

1971

MEXICAN SERVICE STREAMER

HAITIAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER

MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

DOMINICAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITh ONE BRONZE STAR

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WETH "ASIA"

30
CHINA SERVICE STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND THREE BRONZE STARS

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER WITh THREE BRONZE STARS

KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM STREAMER

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTIONS STREAMER

31
A

The 5th Marines

The 5th Marines was activated as the 5th

Regiment of Marines on 8 June 1917 at the Philadelphia NavyYard as part ofAmerica's mobifization

for World War I. The regiment immediately embarked and sailed for France. In March 1918 it

moved into the trenches opposite the German

lines where it soon engaged an enemy for the first

time. From June until the Armistice, 11 November

1918, the 5th Regiment was involved in heavy

fighting with the Germans, participating in such

notable battles as Blanc Mont and Belleau Wood in

which it suffered almost 2,000 killed and wounded. Following the termination of hostilities, the

regiment participated in the occupation of western Germany until mid-summer 1919 when it was

deactivated.

Reactivation of the regiment occurred on 8 July

1920 at Quantico, Virginia. During the 1920s, the

5th Regiment was deployed on board ships to troubled areas of the Caribbean and was assigned mail

guard duty in the United States on two different

occasions. The regiment was once again employed

in a combat zone in early 1927 when it was

ordered to Nicaragua to help stamp out a festering

rebeffion. For the next three years it was occupied

in this task. With the decrease of rebel activity in

early 1930, the regiment was deactivated on 11

April. The regiment was reactivated with its present designation of 5th Marines on 1 September

1934 at Quantico,Virginia.

Six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl

Harbor, the 5th Marines was on its way to the

southwest Pacific to take part in the initial invasion

of Japanese-held territory as part of the 1st Marine

Members of the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, advance as though under a barrage during combat training in Germany in 1918.

32
'a-.-

Marines of the 5th Regiment board the USS Henderson enroute to Nicaragua in February 1927.

Division. Guadalcanal was the first of four major

campaigns in which the regiment participated during World War II. Elements of the 5th Marines

were the first to land on Guadalcanal on 7 August

1942. Along with other regiments of the 1st

Marine Division, the 5th Marines helped defeat the

Japanese on Guadalcanal. After rest and rehabilitation near Melbourne, Australia, the regiment next

saw action on New Britain, landing on 29

December 1942. From there, the 5th Marines went

to the Russell Islands in April 1944 to prepare for

the Peleliu operation where the regiment landed in

September against a determined enemy force.

Returning from Peleliu to the Russells, the 5th

Marines commenced intensive training for the

Okinawa operation. The regiment landed in the

assault on Okinawa on 1 April 1945, and began

some of the most bitter fighting in its history. The

regiment remained on Okinawa until 29

September when it sailed for North China for occupation duty. There it had a number of encounters

with the Chinese Communists. In late spring 1947,

33

it was redeployed to Guam and relocated to the

United States in October 1949.

The outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950

was the occasion for the next combat assignment

for the 5th Marines. On 2 August, the 5th Marines

landed at Pusan, becoming the first Marine ground

unit to enter the fray. The remainder of August witnessed the regiment spearheading the American

drive to maintain the Pusan Perimeter. The next

major undertaking for the 5th Marines was participation in the surprise 15 September 1950 amphibious assault at Inchon and the subsequent recapture of Seoul. This was followed by the epic

Chosin Reservoir campaign in late 1950 where the

regiment fought heroically alongside other 1st

Marine Division units against a much larger

Chinese Communist force. During the next two

and one-half years, the 5th Marines was locked in

combat with the North Koreans and Chinese

Communists in the East Central and Western

Fronts. The regiment remained in Korea after the

fighting ended until February 1955.
4 4.._;..4•

I' -

U

—a I

.4 —. CT

Above, Col Merritt A. Edson, commanding officer of the 5th Marines, confers with his staff on

Guadalcanal in November 1942. Below, Marines of the 5th Regiment disembark on Yellow Beach 1 on

Okinawa on 1 April 1945.

34

A
- a'

ing a guerrilla chase.

The next 10 years saw the regiment and its battalions stationed at Camp Pendleton, where it conducted numerous training and landing exercises to

maintain combat readiness. With the intensification of American involvement in the war in

Vietnam, the 5th Marines was once again called

upon to help stem aggression in Asia. Elements of

the regiment began landing in the Republic of

Vietnam in March 1966. Its move to the wartorn

country was completed three months later. Upon

arrival in Vietnam, the regiment's three battalions

were immediately employed in operations against

the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese. The first

major engagement for the 5th Marines was

Operation Hastings. This was quickly followed by

Operations Colorado and Prairie. During the

spring of 1967, the regiment decisively defeated

the enemy in Union I and Union H, where the 5th

Marines severely battered the 2d North

Vietnamese Army Division.

The 1968 Tet Offensive again saw the 5th

Marines heavily engaged with both Viet Cong and

North Vietnamese Army units. Elements of the reg35

iment fought heroically in retaking Hue, the old

imperial capital. The regiment went on to enter

Mameluke Thrust, a major operation which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Fighting for the

regiment slackened in 1969, but regimental units

nonetheless continued to make sweeps through

Quang Nam Province. Hundreds of large and small

unit engagements occurred between the enemy

and the 5th Marines. Durham Peak, Tuscaloosa,

Taylor Common, and Imperial Lake were just a few

of the operations in which the 5th Marines took

part during the latter stages of the war. In early

1971, the regiment began to stand down for redeployment to Camp Pendleton. By April 1971, all

units of the 5th Marines were back in California.

Throughout the 1 970s, the 5th Marines participated in numerous training exercises designed to

maintain its readiness and combat proficiency.

During 1975 the regiment assisted in the relocation of Vietnamese refugees in Operation New

Arrival. The 5th Marines participated in numerous

training exercises during the 1980s to maintain the

regiment's operational readiness.

A rfle squad of the 5th Marines moves cautiously through an abandoned North Korean village dur-
-

r . ;:,*. C't&

_.,P'.'t --'•

• ••••• - -- -

- .r . -

'V

'c" Lt

4!

:* -

.tt ; — I • -rh

Above, members of the 5th Marines in Korea deploy from "Camp Tripoli," where they were airl/'ted to

stop enemy guerrilla action in the eastern sector of the front. Below, Marines from Company D, 1st

Battalion, 5th Marines, in the streets of Hue, Vietnam, in February 1968

36
- — it?

p;,—. '-, t--•___

•'

A field service is conducted for Marines of the 2d

Vietnam during 1968.

After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August

1990, the 5th Marines underwent an aggressive

regimental training and deployment schedule unrivaled in previous years. The regiment deployed on

1 December 1990 for Operation Desert Shield in

the Persian Gulf and became the ground combat

element for the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

(5th MEB). The 5th MEB was the only Operation

Desert Storm force to participate in both amphibious deception and tactical operations on shore.

After having planned for months to land in direct

support of I Marine Expeditionary Force's ground

assault in Kuwait, the 5th MEB was tasked, on short

notice, to fill a critical front-line blocking position

between the 1st Marine Division and Joint Forces

Command East.

On 24 February 1991 assault elements of the

regiment were helolifted to blocking positions just

south of the Kuwait border, where they relieved

Task Force Troy, a deception force. Meanwhile,

other elements of the regiment moved north in

Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, in

37

support of 2d Marine Division operations. A ceasefire was declared on 28 February. The 5th

Marines' ability to react to a variety of rapidly

changing combat missions on short notice in unfamiliar terrain, and to move large numbers of men

and equipment, provide testimony to the unit's

operational skill, equipment readiness, and fighting spirit.

Following their deployment from Saudi Arabia

in March, the regiment participated in Operation

Sea Angel, in Bangladesh, from May-June 1991. As

one of the largest military disaster relief forces

ever assembled, Joint Task Force Sea Angel

responded to the Bangladesh Government's

request for humanitarian disaster relief in the

wake of a tropical cyclone that claimed almost

140,000 lives and left millions homeless.

The 5th Marines continued to use its skills and

team spirit in peacetime activities in the United

States. Elements of the regiment participated in
.t.sç

e

4S pa

a

Operation Continue Hope in Somalia, and

Operation Distant Runner in Rwanda during

March-April 1994. From July-September 1994, elements of the regiment also participated in firefighting efforts in the western United States. The

5th Marines continues to maintain its traditional

high level of operational readiness, in preparation

for any future crisis.

Marines carry a sack of rice across the airfield at Chittagong in Bangladesh during Operation Sea

Angel, the American military effort to provide disaster relief to victims of a cyclone, which devastated

the country in April 1991.

38
Commanding Officers

5th Marines

Col Charles A. Doyen 8 June 1917 - 23 October 1917

Maj Frederic M.Wise 24 October 1917 - 29 October 1917

LtCol Hiram I. Bearss 30 October 1917 - 31 December 1917

Col Wendell C. Neville 1 January 1918 - 27 July 1918

Cot Logan Feland 28 July 1918 - 20 March 1919

Col Harold C. Snyder 21 March 1919 - 13 August 1919

Col Frederic L. Bradman 8 July 1920 - 13 May 1922

LtCol James K. Tracy 14 May 1922 - 24 July 1922

LtCol Raymond S. Sullivan 25 July 1922 - 19 September 1922

LtCol James K. Tracy 20 September 1922 - 2 October 1922

LtCol Harold C. Snyder 3 October 1922 - 27 April 1924

LtCol Edward A. Greene 28 April 1924 - 22 May 1924

Cot John F McGill 23 May 1924 - 31 May 1925

Col Harry R. Lay 1 June 1925 - 13 September 1925

LtCol RobertY. Rhea 14 September 1925 - 12 October 1925

Col Louis M. Gulick 13 October 1925 - 30 January 1928

LtCol Benjamin S. Berry 31 January 1928 - 25 February 1928

Col Rush R. Wallace 26 February 1928 - 16 April 1929

LtCol Lauren S. Willis 17 April 1929 - 30 April 1929

Col Theodore E. Backstrom 1 May 1929 - 4 September 1929

Col James T Buttrick 5 September 1929 - 11 April 1930

LtCol Charles F B. Price 1 September 1934 - 31 August 1935

Cot Harold L. Parsons 1 September 1935 - 22 March 1936

LtCol Matthew H. Kingman 23 March 1936 - 31 May 1936

LtCol Walter G. Sheard 1 June 1936 - 30 June 1936

Col Charles J. Miller 1 July 1936 - 24 May 1937

Cot Samuel M. Harrington 25 May 1937 - 25 June 1938

LtCol Allen H. Thrnage 26 June 1938 - 30 June 1938

Col Julian C. Smith 1 July 1938 - 11 July 1939

LtCol William T. Clement 12 July 1939 - 29 July 1939

LtCol David L. S. Brewster 30 July 1939 - 3 August 1939

Col Charles D. Barrett 4 August 1939 - 3 May 1940

Col David L. S. Brewster 4 May 1940 - 26 May 1940

Col Alfred H. Noble 27 May 1940 - 28 March 1941

LtCol Charles T. Brooks 29 March 1941 - 13 April 1941

LtCol Robert C. J. Kilmartin 14 April 1941 - 13 May 1941

LtCol Charles T Brooks 14 May 1941 - 26 May 1941

Col Robert Blake 27 May 1941 - 8 April 1942

Col Leroy P. Hunt 9 April 1942 - 19 September 1942

Col Merritt A. Edson 21 September 1942 - 28 July 1943

Col John T. Seldon 29 July 1943 - 29 February 1944

39
Cot Oliver P Smith 1 March 1944 - 9 April 1944

LtCol Henry W. Buse, Jr 10 April 1944 - 20 May 1944

Cot William S. Fellers 21 May 1944 - 17 August 1944

Cot Harold D. Harris 18 August 1944 - 19 October 1944

LtCol Lewis W. Walt 20 October 1944 - 28 October 1944

Col John H. Griebel 29 October 1944 24 June 1945

Cot Jutian N. Frisbie 25 June 1945 - 15 October 1945

LtCol Robert E. Hill 16 October 1945 - 8 November 1945

Col Theodore A. Holdahi 9 November 1945 - 13 March 1946

LtCol August Larson 15 March 1946 - 15 July 1946

Cot Julian N. Frisbie 16 July 1946 - 31 May 1947

LtCol Theodore M. Sheffield 1 June 1947 - 31 March 1948

Cot Ernest W. Fry, Jr 1 April 1948 - 31 August 1949

Cot Bankson T Holcomb, Jr 1 September 1949 - 30 September 1949

Col Victor H. Krutak 1 October 1949 - 9 June 1950

Col Raymond L. Murray 10 June 1950 - 14 March 1951

Col Richard W. Hayward 15 March 1951 - 5 August 1951

Col Richard G.Weede 6 August 1951 - 18 November 1951

Cot Frank P Hager,Jr 19 November 1951 - 23 February 1952

Col Thomas A. Cuihane, Jr 24 February 1952 - 15 August 1952

Cot Eustace R. Smoak 16 August 1952 - 9 December 1952

Cot Lewis WWalt 10 December 1952- 13 April 1953

Cot Harvey C. Tschirgi 14 April 1953 - 1 August 1953

Col Rathvon McC. Tompkins 2 August 1953 - 1 February 1954

Cot Etby D. Martin 2 February 1954 - 18 July 1954

Cot Hamilton M. Hoyler 19 July 1954 - 29 November 1954

Col Robert H. Ruud 30 November 1954 - 25 June 1955

LtCot Crawford B. Lawton 26 June 1955 - 31 July 1955

Cot James S. Blais 1 August 1955 - 31 August 1956

Cot Richard Rothwell 1 September 1956 - 14 June 1957

LtCot David A. Van Evera 15 June 1957 - 8 July 1957

Cot Bruce T Hemphill 9 July 1957 - 10 December 1957

Cot Donald Schmuck 11 December 1957 - 5 March 1959

Cot Totson A. Smoak 6 March 1959 - 8 April 1960

Cot Webb D. Sawyer 9 April 1960 - 11 July 1961

Cot Charles E.Warren 12 July 1961 - 15 February 1962

Cot James T Kisgen 16 February 1962 - 8 August 1962

Cot Homer E. Hire 9 August 1962 - 17 July 1963

Cot Walter E. Reynolds 18 July 1963 - 4 June 1964

LtCol Albert Wood 5 June 1964 - 28 July 1964

Cot Victor J. Croizat 29 July 1964 - 15 August 1965

Cot Charles EWiddecke 16 August 1965 - 26 December 1966

Col Fred E. Haynes,Jr 27 December 1966 - 27 February 1967

Cot Kenneth J. Houghton, Jr 28 February 1967 - 1 July 1967

Cot Stanley Davis 2 July 1967 - 17 October 1967

40
Col Robert D. BoIm 18 October 1967 - 30 April 1968

Cot Paul G. Graham 1 May 1968 - 14 October 1968

Col James B. Ord,Jr 15 October 1968-22 March 1969

Col William J. Zaro 23 March 1969 - 16 August 1969

Col Noble L. Beck 17 August 1969 - 10 February 1970

Col Ralph F Estey 11 February 1970 - 26 June 1970

Col Clark V. Judge 27 June 1970 - 24 May 1971

LtCol Richard R. Burritt 25 May 1971 - 25 June 1971

LtCol Max J. Hochenauer 26 June 1971 - 31 August 1971

Cot Robert N. Burhans 1 September 1971 - 19 May 1972

Col John F Roche III 20 May 1972 - 17 November 1972

Cot Jack D. Rowley 18 November 1972 - 4 June 1974

Cot John H. Cahill 5 June 1974 - 12 December 1975

Col Warren L. Ammentorp 13 December 1975 - 28 July 1976

Cot Richard R. Burritt 29 July 1976 - 10 january 1978

Cot William J. Masterpool 11 January 1978 - 30 June 1978

Cot Anthony Lukeman 1 July 1978 - 15 August 1979

Col Dominick R. Gannon 16 August 1979 - 15 August 1980

Col John I. Hopkins 16 August 1980 - 19 August 1982

Cot Ernest R. Savoy 20 August 1982 - 30 June 1983

Col Louis E. Shaw 1 July 1983 - 31 May 1984

Cot Carl A. Shaver 1 June 1984 - 5 June 1985

Cot Martin L. Brandtner 6 June 1985 - 14 May 1986

Cot Thomas V. Draude 15 May 1986 - 9 November 1987

Cot Richard D. Rothweil 10 November 1987 - 26 May 1989

Col Randolph A. Gangte 27 May 1989 - 10 July 1991

Col James A. Fuiks 11 July 1991 - 20 May 1993

Col Jeffrey E. Scheferman 21 May 1993 - 8 May 1995

Cot Barry P Griffin 9 May 1995 - 15 May 1997

Cot Michaet A. Brooks 15 May 1997 -

41
5th Marines

LINEAGE

1917-1919

ACTIVATED 8 JUNE 1917 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,AS ThE 5TH REGIMENT

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE-JULY 1917 TO ST NAZAIRE, FRANCE,AND ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST DIVISION

(ARMY)

REASSIGNED DURING OCTOBER 191710 ThE 4Th BRIGADE OF MARINES, 2D DIVISION (ARMY)

PARTICIPATED IN ThE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGNS

AISNE

AISNE-MARNE

ST MIHIEL

ME USE-ARGONNE

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGNS

TOULON-TROYON

CHATEAU- THIERRY

MARBACHE

LIMEY

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF ThE GERMAN RHINELAND, DECEMBER 1918 -JULY 1919

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1919 TO QUANTICO,VIRGINIA

DEACTIVATED 13 AUGUST 1919

1 920-1933

REACTIVATED 8 JULY 1920 AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AS THE 5Th MARINES

ELEMENTS OF THE REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN MAIL GUARD DUTY

IN ThE EASTERN UNITED STATES,

NOVEMBER 1921- MAY 1922 AND OCTOBER 1926- FEBRUARY 1927

DEPLOYED DURING JANUARYMARCH 1927 TO CORJNTO, NICARAGUA, AND ASSIGNED

TOTHE 2D BRIGADE

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL FORCES,JANUARY 1927 -APRIL 1930

DEACTIVATED 11 APRIL 1930 AT MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

1934-1941

REACTIVATED 1 SEPTEMBER 1934 AT QUANTICO,VIRGINIA,AS ThE 5Th MARINES

AND ASSIGNED TO FLEET MARINE FORCE

42
REASSIGNED DURING SEPTEMBER 1935 TO THE 1ST MARINE BRIGADE

DEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1940 TO GUANTANAJVIO BAY, CUBA

REASSIGNED DURING FEBRUARY 1941 TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1941 TO QUANTICO,VIRGINIA

RELOCATED DURING SEPTEMBER 1941 TO NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA

1942-1949

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE 1942 TO WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPMGNS

GUADALCANAL

EASTERN NEW GUINEA

NEW BRITAIN

PELELIU

OKINAWA

REDEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1945 TO TIENTSIN, CHINA

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1945 - MAY 1947

REDEPLOYED DURING MAY 1947 TO GUAM

REASSIGNED DURING JUNE 1947 TO THE 1ST PROVISIONAL MARINE BRIGADE

RELOCATED DURING OCTOBER 1949 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,AND REASSIGNED

TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

1 95 0-1965

DEPLOYED DURING AUGUST 1950 TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

PARTICIPATED IN THE KOREAN WAR, AUGUST 1950 -JULY 1953, OPERATING FROM

PUSAN PERIMETER

INCHON-SEOUL

CHOSIN RESERVOIR

EAST CENTRAL FRONT

WESTERN FRONT

PARTICIPATED IN THE DEFENSE OF THE KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE,JULY 1953 - FEBRUARY 1955

RELOCATED DURING MARCH 1955 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

19661971

DEPLOYED DURING MARCH-MAY 1966 TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

43
PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, MARCH 1966 - MARCH 1971, OPERATING FROM

RUNG SAT

CHU LAI

PHULOC

PHU BAJ

HUE

QUE SON

AN HOA

TAM KY

DA NANG

RELOCATED DURING MARCH-APRIL 1971 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

19 72-1998

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION NEWARRIVAL,THE RELOCATION OF REFUGEES FROM

INDOCHINA, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,JULYDECEMBER 1975

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, SOUTHWEST ASIA,

AUGUST 1990 -APRIL 1991

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION SEA ANGEL, BANGLADESH, MAY-JUNE 1991

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN FIRE-FIGHTING EFFORTS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 1988,JULY-SEPTEMBER 1994,AND SEPTEMBER 1996

ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION CONTINUE HOPE, SOMALIA, MARCH 1994

ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION DISTANT RUNNER, RWANDA,APRTL 1994

44
5th Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND FOUR BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II

GUADALCANAL- 1942

PELELIU-NGESEBUS-1 944

OKINAWA-1945

KOREA

1950

1950

1950

1951

VIETNAM

1966-1967

1967

1967-1968

JOINT MERITORIOUS UNIT AWAIU) STREAMER

BANGLADESH

1991

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREA

1952-1953

VIETNAM

1968-1969

SOUTHWEST ASIA

1990-1991

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER

VIETNAM

1968

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER STAR

ARMY OF OCCUPATION OF GERMANY STREAMER

SECOND NICARAGUAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND ONE BRONZE STAR

45
WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITH "ASIA"

CHINA SERVICE STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND TWO BRONZE STARS

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER WITH THREE BRONZE STARS

FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH TWO PALMS AND ONE GILT STAR

KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM STREAMER

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTIONS STREAMER

46
v 4s  —iti

I

I

, ,,

The 7th Marines

The 7th Marines was activated on 14 August

1917 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Within days

the regiment departed for Guantanamo, Cuba.

Throughout World War I, the 7th Marines remained

in Cuba protecting American lives and property

Upon returning to the United States in September

1919, the regiment was deactivated at the

Philadelphia Navy Yard,

In 1933 at Quantico,Virginia, a new 7th Marines

was organized for duty in Cuba, but it was deactivated shortly thereafter. Only one of its battalions

sailed to Cuban waters before the deactivation.

The 7th Marines was reactivated on 1 January 1941

as part of the 1st Marine Brigade (later the 1st

Marine Division) at Guantanamo, Cuba. Training

exercises were started immediately and were continued after the regiment's return to Parris Island,

South Carolina. After the attack on Pearl Harbor,

the 7th Marines departed for the South Pacific

where it formed part of the garrison on Samoa. On

18 September 1942, the regiment landed on

Guadalcanal to reinforce 1st Marine Division units

7th Marines on the march at Camaguez, Cuba, in 1918, protecting American lives and property.

47
Above, members of the 7th Marines regimental staff at Cape Gloucester in January 1944 Second from

left is LtCol Lewis B. Puller Below, the 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, moves to the front lines on Peleliu In

September 1944.

48

!!.Jj! .! • 4.1' 'U I.

*1

V L - lip';. "P S
already on the island and took part in the defense

of Henderson Field. In January 1943, it departed for

Melbourne, Australia, for reorganization and rehabilitation.

After receiving extensive training in jungle warfare at Oro Bay, New Guinea, the regiment embarked for its next objective, New Britain. It landed

at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, 26 December

1943 and secured the initial beachhead. The campaign for western New Britain ended in April 1944

and the 7th Marines moved to the Russell Islands.

Training continued for the seizure of Peleliu in

September 1944. Again the regiment took part in

the initial landing, securing the southern tip of the

island. The 7th Marines was relieved in October

and sailed back to Pavuvu in the Russells. Okinawa

was the last combat operation in World War II for

the 7th Marines. Landing on 1 April 1945, the regiment fought bravely in the midst of heavy combat

until the middle of June. As part of the 1st Marine

Division, the 7th Marines had slogged its way

through four gruelling campaigns.

With the end of the war, the 7th Marines was

redeployed to Tientsin, China, in September 1945,

to help handle the surrender of Japanese forces in

the area. It took part in rail and road guard activities during most of its tour, remaining in North

China until January 1947, when it returned to

Camp Pendleton, California, and was deactivated a

month later. On 1 October 1947, the 7th Marines

was again reactivated at Camp Pendleton, but only

for a period of two years, before Marine Corps

strength reductions resulted in the regiment's

deactivation.

A new emergency arose in the summer of 1950

to precipitate the reactivation of the regiment.

After the North Korean Army attacked across the

38th parallel invading South Korea, American

forces were sent to Korea to stem the invasion.

The 1st Marine Division embarked on a hurried

program to ready itself for combat. The 7th

Marines was reborn at Camp Pendleton on 17

August 1950, and sailed for Japan just two weeks

later. The regiment went ashore at Inchon, Korea,

Marines of the 7th Regiment wait while a barrage of phosphorous shells, in background, pave the way

for an attack on Okinawa in May 1945.

49
*

02

-if

Above, the strain of fighting the enemy and the bitter cold is evident among these infantymen of the

7th Marines at the Chosin Reservoir in December 1950. Below, troops of the 2d Battalion, 7th Marines,

assault a beach near Vinh Giang, south of Da Nang, during Operation Blue Marlin in Vietnam, in

November 1965.

50

-l

U

I.'—

eq 4'

*

'

a-

.4
Fl' t

a ' t

3'

Supported by armoi members of the 7th Marines advance against enemy positions during Operation

Arizona in Vietnam, June 1967.

on 21 September and took part in the battle to

recapture Seoul. The 7th Marines later fought in

the heroic breakout from the Chosin Reservoir

alongside other 1st Marine Division units. Over the

next three years, the regiment distinguished itself

in fighting in the Punchbowl region of east-central

Korea, and the outpost battles along the western

Korean front. After the armistice in July 1953, the

7th Marines remained in Korea near the demilitarized zone until March 1955. Upon its return to

Camp Pendleton, the regiment was involved in routine training for the next decade to maintain combat readiness, but was called upon in late 1962 to

send two battalions to the Caribbean during the

Cuban Missile Crisis.

With the intensification of the hostilities in

Vietnam in 1965, the 7th Marines again sailed for

overseas duty. Landing in the Republic of Vietnam

in July-August 1965, it became the first regiment

from the 1st Marine Division to enter the war in

Vietnam. Elements of the 7th Marines immediately

51

began combat operations against the enemy, starting with Operations Starlite and Piranha. The former was the first regimental-size battle for

American troops since Korea. Mallard, Harvest

Moon, Double Eagle 11, Utah, Hot Springs, and

DeSoto were other well-known operations that the

regiment participated in during the first few years

of its deployment. It experienced particularly

heavy fighting during 1968, especially in

Operations Allen Brook, Mameluke Thrust, and

Meade River. The following year saw the regiment

in Operations Oklahoma Hills and Pipestone

Canyon. Its last major operation of the war was

Imperial Lake in 1970. Redeployment of the 7th

Marines to Camp Pendleton after more than five

years of continuous warfare was completed at the

end of October 1970.

The regiment soon embarked on a rebuilding

program to return itself to the authorized manning

level. A series of training exercises were inaugurated to guarantee and maintain the unit's combat
Assault amphibian vehicles exhibit the system of unit markings for 3d Platoon, Company A, 1st

Battalion, 7th Marines, during Operation Desert Shield in December 1990. Below, Marines atop an

armored command and control vehicle during the multinational relief effort, Operation Restore Hope,

in Somalia, December 1992.

proficiency In one exercise, the 3d Battalion relocated to Panama in June 1972 for three weeks of

jungle training.This was the first deployment of a

regimental unit outside the United States in the

post-Vietnam era. During the 1980s, the regiment

participated in numerous training exercises in

order to maintain its traditional high level of operational readiness.

On 2 August 1990, when Iraqi troops invaded

Kuwait, the 7th Marines was located at the Marine

Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine

Palms, California. On 8 August, operational control

of the 7th Marines was transferred to the 7th

Marine Expeditionary Brigade (7th MEB), and the

majority of the regiment deployed on 15 August to

Saudi Arabia.

On 2 September, the 7th MEB was absorbed into

the newly formed I Marine Expeditionary Force (I

MEF). On 14 September, Task Force Ripper, an

armored, mechanized unit was formed, with the

7th Marines designated as higher headquarters.

52

S

- .-*.

-r

— — a '--

-—

—

W - ' e
The 7th Marines increased its tempo of training

from a defensive to offensive posture, as Iraq continued to refuse United Nations resolutions calling

upon it to remove its forces from Kuwait.

On 24 February 1991, the liberation of occupied

Kuwait began, as Task Force Ripper breached Iraqi

obstacle belts into southern Kuwait. The mechanized task force quickly overcame enemy resistance, as Iraqi soldiers began to surrender by the

hundreds. Task Force Ripper continued its offensive momentum as it attacked and isolated Al Jaber

airfield by nightfall on 25 February. The task force

consolidated positions and took many Iraqi prisoners of war. By 28 February, a ceasefire had been

declared, with the total defeat of Iraqi forces in

53

Kuwait. Early in March 1991, Task Force Ripper

returned to Saudi Arabia, and on 20 March, the 7th

Marines began its trip home to Twentynine Palms,

thus completing a seven-month deployment to the

Persian Gulf area.

The 7th Marines has continued to maintain its

high standards of operational readiness in the

decade following participation in Operations

Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The regiment participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia,

and more recently, received a Meritorious Unit

Commendation for service in support of the

Hunter Warrior Advanced Warfighting Experiment

during 1996-1997, assisting to revolutionize the

operating capabilities of the Marine Corps.
Commanding Officers

7th Marines

Cot Melville J. Shaw 19 August 1917 - 23 September 1918

Col Newt H. Hall 24 September 1918 - 22 August 1919

Maj Gerard M. Kincade 23 August 1919 - 5 September 1919

Cot Richard P Williams 6 September 1933 - 15 January 1934

LtCol John R. Henley 16 January 1934 - 17 January 1934

Cot Earl H. Jenkins 1 January 1941 - 2 April 1941

LtCol Amor L. Sims 3 April 1941 - 30 April 1941

Col James WWebb 1 May 1941 - 19 September 1942

Cot Amor L. Sims 20 September 1942 - 21 June 1943

Cot Julian N. Frisbie 22 June 1943 - 20 February 1944

Cot Herman H. Hanneken 21 February 1944 - 3 November 1944

LtCot Norman Hussa 4 November 1944 - 7 November 1944

Cot Edward W Snedeker 8 November 1944 - 20 September 1945

Cot Richard P Ross, Jr 21 September 1945 - 27 January 1946

Cot Paul Drake 28 January 1946 - 5 March 1947

Cot Alva B. Lasswell 1 October 1947 - 10 May 1948

Cot William N. McKetvy, Jr 11 May 1948 - 31 August 1948

Cot Lyman G. Miller 1 September 1948 - 29 September 1949

Cot Homer L. Litzenberg, Jr 17 August 1950 - 15 April 1951

Cot Herman Nickerson, Jr 16 April 1951 - 20 September 1951

LtCot John J.Wermuth,Jr 21 September 1951 - 10 March 1952

Cot Russell E. Honsowetz 11 March 1952 - 10 June 1952

Cot Thomas C. Moore, Jr 11 June 1952 -4 November 1952

Cot Loren E. Haffner 5 November 1952 - 26 March 1953

Cot Glenn C. Funk 27 March 1953 - 3 August 1953

Cot Jack PJuhan 4 August 1953 - 4 December 1953

Cot Wendell H. Duplantis 5 December 1953 - 24 February 1954

Cot Eart A. Sneeringer 25 February 1954 - 3 July 1954

Cot Henry H. Crockett 4 July 1954 - 3 October 1954

Cot Odd M. Conotey 4 October 1954 - 1 June 1955

Cot Spencer S. Berger 2 June 1955 - 16 July 1956

LtCot Orville V Bergren 17 July 1956 - 17 August 1956

Cot Robert A. McGill 18 August 1956 - 30 April 1957

Cot Thomas E.Williams 1 May 1957 - 10 December 1957

Cot Jackson B. Butterfield 11 December 1957 - 23 May 1958

LtCot Hector R. Migneault 24 May 1958 - 30 June 1958

Cot Bernard T Kelly 1 July 1958 - 5 August 1959

Col Houston Stiff 6 August 1959 - 4 January 1960

Cot Harold S. Roise 5 January 1960 - 21 November 1960

Cot Albert Arsenault 22 November 1960 - 27 October 1961

54
Cot Franklin B. Nihart . 28 October 1961 - 8 July 1963

Col Robert H. Twisdale 9 July 1963 - 30 March 1964

Col Oscar F Peatross 31 March 1964 - 3 April 1966

Col Eugene H. Haffey 4 April 1966 - 1 August 1966

Col Lawrence F Snoddy, Jr 2 August 1966 - 20 January 1967

Cot Charles C. Crossfield II 21 January 1967 - 14 August 1967

LtCot Russell E. Johnson 15 August 1967 - 21 August 1967

Cot Ross R. Miner 22 August 1967 - 20 February 1968

Col Reverdy M. Hall 21 February 1968 - 15 August 1968

Cot Herbert L. Beckington 16 August 1968 - 7 February 1969

Cot Robert L. Nichols 8 February 1969 - 9 July 1969

Col Gildo S. Codispoti 10 July 1969 - 28 February 1970

Col Edmund G. Derning, Jr 1 March 1970 - 4 August 1970

Col Robert H. Piehi 5 August 1970 - 31 October 1970

LtCol Keith L. Christensen 1 November 1970 - 13 April 1971

Col Anthony A. Monti 14 April 1971 - 12 November 1971

Col Forest J. Hunt 13 November 1971 - 31 May 1972

Col Robert N. Burhans 1 June 1972 - 30 July 1973

LtCol Robert D. White 31 July 1973 - 10 September 1973

Cot John F Roche III 11 September 1973 - 21 May 1974

Col John J. Keefe 22 May 1974 - 27 February 1975

Cot Joseph Deprima 28 February 1975 - 11 September 1975

Col Haig Donabedian 12 September 1975 - 1 November 1977

Cot John H. Blair 2 November 1977 - 27 July 1978

Cot Chartes A. Barstow 28 July 1978 - 31 August 1979

Cot Roger C. Hagerty 1 September 1979 - 19 December 1980

Col Joseph J. O'Brien 20 December 1980 - 6 August 1981

Cot Henry C. Stackpole III 7 August 1981 - 16 February 1983

Cot James V Suffivan 17 February 1983 - 9 August 1984

Cot Jay R. Vargas 10 August 1984 - 29 May 1986

Cot William A. Hesser 30 May 1986 - 17 December 1987

Cot Jeffrey W. Oster 18 December 1987 - 7 July 1989

Cot Carl W Fulford 8 July 1989 - 30 May 1991

Cot Emil Bedard 31 May 1991- 24 June 1993

Cot Wallace C. Gregson, Jr 25 June 1993 - 27 June 1994

Col James N. Mattis 28 June 1994 - 14 June 1996

Col James P Walsh 15 June 1996 - 12 June 1998

Col Christian B. Cowdrey 13 June 1998

55
7th Marines

LINEAGE

1917-1934

ACTIVATED 14 AUGUST 1917 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS ThE 7Th REGIMENT

DEPLOYED DURING AUGUST 1917 TO GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF CUBA, AUGUST 1917 -AUGUST 1919

ASSIGNED DURING DECEMBER 1917 TO THE 3D PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

DETACHED DURING JULY 1918

ASSIGNED DURING DECEMBER 1918 TO THE 6Th PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

DETACHED DURING JUNE 1919

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1919 TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

DEACTIVATED 6 SEPTEMBER 1919

REACTIVATED 6 SEPTEMBER 1933 AT QUANTICO,VIRGINIA,AS THE 7TH MARINES

DEACTIVATED 17 JANUARY 1934

1941-1949

REACTIVATED 1 JANUARY 1941 AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, AND ASSIGNED

TO ThE 1ST MARINE BRIGADE

REASSIGNED DURING FEBRUARY 1941 TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1941 TO PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

RELOCATED DURING SEPTEMBER 1941 TO NEW RWER, NORTH CAROLINA

A1TACHED DURING MARCH 1942 TO THE 3D MARINE BRIGADE

DEPLOYED DURING APRIL-MAY 1942 TO SAMOA

DETACHED DURING AUGUST 1942 FROM THE 3D MARINE BRIGADE AND REASSIGNED

TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

56
PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

GUADALCANAL

EASTERN NEW GUINEA

NEW BRITAIN

PELELIU

OKINAWA

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1945 -JANUARY 1947

RELOCATED DURING JANUARY 1947 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

DEACTIVATED 6 MARCH 1947

REACTIVATED 1 OCTOBER 1947 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,AND ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST

MARINE DIVISION

DEACTIVATED 1 OCTOBER 1949

1 95 0-1964

REACTIVATED 17 AUGUST 1950 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,AND

ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1950 TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

PARTICIPATED IN THE KOREAN WAR, SEPTEMBER 1950 -JULY 1953, OPERATING FROM

INCHON-SEOUL

CHOSIN RESERVOIR

EAST CENTRAL FRONT

WESTERN FRONT

PARTICIPATED INTHE DEFENSE OFTHE KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE,JULY 1953 - MARCH 1955

RELOCATED DURING MARCH 1955 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

PARTICIPATED IN THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1962

1965-19 70

DEPLOYED DURING JULY-AUGUST 1965 TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED INTHE WAR INVIETNAM,JULY 1965- OCTOBER 1970, OPERATING FROM

QUI NHON

CHULAI

DA NANG

FIRE SUPPORT BASE ROSS

LANDING ZONE BALDY

DUCPHO

DAILOC

QUAN QUE SON

57
RELOCATED DURING SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 197010 CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,

AND REASSIGNED TO ThE 5Th MARINE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE

19 71-1998

REASSIGNED DURING APRIL 1971 TO ThE 1ST MARINE DWISION

RELOCATED DURING JANUARY 199010 TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA

ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN EARThQUAKE RELIEF OPERATIONS, PHILIPPINES,

MAYOCTOBER 1990

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, SOUTHWEST ASIA,

AUGUST 1990-MARCH 1991

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, SOMALIA, DECEMBER 1992 -APRIL 1993

PARTICIPATED IN SUPPORT OF THE HUNTER WARRIOR ADVANCED WARFIGHTING

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,

SEPTEMBER 1996 - MARCH 1997

58
7th Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAl UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND THREE BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II

GUADALCANAL-1 942

PELELIU-1944

OKJNAWA-1945

KOREA

1950

1950

1951

VIETNAM

1965-1966

1966-1967

1967-1968

JOINT MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD STREAMER

SOMALIA

1992-1993

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREA

1952-1953

VIETNAM

1965

SOUTHWEST ASIA

1990-1991

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WETH ONE BRONZE STAR

VIEThAM

1968

1996-1997

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER WITH "WEST INDIES"

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITh ONE SILVER STAR

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

59
NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITH "ASIA"

CHINA SERVICE STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER WITh ONE SILVER AND FOUR BRONZE STARS

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER WITh ONE BRONZE STAR

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND ThREE BRONZE STARS

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITh PALM STREAMER

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CWIL ACTIONS STREAMER

60
N

'1

'ii

The 11th Marines

The present 11th Marines has been preceded by

three other organizations having similar designations. The first was activated during World War I on

3 January 1918 as the 11th Marine Regiment.

Originally planned as a light artillery regiment, it

was converted to an infantry unit and went to

France as part of the 5th Marine Brigade in the

waning days of the war. It failed to see combat and

returned home to be disbanded on 11 August

1919.

On 9 May 1927, another 11th Regiment was

activated from troops in Haiti and at Quantico for

service in Nicaragua of brief duration. The regimental headquarters was disbanded on 31 July

1927, and the two battalions in September.

Renewed political problems in Nicaragua and the

intensified guerrilla campaign of the bandit leader

Augusto Sandino caused the activation of another

11th Regiment at Norfolk, Virginia, and San Diego,

California, in January 1928. A third battalion was

organized on the east coast on 21 March 1928.

Again, service in Nicaragua was brief, with the

Marine artillery is arrayed on board ship, preparatory to be taken ashore, off Guadalcanal in late

1942.

61
Above, a battery of Marine artillery goes into action against enemy installations on Pelellu in

September 1944. Below, a Marine 37mm gun pounds enemy positions on Okinawa in May 1945.

62

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third battalion being disbanded on 15 June 1929

and the remainder of the regiment on 31 August

1929.

With the approach of World War II and the consequent expansion of the Marine Corps, an 11th

Marines (Artifiery) was activated at Guantanamo

Bay, Cuba, on 1 March 1941 .Activation of the regiment's organic battalions already had been underway since 1 September 1940 when the 1st

Battalion was created. After its return to the United

States from Cuba, the regiment (less the 1st

Battalion) shipped overseas with the 1st Marine

Division to New Zealand inJune-July 1942. The 1st

Battalion went to Samoa with the 7th Marines in

March 1942.

The 11th Marines landed on Guadalcanal in

August with the 1st Marine Division and played an

especially significant part in the Battle of the

Tenaru and the Battle of Edson's Ridge. The 1st

Battalion rejoined the regiment in September on

Gun crews from the 11th Marines provide artillery support for Marine infantrymen in the Yanggu area

of North Korea, June 1951.

63
Is4

:'

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V

'fl

Above, prime movers of the 11th Marines in Korea pull 155mm howitzers from the battalion area to

the main supply route, to move into positions. Below, a Marine artillery crew fires a 155mm howitzer

against an enemy position in Korea.

64

2
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,-jai

Marines of Battery 1' 2d Battalion, 11th Marines atop a landing zone near An Hoa, Vietnam, in 1968,

watch as ammunition is brought in by a CH-53 transport helicoptei during Operation Taylor

Common.

Guadalcanal. On 15 December 1942, the 11th

Marines left Guadalcanal for Australia, rested and

reorganized, and then reentered combat on New

Britain at Cape Gloucester on 26 December 1943.

Here the regiment furnished support to the

infantry in their capture of the Japanese airdrome.

Following the New Britain campaign came a period of preparation for the Peleliu landing where the

65

regiment was actively engaged.

For the first two weeks after the 15 September

1944 landing on Peleliu, all artillery support was

handled both novelly and conventionally, providing massed preparatory, harassing, and interdicting

fire. Later, the artillery was used to fire directly into

the mouths of enemy caves. In March 1945, the

11th Marines left for Okinawa, its fmal combat
operation of World War II. There the regiment

played an important defensive role with effective

counter-battery fire, and steadily suppressed

enemy attempts to counter-attack objectives

already won by U.S. forces. With the war won, in

the fall of 1945 the 11th Marines moved toTientsin

in North China where it was soon involved in trying to keep peace in the midst of the increasing

conflict between rival Chinese factions. Early in

1947, the regiment returned to the United States to

be reduced virtually to a battalion-sized unit.

Three years later the Communist North Koreans

invaded South Korea, and the 1st Battalion was part

of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade deployed in

August 1950 to the Pusan Perimeter to help stem

their advance. Other battalions were organized in

the United States and were available for service

when the 1st Division made the Inchon landing.

Shifted back to the east coast of Korea, the battalions were attached to regimental combat teams

and participated in the Chosin Reservoir campaign

of 1950. The 11th Marines participated in continued heavy action on the East Central Front

throughout 1951, and in March 1952, moved to the

Western Front. The 11th was finally able to sail

from Korea for the United States and Camp

Pendleton on 7 March 1955.

The years between 1955 and 1965 were spent

in continued training to maintain a constant state

of readiness. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of

October 1962, the 11th Marines played a role in

the task force ordered to impose a naval quarantine against arms shipments to Cuba.

A new era opened on 8 March 1965 when the

Marines were committed to ground action in South

Vietnam. Beginning on 16 August 1965, the regiment was gradually deployed to South Vietnam.

The transfer was completed by the arrival of the 2d

Battalion on 27 May 1966. The nature of the war

required the artillerymen to defend their own positions against numerous enemy probes and brought

about a vastly increased employment of artillery by

helicopters, both for displacement and resupply.

The regimental history in Vietnam was characterized as fighting by detachments in dispersed

areas. Hastings, Hue City, Napoleon-Saline II,

Oklahoma Hills, Pipestone Canyon, and Imperial

Lake were some of the more significant operations

in which the regiment participated. Redeployment

to the United States started in October 1970 when

the 4th Battalion left for Twentynine Palms,

California.The 1st Battalion was the last unit of the

regiment to depart for the United States and Camp

Pendleton in May 1971.

66

During the next decade, the 11th Marines experienced a high level of activity; participating in

many training and support exercises. In 1975 the

regiment provided support for Operation New

Arrival and the Vietnamese refugees. The 11th

Marines participated in numerous training exercises throughout the 1980s to maintain the regiment's high level of operational readiness.

The regiment's ability to respond quickly to a

crisis was put to the test in August 1990, when Iraq

invaded and occupied its neighbor, Kuwait.

President George Bush immediately ordered

American forces, including Marines, to the Persian

Gulf, to deter a possible Iraqi assault into Saudi

Arabia. Elements of the 11th Marines began

departing Camp Pendleton on 25 August as part of

the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, enroute to

Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert Shield. Early in

September, 7th MEB was absorbed by I Marine

Expeditionary Force. The mission of the 11th

Marines was to provide effective artillery support

to the various task forces comprising the 1st

Marine Division. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the

regiment began an intensive training program,

which included liaison with the famous British

"Desert Rats," the 40th Field Regiment Royal

Artillery

Iraq's refusal to remove its forces from occupied

Kuwait soon changed the 11th Marines tactical

posture from defense to offense. Close study of

Iraqi defense arrangement began in earnest, as well

as efforts to develop effective countermeasures.

The 11th Marines enhanced its combat posture

during November and December 1990 with livefire artifiery training exercises.

Operation Desert Storm began early on 17

January 1991, and the 11th Marines fired its first

artillery mission against Iraqi forces, when elements of the regiment conducted an early morning

surface artillery raid just south of Khafji. This was

the first in a series of 11th Marines artillery raids

conducted along the Saudi Arabian/Kuwaiti border,

both on the Persian Gulf coast and along the southwest border area near several oil fields. As the

major coalition ground offensive began on 24

February, the 11th Marines was already inside

Kuwait providing vital fire support to Task Forces

Grizzly and Taro. Throughout Operation Desert

Storm, the 11th Marines provided close and continuous fire support to the 1st Marine Division.

Upon the 28 February 1991 ceasefire which

ended the fighting, the 11th Marines prepared to

leave the Persian Gulf for home. The regiment's

seven-month deployment and the Gulf War came
Ii

p.

I

Se

Above, artillerymen of Battery I, 3d Battalion, 11th Marines, in firing position in Vietnam, August

1969. Below, Marines from Battery R, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, stand aboard their Ml 1 0A2 self-propelled &inch howitzei as they conduct gun drill in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield.

67

'c. -, - -'.-:'- . .. - - 1.
to an end on 3 April with a much-deserved welcome at Camp Pendleton, California.

Throughout the remaining years of the decade,

elements of the 11th Marines participated in

Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh and in

68

Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. The regiment

also assisted in fire-fighting efforts in the western

United States during the summer of 1994. The 11th

Marines stands ready to meet any contingency as

the Marine Corps prepares to enter a new century.
Commanding Officers

11th Marines

Col George Van Orden 3 January 1918 - 11 August 1919

LtCol Arthur J. O'Leary 9 May 1927 - 18 May 1927

Cot Randolph C. Berkeley 19 May 1927 - 30 June 1927

LtCol Arthur J. O'Leary 1 July 1927 - 30 July 1927

Cot Robert H. Dunlap 7 January 1928 - 19 August 1929

BGen Pedro A. del Valle 1 March 1941 - 28 March 1943

Cot Robert H. Pepper 29 March 1943 - 31 January 1944

Cot William H. Harrison 1 February 1944 - 3 November 1944

Cot Wilburt S. Brown 4 November 1944 - 30 September 1946

Cot Eugene F C. Collier 1 October 1946 - 2 July 1947

LtCol Thomas R. Beizer 3 July 1947 - 31 May 1948

LtCol Claude S. Sanders 1 June 1948 - 15 June 1948

Col Bernard H. Kirk 16 June 1948 - 28 July 1950

CoT James H. Brower 29 July 1950 - 10 December 1950

LtCol Carl A. Youngdale 11 December 1950 - 10 March 1951

Col Joseph L.Winecoff 11 March 1951 - 4 August 1951

Cot Curtis Burton, Jr 5 August 1951 - 18 November 1951

Cot BruceT Hemphill 19 November 1951 - 26 March 1952

Cot Frederick P. Henderson 27 March 1952 - 19 September 1952

Col Harry N. Shea 20 September 1952 - 21 February 1953

Cot James E. Mills 22 February 1953 - 4 July 1953

Col Manly L. Curry 5 July 1953 - 16 December 1953

Col Lewis J. Fields 17 December 1953 - 20 April 1954

Col John S. OldfIeld 21 April 1954 - 29 October 1954

Cot Ernest P. Foley 30 October 1954 - 10 June 1955

LtCot Roger S. Bruford 11 June 1955 - 6 August 1955

Cot William T Fairbourn 7 August 1955 - 12 October 1956

Col Alfred M. Mahoney 13 October 1956 - 6 April 1957

LtCol Wmsor V. Crockett, Jr 7 April 1957 - 1 July 1957

Cot Robert H. Hiatt 2 July 1957 - 31 July 1959

Col Earl J. Rose 1 August 1959 - 19 August 1960

Cot David R. Griffin 20 August 1960 - 31 July 1961

Cot Francis F Parry 1 August 1961 - 3 June 1962

Cot Thomas L. Randall 4 June 1962 - 1 June 1964

Col Peter J. Mutroney 2 June 1964 - 28 May 1965

Cot Peter H. Hahn 29 May 1965 - 17 June 1966

LtCol John B. Sullivan 18 June 1966 - 12 September 1966

Col Glenn E. Norris 13 September 1966 - 28 June 1967

LtCol Clayton V. Hendricks 29 June 1967 - 18 July 1967

Cot Ernest W. Payne 19 July 1967 - 27 December 1967

69
Col Clayton V. Hendricks . 28 December 1967 - 9 July 1968

Col Harry E. Dickinson 10 July 1968 - 7 February 1969

Col Samuel A. Hannah 8 February 1969 - 2 July 1969

Cot Charles E. Walker 3 July 1969 - 8 August 1969

LtCol Corbin J. Johnson 9 August 1969 - 31 August 1969

Col Don D. Ezell 1 September 1969 - 24 March 1970

Col Ernest R. Reid, Jr 25 March 1970 - 30 August 1970

Col Edwin M. Rudzis 31 August 1970 - 3 June 1971

LtCol Billy F Stewart 4 June 1971 - 18 June 1971

LtCol Bruce F. Ogden 19 June 1971 - 30 June 1971

Col William R. Grubaugh 1 July 1971 - 31 July 1972

Col James W. Abraham 1 August 1972 - 2 July 1973

LtCol William C. Vilhauer 3 July 1973 - 27 August 1973

Col John B. Harris 28 August 1973 - 3 October 1974

Col Jessie L. Gibney, Jr 4 October 1974 - 1 September 1976

Cot Clarence E. Hogan 2 September 1976 - 26 July 1978

Col Robert J. Henley 27 July 1978 - 17 July 1980

Col Hoffis E. Davison 18 July 1980 - 7 August 1981

Cot Ernest B. BeaU, Jr 8 August 1981 - 15 June 1983

Col George L. Cates 16 June 1983 - 14 March 1985

Cot Hugh P Pate 15 March 1985 - 6 July 1987

Col John Pipta 7 July 1987 - 23 January 1989

Cot James E. floyd, Jr 24 January 1989 - 3 July 1990

Col Patrick G. Howard 4 July 1990 - 17 June 1992

Col Jerry C. McAbee 18 June 1992 - 21 April 1994

Col Anthony M. Palermo 22 April 1994 - 9 May 1996

Col Joseph E Weber 10 May 1996 - 11 June 1998

Cot Edward J. Lesnowicz 12 June 1998 -

70
11th Marines

LINEAGE

191& 1919

ACTIVATED 3 JANUARY 1918AT QUANTICO,VIRGINIIA,ASThE 11Th REGIMENT

ASSIGNED DURING SEPTEMBER 1918 TO THE 5Th MARINE BRIGADE

DEPLOYED DURING OCTOBER 1918 TO BREST, FRANCE

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1919 TO HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA

DEACTIVATED 11AUGUST 1919

1927-1929

REACTIVATED 9 MAY 1927 AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA

DEPLOYED DURING MAY 1927TO CORINTO,NICARAGUA,ANDASSIGNED

TO THE 2D MARINE BRIGADE

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL FORCES, MAYJUNE 1927

DEACTIVATED 31 JULY 1927AT LEON, NICARAGUA

REACTIVATED 7 JANUARY 1928 AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

DEPLOYED DURING JANUARY 1928 TO CORINTO, NICARAGUA,AND ASSIGNED

TO THE 2D MARINE BRIGADE

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST REBEL FORCES, JANUARY 1928 - AUGUST 1929

DEACTIVATED 31 AUGUST 1929 ON BOARD ThE USS HENDERSON

194 1-1949

REACTIVATED 1 MARCH 1941 AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, AS ThE 11Th MARINES

AND ASSIGNED TO ThE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 1941 TO PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

RELOCATED DURING OCTOBER 1941 TO NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE-JULY 1942 TO WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

71
PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

GUADALCANAL

EASTERN NEW GUINEA

NEW BRITAIN

PELELIU

OKINAWA

REDEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1945 TO TANG-KU, CHINA

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA, SEPTEMBER 1945 -JANUARY 1947

REASSIGNED DURING JANUARY 1947 TO FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

REDEPLOYED DURING JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1947 TO GUAM

RELOCATED DURING MAY 1947 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA,AND REASSIGNED

TO THE 3D MARINE BRIGADE

REASSIGNED DURING JULY 1947 TO THE 1ST MARINE DWISION

1950-1964

DEPLOYED DURINGAUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1950 TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

PARTICIPATED IN THE KOREAN WAR, AUGUST 1950 -JULY 1953,

OPERATING FROM

PUSAN PERIMETER

INCHON-SEOUL

CHOSIN RESERVOIR

EAST CENTRAL FRONT

WESTERN FRONT

PARTICIPATED INTHE DEFENSE OF THE KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE,JULY 1953 - MARCH 1955

RELOCATED DURING MARCH 1955 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

PARTICIPATED IN THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1962

1965 - 1971

DEPLOYED DURINGAUGUST 1965TO CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA

REDEPLOYED DURING JANUARY 1966 TO CHU LAI, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM,AND

REASSIGNED TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

REASSIGNED DURING MARCH 1966 TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION

72
PARTICIPATED IN ThE WAR IN VIETNAM, JANUARY 1966 - MARCH 1971, OPERATING FROM

DA !lANG

CHU IA!

HUE

QUANG TRI

PHUBA!

THUA THIEN

AN HOA

RELOCATED DURING MARCH 1971 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

19 72-1998

PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM, SOUTHWEST ASIA,

SEPTEMBER 1990 - MARCH 1991

ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION SEA ANGEL, BANGLADESH, MAY-JUNE 1991

ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION RESTORE HOPE, SOMALIA, DECEMBER 1992 - MARCH 1993

PARTICIPATED IN FIRE-FIGHTING EFFORTS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES,JULY-SEFFEMBER 1994

ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN SUPPORT OF THE HUNTER WARRIOR ADVANCED WARFIGHTING

EXPERIMENT, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, MARCH 1997

73
11th Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND ThREE BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II

GUADALCANAL- 1942

PELELIU-NGESEBUS- 1944

OKINAWA-1945

KOREA

1950

1950

1951

VIETNAM

1966

1966-1967

1967-1968

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITh TWO BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II

CAPE GLOUCESTER - 1943-1944

KOREA

1952-1953

SOUTHWEST ASIA

1990-1991

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

VIETNAM

1968

1994

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER

SECOND NICARAGUAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITh ONE BRONZE STAR

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITh ONE SILVER AND ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITh "ASIA"

CHINA SERVICE STREAMER

74
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND TWO BRONZE STARS

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITh PALM STREAMER

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CWIL ACTIONS STREAMER

75