The 3d Marine Division

and Its Regiments

by

Reference Section

Historical Branch

HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION

HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS

WASHINGTON, D.C.

1983

PCN 19000317400

Table of Contents

THE 3D MARINE DIVISION .

3d Division Commanding Generals.

3d Marine Division Lineage

3d Marine Division Honors

The 3d Division Patch

179

10

11

12

15

18

20

THE 4TH MARINES.

Commanding Officers,

4th Marines Lineage.

4th Marines Honors.

4th Marines

21

24

27

30

THE 9TH MARINES.

Commanding Officers,

9th Marines Lineage.

9th Marines Honors.

9th Marines

31

34

36

38

THE 12.'rH MARINES....

Commanding Officers,

12th Marines Lineage.

12th Marines Honors.

THE uST MARINES.

Commanding Officers,

21st Marines Lineage.

21st Marines Honors.

39

42

44

46

47

Marines 49

50

51

THE 2.6TH MARINES...

Commanding Officers,

26th Marines Lineage.

26th Marines Honors.

26th Marines.

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52

55

56

.58

Ti-ni 3D MARINES

Commanding Officers,

3d Marines Lineage. . 3d Marines Honors. . .

3d Marines.

12th Marines

21st

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The 3d Marine Division

THE 3D M1cIUNE DivisioN, officially activated 16

September 1942, at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California,

was built around the 9th Marines. Major General Charles

D. Barrett became the first commanding general of the

division. As the year drew to a close, the 3d Division, still

in the process of training and organization, consisted of

three infantry regiments, the 9th, 21st, and 23d Marines;

an artillery regiment, the 12th Marines; an engineer regiment, the 19th Marines; special troops composed of the 3d

Headquarters Battalion, the 3d Parachute Battalion, the

3d Tank Battalion, and the 3d Special Weapons Battalion;

the 3d Service Battalion; the 3d. Medical Battalion; and the

3d Amphibian Tractor Battalion. All of these units were

located at Camp Elliott, except the 21st and 23d Marines,

which were at New River, North Carolina.

IN JANUARY AND FEBaUARY 1943, the division moved

from Camp Elliott to Auckland, New Zealand. On 23 May

1943, the 3d Marines (Reinforced), then on Samoa, joined

the 3d Marine Division, replacing the 23d Marines.

B AUGUST 1943, all major units of the division were stationed on Guadalcanal where special training and rehearsals for the Bougainville operation were intensified. On 1

November 1943, the division, with the 3d and 9th Marines

in assault, landed at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville;

the 21st Marines followed io six days. For approximately

two months the division, now commanded by Major

General Allen H. Turnage, fought in the front lines

against stiff and heavy enemy resistance. On 16 January

1944, with the transfer of command in the area to the ArFacing camera at a World War II strategy session, Admiral William F. Halsey, Commander, Third Fleet, seated second from rzght, confers with Major General Roy S.

Geiger, Commander of I Marine Amphibious Corps, seated at Halsey's left, and Major

GeneralAllen H. Turnage, Commanding General of the 3d Marine Division, seated at

Halsey's right, at the division headquarters on Bougainville Island in November 1943,
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- V. '___-__ — — — rr. r-- i9! . AThird Division unit wearing camouflaged uniforms takes a short break along a jungle

track as it moves up to the front lines on Bougainville on 4 November 1944.

my's XIV Corps, the last elements of the 3d Marine Division returned to Guadalcanal.

FOLLOWING THE BOUGArNVThLE OPERATION, the division

began training for the next campaign. Verbal instructions

received in February 1944 led to planning fot an operation

against the Japanese on Emirau Island. The projected

Emirau operation was subsequently cancelled and verbal

instructions were received to initiate planning for an operation against enemy forces at Kavieng, New Ireland. This

operation was also called off, and a few days later the division received word to start training for the amphibious

assault against Guam in the Mariana Islands.

THE DIVISION EMBARKED AT GUADALCANAL, 2 and 3June

1944, and sailed for Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, enroute

to the Marianas. It remained afloat off Saipan from 15 to

28 June 1944, as part of the reserve forte for the Saipan

operation then being carried out by the 2d and 4th Marine

Divisions in conjunction with the 27th Infantry Division.

With the situation on Saipan well controlled, the 3d

Third Division Marines pursue retreating Japanese Marine Division returned to its restaging area awaiting a

along a jungle trail on Guam on 29 July 1944. new target date for the Guam operation.

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ON ii JULY 1944, as a part of the Southern Troops and

Landing Force, the 3d Marine Division, with three

regiments abreast, landed on the western beaches of

Guam, in the vicinity of Asan Point. After 20 days of

savage fighting, the division troops teached the notthccn

coast of the island. On 10 August 1944 Guam was declared

secure. Until its departure for the IwoJima campaign, the

division remained on Guam taking part in the moppingup operations.

BY THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY i94, the 3d Marine Division

completed embarkation at Guam preparatory to patticipadon in the Iwo Jima operation. Initially the division remained afloat off Iwo Jima as Expeditionary Troops

Reserve. One regiment, the 2lsr Marines, landed on 21

February. The remaining units (less the 3d Marines in

floating reserve) landed on 24 February, and the next mnrfling the 3d Marine Division launched an attack in its zone

between the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions.

Rubble litters the streets ofAgana, Guam, capital of

THE 3D MARiNE DIVISION faced well-organized and deter- the island and the first American city of any size to

mined enemy resistance. The terrain, ideal for defense, be liberatedfrom the Japanese during World War H,

was heavily fortified by piliboxes, caves, and covered ar- as 3d Division Marines advance against the enemy.

A Marine Sherman tank blasts ajapanesepillbox in advance of 3d Division infantrymen

on Guam in August1944. Marine at right carries a souvenirJapanese sword on his pack.

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tillery emplacements. Progress was slow and casualties

heavy during the first few days of fighting. The division

slowly pushed the enemy back and by 3 March had severed

the last enemy east-west artery of communication by occupying positions overlooking the sea. The 3d Division

secured its zone of action on 11 March and then initiated

intensive patrolling and mopping-up operations. On 16

March, units of the 3d Division relieved elements of the

5th Division and delivered the final attack of the Iwojima

operation—a drive toward Kitano Point. Iwo Jima was

declared secure on the same day. On 4 April, the 3d

Marine Division was relieved by Army units.

BY MID-APRIL '945, all units of the division were back on

Guam, preparing for the next operation. In addition, the

division patrolled the southern part of the island. On 3

August 1945, the 3d Marine Division received initial plans

for Operation Olympic which called for an amphibious

landing on the Japanese home island of Kyushu about 1

November 1945. The 3d Marine Division, along with the

2d and 5th Marine Divisions, was assigned to the V Amphibious Corps for the projected operation. Japan's agreement to cease hostilities and subsequent surrender cancelled Olympic, and the 3d Marine Division remained on 3d Division Marines man hastily prepared frosition

Guam until the date of its deactivation on 28 December amid the ruins of an Iwo Jima sulfur mine and

1945. refinery west of Motoyama Village in March 1945.

Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, right, Commanding General, Fleet Marine

Force Pacific, who commanded the Marines in the seizure of Iwo Jima, congratulates

Major General Graves .8. Erskine, Commander of the 3d Marine Division, on the division 's valorous service in breaking the backbone of Japanese resistance on the island.

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Ti-ic 3D MARINE DIvISiON was reactivated on 7 January

1952, at Camp Pendleton, California. Brigadier General

Merrill B. Twining became temporary division commander

until the arrival of Major Genera! Robert I-I. Pepper on 15

February 1952. Immediately after its activation and still in

its organizational state, the division began intensive combat training, including new tactics and maneuvers based

on lessons learned in the Korean War. During the remaining part of 1952, elements of the division participated in

numetous exercises and training problems, including vertical envelopment (helicopter landing), airborne operations and attack, and defense against atomic weapons and

missiles. By the end of 1952 the division consisted of all its

organic elements; three infantry regiments (the 3d, 4th,

and 9th Marines); an artillery regiment (the 12th Marines);

and all divisional support elements.

IN AUGUST 1953, the bulk of the 3d Marine Division,

commanded by General Pepper, arrived in Japan to support the 1st Marine Division in Korea in the defense of the

Far Eastern area. The division remained in Japan until early 1956 when it redeployed to Okinawa. The 4th Marines

and various supporting elements became part of the 1st

Brigade in Hawaii.

ON 6 MARCH 196$, forward elements of the division made

an amphibious landing at Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam.

Early in April, division units were helilifted to Hue/Phu

Bai to assume defense of the area. The headquarters, 3d

Marine Division Forward, under the command of Major

Genetal William R. Collins, was located in Da Nang on 6

May. The Chu Lai area came under control of the 3d Division on 12 May. Major General Lewis W. Walt assumed

conimand of the division inJune 1965.

Avreit a 1 July Viet Cong attack on Da Nang air base, the

division extended the Da Nang defense area to the south

and southeast. Additional units were brought in from

Okinawa and on 8July, elements of the division landed at

Qui Nhon, 146 miles south of Da Nang, creating a fourth

operational area.

OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS the division successfully executed more than 120 major operations, including Starlire,

Hastings, Scotland, Napoleon/Saline, and Dewey Canyon. In Operation Hastings, division units stopped a

North Vietnamese Army (NVA) drive into South Vietnam,

and laid groundwork for the division's move north, which

occurred on 9 October 1966. Many of its units had already

been committed to sealing the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) against the northern infiltrators.

The two northernmost provinces, Quang Tn and Thua

Thien, now became the responsibility of the division.

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Marines of the 1st Platoon, Company G, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, wade a shallow stream on patrol

on 6 May 1965, shortly after arrival in VietnamDIVISiON UNiTS AGAIN STOPPED a breakthrough attempt

by the NVA south of the DMZ in the Cam Lo area during

Operation Prairie II. The determined resistance the 3d

Marine Division made against the NVA as Hills 881 Notch

and South and Hill 861 in the Khe Sanh area showed the

enemy the U.S. was going to stay in the isolated

northwestern corner of South Vietnam.

REPEATED ARTILLERY and rocket attacks on the Dong Ha

combat base generated many attacks and sweeps by division units south of the DMZ. They cleared the area below

the zone and penetrated the southern half of the buffer

strip to clear our troop concentrations and again stop invasion threats by the Norrh Vietnamese.

Ti-ic 3D DivisIoN remained in Vieniam until the fall of

1969. Division headquarters, under the command of Major General William K. Jones, returned to Okinawa in

November 1969. Since that time, elements of the 3d
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Marine Division have embarked in ships of the Seventh

Fleet as battalion landing teams. Other units of the 3d

Marine Division returned to Indochina to aid in the

evacuation of Americans and Vietnamese and Cambodian

nationals in the spring of 1975. Marines also served as

security detachments on board U.S. Navy ships and

American merchant ships during the sea evatuation of Da

Nang and as ground security forces at Saigon and Phnom

Penh during air evacuations. Elements of the 3d Marine

Division played an integral tole in the rescue of the crew of

the SS Mayaguez captured off the coast of Cambodia in

May 1975.

THE 3D MARINE DivisioN continues to maintain its

combat-ready posture as a forte-in-readiness in the

Western Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. In numerous amphibious landings and training exercises throughout the

region during the 1970s and early 19805, the Division, as

the ground combat element of ill Marine Amphibious

Force, has remained a highly visible reminder of American

commitment to regional stability.

A tank infantry team from 3d Tank Battalion and

Company B, 1st Battalion, 3dMarines, leaves its line

of departure in an operation along the coastal

lowlands of Quang Tn Province in Vietnam in 1968.

Company G, 2dBattalion, 4th Marines, particzating in Operation Hastings in Vietnam

in July 1966, moves through hrgh grass south of the Demilitarized Zone.

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3d Division

Commanding Generals

MajGen Charles D. Barrett 16 September 1942 - 14 September 1943

MajGen Allen H. Turnage 15 September 1943- 14 September 1944

BGen Alfred H. Noble 15 September 1944 - 13 October 1944

MajGen Graves B. Erskine 14-October 1944 . 20 October 1945

BGen William E. Riley 21 October 1945 - 28 December 1945

BGèn Merrill B. Twining 7 January 1952 - 14 February 1952

MajGen Robert H. Pepper 15 February 19)2 - 9 May 1954

MajGenJames P. Risely 10 May 1954. 3OJune 1955

MajGeti Thomas A. Wornham iJuly 1955 - 26Ju1y 1956

BGen Victor H. Krulak 27Ju1y 19)6 - 6 September 1956

MajGen Alan Shapley 7 September 1956- iJuly 1957

MajGen Francis M. McAlister 2July 1957 - 28 March 1958

MajGen David M. Shoup 29 March 1958 - 1 April 1959

Col Rathvon McC. Tompkins (Acting) 2 April 1959 - 8 May 1959

BGen Lewis C. Hudson 9 May 1959- l9June 1959

MajGen Robert B. Luckey 2OJune 1959-31 August 1960

MajGen Donald M. Weller 1 September 1960- 1 September 1961

MajGen Robert F. Cushman,Jr 2 September 1961 - 3 June 1962

MajGen Henry W. Buse,Jr 4Junc 1962 .9 May 1963

MajGenJames M, Masters, Sr 10 May 1963 - l6June 1964

MajGen William R. Collins l7June 1964 - 4June 1965

MajGen Lewis W. Walt 5 June 1965 - 17 March 1966

MajGen Wood B. Kyle 18 March 1966- 17 March 1967

MajGen Bruno A. Hochmuth 18 March 1967 - 14 November 1967

BGen Louis Metzgcr (Acting) 15 November 1967 - 27 November 1967

MajGen Rathvon McC. Tompkins 28 November 1967 - 20 May 1968

MajGen Raymond G. Davis 21 May 1968- 14 April 1969

MajGen William K. Jones 15 April 1969- 30 March 1970

MajGen Louis H. Wilson 31 March 1970.22 March 1971

MajGen Louis Metzger 23 March 1971 - 7January 1972

MajGenJoseph C. Fegan 8January 1972 - 7January 1973

MajGen Michael P. Ryan 8January 1973- 31 August 1973

MajGen Fred E. Haynes,Jr 1 September 1973 . 22 August 1974

MajGen KennethJ. Houghton 23 August 1974 - 13 August 1975

MajGen HerbertL. Wilkerson 14 August 1975- l9July 1976

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MajGen George W. Smith . 2OJuly 1976 - l6JuIy 1977

MajGen Adolph G. Schwenk 17 July 1977- lOJuly 1978

MajGen CalhounJ. Killeen liJuly 1978- liJuly 1979

MajGen Kenneth L. Robinson1Jr l2JuIy 1979- 243u1y 1980

MajGen Stephen G. Olmstead 25July 1980- 2lJune 1982

MajGenRobertE. Haebe! 22June 1982- present

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3d Marine Division

LINFA GE

1942. - 1945

ACTIVATED i6 SEPTEMBER 1941 AT CAMP ELLIOT, CALIFORNIA, AS THE

3D MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1943 TO AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS:

BOUGAINVILLE

NORTHERN SOLOMONS

GUAM

IWO JIMA

DEACTIVATED 2.8 DECEMBER '945

1951- 1964

REACTIVATED 7 JANUARY 1952. AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA AS THE

3D MARINE DIVISION

REDEPLOYED DURING AUGUST TO CAMP GIFU, JAPAN

REDEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY 1956 TO CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA

1965 - 1983

REDEPLOYED DURING APRIL-MAY 1965 TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, APRIL 1965 - NOVEMBER 1969, OPERATING FROM:

QUANG TRI PROVINCE

QUANG NAM PROVINCE

THUA THIEN PROVINCE

REDEPLOYED DURING NOVEMBER 1969 TO CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN EVACUATION OPERATIONS IN VIETNAM AND

CAMBODIA, MARCH-MAY 1975

PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS TRAINING EXERCISES THROUGHOUT THE i97OS

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3d Marine Division

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR II

IWO JIMA - 1945

VIETNAM 1965 - 1967

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER

WORLD WAR II

Iwo JIMA - 1945

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS AND ONE BRONZE STAR

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY STREAMER WITH PALM

10
THE 3D MARINE DIViSION PATCH

The 3d Marine Division shoulder patch worn during World

UYar 11 is in scarlet and gold, the official colors of the Marine

Corps, and consists of a scarlet triangular shield with a narrow

gold line near the outer edge. In the center of the shield is a

gold and black caltrap, an ancient military instrument with

four metalpoints so disposed that any three of them being on

the ground the other projects upward, thereby impeding the

progress of the enemy's cavalry. Literally. Don't step on me!

Also the three visible points of the caltrap represent ihe division number. This insignia was authorized in August 1943.

In 1947, the wearing of unit shoulder patches by all Marine

Corps units was discontinued.

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The 3d Marines

Ti-rn 3t) MARINES was originally activated as the 3d Regiment of Marines on 20 December 1916 at Santo Domingo,

Dominican Republic, under the command of Colonel

Theodore A. Kane. As part of the 2d Provisional Brigade,

the regiment's duties in the early part of the occupation

consisted of the administration of the military government, disarming of the population, and control of banditry. Because the fundamental aim of the occupation was

to bring peace to the Dominican Republic and enable the

Dominicans to govern themselves, a native constabulary,

the Guardia Nacional Dominicana was formed. Trained

and officered in part by Marines of the 3d Regiment, the

Guardia was gradually able to assume the duties of protecting life and property and suppressing the bandits that infested the countryside. Throughout World War I, the 3d

Regiment remained in the Dominican Republic. The unit

was deactivated there nn 1 August 1922.

THE 3D MARINES was reactivated on 16 June 1942 at New

River, North Carolina under Colonel Oscar 11. Cauldwell.

Built around a cadre of officers and enlisted men remaining at New River after the 1st Marine Division had

mounted out, the new regiment was quickly brought up to

strength by a daily influx of recruits arriving directly from

Parris Island. In August, the 3d Marines left New River for

San Diego. The following month it was deployed overseas,

first to Samoa and then to New Zealand. The 3d Marines

was reorganized and incorporated as a unit of the 3d

Marine Division in June 1943. Combat training continued

for the 3d Marines while in New Zealand. The 3d Marine

Division was first inspected as a whole in June 1943 and

was found fit and combat ready. The division then moved

to Guadalcanal, a staging area prior to its commitment to

combat.

THE FIRST COMBAT ASSIGNMENT for the regiment, now

commanded by Colonel George W. McHenry, was to take

part in the invasion of the Japanese-held island of

Bougainville. Rehearsals were held at Efate, New Hebrides

in October. Assault elements of the 2d Battalion, 3d

Marines were the first to hit the beaches of Bougainville on

1 November 1943. The initial waves of the 2d and 3d Battalions reached the beaches with only light opposition, but

12

the 1st Battalion, 3d Marines received heavy fire before

landing on its assigned beach. The next day, the Marines

expanded their beachhead and pushed inland. Extension

of the beachhead continued as the 3d Marines battled a

persistent enemy. The 1st Battalion, 3d Marines blunted a

Japanese attack on 7 November in the Laruma River area.

By 21 November, the 1st and 3d Batralions occupied

critical terrain in the Piva Forks area, thereby cutting

Japanese supply and communications lines. The regiment

had been committed for 27 consecutive days before it exchanged sectors with the 9th Marines. From 28 November

until 22 December, the 3d Marines occupied the extreme

southern flank of the division line where its patrols had

several sharp skirmishes with the Japanese. On Christmas

Day, the 3d embarked for Guadalcanal.

Smoke and flames billow from a gasoline and oil

dump set afire by a large Japanese air raid on 3d

Marine Division positions at Empress Augusta Bay

on the island of Bougainvile on 20 November1943.
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not land and soon returned to Guam. Guam was still far

from being peaceful as many japanese continued to roam

the island. Following Japan's surrender, the 1st Battalion,

3d Marines arrived on Chichi Jima on 10 October 1945 to

receive the surrender of the japanese fnrces on the island.

The 3d Marines sailed for San Diego in December 1945

and was deactivated at Camp Pendleton on 13 january

1946.

LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER the 3d Marines was reactivated as a battalion-sized organization in Tsingtao,

China on 1 October 1947 commanded by Colonel jaime

Sabater. The political situation began to deteriorate as the

Chinese Communists made a rapid and successful advance

against Chinese Nationalist forces. By December 1948,

most American nationals had left China, The 3d Marines

went on board ships in February 1949 and sailed for

Shanghai the following month to aid in the evacuation of

American and foreign nationals. The task completed, the

3d Marines returned to Tsingtao to pick up elements left

there, and then sailed for the United States in May. The 3d

Marines was stationed at Camp Pendleton until its deactivation on 1 October 1949.

Private First Class Luther Skaggs, Jr., receives the

Medal of Ho nor from President Truman, for heroic

service with the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines on Guam.

SEvEN MONTHS LATER, the regiment, now commanded by

Colonel William C. Hall, was headed for its second combat

mission—the invasion of Guam. The 1st and 3d Battalions

of the 3d Marines received intense mortar and artillery fife

during their assault landing on 2lJuly 1944. As the first

day wore on the 3d Marines met stiff opposition over increasingly difficult terrain, The fighting for the regiment

continued with great intensity fot the next few days, but

the 3d Marines continued to advance. During the night of

25.26 July, after an exhaustive artillery and mortar

preparation, the enemy began to counterattack all along

the Marine line. The Japanese were driven back with heavy

losses, but small groups infiltrated the lines only to be

systematically mopped-up on the morning of the 26th. On

10 August 1944 the island was declared secure although

sporadic resistance continued. The 3d Marines remained

on Guam for mopping-up operations.

THE 3D MARINES nexc combat assignment was that of

floating reserve for the Iwo Jima operation in February

1945. The regiment, under Colonel james A. Stuart, did

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DURING THE KOREAN WAR the 3d Marines, under the

command of Lieutenant Colonel john j. Gormley, was

reactivated at Camp Pendleton on 20 June 1951 as part of

the 3d Marine Brigade. Six months later, injanuary 1952,

it was reassigned to the 3d Marine Division. The division

went to Japan in August 1953 and the 3d Marines set up

quarters at Camp Fuji-McNair. During its stay in japan,

the regiment conducted many field and landing exercises,

The 3d Marines was relocated to Camp Sukiran, Okinawa,

in March 1957. Elements of the regiment were deployed to

various areas in the Far East when political upheavals or

crises occurred between 1957 and 1964.

As AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT in the war in Vietnam grew,

the 1st Battalion, 3d Marines was airlifted to Da Nang in

March 1965. The remainder of the regiment, now commanded by Colonel Edwin B. Wheeler, was deployed to

Vietnam during April and May 1965. After setting up and

occupying positions from the north to the south-central

sector of the Da Nang perimeter, the 3d Marines' mission

was to eliminate the Viet Cong from its sector, In October

1966, regimental headquarters under Colonel Edward E.

Hammerbeck deployed to Camp Carroll in an area immediately south of the demilitarized zone. For the next

year, the 3d Marines participated in such ,operations as

Prairie, Cimarron, Hickory, and Lancaster in the Camp

Carroll area.
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IN FEBRUARY 1968 the 3d Marines took part in Operation

Napokon/Saline along the Cua Viet River. Its mission was

to conduct combat operations on both sides of the river to

insure free shipping on the river and to deny the enemy access to rocket positions which couid be used to fire on

Dong Ha and Quang Tn. The 3d Marines participated in

Operation Kentucky in December 1968 and assisted Vietnamese forces in pacification of Cam I,o and Huong Hoa

District. Operation Maine Crag began in March 1969

when the 3d Marines began sweep and cleat operations

south of the old Khe Sanh Combat Base. The 3d Marines

participated in Operations Virginia Ridge and Idaho Canyon before leaving Vietnam in October 1969.

REDEPLOYMENT TO THE UNITED STATES was completed in

November 1969 when the regiment arrived at Camp

Pendleton and was assigned to the 5th Marine Amphibious

Brigade. In June 1971 the 3d Marines relocated to the

Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe, Hawaii, and was

reassigned to the 1st Marine Brigade, Fleet Marine Force.

SINCE TI-US TIME, the regiment ha continued to maintain

the highest level of combat readiness for amphibious warfare by maintaining a rigorous training schedule on all

levels of unit operations, engaging in numerous field and

fleet cxcrcises, and by providing battalion landing teams

for deployment to the Western Pacific.

CI-i-46 helicopters land to pick up the 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, at the beginning of

Operation Larn'aster II near the Demilitarized Zone in South Vietnam on 1 7 July 1968.

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Commanding Officers

3d Marines

Col Theodore A. Kane 20 December 1916- 31 December 1916

Maj Hiram I. Bearss ijanuary 1917- 20 March 1917

LtColjohn H. Russell,jr 21 March 1917. 18 April 1917

LtCol William McKelvy 19 April 1917 - 27 May 1917

LtCot George C. Thorpe 28 May 1917 - 19 October 1917

Cot William McKelvy 20 October 1917 - 16 December 1917

LtCol George C. Thorpe 17 December 1917 - 1 February 1918

Col Philip M. Bannon 2 February 1918- 20 November 1918

Col Carl Gamborg-Andresen 21 November 1918- 24Apr11 1920

LtCol Bdward A. Greene 25 April 1920 - 1 August 1920

LrCol Charles B. Taylor 2 August 1920- 25 August 1920

Maj Charles S. MeReynokis 26 August 1920- 12 September 1920

itCol 14ë?r.y C. Davis 13 September 1920- 23 june 1922

LrCol EdwarB. Manwaring 24June 1922 - 2Ojuly 1922

Ccl Carroll e. Carpenter 2lJuly 1922 - 1 August 1922

Cot Osda?k Cauldwelt l6june 1942- 14 September 1943

Col George W. McHenry 15 September 1943- 16 December 1943

Ccl Walter A. Wachrler 17 December 1943 - 27 December 1943

LrCol George Van Orden 28 December 1943 - 21 january 1944

Ccl William C. Hall 22january 1944 - 28 july 1944

Col James A. Stuart 29ju(y 1944 - 30 March 1945

LtCol Newton B. Barktey 1 April 1945 - 22 April 1945

Col Lester S. Hamel 23 Aprit 1945 - 12 October 1945

Ccl Prentice S. Geer 13 October 1945 - 23 October 1945

LtCol Ewart S. Laue 24 October 1945 - l3january 1946

ColJaime Sabater 1 October 1947- 1 April 1948

Ccl Frederick L. Wieseman 2 April 1948 - 17 August 1948

Ccl Waifried M. Fromhold 18 August 1948 - 24 October 1948

LtColThomasJ. Colley 25 October 1948- 15 April 1949

LtCol Robcrt 0. Bowen 16 April 1949 - 28 April 1949

LrCol Williamj. McKennan 29 April 1949 - 25 july 1949

LtCol Raymond L. Murray 26july 1949 - 1 October 1949

LrColjohnj. Gormley 20 june 1951 - lSjuly 1951

Ccl Michael S. Currin lOJuly 1951- 14 March 1952

Ccl John G. Bouker 15 March 1952 - 1 August 1952

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Col Robert H. Williams .2 August 1952 - 27 March 1954

LtCol Eugene 1-I. Strayhorn 28 March 1954- 1 April 1954

Go! Parker R. Colmer 2 April 1954 - 3July 1954

LiCol Cecil W. Shuler 4JuIy 1954 - 26July 1954

CoiRoberrE. Hill 27july 1954- 28 February 1955

Col Edmund M. Williams 1 March 1955 - 2Ojune 1955

LtColRoberrE. Snider 2lJune 1955-11 August 1955

Col Merrill M. Day 12 August 1955 -28 February 1956

Col Willard C. Fiske 1 March 1956 - 15 May 1956

ColJohn P. Stafford 16 May 1956- 25 August 1956

LtCol Earl A. Cash 26 August 1956- 27 August 1956

Col John G. Bouker 28 August 1956- 31 August 1957

Col William S. McCormack 1 September 1957 - 3 May 1958

Col Richard Nutting 4 May 1958 - 10 October 1958

Coljess P. Ferrill,Jr 11 October 1958-20 May 1959

Col George B. Kantner 21 May 1959- 3 October 1959

Col Louis C. Griffin 4 October 1959- 10 December 1959

LtColJames C. Short 11 December 1959 - 29january 1960

Col Walter Holomon 3OJanuary 1960 - 9 September 1960

Go! Theodore F. Beeman 10 September 1960-3 March 1961

LtColArthurL. Adams 4 March 1.961-26 March 1961

Col Charles A. Rigaud 27 March 1961- 6July 1961

Cot Albert F. Lucas 7july 1961- lOApril 1962

Col Edward H. Hurst 11 April1962- 10 April 1963

Col Spencer B. Pratt 11 April 1963-3 April 1964

LtCol Lawrence L. Graham 4 April 1964- 19 May 1964

Col Virgil W. Banning 20 May 1964 - 31 July 1964

Col Edwin B. Wheeler 1 August 1964 -22 May 1965

Col Frank E. Garretson 23 May 1965- liJune 1965

Col Edwin B. Wheeler 12 june 1965 - 16 August 1965

Col Norman R. Nickerson 17 August 1965 -23 November 1965

Col Thell H. Fisher 24 November 1965 - 15 April 1966

Col Harold A. Hayes,Jr 16 April 1966 - 18 August 1966

Col Edward F. Hammerbeck 19 August 1966 - 12 December 1966

Col John P. Larsigan 13 December 1966- 17 May 1967

ColJames R. Stockman 18 May 1967 - 25 August 1967

ColJoseph E. Loprete 26 August 1967- 17 February 1968

Col Milton A. Hull 18 February 1968 - l4July 1968

LtCol Vaughn R. Stuart lSJuly 1968 - 3lJuly 1968

Col Richard L. Michael,Jr 1 August 1968 - 8 November 1968

Cot Michael M. Spark 9 November 1968- 15 january 1969

Col Paul D. Lafond I6january 1969 - 27June 1969

ColWilburF. Simlik 28june 1969-21 September 1969

16
Col FrancisR. Kraince .22 September 1969-26 November 1969

Col Richard R. Breen 27 November 1969- 8 December 1969

Col Warren A. Butcher 9 December 1969- 12 November 1970

ColAnthonyA. Moon 13 November 1970- 14 April 1971

LrCol Keith L. Christensen 15 April 1971 - 2ljune 1971

LrCol Howard W. Wahifeld 22 june 1971 - l8july 1971

Col James P. Connolly, 11 l9July 1971 - 18 july 1973

Coljohnj. Grace 19ju1 1973 - 20 December 1974

Colj. C. Rappe 21 December1974- 27 August 1976

Col John C. Studt 28 August 1976 - 5 March 1978

Col Paul D. Slack 6 March 1978- 31 December 1979

CoiRobertE. Loehe iJanuary 1980- l3july 1980

Col Louis H. Buehl l4July 1980- 7 April 1982

Col Edward M. Mockler 8 April 1982- 5 August 1982

Col Henryj. M. Radcliffe 6 August 1982 - present

17
3d Marines

LINEAGE

ACTIVATED w DECEMBER 1916 AS THE 3D REGIMENT AT SANTO DOMINGO,

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AND ASSIGNED TO THE iD PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,

DECEMBER 1916 - AUGUST 19n

DEACTIVATED I AUGUST 19n

1941 - 1946

REACTIVATED i6 JUNE 1941 AS THE 3D MARINES AT NEW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA,

AND ASSIGNED TO FLEET MARINE FORCE

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1941 TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

DEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1941 TO TIJTUILA, AMERICAN SAMOA, AND REASSIGNED TO

THE inJ MARINE BRIGADE

REASSIGNED DURING JUNE '943 TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

BOUGAINVILLE

NORTHERN SOLOMONS

GUAM

IWO JIMA

RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1945 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

DEACTIVATED 13 JANUARY 1946

'947 - '949

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

FORCE, WESTERN PACIFIC

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA. OCTOBER 1947 - MAY 1949

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

THE iST MARINE DIVISION

DEACTIVATED, OCTOBER 1949

195' - 1964

REACTIVATED ON to JUNE 1951 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA AND ASSIGNED TO

18
THE 3D MARINE BRIGADE

REASSIGNED DURING JANUARY 1951 TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING JULY 1953 TO KANEOHE BAY, TERRITORY OF HAWAII

REDEPLOYED DURING AUGUST 1953 TO CAMP FUJI-MCNAIR, JAPAN

REDEPLOYED DURING MARCH 1957 TO CAMP SUKIRAN, OKINAWA

1965 - 1983

REDEPLOYED DURING MARCH-MAY 1965 TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, MARCH 1965 - SEPTEMBER 1969, OPERATING FROM:

DA NANG CON THIEN

CHU LAI CAMP CARROLL

HUE/PHU BAI DONG HA

KI-iE SANH QUANG TRI

RELOCATED DURING OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 1969 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA AND

REASSIGNED TO THE 5TH MARINE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE

REASSIGNED DURING APRIL '971 TO ThE iST MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE 1971 TO KANEOHE BAY, HAWAII AND REASSIGNED

TO THE iST MARINE BRIGADE, FLEET MARINE FORCE

ELEMENTS OF THE REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA EVACUATIONS, APRIL '975

19
3d Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR 11

GUAM - '944

VIETNAM 1965 - 1967

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER

WORLD WAR II

BOUGAINVILLE - 1943

VIETNAM - 1968

MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER WITH WEST INDIES CLASP

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS

WoRLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITH "ASIA"

CHINA SERVICE STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY STREAMER WITH PALM

20
The 4th Marines

REVOLUTIONARY TROUBLE IN MExICO precipitated the activation of the 4th Regiment of Marines at Marine Barracks, Puget Sound, Washington, on 16 April 1914 under

the command of Colonel Joseph A. Pendleton. Three

times during its first two years the 4th Regiment embarked, stood by afloat off various Mexican west coast ports

prepared to land on order. In each case no landing was required, nor did the regiment engage in combat.

IN THE SPRING OF 1916, civil war broke out in the

Dominican Republic. Fears for the safety of American and

other foreign citizens in the country convinced the

American government that intervention in the situation

was necessary. Colonel Pendleton's 4th Regiment departed

San Diego by rail for New Orleans on 6 June where it

boarded the USS Hancock. The regiment arrived in the

Dominican Republic on 21 June 1916. In the vigorous

campaigning that followed immediately, the 4th Regiment

won its first battle honors and sustained its first battle

casualties. As additional Marines were committed, it

became one component of the three-regiment 2d Provisional Brigade, The 4th Regiment was destined to spend

eight years in the Dominican Republic. As in most 'bush"

or "banana" wars, Marines performed a variety of tasks

from policing the hinterland to running the railroads.

They also trained a native constabulary to take over their

chore of maintaining order once a stable civil government

could he established. This occurred in October 1922, and

the 4th Regiment sailed for San Diego in the summer of

1924.

FOLLOWING A PERIOD of routine garrison duties and a tour

guarding the U.S. mails during the robbery epidemic of

1926-27, the regiment drew the assignment which was to

win it fame and the descriptive nickname, the "China

Regiment." The cause for alarm in the Far East in early

1927 stemmed from the threat that the Chinese Nationalists would seize Shanghai and endanger the foreign

residents there. After standing by on 24-hour alert, the 4th

Regiment, under Colonel Charles S. Hill, embarked in the

USS Chaumont and sailed from San Diego on 3 February

1927. With the declaration of a state of emergency on 21

March, the 4th Regiment went ashore. The regiment's in21

itial mission became one of reinforcing the Marines already

in Shanghai in the prevention of rioting and mob violence

within the American sector. A few days after the landing of

the 4th Regiment, Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler

arrived in Shanghai to take command of all Marine forces

ashore. His command was designated as the 3d Brigade.

SHANGHAI FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS was relatively

peaceful and garrison duty for the 4th Regiment passed

uneventfully. The 3d Brigade left China in early 1929 leaving the 4th Regiment behind. Irs February 1930 the regiment's designation was officially changed to the 4th

Marines. The security of Shanghai was once again threatened in early 1932 after hostilities broke out between the

Chinese and the Japanese. In 1937 the fighting became so

Color guard of the 4th Marines participates in a

parade in Shanghai, China, prior to World War IL
VI •t-t l!i S

a

• '

''Uat'

-

• r 7tt 'l• - . 12

intense that the 4th Marines, now commanded by Colonel

Charles F.B. Price, and other foreign troops manned the

barricades of the International Settlement in Shanghai.

The 1937 situation developed into a series of potentially

explosive crises as both sides resorted to aerial bombing

with considerable carelessness and accompanying indiscriminate antiaircraft and artillery fire. Again reinforcements were rushed in to support the 4th Marines. The

2d Brigade arrived in Shanghai in September 1937. The

brigade was withdrawn early in 1938 when a shift of the

scene of Sino-japanese hostilities left Shanghai relatively

safe. The 4th Marines once again remained behind.

As THE THREAT of war between Japan and the United

States became greater, the 4th Marines, now commanded

by Colonel Samuel L. Howard, departed Shanghai fnr the

Philippines in November 1941. A few days after the

Japanese attack on the Philippines on 8 December, the 4th

Marines, under tactical command nf the Army, moved to

Corregidor. Marines in the regiment worked feverishly

throughout the protracted siege of the island fortress on

defense measures and installations. The Japanese made

their assault landing during the dark hours of 5-6 May

1942. In spite of dogged resistance by the defenders, the

Japanese gained a toehold on the island. At noon on 6 May

1942 the Americans on Corregidor surrendered. The men

of the 4th Marines burned their colors and went into captivity. The regiment temporarily went out of existence.

THE 4TH MARINEs was reborn on 1 February 1944 when it was reconstituted from units of the 1st Raider Regiment on

Guadalcanal under the command of Lieutenant Colonel

Alan Shapley. The Raider regiment's battalions had fought

at Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. Following its initial operation in its new capacity, an unopposed

seizure of Emirau Island, the regiment returned to

Guadalcanal where it was integrated into the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade on 19 April 1944.

THE iST PRovISIoNAL BmGADE was assigned to snuthern

beaches in the Agat-Bangi Point area fur the assault on

Guam. Lieutenant Colonel Shapley's 4th Marines was in

the first assault waves that hit the beaches on 2 IJuly 1944.

As the regiment moved inland it encountered stiff

resistance and the heavy fighting continued throughout

the day. During the ensuing night the 4th Marines successfully withstood several enemy counterattacks. The

following day the regiment reached the cop of Mourir

Twenty-fifth Company, lit Battalion, 4th Marines, commanded by First Lieutenant IV.

H. Hoiingswortb, passes in review at a parade in Shanghai, China, in February 1932.
line. Shortly before daybreak on 26 July1 the 4th Marines

led offthe offensive on the Orote Peninsula. This objective was finally taken on the 29th, The end of organized

resistance on Guam was announced on 10 August. The job

of mopping-up Japanese survivors remained and the regiment stayed on Guam for nearly three weeks to aid in this

task. It then moved back to its Guadalcanal base.

THE iST PROWSIONAL MAm BRIGADE was redesignated

as the 6th Marine Division on 7 September 1944. The division's initial combat mission was to secure the northern

half of Okinawa. Lack of opposition during the landing on

1 April 1945 enabled the Marines to make significant gains

in the first few days. The division reached Motobu Peninsula on 8 April and encountered its first serious opposition.

Mount Yaetake formed the core of the Japanese defense

and was the primary target of the 4th Marines, The struggle for the mountain was bitterly contested until 16 April

when Marines from the 3d Battalion secured the summit.

The 6th Marine Division moved south after northern

Okinawa was declared secure. During the opening phase of

the drive, the 4th Marines remained in division reserve. On

19 May, the regiment relieved the exhausted 29th Marines

and played a major role in the advance that resulted in the

capture of Naha. The next assignment of the 6th Division

was the seizure of Oroku Peninsula. For a week the 4th

Marines, with the 29th Marines, fought a well-entrenched

enemy. Finally on l3June the peninsula was undisputably

in American hands.

Tue 6TH MAmr'e DivIsioN returned to Guam to set up a

new base and trained for the planned invasion ofJapan. It

was during this time that Japan surrendered. The 4th

Marines received the honor of spearheading the U.S. occupation ofjapan, while the 6th Division was slated for occupation duty in North China. The regiment, now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Fred D. Beans, landed at

Yokosuka on 30 August 1945 to take over naval and air

facilities. Early in 1946 the regiment redeployed to Tsingtao, China. In September 1946 the 4th Marines

departed China for Norfolk, Virginia leaving behind the

3d Battalion which was deactivated there on 1 October

1947. The rest of the 4th Marines was assigned to the 2d

Marine Division at Camp Lejeune and reassigned to the 2d

Provisional Marine Regiment in early 1949. The 4th

Marines was deactivated on 17 October 1949.

THE 4TH MARINEs, under the command of Colonel Robert

0. Bowen, was reactivated at Camp Pendleton, California

on 2 September 1952 as pan of the 3d Marine Division.

23

stationed there the 4th Marines was engaged in numerous

exercises to maintain its combat efficiency. Less than 18

months after its arrival inJapan, the regiment was transferred to the Territory of Hawaii in February 1955 to become

the ground echelon of the 1st Provisional Marine AirGround Task Force which was located at Kaneohe Bay.

Redesignation of the task force to the 1st Marine Brigade

took plate on 1 May 1956.

THE 4Th MARINES' combat readiness was put to the test in

early 1965 when the American involvement in the war in

Vietnam was enlarged. After arriving at Chu Lai in May

1965, the regiment, now commanded by Colonel Edward

P. Dupras,Jr., rejoined its parent 3d Marine Division. The

first major engagement for the regiment was Operation

Starlite. The remainder of 1965 saw elements of the 4th

Marines engaging the enemy mostly in small unit actions.

During the spring of 1966, the regiment shifted its operations from the southern to the northern part of the I Corps

Tactical Zone of South Vietnam.

DURING THE TET OFFENSIVE, launched in January 1968,

Viet Cong and North Vietnamese attacked cities and

military installations throughout South Vietnam. The 2d

Battalion in April 1968 was involved in especially bitter

clashes near Dong Ha and along the Cua Viet River. Con.

tact with enemy fortes tapered off for the 4th Marines in

the fall of 1968, although the regiment continued to conduct operations into the middle of 1969. With the announced withdrawal of American troops in 1969, the 4th

Marines, now commanded by Colonel Gilbert R. Hershey,

was ordered to Okinawa. All elements were redeployed by

the end of November.

DURING ThE EARLY 1970s the 4th Marines was involved

with intensive training programs for amphibious warfare,

civil disturbance, air mount-out, weapons requalification,

and physical readiness.

THE 4TH MARINEs Headquarters was acrivitated as Regimental Landing Team . 4, 9th Marine Amphibious

Brigade from 18 April to 12 May 1975 to aid in the evacuations of Americans, Vietnamese, and Cambodians from

Saigon and the surrounding areas. Under the command of

Colonel Alfred M. Gray, the unit provided battalion landing teams and an air contingency battalion landing team

for operations during this period.

IN APRIL 1979, the 4th Marines relocated from Camp

Hansen to Camp Schwab, Okinawa.

Alifan across difficult terrain and secured the entire ridge The division was deployed tojapan in August 1953. While
Commanding Officers

4th Marines

Col joseph H. Pendleton 16 April 1914- 11 December 1916

Maj ArthurT. Marix 12 December 1916-31 December 1916

Col Theodore P. Kane ijanuary 1917 - 4 May 1917

LtCol John H. Russell 5 May 1917 - 2 November 1917

LtCol Arthur T. Marix 3 November 1917 - 20 December 1917

Col William N. McKclvy 21 December 1917 - 17 April 1919

Col Dion Williams 18 April 1919- 14 May 1921

Col Charles H. Lyman 15 May 1921 -9 May 1923

LrColRoberrY. Rhea 10 May 1923- 22july 1923

Col Alexander S. Williams 23 july 1923 - 7 March 1926

LtCol Ellis B. Miller 8 March 1926- 27June 1926

Col Charles S. Hill 28june 1926- 4 September 1927

LrCol Fred D. Kilgore 5 September 1927 - 6 October 1927

Col Henry C. Davis 7 October 1927 - 26 September 1928

LtCol Fred D. Kilgore 27 September 1928- l3january 1929

Col Charles H. Lyman 14 january 1929- 20 November 1930

Col Richard S. Hooker 21 November 1930-23 December 1932

LtCol Emile P. Moses 24 December 1932 - 12 March 1933

Col Fred D. Kilgore 13 March 1933 -6 May 1933

LtCol Emile P. Moses 7 May 1933 - lOjuly 1933

ColJohn C. Beaumont lIjuly 1933 -6 May 1936

Col Charles F. B. Price 7 May 1936- 23 October 1938

Cot Joseph C. Fegan 24 October 1938- 3 December 1939

LtCol Charles I. Murray 4 December 1939- 2january 1940

Cot DeWitt Peck 3january 1940- 13 May 1941

Col Samuel L. Howard 14 May 1941 - 6 May 1942

LtCol Alan Shapley 1 February 1944 - 3July 1945

LtCol Fred D. Beans 4july 1945 - 27january 1946

2dLt Paul W. Srone 28January 1946- 7 February 1946

2dLt Lawrence H. Cuthart,Jr 8 February 1946 - 6 March 1946

Cot WilliamJ. Whaling 7 March 1946 - 25 March 1946

Cot john D. Blanchard 26 March 1946 - 8june 1946

BGen William T. Clement 9june 1946- 24 August 1946

LtCol Robert L. Denig 25 August 1946- 20 October 1946

LtCol Wesley McC. Platt 21 October 1946 - lOjuly 1947

24
Col Robert B. Luckey .liJuly 1947- 11 November 1947

LtCol Robert M. Reinecke 12 November 1947 - 28 October 1948

LtCol Doriald.J. Decker 29 October 1948-8 May 1949

Maj Donald E. Asbury 9 May 1949 - l9Junc 1949

LtColJohn F. Dunlap 2OJune 1949 - 17 October 1949

Col RobertO. Bowen 2 September 1952 - 2 October 1953

ColJohn C. Miller,Jr 3 October 1953 -6 April 1954

Col Frederick A. Ramsey 7 April 1954 - 21 August 1954

LtCol Richard L. Boll 22 August 1954- 23 September 1954

Col Wood B. Kyle 24 September 1954- 5 June 1955

LtCoi John E. Decher,Jr 6Jurie 1955 - 22June 1955

Col Robert E. Hill 23June 1955 - 18 August 1955

Coijames M. Masters, Sr 19 August 1955 - SJune 1956

Col Bryghte D. Godbold 9June 1956 - 24 August 1957

Col George A. Roll 25 August 1957- 2 May 1958

Coljohn H. Masters 3 May 1958 - 3July 1959

Col CharlesJ. Bailey,Jr 4July 1959 - 6July 1959

Col John W. Antonelli 7July 1959- 1 August 1961

Col Allan Sutter 2 August 1961 - SJune 1962

Col William H. Marsh óJune 1962 - 1 September 1963

ColDonaldJ. Robinson 2 September 1963- 22January 1964

Col Jules M. Rouse 23January 1964- 24 April 1964

Cot Edward P. Dupras,Jr 25 April 1964 - 2SJuly 1965

Col James F. McClanahan 26July 1965 - 24January 1966

Col Donald W. Sherman 25Jariuary 1966 - 29Ju1y 1966

Col Alexander D. Cereghino 3OJuly 1966 - 15 February 1967

Col Roy H. Thompson 16 February 1967 - 9July 1967

Col William L. Dick 10 July 1967 - 25 February 1968

ColEdwardJ. Millet . .26 February 1968- 13 September 1968

Col MartinJ. Sexton . 14 September 1968 - 31 December 1968

Col William F. Goggin IJanuary 1969- 9 August 1969

Col Gilbert R. Hershey 10 August 1969 - 3 December 1969

Col William E. Barrineau 4 December 1969 - 9July 1970

LtCol Bain McClintock lOJuly 1970-4 August 1970

ColRobertT. Hanifin,Jr 5 August 1970- 2lJuly 1971

Col RobertJ. Perrich 22July 1971 -9 August 1972

Col Charles M. C.Jones,Jr.. . . . . 10 August 1972- 14 March 1973

Col Donald L. Evans . . . . 15 March 1973 - 8 August 1973

Col Gary Wilder 9 August 1973 - 29Ju1y 1974

Col Alfred M. Gray,Jr 3OJuly 1974 - 8 August 1975

Cot Robert R. Haebel 9 August 1975 - 1 April 1976

Col Ernest C. Cheatham,Jr 2 April 1976 - 16 March 1977

Col ClairE. Willcox 17 March 1977- 13 March 1978

25
Cot Richard A. Sulik 14 March 1978- 23June 1978

Cot Joseph E. Hopkins 24June 1978- 14 April 1979

Cot Warren H. Wiedhahn,Jr 15 April 1979- 23June 1979

Col Charles H. Knowles 24June 1979- 27 January 1980

Col William R. Etnyre 28January 1980- 27June 1980

Cot Martin E. O'Connor 28June 1980- 8June 1981

Col Roger E. Knapper 9June 1981 - 9June 1982)

Col James P. McWilliams lOjune 1982 - 5 May 1983

Col James R. McEtroy,Jr 6 May 1983 - 30 May 1983

Col William T. Sweeney 31 May 1983 - present

26
4th Marines

LINEA GE

1914 - 192.5

ACTIVATED i6 APRIL 1914 AT PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON AS THE 4TH REGIMENT

DEPLOYED DURING APRIL-MAY 1914 TO MEXICAN WATERS

RELOCATED DURING JULY 1914 TO SAN DIEGO, CAUFORNIA

ELEMENTS OF THE REGIMENT DEPLOYED DURING NOVEMBER 1915 - FEBRUARY 1916

IN MEXICAN WATERS

DEPLOYED DURING JUNE 1916 TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ASSIGNED DURING NOVEMBER 1916 TO THE iD BRIGADE

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1914 TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, AND DETACHED FROM

THE iD BRIGADE

1916 - '940

ELEMENTS OF THE REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN MAIL GUARD DUTY iN THE WESTERN

UNITED STATES, OCTOBER 1916 - FEBRUARY 192-7

DEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY 1917 TO SHANGHAI, CHINA

ASSIGNED DURING APRIL 192.7 TO THE 3D BRIGADE

DETACHED DURING JANUARY 192-9 FROM THE 3D BRIGADE

REDESIGNATED 13 FEBRUARY [930 AS THE 4TH MARINES

EMPLOYED IN GUARDING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT, SHANGHAI,

FEBRUARY - JUNE 1931 AND AUGUST - NOVEMBER j9pASSIGNED DURING SEPTEMBER 1937 TO THE D MARINE BRIGADE

DETACHED DURING FEBRUARY 1938 FROM THE iD MARINE BRIGADE

1941 - 1945

REDEPLOYED DURING NOVEMBER 1941 TO OLONGAPO, PHILIPPINES

REDEPLOYED DURING DECEMBER 1941 TO CORREGIDOR, PHILIPPINES

PARTICIPATED IN THE DEFENSE OF CORREGIDOR, JANUARY - MAY 1942.

CAPTURED BY ENEMY FORCES ON 6 MAY 1942.. TEMPORARILY CEASED TO EXIST

REACTIVATED , FEBRUARY 1944 ON GUADALCANAL BY REDESIGNATION FROM THE iST

RAIDER REGIMENT

ASSIGNED DURING APRIL 1944 TO THE iST PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

27
REASSIGNED DURING SEPTEMBER '944 TO THE 6TH MARINE DIVISION

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

PHILIPPINES

NEW GEORGIA

BOUGAINVILLE

NORTHERN SOLOMONS

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO

GUAM

OKINAWA

REDEPLOYED DURING AUGUST '94 TO YOKOSUKA, JAPAN

REASSIGNED DURING NOVEMBER 1945 TO FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

REDEPLOYED DURING JANUARY - MARCH 1946 TO TSINGTAO, CHINA

REASSIGNED DURING JANUARY 1946 TO THE 6TH MARINE DIVISION

PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF NORTH CHINA, MARCH 1946 - SEPTEMBER 1946

REASSIGNED DURING APRIL 1946 TO THE 3D MARINE BRIGADE

REASSIGNED DURING JUNE [946 TO THE iST MARINE D1vISION

RELOCATED DURiNG SEPTEMBER 1946 TO CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA

AND REASSIGNED TO THE tD MARINE DIVISION

REASSIGNED DURING JANUARY 1949 TO THE iD PROVISIONAL MARINE REGIMENT

DEACTIVATED , OCTOBER 2949

1952. - 1964

REACTIVATED LSEPTEMBER 1952. AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA AND ASSIGNED TO

THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING AUGUST i9 TO CAMP NARA, JAPAN

RELOCATED DURING FEBRUARY 1955 TO KANEOHE BAY, TERRITORY OF HAWAII AND

ASSIGNED TO THE iST PROVISIONAL MARINE AIR-GROUND TASK FORCE

iST PROVISIONAL MARINE AIR-GROUND TASK FORCE REDESIGNATED DURING MAY 1956

TO THE iST MARINE BRIGADE

1965 - 1983

DEPLOYED DURING MAY 1965 TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND REASSIGNED TO THE

3D MARINE DIVISION

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, MAY 1965 - NOVEMBER 1969, OPERATING FROM

CIrEJ LAI

PHU BAI

DONG HA

Co BI THANH TAN

CAMP EVANS

CAMP CARROLL

CAM Lo

28
REDEPLOYED DURING NOVEMBER 1969 TO CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA

ELEMENTS OF THE REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA EVACUATIONS, APRIL 1975

RELOCATED DURING APRIL '979 TO CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA

29
4th Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

WoaD WAR 11

OKINAWA - '945

VIETNAM 1965 - 1967

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (Aimiy) STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER

WORLD WAR II

PHILIPPINES - 1941 - 1942.

PHILIPPINES - 1942.

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER

WORLD WAR II

GUAM - 1944

SOUTHEAST ASIA EVACUATIONS - 1975

MEXICAN SERVICE STREAMER

DOMINICAN CAMPAIGN STREAMER

MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER WITH "WEST INDIES"

YANGTZE SERVICE STREAMER

CHINA SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH ONE SILVER AND TWO BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITH "ASIA" AND "EUROPE"

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND ONE BRONZE STAR

PHILIPPINE DEFENSE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY STREAMER WITH PALM

30
The 9th Marines

TIlE 9TH MARmES was originally activated on 20 November

1917 at Quantico, Virginia as the 9th Regiment of

Marines. Several days after its activation, Lieuteoant Colonel Frederic L. Bradman took command of the regiment.

It was part of the great expansion of the Marine Corps during World War I. After a few short weeks of training the

regiment was ordered to the Caribbean. Cuban sugar was

vitally needed for the Allied war effort and the United

States feared German influence in the area. After its arrival

at Guanranamo Bay, Cuba, on 24 December 1917 the 9th

Regiment was joined with the 7th Regiment to become the

3d Provisional Brigade. The situation in Cuba improved

and Marines of the 9th Regiment were ordered to Texas to

forestall the possible disruption by German agents of vital

shipments from the Mexican oil fields. Upon arrival at

Galveston in August 1918, the regiment went into camp at

Fort Crockett. Through the remainder of World War I, the

Marines spent their time in training and guard duty.

When the war ended, the 9th embarked for Philadelphia

where, on 25 April 1919, it was deactivated.

THE 9TH MARINES was reactivated on 12 February 1942 at

Camp Elliott, San Diego as part of the 2d Marine Division.

Colonel Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., took command of the

regiment in March 1942. In September 1942 the 9th

Marines was reassigned to the newly activated 3d Marine

Division at Camp Pendleton. The regiment was deployed

to Auckland, New Zealand in January-February 1943.

Here intensive jungle and amphibious training was held.

Approximately 18 months after its activation, the 9th

Marines was ordered into combat. Qn D-Day, 1 November

1943, the 9th Marines, now commanded by Colonel Edward A. Craig, landed on beaches at Empress Augusta

Bay, Bougainville, then advanced inland. By 23 November

it had moved as far as the impassable swamps to its front

would allow. After exchanging sectors with the 3d

Marines, the unit participated in the battle of Piva Forks.

The 9th Marines was relieved on the front lines after spending 57 days helping to clear the Japanese from the Em.

press Augusta Bay area.

GuArvi WAS THE NEXT OBJECTIVE for the men of the 9th

Marines. Early on 2lJuly 1944, the amphibian tractors car31

rying the first assault waves of Colonel Craig's 9th Marines

came ashore on the island in the face of Japanese defending fire. The next day the regiment pushed rapidly south

along the shore to seize the Phi Navy Yard, and then moved into the hills to help drive out thejapanese. With this

task accomplished, the unit became involved in securing

the northern portion of Guam. The 9th reached the cliffs

on the north coast on the afternoon of 9 August. With the

end of organized resistance, the regiment participated in

mopping-up operations on Guam.

A working party carries food and ammunition to a

3d Marine Division unit on Hand Grenade Hill on

Bougainvile. The narrow trail hampered resupply.
If-k • ,L sn--

--

EMBARKING ON BOARD sHws in February 1945, the 9th

Marines sailed from Guam for Iwo Jima, arriving in the

floating reserve area on D-Day, 19 February. Five days

later, the regiment, now commanded by Colonel Howard

N. Kenyon, landed and moved up to the front. The

Japanese controlled the rough, high ground and the 3d

Marine Division was tasked with clearing the critical central

portion of the Motoyama Plateau by means of a frontal

assault. On the morning of 25 February, the 9th Marines

passed through the front lines on the southern edge of

Motoyama Airfield No. 2. For three days the Marines

fought on and around the airfield. The Marines were able

to drive the Japanese from two hills before being relieved

by the 21st Marines. On 1 March, the 9th Marines again

went into the lines, this time just east of the village of

Motoyama. The fighting continued for the 9th Marines

until 16 March. After mopping-up operations, the unit

returned to Guam. With the end of the war, the regiment

returned to Camp Pendleton where it was deactivated on

31 December 1945.

THE 9TH MARINES came back into existence on 1 October

1947 on Guam, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ralph A. Collins,Jr. For the next year, the 9th, which

was activated at battalion strength, was occupied with

usual peacetime activities. By November 1948 the civil war

in China began seriously to endanger the safety of many

Americans. The 9th Marines embarked for China. It remained on board ships ready to land should American lives

and property be threatened. One rifle company and some

of the reinforcing units went ashore to serve as a reserve

force at Tsingtao. For the next three months, the 9th was

engaged in evacuation operations, performing the Marines'

traditional role of protectors of American lives, interests,

and property in the Shanghai area. The 9th Marines then

sailed for Camp Lejeune, arriving there in May 1949 and

was assigned to the 2d Provisional Marine Regiment. On

17 October, the unit was deactivated.

DURING THE KOREAN WAR, the 9th Marines was again

reactivated under the command of Colonel John J.

Gormley at Camp Pendleton on 17 March 1952 as part of

the 3d Marine Division. In the summer of 1953, the 3d

Marine Division was ordered to Japan. The regiment with

other elements of the division was constantly undergoing

intensive training in amphibious and land warfare while in

Japan. InJanuary 1956, the 9th was redeployed to Sukiran,

Okinawa, where the training continued. When a Communist buildup in Southeast Asia threatened Thailand,

the 3d Battalion, 9th Marines proceeded to the Udorn area

and remained there until the danger passed. The regiment

32

was permanently stationed on Okinawa until it was committed to Vietnam in 1965.

BATtALION LANDING TEAT,s (BLT) 319 landed on the

beaches of Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, on 8 March

1965 to spearhead the landing of Marine ground units.

Marines of the 3d Battalion immediately took up the mission of providing security for the Da Nang Air Base. The

battalion continued the security of the air base and its immediate area until relieved by the 1st Battalion, 9th

Marines on 17 June when the 3d Battalion returned to

Okinawa. On 4 july 1965, the 9th Marines regimental

Headquarters, commanded by Colonel Frank F. Garretson, and the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines arrived in Da Nang

from Okinawa. The 3d Battalion returned to Vietnam in

the middle of August.

FROM ITS INITIAL LANDING until early 1967, the regiment

operated in the area south of Da Nang. Throughout the

months of 1966 and early 1967, the 9th Marines conducted

numerous search and clear operations to find the enemy,

while strengthening the civic action programs to secure

relations with the Vietnamese people, and free the people

from the constant threat of Viet Cong terrorism. Noteworthy operations during this period were Macon, Mississippi,

Independence, and Gulf.

Marine nj/Yemen of the 9th Marines combine

firepower with tankers as they engage a well-dug-in

North Vietnamese Army unit during Operation

Kentucky in the northern part of South Vietnam.
.I..J% rc 7*'. i•c.• :$9d'.. là

A?

1⁄4

'C

-ks

4.

• ¶

THE REGIMENT MOVED NORTH to Dong Ha where, for more

than a year, elements of the 9th Marines operated in such

places as Con Thien, Camp Carroll, and Gio Linh. Late in

January 1968, during the Tet Offensive, an element of the

regiment was sent to the Khe Sanh area where it participated in Operation Scotland. Under the operational

control of the 26th Marines, men from the 1st Battalion,

9th Marines helped to hold the beseiged Khe Sanh Combat Base against North Vietnamese attacks. After the

breakour at Khe Sanh, the 9th Marines began conducting

operations around the Rnckpile and Vandegrift Combat

Base.

THE 9TH MARINES was given the task of denying the enemy

access to the Ashau Valley in January 1969. This marked

the beginning of Operation Dewey Canyon. For the remainder of its time in Vietnam, the regiment participated

in Operations Apache Snow and Cameron Falls.

THE 9Th MARINES redeployed during July and August

1969 to Camp Schwab, Okinawa, and came under the

operational control of the 9th Marine Amphibious

Brigade. During November 1969, the regiment was

reassigned to the 3d Marine Division.

THROUGHOUT THE i97oS and early 1980s, the 9th Marines

has conducted numerous training exercises, amphibious

demonstrations, and battalion landing team tactical tests.

The alert operational posture of the regiment was successfully tested in April 1975 when elements of the 9th

Marines participated in the emergency evacuations in

South Vietnam.

As THE "STRIKING NINTH" moves through the 1980s, the

regiment continues to maintain a high degree of combat

readiness in all operational areas.

The 3dfiattalion, 9th Marines climbs the battle-scan-ed slopes of "Tzger Mountain" during Operation Dewey Canyon near South Vietnam's A Shau Valley in February 1969.

33
Commanding Officers

9th Marines

lstLt Robert W. Williams 20 November 1917 - 22 November 1917

Maj Rush R. Wallace 23 November 1917 - 25 November 1917

LtCol Frederic L. Bradman 26 November 1917- 23 january 1918

Col Thomas C. Treadwell 24January 1918- 17 August 1918

Col George C. Reid 18 August 1918-25 April 1919

LtCol William B. Onley 12 February 1942 - 15 March 1942

Col Lemuel C. Shepherd,Jr 16 March 1942 - l9July 1943

Col Edward A. Craig 2OJuly 1943-21 September 1944

Col Howard N. Kenyori 22 September 1944 - 13 October 1945

ItCol William R. Williams 14 October 1945 - 26 November 1945

LtColJames H. Tinsley 27 November 1945 - 30 December 1945

LtCol Ralph A. Collins,Jr 1 October 1947 - 29 February 1948

Col Thomas B. Hughes 1 March 1948- 18 May 1949

LtCol Williamj. Piper,Jr 19 May 1949- 28Ju1y 1949

LtCol Frederick R. Dowsett 29Ju1y 1949 - 17 October 1949

ColJohnJ. Gormley 18 March 1952 - 15 November 1952

Col William W. Buchanan 16 November 1952 - 2 April 1954

Col George A. Roll 3 April 1954 - 7 September 1954

LtCol John A. Copeland 8 September 1954 - 24 October 1954

Col Cliff Atkinson,Jr 25 October 1954- l2July 1955

LtCol HenryJ. Revane l3July 1955 - 16 August 1955

ColHowardB.Benge 17 August 1955- lMarch 1956

Col PeterJ. Speckman 2 March 1956- 3OJune 1956

Col Carl A. Laster iJuly 1956-28 December 1956

LtCol James A. Donovan,Jr. (Acting) 29 December 1956- SJanuary 1957

ColJamesC. Murray,jr 6January 1957- l4July 1957

Col Clyde R. Nelson l5july 1957 - 1 May 1958

Col Francis W. Benson 2 May 1958- 16 September 1958

Col Leonard M. Mason 17 September 1958- 1 April 1959

ColRoyj. Batterton,Jr 2 April 1959- 16 October 1959

Col Randall L. Stallings 17 October 1959- 7 May 1960

Col Wilbur R. Homer 8 May 1960- 8 November 1960

Col William A. Stiles 9 November 1960- 28 june 1961

Go] Samuel D. Maridevil]e,Jr 29June 1961 -8 May 1962

ColJohn H. McMillan 9 May 1962 -4 September 1962

34
Cot Gordon D. Gayle 5 September 1962 - 16 February 1963

Cot George R. Stallings 17 February 1963 - 10 December 1963

Col Cleland E. Early 11 December 1963- 3lJuly 1964

Col Frank E. Garretson 1 August 1964 - 13 August 1965

ColJohn E. Gorman 14 August 1965 - 15 February 1966

Cot Edwin H. Simmons 16 February 1966 - 4July 1966

Col Drew). Barrett.Jr SJuly 1966-6 October 1966

Cot Robert M. Richards 7 October 1966 - 4 Aprit 1967

Cot Robert M.Jenkins 5 Aprit 1967- 17 May 1967

Col Edward E.Hammerbeck 18 May 1967 - 28 May 1967

LtCotJosephJ. Kelly 29 May 1967 - 3June 1967

Cot GeorgeE.Jerue 4june 1967-12 September 1967

Col Richard B. Smith 13 September 1967- l3July 1968

Cot Robert H. Barrow l4Juty 1968 - 8 April 1969

Col Edward F. Danowitz 9 Aprit 1969 - 7 September 1969

Cotjo M. Van Meter 8 September 1969 3 December 1969

ColRobertJ. Thomas 4 December 1969 - 19 August 1970

CotJoseph V. McLernan 20 August 1970- 23July 1971

Cot Randlett T. Lawrence 24JU1y 1971 - 3 March 1972

Cot Vincente T. BIaz 4 March 1972 - 16 August 1972

LtCot Frank R. Koethe 17 August 1972 - 4July 1973

Cot Stephen G. Olmstead 5Juty 1973 - 7 May 1974

Col Gordon M. B. Livingston 8 May 1973 - SJuty 1974

Cot WillardJ. Woodring,Jr 9July 1974 - 7 October 1974

Col Jack D. Rowley 8 October. 1974 - 27 March 1975

Col Wylie W. Taylor,Jr 28 March 1975 - 25 May 1975

LtCot Robert C. Wise 26 May 1975 - 8 August 1975

Cot Witliarn Weise 9 August 1975 - 11 August 1976

Col Robert H. Thompson 12 August 1976- 27Ju1y 1977

Cot George M. Edmondson.Jr 2SJuty 1977 - l3July 1978

Cot Warren H. Wiedhahn l4July 1978 - 14 Aprit 1979

Cot Joseph E. Hopkins is April 1979- l8June 1979

Coijoseph B. Knotts l9June 1979-31 May 1980

CotHughT. Ketr iJune 1980- 28 March 1981

LtCol Reginatd G. Ponsfotd 29 March 1981 - 15 May 1981

ColJohn S. Grinalds 16 May 1981 - 3 May 1982

Cot Robert D. Shoptaw 4 May 1982 - 25 February 1983

Col William H. Dabney 26 February 1983 - 8Juty 1983

Cot Herbert L. Seay 9Juty 1983 - present

35
9th Marines

LiNEAGE

1917 1919

ACTIVATED 10 NOVEMBER 1917 AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AS THE 9TH REGIMENT

DEPLOYED DURING DECEMBER '917 TO GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, AND AVFACHED TO THE

3D PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1918 To FORT CROCKETt, GALVESTON, TEXAS,

AND DETACHED FROM THE 3D PROVISIONAL BRIGADE

RELOCATED DURING APRIL 191.9 TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

DEACTIVATED 15 APRIL 1919

'942.

REACTIVATED Il FEBRUARY 1942. AT CAMP ELLIOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA,

AS THE 9TH MARINES, ilD MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE

REDES1GNATED AUGUST 1942. AS THE 9TH MARINES, AMPHIBIOUS CORPS,

PACIFIC FLEET

REASSIGNED DURING SEPTEMBER 1942. TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE

1943 - '945

DEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY 1943 TO AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

BOUGAINVILLE

NORTHERN SOLOMONS

GUAM

IWO JIMA

RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1945 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

DEACT1VATED 31 DECEMBER 2945

1947 - 2949

REACTIVATED 1 OCTOBER 1947 ON GUAM As THE 9TH MARINES, FLEET MARINE FORCE

DEPLOYED DURING NOVEMBER 1948 TO TSINGTAO, CHINA

REDEPLOYED DURING DECEMBER '948 TO SHANGHAI, CHINA

36
RELOCATED DURING MAY '949 TO CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND ASSIGNED TO

THE iD PROVISIONAL MARINE REGIMENT

DEACTIVATED r' OCTOBER 1949

1951 - 1964

REACTIVATED '7 MARCH 1951 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, AS THE 9TH MARINES,

3D MARINE DWISI0N, FLEET MARINE FORCE

DEPLOYED DURING OCTOBER 1953 TO CAMP GWU, JAPAN

REDEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY 1954 TO CAMP SHINODAYAMA, JAPAN

REDEPLOYED DURING JULY i94 TO CAMP SAKAI, JAPAN

REDEPLOYED DURING JULY i9 TO CAMP NAPUNJA, OKINAWA

REDEPLOYED DURING JANUARY 1956 TO CAMP SUKIRAN, OKINAWA

ELEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE DEPLOYMENT TO UDORN, THAILAND, MAY - JULY 1961

1965 - 1983

DEPLOYED DURING MARCH 1965 TO DA NANG, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, MARCH ,965-AUGUST 1969

OPERATING FROM

DA NANG

DONG HA

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1969 TO CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA AND REASSIGNED TO THE 9TH MARINE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE, FLEET MARINE FORCE

REASSIGNED DURING NOVEMBER 1969 TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

ELEMENTS OF THE REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA EVACUATIONS, APRIL i9

37
9th Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNiT CITATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR II

Iwo JIMA - 1945

VIETNAM 1965 - 1967

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (ARMY) STREAMER

VIETNAM

1969

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER

VIETNAM

1968

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

VIETNAM

1967 - 1968

1968 - 1969

WORLD WAR I VICTORY STREAMER WITH "WEST INDIES'

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

CHINA SERVICE STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER

MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

ARrI€D FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER STARS

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY STREAMER WITH PALM

38
The 12th Marines

THE nTH REGIMENT of Marines (Infantry), commanded by

Lieutenant Colonel Jesse F. Dyer, was originally activated

at Tientsin, China, on 4 October 1927 as a part of the 3d

Brigade. The brigade, under the command of Brigadier

General Smedley D. Butler, was engaged in security

measures for the protection of American lives and interests

in the Tientsin-Shanghai area. However, the need for the

Marine Corps to exercise rigid economy in the employment

of its officer and enlisted personnel because of unusual

demands on the Corps in both China and Nicaragua led

Major General CommandantJohn A. LeJeune to order the

deactivation of the regiment. On 22 April 1928, it was

deactivated with one battalion going to the 4th Regiment

and the other to the 6th Regiment.

TI4E siTh MARINES, under the command of ColonelJohn

B. Wilson, was reactivated at Camp Elliott, California, on

1 September 1942, as the artillery regiment of the 3d

Marine Division. It moved to Camp Dunlap, Niland,

California, a month later. The regiment began moving by

increments to New Zealand injanuary 1943. Although the

artival of the 3d Battalion in May 1943 brought all four

battalions to New Zealand, the regiment was hardly

physically united, as the battalions were attached to

regimentat combat teams and were widely dispersed ovet

the northern part of the island.

BOUGAINVILLE, the largest island in the Solomon Islands,

became the Allies' target after the capture of Guadalcanal

and New Georgia. The first itep was tq move the 3d

Marine Division from New Zealand to Guadalcanal for

training. The division then proceeded to Efatc, New

Hebrides, in October for a complete rehearsal of the projected landing. After the week-long exercises were completed, the division embarked for Bougainville.

Thoos OF THE iam MARINES were busily engaged in getting guns and ammunition ashore on D-Day, 1 November

1943, and various batteries were in position by the end of

the day, fifing several registrations in preparation for

don the fast night. The remaining batteries were ready for

support missions the following day. The effectiveness of

the artillery on Bougainville may be measured by the

39

estimate that half the enemy dead in the Empress Augusta

Bay area were the result of artillery shelling. The artillery

preparation for the Piva Forks battle was described by Major General Allen H. Turnage, the 3d Marine Division

commander, as; "Probably the most accurate I have ever

known."

THE NEXT CAMPAIGN for Colonel Wilson's 12th Marines

was the recapture of Guam, with the initial landing on 21

July 1944. The 3d Battalion, 12th Marines landed early

and was in action less than four hours after the fast wave

hit the beach. All the artillery was ashore with all batteries

in position and firing later that aftetnoon. The battle for

Guam placed emphasis upon the fact that the key to effective fire suppOrt was rapid and efficient communication

between forward observers and fire direction centers. The

regiment used radios when neccessary but wire communication was employed for most message traffic.

IN SEPTEMBER 1944, Admiral Niinitz advised Lieutenant

General Holland M. Smith, commanding FMFPac, that it

was desirable to retain both the 2d and 3d Marine Divisions in the Marianas for the planned attack on Iwo Jima.

The plans being developed called for the 3d Division to be

a reserve afloat and available on D-plus 3. The 12th

Marines, now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Raymond F. Crist, Jr., entered the picture on D-plus 5 (24

February 1945) landing just after noon, The days of the

battle for Iwo Jima were marked by continuous artillery

fire, day and night, in an attempt to soften the Japanese

positions for the hard-pressed Marine infantrymen.

AFTER THE CAMPAIGN, the 12th MarmnesT returned to

Guam to rebuild and retrain for the next operation—the

invasion of the home islands nfJapan. By August 1945 the

12th Marines and the rest of the 3d Division were ready for

the campaign, but the end of the war made this final effort

unnecessary. The regimental strength dwindled with the

end of the war. On 31 October 1945, the 3d Battalion,

12th Marines was deactivated on Guam. The regiment was

detached from the 3d Marine Division on 1 December

1945 and embarked that same day for the United States.

The 12th Marines was deactivated on 8 January 1946 at

Camp Pendleton.
THE REGIMENT WAS REACTIVATED on 17 March 1952 at

Camp Pendleton. In August 1953, the 12th Marines, now

under Colonel Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., sailed from San

Diego for Yokohama. Upon arrival in Japan the regiment

was sent to Camp McNair where a program of continuous

training began. Specialized training included participation

in Operation Lotus in Okinawa in January 1954 where the

troops received extensive training in the harsh ridges and

the tough undergrowth.

THE irrH MARINES (less the 3d Battalion) participated in

an amphibious exercise on Iwo Jima in Feburary 1956.

Following this exercise, the regiment was transferred to

Okinawa. The period of time from 1956 to 1964 was marked by routine training exercises including many SEATO

maneuvers, This relative calm was interrupted in 1957 by a

brief deployment of 1st Battalion, 12th Marines as part of a

task force of the 3d Division that stood by offshore during

a governmental crisis in Indonesia when American and

foreign citizens were in danger. Later in May 1962, when

the government of Thailand requested military assistance

from SEATO, maneuvers in the Philippines were broken

off, and BLT 3/9 was ordered to meet the request. The

unit was transported to Bangkok and sent ashore.

Detachments of Headquarters Battery and Battery F from

the 2d Battalion were attached to BLT 3/9 for this operation.

ABOUT THIS TIME several new batteries were organized for

service with the 12th Marines. Two new 4.2-inch mortar

batteries, one for the 1st Battalion and one for the 2d Battalion, and a 107mm battery, designated the Howtar Battery, were all activated on 25 June 1962.

DuRING 1964 elements of the 12th Marines (seldom more

than a battery) were afloat off the coast of Vietnam in the

South China Sea with the Marine Special Landing Force

(SLF). The first elements of the regiment landed in Vietnam on 8 March 1965 and were followed by additional

units. By July 1965 nearly the entire regiment, now commanded by Colonel James K. Callender, was in Vietnam,

actively participating in the conflict as a part of the 3d

Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force.

ELEMENTS OF THE REGIMENT participated in a number of

operations in 1965 and 1966 including Starlite, Prairie,

New York, and Hastings. On 6January 1967 at Phu Bai,

after the regiment received additional self-propelled

155mm howitzers, the 1st Provisional 155mm Howitzer

Battery, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines was activated. By the

40

Artillerymen of the 2d Battalion, 12th Marines, at

Con Thien, South Vietnam, fire high explosive and

white phosphorous shells from a 105mm howitzer at

a North Vietnamese Army unit on 19 October 1967.

close of 1967, the 12th Marines had become the largest de

facto regiment in Marine Corps history with eleven bat.

talions, including three Army battalions, under the operational control of the 12th regimental headquarters.

Tue ARRIVAL OF TET, the Vietnamese New Year, in

January 1968 brought with it major attacks by enemy

forces. Batteries of the 12th Marines in Quang Tn Province

were heavily involved in the fighting. During the remainder of 1968, elements of the regiment fixed a number

of artillery missions into the demilitarized zone and the

southern panhandle of North Vietnam. Combat operations, although fewer in number in 1969, carried the fight

to the enemy's western base areas, cutting his lines of communication and supply and destroying his hidden war material. In mid-1969 the American withdrawal from Vietnam began. The 2d Battalion, 12th Marines redeployed to

Okinawa in July 1969. The last elements of the 12th

Marines, then under the command of Colonel Wallace W.

Crompton, left Vietnam in December 1969.
-'

:.

DURING APRIL AND MAY 1975 elements of the 12th

Marines supported Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent

Wind in Cambodia and South Vietnam. The deployment

of two ships' detachments and five batteries in support of

these contingencies with little or no advance notification

reflected the high state of operational and embarkation

readiness of the 12th Marines.

THROUGHOUT THE i97oS and early 1980s, the 12th Marines

has continued to provide artillery support for the 3d

Marine Division by participating in battalion landing team

deployments and in division and regimental command

post exercises and field firing exercises on Okinawa, in

Japan, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea.

Numerous combined exercises have been conducted

throughout this period with the Republic of Korea

Marines.

THE 12.TH MARINES is meeting the challenges of the 1980s

and is confident of its readiness and ability to support the

mission of the 3d Marine Division.

Expended artillery shell casings litter the ground beside a 105mm howitzer position of

Battery F, 2dBattalion, 12th Marines, located at the Con Thien Combat Base in South

Vietnam, as it fires at North Vietnamese Army positions on Thanksgiving Day 1967.

41
Commanding Officers

12th Marines

LtColJesse F. Dyer 4 October 1927 - 1 April 1928

ColJohn B. Wilson 1 September 1942 - ijanuary 1945

LtCol Raymond F. Crist,Jr 2January 1945 - 1 April 1945

Coljoseph W. Earnshaw 2 April 1945 - 8January 1946

LtCoI EarlJ. Rowse 17 March 1952 - 3 April 1952

LtCoI Hoyt U. Bookhart,Jr 4 April 1952-25 July 1952

Col Leonard F. Chapman,Jr 26Ju1y 1952.23 May 1954

Co! Kenneth A. Jorgenson 24 May 1954 - 1 October 1954

Go! Louis A. Ennis 2 October 1954- 2lJuly 1955

LtCol Peter H. Hahn 22Ju1y 1955- 12 September 1955

Col William C. Capehart 13 September 1955 - I Match 1956

Col John S. Twitchell 2 March1956 - 2QJune 1956

LtCol William G. Muller,Jr 2lJune 1956- 2SJuly 1956

Col Forest C. Thompson 29July 1956- lIJune 1957

Go! William F. Kramer l2June 1957 - 2lJune 1958

Col Norman A. Miller,Jr 22June 1958- 17 September 1958

LtColJoe B. Russell . . . . 18 September 1958 - 31 December 1959

LtCoI Walter C. Wells iJanuary 1960- 25 February 1960

Col James P. Rathbun 26 February 1960- 28 March 1961

Col Grant S. Baze 29 March 1961 - 22Ju1y 1961

Col Clifford B. Drake 23July 1961 - 3 August 1962

Col Nat M. Pace 4 August 1962 - 11 August 1963

ColWinsory. Crockett,Jr 12 August 1963-6 May 1964

Col William P Pala 7 May 1964- l5July 1965

LtCol Walter E. Stuenkel l6July 1965 - 3OJuly 1965

CoijamesK. Callender 3lJuly 1965- 3OJune 1966

Col Benjamin S. Read iJuly 1966 - 23Januaiy 1967

ColWilliamR. Morrison 24January 1-967 - 2OJuly 1967

Col Edwin S. Schick, Jr 2lJuly 1967- 21 May 1968

Col Wilson A. Kluckman 22 May 1968 - 4 July 1968

Col Peterj. Mulroney 5July 1968- liJuly 1969

Col Wallace W. Crompton l2July 1969- 25 February 1970

Col Robert E. Parrott 26 February 1970- 2 August 1970

ColJorisJ. Snyder 3 August 1970- liJune 1971

ColJohn P. O'Connell l2June 1971-21 October 1971

42
Col William A, Lawrence 22 October 1971 - l3july

LtColJamesR. Bowser,Jr I4July 1972- 20 August

CoijackE. Dausman 2lAugusr 1972- 10 August

Coljames R. Gallman,Jr 11 August 1973 - 25Ju1y

Col David B. Barker 26July 1974 - l6july

Col Howard M. Koppenhaver

Col Roy L. Belli

Col Andrew F. Bauei

Col Clarence W. Dilworth

Col Roger F. Scott,Jr

l7July 1975 - 28 March

29 March 1976- l3january

l4january 1977 - 29 September

.30 September 1977 - l2July

13 July 1978- 26 August

Col Robert B. Gibson 27 August 1978- 27June 1979

Col Hollis F. Davison 28June 1979- 27 May 1980

Col Orville V. Lippold,Jr 28 May 1980 - 12 November 1980

Col James B. Schulken 13 November 1980- 13 Ocrober 1981

Col William C. Doerner 14 October 1981 - 11 September 1982

Col Robert M. Black 12 September 1982 - 18 Augusr 1983

Col FrancisX. Chambers 19 August 1983- present

43

1972

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1977

1978

1978
12th Marines

LINEAGE

192.7 - 1918

ACTIvATED 4 OCTOBER 1917 AT TIENT5IN, CHINA As THE i.7H REGIMENT AND

ASSIGNED TO THE 3D MARINE BRIGADE

DEACTIVATED ii APR11. 1918

1942. - 1946

REACTIVATED I SEPTEMBER 2942. AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AS THE 11TH

MARINES AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING OCTOBER 1942. TO CAMP DUNLAP, CALIFORNIA

DEPLOYED DURING MARCH 2943 TO AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

REDEPLOYED DURING JULY 1943 TO GUADALCANAL

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

BOUGAINVILLE

NORTHERN SOLOMONS

GUAM

IWO JIMA

RELOCATED DURING DECEMBER 1945 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

DEACTIVATED 8 JANUARY 1946

[952. -1964

REACTIVATED MARCH 1951 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, AND ASSIGNED TO THE

3D MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING AUGUST I93 TO CAMP MCNAIR, JAPAN

REDEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY 1956 TO OKINAWA

1965 - 1983

REDEPLOYED FROM MARCH-JULY 1965 TO THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, MAY 1965-NOVEMBER 1969, OPERATING FROM

DA NANG

PHU BAI

44
CHU LAI

HUE

REDEPLOYED FROM AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1969 TO CAMP HANSEN, OICINAWA

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1971 TO CAMP HAUGE, OKINAWA

RELOCATED DURING AUGUST 1976 TO CAMP ZUKERAN, OKINAWA

CAMP ZUKERAN RENAMED CAMP FOSTER DURING MARCH 1980

45
12th Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CiTATIoN STREAMER

VIETNAM

1965 - i967

NAvY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR II

B0UGAINvILLE - '943 - '944

Iwo JIMA - '945

MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS

WoRLD WAR 11 VICTORY STREAMER

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERvicE STREAMER WiTH ONE BRONZE STAR

KOREAN SERVICE STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH TWO SILVER AND ONE BRONZE STAR

VIETNAM CROSS OF GAllANTRY STREAMER WITH PALM

46
The 21st Marines

Ti-rn tiST MARINES was activated on 14 July 1942 at New

River, North Carolina. Colonel Daniel E. Campbell took

command of the regiment at the end of the month. During July, August, and September, the three infantry battalions of the regiment were activated using men from the

6th Marines as the nucleus and adding personnel from

Quantico and Parris Island. An intensive combat training

program was began.

IN OCTOBER the regiment became part of the 3d Marine

Division and was relocated to Camp Elliott, California,

where training continued. Early in February 1943 the 21st

Marines deployed to Auckland, New Zealand. Units of the

regiment were billeted in a number of small camps over an

area of several square miles. The final training for the regiment was conducted on Guadalcanal before the 21st

Marines was otdered into combat.

DURING THE INITIAL PHASE of the Bougainville campaign

the 21st Marines, under the command of Colonel Evans 0-

Ames, remained offshore in division reserve. On 6

November the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines landed and was

attached to the 9th Marines. The remaining units of the

regiment went ashore between 11-17 November. One

company of the 3d Battalion was on board the USSMcKean when it was attacked and sunk by enemy aircraft

in Empress Augusta Bay. Thirty-eight men were reported

missing. By the 20th all battalions had reverted to the 21st

Marines' control and the regiment moved south. For the

next few weeks fighting was light with no major action

against enemy forces. During the second week in

December 1943, however, the regiment became involved

in the fighting around Hellzapoppin Ridge, Hill 600, and

Hill 600A. The regiment's primary task was to reduce these

positions and drive the remaining Japanese east of the

Torokina River. The thick jungle and narrow trails added

to the Marines' difficulties as they attempted ro dislodge

the enemy. [-lellzapoppin Ridge fell on IS December and

Hill 600A was taken five days later. The 21st Marines was

relieved by the 182d Infantry Regiment and on 9 January

1944 it embarked for the return to Guadalcanal.

47

THE REGIANT'S NEXT OPERATION was the recapture of

Guam. On 2lJuly 1944, the 21st Marines went ashore in

the first waves of troops in the center of the 3d Division's

Asan beachhead. The steeply sloping terrain provided excellent cover for the,Japanese and precluded any rapid advance. Early on the morning of 26 JuLy the enemy launched a coordinated counterartack, including a wild bayonet

charge, against the Marines. The Japanese were driven

back with heavy losses. The 21st Marines, now under the

command of Colonel Arthur H. Butler, with the rest of the

3d Division, prepared to drive northeast along the length

of the island. On 31 july, the 21st Marines left its line of

departure and pushed steadily ahead through the rugged

terrain. The regiment, on 1 August, passed into division

reserve for a short time. Four days later, the 21st Marines

with the 3d Marines moved toward Bijia Point meeting only isolated pockets of resistance. As the Marines combed

the notthern jungle, they encounteted only disorganized

remnants of the enemy. Guam was declared secure on 10

August, but the 21st Marines continued to patrol the northetn jungles for disorganized remnants of the enemy.

Major General Graves B. Erskine, seated rear, Commanding General, 3dMarine Division, and Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner, who commanded the

expeditionary forces, talk with Marines at the command post of the 21st Marines on Iwo Jima in 1945.
THE uST MARINES remained on Guam until it received

orders for its next objective—Iwo Jima. The regiment left

Guam a day earlier than the rest nf the 3d Division, but

when the unit arrived off Iwo, it went into corps reserve.

On D plus 1, 20 February 1945, the regiment, now commanded by Colonel Hartnoll 3. Withers, was ordered to

land. The confusion and congestion on the beaches made

the landing dangerous. The 21st Marines finally came

ashore in heavy surf on 21 February. Early the next morning the regiment moved out to relieve the 23d Marines and was ordered to advance on the high ground between Airfields No. 1 and No. 2. The scarred and pitted terrain

made progess slow and costly. On D plus 5 elements of the

21st Marines crossed Airfield No. 2 and were involved in

heavy fighting in the area. The regiment went into reserve

the following day. At dawn on D plus it passed through

the 9th Marines and resumed the attack. The 1st Battalion,

21st Marines advanced rapidly and captuted the village of

Mntoyama and the high ground above Airfield No. 3. The

21st Marines continued forward in spite of heavy losses. On

7 Match, the 21st Marines with the 9th Marines participated in a flanking movement to isolate an enemy

strongpoint known as "Cushman's Pocket." It was finally

destroyed on 16 March and Iwo Jima was declared secure.

WiTH THE BATtLE of Iwo Jima over, the 21st Marines

returned to Guam. Here training continued for the planned invasion of the Japanese homeland. After the surrender

of Japan, the 2d Battalion, 21st Marines occupied the

island of Truk. The 21st Marines was deactivated on Guam Wary Marines of a 60mm mortar crew of Company

on 20 December 1945. The 2d Battalion left Truk in L, 3dBattalion, 21st Marines, pause in the attack on

February and was deactivated on Guam on 5 March 1946. Airstrrt No. 2 on Iwo Jima on 24 February 1945.

A member of Company L, 3d Battalion, 21st Marines, takes cover from heavy mortar

and machine gunfire in the attack on Iwo Jima's Airstnt No. 2 on 24 February 1945.

S

'
Commanding Officers

21st Marines

ColDanielE. Campbell l4July 1942- lljanuary 1943

Col Evans 0. Ames I2January 1943- l9January 1944

LrCol Arthur H. Butler 2Ojanuary 1944 - 3ljanuary 1944

Cot Robert Blake 1 February 1944 - 20 April 1944

Col Arthur H. Butler 21 April 1944- 30 November 1944

Col HartnoilJ. Withers 1 December 1944 - 6 May 1945

Col Samuel B. Griffith II 7 May 1945 - 20 December 1945

49
21st Marines

LINEAGE

1942. - I94

ACTIVATED i4 JULY 1941 AT NEw RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, AS THE uST MARINES

ASSIGNED DURING OCTOBER 1942. TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING NOVEMBER 1942 TO SAN DIEGO, CALiFORNIA

DEPLOYED DURING FEBRUARY-MARCH 1943 TO AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

PARTICIPATED IN THE L1OLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS

NORTHERN SOLOMONS

BOUGAINVILLE

GUAM

Iwo JIMA

DEACTIVATED io DECEMBER 1945 AT GUAM, MARIANA ISLANDS

50
21st Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

WORLD WAR 11

IWO JIMA - 1945

NAvY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER

WORLD WAR II

GUAM - 1944

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAJGN STREAMER WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

51
j I

//

The 26th Marines

THE i6TH MARINES was activated at Camp Pendleton,

California on 10 January 1944 as part of the 5th Marine

Division. Lieutenant Colonel Lester S. Hamel was the regiment's first commanding officer. During early July. the

regiment participated in exercises on San Clcmente Island,

some 60 miles off the coast of California. The regiment

embarked on board the USS Elliott, Baxter. Clay, and Arthur Middleton at San Diego on 21 July and arrived at

Hilo, Hawaii 10 days later. Once there the 26th Marines

was sent 65 miles inland to the former camp of the 2d

Marine Division on the Parker Ranch at Kamuela known as

"Camp Tarawa." Training anti amphibious maneuvers

continued while the regiment was in the Hawaiian Islands.

In late January 1945, the 26th Marines sailed from Pearl

Harbor. The convoy reached Eniwetok for refueling and

then sailed on to Saipan. IwoJima was now the next stop.

The flame thrower section and 81mm mortar platoon of the recently reactivated 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, files aboard a Navy transport for Operation Silver Point I in June

1966 as part of training prior to deployment to the Western Pacific and South Vietnam.

52
A perimeter guard turns away from the dust raired by a CH-46 as it lands near the lit

Battalion, 26th Marines, during training at Camp Pendleton, California, in June 1966.

ALTHOUGH THE a6TH MARINes had been placed in reserve,

the entire regiment, commanded by Colonel Chester B.

Graham, was on Iwojima by dusk on D-Day, 19 February

1945. The regiment held the center of the 5th Division's

beachhead during the first night, but continued in division reserve for the next couple of days. On D plus 3 the

regiment passed through the 27th Marines' lines and slowly advanced to the northeast. The 26th Marines participated in the attack on Airfield No. 2 and then moved

northwest toward Hill 362A. Once rhe battle for 362A was

over, the 26th Marines faced bloody fighting around the

rocky retrain of Hill 362B and Nishi Ridge. At times the

Marines were involved in fierce hand-to-hand combat.

Casualties were high. By the end of the campaign, the

26th Marines had lost 650 men killed in action and died of

wounds and 2,025 wounded in action. As the regiment

reduced the last enemy resistance in the northwest, its 1st

Battalion broke through to the sea. On 16 March 1945 Iwo

Jima was declared secure.

THE t6TH MAmNES sailed back to Hawaii at the end of

March. By mid-April the 26th had reached Hilo and

returned to its former camp site to begin the process of

rebuilding. The return of many of the wounded as well as

replacement drafts soon restored the regiment to strength

while drill and training went on for the anticipated assault

on southern Kyushu, in thejapanese islands. The unconditional surrender of Japan on 14 August 1945 made this

assault unnecessary. The 5th Division wasordered tojapan

for occupation duty. The 26th Marines boarded ships on

23 August and sailed from Pearl Harbor a week later. The

53

convoy arrived at dawn on 22 September off Sasebo in northwestern Kyushu. The Marines were to dispose of enemy

war materiel and supervise both the return of Japanese to

their homeland and the repatriation of Chinese and

Korean citizens.

THE REGIMENT, which had responsibility for patrolling the

areas north and east of Sasebo, was alerted on 13 October

for transfer to the Palau Islands and arrived there two

weeks later. Elements of the regiment took up garrison duty on Koror, Malakal, and Arakabesan. In late January

1946, the 26th Marines, at greatly reduced strength, sailed

for the United Statcs. The regiment was deactivated at

Camp Pendleton on 5 March 1946.

As me VIETNAM WAR intensified, the 26th Marines was

reactivated on 1 March 1966 at Camp Pendleton. The first

elements of the regiment were deployed to the Republic of

Vietnam in August 1966, when the 1st and 2d Battalions

landed at Da Nang. The regimental headquarters reached

Okinawa in the same month. The 3d Battalion arrived in

Vietnam in October, completing the deployment of the

26th Marines' battalions. In April 1967, the headquarters

departed Okinawa for Phu Bai and was assigned to the 3d

Marine Division. The following month, the headquarters

and the 1st Battalion relieved other 3d Marine Division

units at the Khe Sanh Combat Base in western Quang Tti

Province. The 3d Battalion arrived at Khe Sanh in June

1967. During the next few months these units participated

in Operations Crockett, Ardmore, and Scotland I.
t2

P.. .J•:a,$rJ . V.

- t'**s - . 11

, •/ inIN JANUARY 1968, the 2d Battalion, 26th Marines arrived

at Khe Sanh, bringing the entire regiment together for the

first time since its arrival in Vietnam. The 26th Marines

was now commanded by Colonel David E. Lownds. Khe

Sanh became the focal point of enemy activity in I Corps as

the enemy continued a major buildup in the area, heavily

shelled the base, and attacked the surrounding hill outposts. As the weather improved in early March , an exodus

of major North Vietnamese units from the Khe Sanh area

began to take place, although the enemy still maintained

pressure on the combat base.

As THE BATrLE OF KHE SANS-I ENDED and the roads opened

up to the base, the 26th Marines participated in Operation

Scotland II from 15-18 April 1968. On 18 May, the regiment moved to the Da Nang area where it took part in a

number of operations including Mameluke Thrust,

Houston, and Meade River.

DuRING 1969, elements of the 26th Marines operated as

the Special Landing Force off the coast of Vietnam. With

the withdrawal of the 3d Marine Division in the fall of

1969, the 26th Marines was reassigned to the 1st Division.

In March 1970, the regiment returned to Camp Pendleton

where it was deactivated on 30 April 1970.

Members of Company E, 2d Battalion, 26th Marines, cariy a casualty to a CH-34

medevac helicopthr following a 1968 attack on their position on Hill 861A, which

overlooks the combat base at Khe Sanh. (Photo courtesy of David Douglas Duncan)

54
Commanding Officers

26th Marines

LrCol Lester S. Hamel

Col Chester B. Graham

LtCol Harvey L. Jensen

ColJohnJ. Padley

Col David E. Lownds..

Col Bruce F. Meyers.

Col Clyde W. Hunter

Co! Ray N. Jones

Col Ralph A. Heywood

1944

1946

1966

1967

1968

• . .12 February 1969- 13 June 1969

• . l4June 1969 - 12 December 1969

ColjamesE. Harrell 12 December1969- 30 April 1970

55

10 January 1944 - 23 February

24 February 1944- 5 March

1 March 1966- 2 April

3 April 1966- 11 August

12 August 1967- 11 April

12 April 1968- 12 August 1968

13 August 1968- 11 February 1969
26th Marines

LINEAGE

'944 - 1946

ACTIVATED Ia JANUARY 1944 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, AS THE

i6TH MARINES AND ASSIGNED TO THE 5TH MARINE DIVISION

DEPLOYED DURING JULY 1944 TO HIL0, HAWAII

PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGN

IWO JIMA

REDEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1945 TO SASEBO, JAPAN

REDEPLOYED DURING OCTOBER TO PELELIU, PALAU ISLANDS, AND

DETACHED FROM THE 5TH MARINE DIVISION

RELOCATED DURING JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1946

AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

DEACTIVATED MARCH 1946

1966 - 1970

REACTIVATED, MARCH 1966 AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA

ASSIGNED DURING MAY '966 TO FORCE TROOPS, FnET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

DEPLOYED DURING JULY-AUGUST 1966 TO CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA AND

REASSIGNED TO THE 9TH MARINE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE

REDEPLOYED DURING APRIL 1967 TO P1-rn BAI, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

AND REASSIGNED TO THE 3D MARINE DIVISION

PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM, APRIL 1967 - MARCH '970,

OPERATING FROM

KHE SANH

DA NANG

QUANG NAM

REASSIGNED DURING OCTOBER 1969 TO THE 'ST MARINE DIVISION

56
RELOCATED DURING MARCH 1970 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA AND

REASSIGNED TO THE 5TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE

DEACTIVATED 30 APRIL 1970

57
26th Marines

HONORS

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER WITH TWO BRONZE STARS

WORLD WAR II

IWOJIMA - '945

VIETNAM

[967

1968

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN STREAMER WITH ONE BRONZE STAR

WORLD WAR II VICTORY STREAMER

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE STREAMER WITH "ASIA'

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER WITH ONE SJLVER AND FOUR BRONZE STARS

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY STREAMER WITH PALM

VIETNAM MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION CIVIL ACTIONS STREAMER

58