3rd Marine Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=3rd Marine Division


caption=3rd Marine Division insignia
dates= *Sept. 16, 1942 - December 28, 1945
*January 7, 1952 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Infantry division
role= Locate close with and destroy the enemy
size=
command_structure= III Marine Expeditionary Force
current_commander= Major Gen. Robert B. Neller
garrison=Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= "Fighting Third"
patron=
motto= Fidelity, Valor, Honor
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Bougainville
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
Vietnam War
Operation Enduring Freedom
notable_commanders= MajGen Charles D. Barrett,
MajGen Graves B. Erskine
anniversaries=The 3rd Marine Division is an infantry division in the United States Marine Corps based out of Okinawa, Japan. It is one of three active duty divisions in the Marine Corps, and together with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1stMAW) and the 3rd Marine Logistics Group (3rdMLG) forms the III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF). The division was first formed and fought during World War II and since then most notably saw combat during four years of continuous combat in the Vietnam War.

Subordinate units

* Headquarters Battalion
* 3rd Marine Regiment (Infantry)
* 4th Marine Regiment (Infantry)
* 12th Marine Regiment (Artillery)
* 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
* Combat Assault Battalion

History

World War II

The 3rd Marine Division was officially activated on September 16, 1942 at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. Most of the original members of the division were drawn from the cadre staff of the 2nd Marine Division [Rottman (2002): 134] . The division was initially built around the 9th Marine Regiment, commanded by Colonel Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. who later became the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Major General Charles D. Barrett was the first Commanding General of the Division.

The division echeloned into Auckland, New Zealand between January and March 1943. In June of that year they moved onto Guadalcanal for additional training. September 27, 1943 saw the division land as part of the Battle of Bougainville and fight on the island until their last unit to arrive, the 21st Marine Regiment, embarked on January 9, 1944. During the course of the battle the division had approximately 400 Marines killed. [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 80]

They returned to Guadalcanal in January, 1944 to rest, refit and train. The next operation the division took part in was the Battle of Guam. From July 21, 1944 until the last day of organized fighting on August 10, the division fought through the jungles on the island of Guam. During these 21 days of fighting, the Division captured over convert|60|sqmi|km2 of territory and killed over 5,000 enemy soldiers. [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 162] The next two months saw continuous mopping up operations in which the Marines continued to engage left over Japanese forces. At the end of the battle the Division had sustained 677 Marines killed, 3,626 wounded and 9 missing. [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 168]

command structure
name= 3rd Marine Division
date= 1941 - 1945
parent= V Amphibious Corps
subordinate=3rd Marine Regiment
9th Marine Regiment
12th Marine Regiment
21st Marine Regiment
3rd Tank Battalion

The Division remained on the island of Guam for training purposes until they embarked as part of the landing force for the Battle of Iwo Jima. The 3rd Marine Division was initially in reserve for the battle [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 228] however they were committed one regiment at a time as the initial regiments that landed needed to be relieved. The 21st Marines cames ashore on February 20 [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 228] followed by the 9th Marines on February 25. [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 230] The Marines of these two infantry regiments, supported by the artillery of the 12th Marine Regiment and tanks of the 3rd Tank Battalion, fought on Iwo Jima until the end of organized resistance on March 16 and the subsequent mopping up operations for the next month. All elements of the Division were back on Guam by April 17, 1945. [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 250] The fighting on Iwo Jima would cost the 3rd Marine Division 1,131 killed in action and another 4,438 wounded. [Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 252]

After the return to Guam, the Division began preparing for the invasion of Japan. This however never took place as Japan surrendered in August 1945. The Division was deactivated on December 28, 1945. [Rottman (2002): 135]

Korean War

The Division was reactivated on January 7, 1952 at Camp Pendleton, California. 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 Korean War. During the remaining part of 1952 elements of the Division participated in numerous exercises and training problems, including vertical envelopment (helicopter landing), airborne operations and attack, and defense against atomic weapons and missiles.

In August 1953 the Division arrived in Japan to support the 1st Marine Division in the defense of the Far Eastern area. In March 1956 the Division moved to Okinawa and remained there in a readiness posture until 1965.

Vietnam War

On May 6, 1965, the 3rd Marine Division opened the Marine Compound at the Danang Air Base, Vietnam. They operated in Vietnam from this time participating in operations from Danang to Phu Bai to Quang Tri/Dong Ha Combat Base. For Meritorious Service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period January 1 – September 30, 1968 the Division was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. 3rd Marine Division departed Vietnam in November 1969 and moved to Camp Courtney, Okinawa, where it is presently located.

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps divisions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Bibliography
* cite book
last = Aurthur
first = Robert A.
authorlink =
coauthors = Cohlmia, Kenneth
title = The Third Marine Division
publisher = Infantry Journal Press
date = 1948
location = Washington, D.C.
url =
doi =
id =
* cite book
last = Rottman
first = Gordon L.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War.
publisher = Greenwood Press
date = 2002
location = Westport, Connecticut
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0-313-31906-5

;Web
* [http://www.3div.usmc.mil/ 3rd Marine Division official website]
*cite web
last = O'Brien
first = Cyril J.
authorlink =
coauthors =
date =
year = 1994
month =
url = http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003126-00/sec4.htm#insignia
title = Ashore in the North
format = brochure
work = LIBERATION: Marines in the Recapture of Guam
pages =
publisher = Marine Corps Historical Center
language =
accessdate = 2007-01-01
accessyear =
* [http://www.caltrap.com/ 3d Marine Division Association website]
* [http://1stbattalion3rdmarines.com/div-hist-index_files/history_3rddiv.htm History of the 3d Marine Division]