| 3rd Marine Division | |
|---|---|
 3rd Marine Division insignia |
|
| Active | 16 September 1942 - 28 December, 1945 7 January 1952 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Infantry division |
| Role | Locate close with and destroy the enemy |
| Part of | III Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Courtney[1] |
| Nickname | Fighting Third |
| Motto | Fidelity, Valor, Honor |
| Engagements | World War II * Battle of Bougainville * Battle of Guam * Battle of Iwo Jima Vietnam War Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major General Robert B. Neller |
| Notable commanders |
MajGen Charles D. Barrett, MajGen Graves B. Erskine |
The 3rd Marine Division is an infantry division in the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Courtney, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, 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 (3rd MLG) 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.
Contents |
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 16 September 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[2]. 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. 27 September 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 9 January 1944. During the course of the battle the division had approximately 400 Marines killed.[3]
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 21 July 1944 until the last day of organized fighting on 10 August, the division fought through the jungles on the island of Guam. During these 21 days of fighting, the Division captured over 60 square miles (160 km2) of territory and killed over 5,000 enemy soldiers.[4] 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.[5]
| 3rd Marine Division (1941 - 1945) | |
|---|---|
| Parent unit | V Amphibious Corps |
| Components | 3rd Marine Regiment 9th Marine Regiment 12th Marine Regiment 19th Marine Regiment (1942-1944) 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[6] however they were committed one regiment at a time as the initial regiments that landed needed to be relieved. The 21st Marines came ashore on 20 February[6] followed by the 9th Marines on 25 February.[7] 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 16 March and the subsequent mopping up operations for the next month. All elements of the Division were back on Guam by 17 April 1945.[8] The fighting on Iwo Jima would cost the 3rd Marine Division 1,131 killed in action and another 4,438 wounded.[9]
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 28 December 1945.[10]
Korean War
The Division was reactivated on 7 January 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 6 May 1965, the 3rd Marine Division opened the Marine Compound at the Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam. In October 1966, then commanding general Lew Walt, under orders from his boss William Westmoreland to establish strong points just south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), moved the division north out of Danang to bases at Cam Lo, Con Thien, Gio Linh, Camp Carroll, the Rockpile and Ca Lu.[11] 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 1 January – 30 September 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.
Unit awards
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the appropriate ribbon of the awarded unit citation. 3d Marine Division has been awarded the following:
| Streamer | Award | Year(s) | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Bronze Star | 1945, 1965–1967 | Iwo Jima, Vietnam |
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Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with one Bronze Star | 1945, 2002-2003 | Iwo Jima, Western Pacific |
_Streamer.jpg){kind=small} |
Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer | 2004 - 2005 | Indonesia Tsunami Relief |
 |
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with four Bronze Stars | Bougainville, Northern Solomons, Guam, Iwo Jima | |
 |
World War II Victory Streamer | 1942–1945 | Pacific War |
 |
National Defense Service Streamer with three Bronze Stars | 1950–1954, 1961–1974, 1990–1995, 2001–present | Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War on Terrorism |
 |
Korean Service Streamer | ||
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Vietnam Service Streamer with two Silver and one Bronze Stars | April 1965 - May 1969, March - May 1975 | Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Thua Thien, Evacuation Operations in Vietnam and Cambodia |
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Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Streamer | ||
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Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer | 2001 – present | |
 |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer |
See also
Notes
- ^ Cordero, Jeffrey (26 September 2008). "3rd Marine Division celebrates 66th birthday". U.S. Marines in Japan (United States Marine Corps). http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/public%20affairs%20info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2008/080926-div.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ Rottman (2002): 134
- ^ Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 80
- ^ Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 162
- ^ Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 168
- ^ a b Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 228
- ^ Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 230
- ^ Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 250
- ^ Astor and Cohlmia (1948): 252
- ^ Rottman (2002): 135
- ^ Coan (2004), p.23.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Aurthur, Robert A.; Cohlmia, Kenneth (1948). The Third Marine Division. Washington, D.C.: Infantry Journal Press.
- Coan, James P. (2004). Con Thien - Hill of Angels. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-81731-414-8.
- Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War.. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
- Web
- 3rd Marine Division official website
- O'Brien, Cyril J. (1994). "Ashore in the North" (brochure). LIBERATION: Marines in the Recapture of Guam. Marine Corps Historical Center. http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003126-00/sec4.htm#insignia. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
- 3d Marine Division Association website
- History of the 3d Marine Division
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