The U.S. 3rd Marine Division is a unit of the United States Marine Corps, one of three active divisions. As of 2005 it is based in Okinawa, Japan. Image File history File links 3rd Marine Division Logo File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ... A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to fifteen thousand soldiers. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the prefecture. ...

History

World War II

The 3rd Marine Division was officially activated on September 16, 1942 at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. It was built around the 9th Marines, 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. September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... San Diego County in the Southwest corner of California. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Colonel Colonel is a military rank, usually the highest below general grades, and just above Lieutenant Colonel. ... Image:Lemuel Cornick Shepherd mlajsi Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. ... The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps is the highest ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps, who is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reports to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ...

As 1942 drew to a close Headquarters Battalion was still located at Camp Elliott. It busied itself organizing and training for action in the South Pacific. In January and February 1943 the Battalion moved to Auckland, New Zealand. This article is about the year. ... South Pacific is a musical play with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II that opened on Broadway on April 7, 1949, and ran for more than five years. ... January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ...

By August 1943 the Battalion was stationed on Guadalcanal where special training and rehearsals for the Bougainville operation were intensified. On November 1, 1943 the Division landed at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. For approximately two months the Battalion participated in the fight against stiff and heavy enemy resistance. On January 16, 1944, with the transfer of command in the area to the Army's XIV Corps, the last elements of the Battalion returned to Guadalcanal. Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ... 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... Guadalcanal, a 2,510 square mile (6,500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands, is largely a jungle. ... This article is about the island; Bougainville is also the name of a commune in the Somme département of France. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... Battle of Empress Augusta Bay Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 1 – 2 November 1943 Place Bougainville, New Guinea Result Decisive Allied victory The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay was a land and naval battle in the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of 1... January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The history of XIV Army Corps in World War II dates from December, 1942. ...

Following the Bougainville operation the Battalion began training for the next campaign. Verbal instructions received in February 1944 led to planning for an operation against the Japanese on Emirau Island. The projected Emirau operation was subsequently cancelled and instructions were received to initiate planning for an operation against enemy forces at Kavieng, New Ireland. This operation was also called off. A few days later the Battalion received word to start training for the amphibious assault against the Japanese on Guam, Marianas. Emirau Island is an island in the Bismarck Archipelago located at 1°38. ... Kavieng is the capital of the Papua New Guinean province of New Ireland and the largest town on the island of the same name. ... New Ireland is an island in the Pacific, and the most northeastern province of Papua New Guinea. ... Mariana Islands (sometimes called The Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called the Ladrone Islands) are a group of islands made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the Pacific Ocean. ...

The Battalion embarked at Guadalcanal on June 2, 1944 and sailed for Kwajalein, Marshall Islands enroute to the Marianas. It remained afloat off Saipan from June 15 – June 28 1944 as part of the reserve force for the Saipan operation, then being carried out by the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions in conjunction with the 27th Infantry Division. With the situation on Saipan well controlled the Battalion returned to its restaging area awaiting the target date for the Guam operation. 2 June is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... Kwajalein Atoll - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Kwajalein Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in the Ralik Chain, 2,100 nautical miles (3900 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, at 8°43′ N 167°44′ E. Kwajalein is one the worlds largest... Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and site of the capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean, with a total area of 120 km² (46. ... June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... (Some entries on this page have been duplicated on August 1. ... The battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June 1944 to 9 July 1944. ... The U.S. 2nd Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground-force component of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. ... The U.S. 4th Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps. ... The 27th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. World War I Activated: July 1917 (National Guard Division from New York). ...

On July 21, 1944, as a part of the Southern Troops and Landing Force, the Battalion landed on western beaches of Guam in the vicinity of Asan Point. After twenty days of savage fighting the Division troops reaches the northern coast of the island. On August 10, 1944 Guam was declared secure. Until its departure for the Iwo Jima campaign, the Battalion remained on Guam taking part in the mopping up operations. July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Landsat photo of Iwo Jima, circa 2000 Iwo Jima  listen? (Japanese 硫黄島 Iōtō, or Iōjima, meaning sulfur island) is a volcanic island in Japan, part of the Volcano Islands (also known as the Ogasawara Islands), approximately 650 miles (1046 km) south of Tokyo (24. ...

By the middle of February 1945 the Battalion completed embarkation at Guam preparatory to participation in the Iwo Jima operation. Initially, the Battalion remained afloat off Iwo Jima as Expeditionary Troops Reserve. The Battalion landed on February 24, and the next morning the 3rd Marine Division launched an attack in its zone between the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. The 3rd Marine Division faced well-organized and determined enemy resistance. The terrain, ideal for defense, was heavily fortified by pillboxes, caves, and covered artillery emplacements. Progress was slow and casualties heavy during the first few days of fighting. The Division slowly pushed the enemy back and by March 3 had severed the last enemy east-west artery of communication by occupying positions overlooking the sea. The 3rd Marine Division secured its zone of action on March 11 and then initiated intensive patrolling and mopping-up operations. On March 16, units of the 3rd Marine Division relieved elements of the 5th Division and delivered the final attack of the Iwo Jima operation—a drive to Kitano Point. Iwo Jima was declared secure on the same day. On April 4 the 3rd Marine Division was relieved by Army units. 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between the United States and Japan during February and March of 1945, during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. As a result of the battle, the United States gained control of the island of Iwo Jima and the airfields located there. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The 5th Marine Division of the United States Marine Corps was created during World War II for the Battle of Iwo Jima and the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands. ... A bunker is a defensive warfare fortification to protect oneself. ... Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) The outside world viewed from a cave A cave is a natural underground void. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 11 March is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ...

By mid-April 1945 the Battalion was back on Guam preparing for the next operation. On August 3, 1945 the Battalion received initial plans for the "Olympic" operation which called for an amphibious landing of Kyushu about November 1, 1945. The 3rd Marine Division, along with the 2nd 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 Battalion remained on Guam until the date of its disbandment on December 28, 1945. August 3 is the 215th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (216th in leap years), with 150 days remaining. ... Operation Downfall was the overall Allied plan for the invasion of Japan at the end of World War II. It was scheduled to occur in two parts: Operation Olympic, the invasion of Kyushu, set to begin in November 1945; and later Operation Coronet, the invasion of Honshu near Tokyo, scheduled... Amphibious Assault is an electronic music project by Fallon Bowman. ... Kyushu region, Japan Kyushu (九州) is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ...

Korean War

The Battalion 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), air-borne operations and attack, and defense against atomic weapons and missiles. January 7 is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is near Oceanside, California. ... State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... The Korean War (Korean: 한국전쟁/韓國戰爭), from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ...

In August 1953 the Battalion arrived in Japan to support the 1st Marine Division in the defense of the Far Eastern area. In March 1956 the Battalion moved to Okinawa and remained there in a readiness posture until 1965. Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The 1st Marine Division is the oldest, largest (active duty), and most decorated division-sized unit in the United States Marine Corps representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the prefecture. ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ...

Vietnam War

On May 6, 1965, the 3rd Marine Division opened the Marine Compound at the Danang Air Base, Vietnam. The Battalion operated in Vietnam from this time participating in operations from Danang to Phi 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 Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Battalion departed Vietnam in November 1969 and moved to Camp Courtney, Okinawa, where it is presently located. May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... Đà Nẵng is a region and city in central Vietnam near the ancient capital of Huế. ... Quang Tri Province is a region and province in central Vietnam near (north) the ancient capital of Huế. ... National motto: ??? Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 92 days remaining, as the final day of September. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions. ... For other uses, see November (disambiguation). ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

Organization

• U.S. 3rd Marine Regiment (Infantry)
• U.S. 4th Marine Regiment (Infantry)
• U.S. 12th Marine Regiment (Artillery)

The 3rd Division, together with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and the 3rd Force Service Support Group forms the III Marine Expeditionary Force. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... The United States 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force was originally activated in 1942, and took part in the struggle against the Japanese Empire during World War II. It took part in some of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific, including invading the Japanese islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. ...

This article incorporates text from the United States Marine website [1] which is a product of the US Government and in the public domain. The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

External links

• 3rd Marine Division official website
• 3rd Marine Division Association website
• History of the 3rd Marine Division