The 5th Marine Division was an infantry division in the United States Marine Corps. Created during World War II, the division saw its first action at the Battle of Iwo Jima where it sustained the highest number of casualties amongst the invasion force. They were also to be part of the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands but this was never to be as the Japanese surrendered. The division was reactivated in 1966 and deployed and served in the Vietnam War.
History
World War II
The 5th Marine Division was activated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1943. The division's Headquarters Battalion officially began operating at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on December 1, at which time men and equipment began streaming into Camp Pendleton. The official activation date for the Division was January 21, 1944. The division had a solid core of combat veterans from the beginning as among personnel were Marines from the former 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, the Raider Training Battalion, the Parachute Training School, West Coast, and the Parachute Replacement Company.
Parts of the division began to deploy overseas to act as the reserve force during the Battle of Guam where they were not needed. Because of this they were sent to Camp tarawa near Hilo, Hawaii for further training. After more extensive training the division loaded ships and left Hawaii in January of 1945.
The division took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima from February 19, 1945 until March 25, 1945 where they would sustain 1,098 killed in action and 2,974 wounded in action. This was the highest casualty rate amongst the Marine division involved in the invasion. The division left Iwo Jima on March 27, 1945.
On March 21, 1945 the 5th Marine Division Cemetery was formally dedicated on Iwo Jima. Chaplains prayed, Major General Keller E. Rockey added a tribute to the dead and Lieutenant Roland B. Gittelsohn, U.S. Navy and a 5th Division chaplain, spoke of friends buried and "the ghastly price of freedom...." The flag was raised then lowered to half-mast. Taps was played echoing across the dark foreboding ash of Sulfur Island.
The 5th Marine Division returned to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii and remained there until the end of the war. After the Japanese surrender they set sail for Japan where they occupied the southern island of Kyushu. The division left Japan in November of 1945 and arrived in San Diego, California the week of Christmas 1945. The majority of the division's Marines were discharged shortly thereafter the division was deactivated on February 5, 1946.
Vietnam War
Casualties
World War II
- Killed in Action/Died of Wounds – 2,416
- Wounded in Action – 6,860
- Total Casualties– 9,276
Vietnam War
- Killed in Action/Died of Wounds – N/A
- Wounded in Action – N/A
- Total Casualties– N/A
Honors and Awards
Units of the division included in assault troops of the V Amphibious Corps, reinforced, were awarded the: Presidential Unit Citation, and those included in support troops of the V Amphibious Corps, reinforced, were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Iwo Jima, 19–28 February 1945.
Organization
World War II
Vietnam War
- 26th Marine Regiment
- 27th Marine Regiment
- 13th Marine Regiment
- 3rd Military Police Battalion FMF Pac
- 5th Military Polce Battalion, Camp Pendelton
See also
Notes
References
- Web
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