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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 3rd 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
HISTORY World War II The 3rd Marine Division was officially activated on , 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 the 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 lat day of organized fighting in August 10 , the division fought through the jungles on the island of Guam . During these 21 days of fighting, the Division captured over 60 square miles 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
The Division remained on the island of Guam until for training purposes until they embarked to as part of the landing force for the and tanks of the 3rd Tank Battalion , fought on Iwo Jima until the the end of organized resistance on March 16th and the subsequent mopping up operations for the next month. All elements of the Division were back on Guam by April 17 , 1944 .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 of 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), air-borne 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. SEE ALSO REFERENCES This article incorporates text from the United States Marines Corps website {Link without Title} which is a product of the U.S. Government and in the Public Domain . Notes Books
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