15th Marine Regiment | |
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Active | November 26, 1918 – August 1, 1922 October 23, 1944 – March 26, 1946 |
Country | United States of America |
Branch | United States Marine Corps |
Type | Infantry (1918–22) Artillery (1944–46) |
Part of | 6th Marine Division |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Robert B. Luckey Wilburt S. Brown |
The 15th Marine Regiment (15th Marines) is an inactive United States Marine Corps infantry and later artillery regiment.
The 15th Marines was first organized on November 26, 1918, as an infantry regiment. It was deployed to the Dominican Republic on February 26, 1919, and saw action against Dominican rebels during the American occupation of the Dominican Republic. Having been organized for possible deployment to Europe in the event that hostilities resumed, the 15th Marines remained on garrison duty in the Dominican Republic. It was deactivated on August 1, 1922 and its assets were absorbed into the 1st and 4th Regiments.
The 15th Marines was reactivated as an artillery regiment on October 23, 1944, on Guadalcanal, and assigned to the 6th Marine Division. It was formed by combining Pack Howitzer Battalions from the 4th, 22nd, and the 29th Marines. They were redesignated 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, respectively. The 4th Battalion was activated on November 14, 1944. The regiment saw heavy action fighting on Okinawa and the 6th Division received the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the battle.
The Regiment was withdrawn from Okinawa after it was declared secure in July 1945 and was redeployed to Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan. After the surrender of the Japanese, the Regiment was sent to Qingdao, China to accept the surrender of the Japanese in that area. The 15th Marines remained in China until its deactivation on March 26, 1946.
Battalion | Notes |
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Headquarters and Service Battalion 15th Marines (H&S/15) | |
1st Battalion, 15th Marines (1/15) | Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 4th Marines . Redesignated 1/15 on October 23, 1944. |
2nd Battalion, 15th Marines (2/15) | Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 22nd Marines . Redesignated 2/15 on October 23, 1944. |
3rd Battalion, 15th Marines (3/15) | Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 29th Marines . Redesignated 3/15 on October 23, 1944. |
4th Battalion, 15th Marines (4/15) | Activated on November 14, 1944. |
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The 13th Marine Regiment was an artillery regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The regiment was activated for service three times during the 20th century when the Marine Corps expanded to meet war time requirements. Originally activated as an infantry regiment during World War I, the unit arrived in France before the war ended but did not participate in combat operations. It was reactivated for service in World War II as the artillery regiment for the 5th Marine Division. The unit saw intense combat during the Battle of Iwo Jima, participated in occupation duty in Japan and was quickly decommissioned shortly after the war. The regiment was last activated during the Vietnam War to again provide fire support for 5th Marine Division regiments supporting operations in South Vietnam. The regiment was finally deactivated on April 30, 1970, as the Marine Corps began to draw down its force structure at the conclusion of the Vietnam War.
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The 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1942 as the 16th Defense Battalion, its original mission was the air and coastal defense of advanced naval bases. During the war the battalion defended Johnston Island, Hawaii and Tinian and took part in combat operations at Okinawa. The battalion returned to the United States after the war and was decommissioned on 30 November 1945 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
The 5th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that served during World War II. Formed in 1940 as the 5th Defense Battalion, its original mission was providing air and coastal defense for advanced naval bases. Prior to World War II the battalion deployed to Iceland as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in order to defend the neutral country from possible German attack. Following the Iceland deployment and a period of rest and refitting at home the battalion again deployed overseas to provide air defense for Funafuti in the Ellice Islands from September 1942 through February 1944. Also in 1942, two batteries from the 5th were dispatched to support operations on Tulagi during the Guadalcanal Campaign. These two batteries were later reorganized as part of the newly formed 14th Defense Battalion. The 5th Defense Battalion was re-designated as the 5th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion in April 1944 and took part in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. After the war the battalion returned to the United States where it was decommissioned in November 1945. Because the 14th Defense Battalion was formed from batteries belonging to the 5th Defense Battalion the two units retained close ties throughout the war. The 14th was nicknamed "Five:Fourteenth" and after the war the battalions formed a single alumni association.
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