3rd Battalion, 28th Marines

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3rd Battalion 28th Marines
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg  United States Marine Corps
TypeInfantry battalion
RoleLocate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver
Size1000
Part ofInactive
Engagements World War II Vietnam War

The 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines (3/28) is an inactive infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They were part of the 28th Marine Regiment and 5th Marine Division and fought during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. [1] They were activated again for the Vietnam War but were deactivated after the war and remain inactive today.

Contents

History

Battle of Iwo Jima

They were assigned to land at green beach after D-Day. On D-Day, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines (1/28) and 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines (2/28) would hit green beach. 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines was summoned in the battle earlier than expected. 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines helped fight for Mount Suribachi. On D-Day plus four the mountain was secured by a platoon from 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines. After the capture of Mt. Suribachi the entire 28th Marine Regiment was thrown in the fight for the northern half of the island.

On the night of March 24, 1945, the final organized Japanese combat unit made a final charge at the 28th and 26th Marines. 53 Americans and 262 Japanese were killed in the attack. The island was declared completely secure a few hours later. After the war, 3/28 was deactivated.

Vietnam War

They were re-activated during the Vietnam War and participated in many campaigns in the northern areas of South Vietnam.

Unit awards

See also

Related Research Articles

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Harold George Schrier was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who served in World War II and the Korean War. In World War II, he was awarded the Navy Cross for leading the patrol that captured the top of Mount Suribachi, where he helped raise the first U.S. flag on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. In the Korean War, he was wounded in North Korea during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir while commanding a rifle company.

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Chandler Wilce Johnson was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. He served as the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines during the battle of Iwo Jima, leading his battalion in capturing Mount Suribachi which later led to the flag being raised over Iwo Jima. He was killed in action one week after the flag raising and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Dave Elliott Severance was a United States Marine Corps colonel. During World War II, he served as the commanding officer of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines and led his company in the battle of Iwo Jima. During the battle, Severance ordered his 3rd Platoon to scale Mount Suribachi and raise the flag at the summit.

References

  1. Alexander, Colonel Joseph H. "Iwo Jima's Costs, Gains, and Legacies", Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima (Marines in World War II Commemorative Series), Marine Corps History and Museums Division. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. "Part 2 - Unit Awards", Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (Revision 1953), Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
Bibliography