28th Marine Regiment (United States)

28th Marine Regiment (United States)
Unit name	28th Marine Regiment
Dates	1944–1945, 1966–1969
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Command structure	5th Marine Division
Battles	World War II, Battle of Iwo Jima
Notable commanders	Harry B. Liversedge, Chandler W. Johnson

28th Marine Regiment (United States) was a United States Marine Corps infantry regiment that served with distinction during World War II. Primarily noted for its pivotal role in the Battle of Iwo Jima, the regiment was part of the 5th Marine Division. It was activated for the war and later briefly reactivated during the Vietnam War before being decommissioned.

History

The 28th Marines was activated on 8 February 1944 at Camp Pendleton, California, as a component of the newly formed 5th Marine Division. The regiment was formed from a mix of experienced personnel from other units and new recruits, undergoing intensive training in amphibious warfare and jungle tactics. Following its deactivation after World War II, the regiment was briefly reactivated from 1 March 1966 to 15 April 1969, serving as a training regiment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton during the height of the Vietnam War.

Organization

As a standard Marine infantry regiment of the era, the 28th Marines consisted of three infantry battalions: the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, and 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines. Each battalion contained three rifle companies and a weapons company. The regiment's headquarters company included specialized platoons for communications, reconnaissance, and anti-tank operations. It fell under the command of the 5th Marine Division and was supported by elements of the 13th Marine Regiment and other divisional assets.

World War II

The regiment's sole, defining combat operation was the Battle of Iwo Jima. Landing on D-Day at Iwo Jima, 19 February 1945, the 28th Marines was assigned the critical objective of capturing Mount Suribachi, the dominant terrain feature on the island. On 23 February 1945, a 40-man patrol from Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines scaled the mountain and raised the first U.S. flag on the summit. This event was followed hours later by the raising of a second, larger flag by a different group including John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes, an moment immortalized in Joe Rosenthal's iconic photograph and later the Marine Corps War Memorial. The regiment endured fierce resistance from forces under Tadamichi Kuribayashi for over a month, sustaining heavy casualties before the island was secured.

Post-World War II

After the surrender of Japan, the 28th Marines performed occupation duty in Japan before returning to the United States. The regiment was deactivated on 5 February 1946 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Its postwar reactivation in 1966 was for a training and support role, preparing replacement troops for units deployed to Southeast Asia. During this period, it did not see combat deployment and was deactivated again in 1969 as part of a broader post-Vietnam War drawdown of Marine forces.

Notable members

Several members of the regiment achieved significant recognition. Harry B. Liversedge, the regiment's first commander, was a celebrated leader. Chandler W. Johnson commanded the 2nd Battalion and ordered the flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. Individuals involved in the flag-raising included John Bradley (a Navy corpsman), Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes; Hayes' later life was depicted in the film *The Outsider*. Charles W. Lindberg was also part of the first flag-raising patrol. David Severance commanded Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines during the battle.

Honors and awards

The regiment earned the Presidential Unit Citation for its extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Individual Marines received numerous high-level decorations, including the Navy Cross, awarded to commanders like Harry B. Liversedge and Chandler W. Johnson. The actions of its members on Mount Suribachi are commemorated by the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. The regiment's battle honors are represented by the Iwo Jima campaign streamer on its unit colors.

Category:United States Marine Corps regiments Category:Military units and formations established in 1944