28th Marine Regiment (United States)

28th Marine Regiment (United States)
Unit name	28th Marine Regiment
Dates	1944–1946; 1967–1969; 1990s–present (reserve)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Infantry regiment
Role	Amphibious assault, expeditionary operations
Size	Regiment
Command structure	5th Marine Division; 4th Marine Division (Reserve)
Garrison	Camp Pendleton; Naval Station Great Lakes
Nickname	"The 28th"
Battles	Battle of Iwo Jima; Operation Frequent Wind
Notable commanders	Harry B. Liversedge; William S. Fellers

28th Marine Regiment (United States) The 28th Marine Regiment was an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps formed during World War II and later reactivated in various roles including reserve and rapid reaction duties. Best known for its assault on Iwo Jima and the capture of Mount Suribachi, the regiment served under the 5th Marine Division and participated in amphibious operations, training, and contingency missions during the Cold War and post‑Vietnam era. Elements of the regiment have been assigned to multiple commands, including I Marine Expeditionary Force components and 4th Marine Division reserve units.

History

Activated in 1944 at Camp Pendleton as part of the expansion of the United States Armed Forces in the Pacific, the regiment trained for amphibious assault with doctrinal input from Marine Corps Schools and lessons from the Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tarawa, and Battle of Saipan. Assigned to the 5th Marine Division, it prepared for operations under commanders who had served in the Pacific Theater of World War II. After its stand‑out performance on Iwo Jima in 1945, the regiment was deactivated during postwar drawdowns and later reactivated and redesignated several times during the Cold War, including service in reserve components associated with Fleet Marine Force and Marine Forces Reserve structures.

Organization and Composition

Originally organized with three infantry battalions—1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions—alongside a regimental weapons company, the regiment followed standard United States Marine Corps infantry table of organization for a World War II rifle regiment. Each battalion consisted of rifle companies, weapons companies equipped with mortars and machine guns, and headquarters elements trained in amphibious reconnaissance and close infantry support. The regiment worked in coordination with supporting units such as the 28th Marine Regiment (US) Weapons Company (weapons assets), 5th Marine Division Artillery, Amphibious Tractor Battalion detachments, and naval gunfire support from United States Navy cruisers and destroyers during assault operations. During later reserve activations, the regiment's structure was adapted to peacetime contingency missions and integration with units from Marine Aircraft Group elements and Combat Logistics Regiment detachments.

World War II Operations

Deployed to the Pacific Ocean theater in early 1945, the regiment landed on Iwo Jima as part of the Iwo Jima campaign under the operational command of the V Amphibious Corps. On 19 February 1945 the regiment conducted amphibious assaults from LSTs and APCs under intense opposition from Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy forces entrenched in volcanic terrain. The 28th Marine Regiment's 2nd Battalion and attached elements advanced on Mount Suribachi, engaging in close combat against fortified positions, tunnels, and bunkers emplaced by defenders trained under officers from the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces. The regiment's assault culminated with the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi on 23 February 1945, an event photographed by Joe Rosenthal and widely publicized in the United States. The regiment continued operations across the island, clearing complex defensive systems and coordinating with United States Army Air Forces tactical bombardment and United States Navy carrier air strikes. Casualties were high across the regiment, reflecting the intensity of the Battle of Iwo Jima and its strategic role in providing emergency landing fields for B-29 Superfortress operations staged from captured airfields.

Postwar Activity and Reassignments

Following Japanese surrender and the end of World War II, the regiment returned to the United States and was deactivated amid the 1946 postwar reduction. The 28th was reactivated during the Cold War era to meet reserve requirements and was periodically assigned to reserve formations including the 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve units at bases such as Naval Station Great Lakes and Camp Lejeune. During the Vietnam War era the regiment provided individual replacements, training cadres, and contingency planning support rather than deploying as a complete regiment; elements participated in readiness exercises with Fleet Marine Force Pacific and participated in noncombatant evacuation operations such as Operation Frequent Wind planning and support activities in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s and 2000s, reserve elements provided augmentation for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom through personnel mobilizations, individual augmentees, and small unit deployments.

Honors and Unit Awards

For its actions on Iwo Jima, the regiment and its subordinate units received multiple honors, including campaign credits for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and unit citations issued by the Secretary of the Navy and Commandant of the Marine Corps. Individual members of the regiment were awarded decorations such as the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star Medal for gallantry during the Iwo Jima campaign. The regiment's participation in the capture of Mount Suribachi is commemorated in Marine Corps histories and memorials including the Marine Corps War Memorial inscription and the documentation preserved by the National Archives and Records Administration.

Notable Personnel and Commanders

Commanders and members associated with the regiment include Colonel Harry B. Liversedge, who had prior service in aviation and amphibious doctrine development, and other leaders who served in the 5th Marine Division staff and later senior roles within the United States Marine Corps. Individual Marines from the regiment who received high decorations include recipients of the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recognized for actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Photographers and war correspondents such as Joe Rosenthal and staff from Associated Press documented the regiment's operations, contributing to public recognition and historical record. Veterans of the regiment have been involved with organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Marine Corps League to preserve unit history and support commemorative activities.

Category:Infantry regiments of the United States Marine Corps Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II