1st Marine Division
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| 1st Marine Division | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Unit name | 1st Marine Division |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Division |
| Garrison | Camp Pendleton |
| Engagements | World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War |
1st Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps and is the oldest, largest, and most decorated division in the United States Marine Corps. The division is based at Camp Pendleton and consists of approximately 19,000 Marines and sailors. The 1st Marine Division has a long and storied history, with notable engagements in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, including the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the Battle of Inchon. The division has also been involved in numerous other operations, including the Multinational Force in Lebanon and the Gulf War, working alongside other units such as the United States Army, the United States Navy, and the United States Air Force.
● History
The 1st Marine Division was activated on February 1, 1941, at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, with the primary mission of defending the Caribbean region from potential Axis threats, including Germany, Italy, and Japan. The division's first major engagement was during the Battle of Guadalcanal, where it played a key role in securing the island from Imperial Japanese Army forces, supported by the United States Navy and the United States Army Air Forces. The division went on to fight in several other notable battles, including the Battle of Cape Gloucester, the Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Okinawa, alongside other units such as the United States Army's 77th Infantry Division and the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet. The division's actions during these battles earned it numerous awards and decorations, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the French Croix de Guerre, presented by Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley, and Charles de Gaulle.
● Organization
The 1st Marine Division is organized into several regiments, including the 1st Marine Regiment, the 5th Marine Regiment, the 7th Marine Regiment, and the 11th Marine Regiment, which are supported by the 1st Tank Battalion, the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, and the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. The division also includes several support units, such as the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, and the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, which work closely with other units like the United States Navy's Seabees and the United States Air Force's Tactical Air Control Party. The division is led by a commanding general, who is assisted by a deputy commanding general and a sergeant major, and has been commanded by notable officers such as Alexander Vandegrift, William Rupertus, and James Mattis, who have also served in other notable units like the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff and the NATO.
● Operations
The 1st Marine Division has been involved in numerous operations throughout its history, including the Korean War, where it played a key role in the Battle of Inchon and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, alongside units like the United States Army's 1st Cavalry Division and the United States Navy's Seventh Fleet. The division also fought in the Vietnam War, where it was involved in several notable battles, including the Battle of Hue and the Battle of Khe Sanh, supported by the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command and the United States Navy's Riverine Squadron. In recent years, the division has been involved in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the Invasion of Iraq and the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), working alongside units like the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division and the United States Navy's Special Warfare Command. The division has also participated in numerous training exercises and humanitarian missions, including the Rim of the Pacific exercise and the Cobra Gold exercise, alongside other units like the Royal Thai Marine Corps and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
● Notable Commanders
The 1st Marine Division has had several notable commanders throughout its history, including Alexander Vandegrift, who led the division during the Battle of Guadalcanal and later became the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and William Rupertus, who commanded the division during the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa. Other notable commanders include James Mattis, who led the division during the Invasion of Iraq and later became the Secretary of Defense, and Joseph Dunford, who commanded the division during the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and later became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The division has also been commanded by other notable officers, such as Oliver P. Smith, who fought in the Korean War, and Randall Davis, who fought in the Vietnam War, and has been recognized for its achievements by notable figures like Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Richard Nixon.
● Decorations
The 1st Marine Division has received numerous awards and decorations for its actions throughout its history, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the French Croix de Guerre. The division has also been awarded several battle streamers, including those for the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the Battle of Inchon, and has been recognized for its achievements by other countries, including France, South Korea, and Vietnam. The division's regiments and battalions have also received numerous awards and decorations, including the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation, presented by notable figures like George S. Patton, Omar Bradley, and Creighton Abrams.
● Equipment
The 1st Marine Division is equipped with a variety of vehicles and equipment, including the M1 Abrams tank, the LAV-25 light armored vehicle, and the AAV-7A1 assault amphibious vehicle, which are supported by the United States Navy's Landing Craft, Air Cushion and the United States Air Force's C-130 Hercules. The division's infantry units are equipped with the M4 carbine and the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, and its artillery units are equipped with the M777 howitzer and the M142 HIMARS, which have been used in operations alongside other units like the United States Army's Field Artillery Brigade and the United States Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group. The division also has access to a variety of aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II and the V-22 Osprey, which are supported by the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command and the United States Navy's Naval Air Forces.