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| 7 August 1942. the 1st Marine Division landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and launched the first US land offensive of WWII. This battle marked the first combat test of the new amphibious doctrine, and also provided a crucial turning point of the war in the Pacific by providing a base to launch further invasions of Japanese-held islands. Amphibious landings followed on the remaining Solomon Islands-New Geargia, Choiseul, Bougainville |
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| The Gilbert Islands were the first in the line of advance for the offensive in the Central Pacific. The prime objective was the Tarawa Atoll and Betio Island which had been fortified to the point that the Japanese commander proclaimed that it would take a million Americans 100 years to conquer it. 20 November 1943, Marines landed and secured the island withing 76 hours, but paid a heavy price in doing so. Because of an extended reef, landing craft could not cross it and Marines were offloaded hundreds of yards from the beaches. This led to heavy losses from enemy fire and drowning for those attempting to wade to shore. |
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| Battle of Mariana Islands |
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| Due to the need for airfields by the Air Force and advanced bases for the Navy, the Marianas were invaded. Landings on the islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian accomplished this. During June and July of 1943, Lt Gen. Holland M. Smith led a combined invasion force of Marines and soldiers that totaled over 136,000. This was the greatest number of troops up to that time to operate in the field under Marine command. |
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| 19 February 1945, Marines landed on Iwo Jima in what was the largest all Marine battle in history. It was also the bloodiest in Marine Corps history. The Marine Corps suffered over 23,300 casualties. The captureof Iwo Jima greatly increased the air support and bombing operations against the Japanese home islands. Of the savage battle, Admiral Chest W. Nimitz said, "Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, Uncommon Valor was a common virtue." |
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| Battle of Chosin Reservoir |
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Frozen Chosen
After pushing far into North Korea during November of 1950, Marines were cut off after the Chinese Communist forces entered the war. Despite facing a 10-division force sent to annihilate them, Marines smashed 7 enemy divisions in their march from the Chosin Reservoir. The major significance of this retrograde was that Marines brought out all operable equipment, properly evacuated their wounded and dead, and maintained tactical integrity. |
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| During the Vietnamese holiday of Tet in January 1968, Communist forces launched a surprise offensive by infiltrating large numbers of their troops into the major population centers of Hue City, South Vietnam. Near division sized unit of NVA troops occupied the city and the Citadel. Marines fought in built-up areas for the first time since the Korean War foregoing the application of heavy arms to minimize civilian casualties. Fighting was house to house with progress measured in yards. The city was secured on 25 February 1968. |
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| Marines fought one of their greatest battles in history at Belleau Wood, France during WWI. Marines helped to crush a German offensive at Belleau Wood that threatened Paris. In honor of the Marines who fought there, the French renamed the area "the Wood of the Brigade of Marines." German intel evaluated the Marines as "storm troops" - the highest on the enemy fighting scale. In reference to the Marine's ferocious fighting ability, German troops called them "teufelhunden" or "devil dogs" a nickname in which Marines share pride |
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