| 5th Marine Division | |
|---|---|
5th Marine Division insignia |
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| Active |
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| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Infantry division |
| Role | Locate close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver |
| Nickname | The Spearhead |
| Mascot | a lion named "Roscoe" |
| Engagements | World War II *Battle of Iwo Jima Vietnam War *Operation Allegheny *Tet Offensive |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Keller E. Rockey Thomas E. Bourke |
The 5th Marine Division was an infantry division in the United States Marine Corps. Created during World War II, the division saw its first action at the Battle of Iwo Jima where it sustained the highest number of casualties amongst the invasion force. They were also to be part of the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands but this was never to be as the Japanese surrendered. The division was reactivated in 1966 and deployed and served in the Vietnam War.
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The 5th Marine Division was activated on Armistice Day, 11 November 1943. The division's Headquarters Battalion officially began operating at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on 1 December, at which time men and equipment began streaming into Camp Pendleton. The official activation date for the Division was 21 January 1944. The division had a solid core of combat veterans from the beginning however there were many issues raising the total required number of Marines as the Marine Corps also had to provide combat replacements to other divisions and staff the newly formed 6th Marine Division also.[1] Among the personnel forming the new division were Marines from the former 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, the Raider Training Battalion, the Parachute Training School, West Coast, and the Parachute Replacement Company.
Parts of the division began to deploy overseas to act as the reserve force during the Battle of Guam where they were not needed. Because of this they were sent to Camp Tarawa near Hilo, Hawaii for further training. After more extensive training the division loaded ships and left Hawaii in January 1945. By mid-February they were sailing past Saipan headed for Iwo Jima
The division landed on Iwo Jima on February 19. They landed on the left northeast of Mount Suribachi and sustained heavy initial losses so much so that by that afternoon the 26th Marines had to be released as the division reserve.[2] The 5th Marine Division would fight on Iwo Jima from February 19 until March 18 where they would sustain 1,098 killed in action and 2,974 wounded in action. This was the highest casualty rate amongst the Marine divisions involved in the invasion. The 5th Marine Division began loading onto ships on March 18 and finally left Iwo Jima on March 27, 1945 sailing for Hawaii.[3]
On March 21, 1945 the 5th Marine Division Cemetery was formally dedicated on Iwo Jima. Chaplains prayed, Major General Keller E. Rockey added a tribute to the dead and Lieutenant Roland B. Gittelsohn, U.S. Navy and a 5th Division chaplain, spoke of friends buried and "the ghastly price of freedom...." The flag was raised then lowered to half-mast. Taps was played echoing across the dark foreboding ash of Sulfur Island.
Iwo Jima became an important support and emergency landing field for aircraft based out of the Marianas. In recognition of the 5th Marine Division's sacrifice in securing the island, the US Army Air Corps 9th Bombardment Group named a B-29 "The Spearhead", with elaborate nose art depicting the Division's insignia and the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi.
The 5th Marine Division returned to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii and remained there until the end of the war. After the Japanese surrender they set sail for Japan where they occupied the southern island of Kyūshū. The division left Japan in November 1945 and arrived in San Diego, California the week of Christmas 1945. The majority of the division's Marines were discharged shortly thereafter the division was deactivated on February 5, 1946.
On 1 March 1966, Secretary of Defense McNamara ordered the reactivation of the 5th Marine Division and the division headquarters was activated at Camp Pendleton, California, in June of that year. By August, elements of the division had conducted an amphibious landing in the Republic of Vietnam and the 2nd Battalion of the 26th Marine Regiment would see combat on 1 September during Operation Allegheny. Kilo battery, 13th Marines, landed at the mouth of the Cua Viet River in May 1967. Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie 1/13 were present at the Battle of Khe Sahn in 1968.
In response to the infamous 1968 Tet Offensive, President Johnson committed more troops to the war effort. On 12 February 1968, the 27th Marine Regiment was ordered to Vietnam. The 27th Marines became the first Marine regiment to fly into a combat zone. 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines participated in Operation Allen Brook and was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation. During this operation, its members earned a Medal of Honor, 2 Navy Crosses, and several Silver and Bronze Stars. After 7 months in country, the 27th Marines was ordered back to the United States. All first tour personnel were reassigned to other units in order to complete their tours. During the Vietnam War, the 5th Marine Division comprised the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 13th Marine Regiments, and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
On 15 October 1969, the division would begin deactivating subordinate units, and the division would complete its deactivation on 26 November.
World War II
Vietnam War
Units of the division included in assault troops of the V Amphibious Corps, reinforced, were awarded the: Presidential Unit Citation, and those included in support troops of the V Amphibious Corps, reinforced, were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Iwo Jima, 19 February – 28 February 1945.
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