4th Marine Division (Re-enacted)

 

 

 

 

History of the 4th Marine Division-1943

The 4th Marine division originated from the 23rd Marines who were detached from the 3rd Marine Division in February 1943. Different units were formed and slowly sent across the country to Camp Pendleton, California. In August 1943 the unit was brought to full strength and under the command of Major General Harry Schmidt they continued an intesive training cycle. But they soon were to find out that they were to be put directly into combat.

Operation Flintlock January 1944-February 1944

After passing Hawaii (and their soon to be "home base" of Maui) the Marines of the 4th were briefed on their destination: The Marshall Islands. Their mission was to capture the twin islands of Roi-Namur. February 1, 1944 was D-Day for the 4th Marine Division and most Marines' first time landing under hostile fire. At 1200 the assault waves hit the beaches at Roi. The Marines landing on Namur however met heavy resistance and had to fight their way into the island, well into the evening. At around 1800 Roi was declared secured. However that evening the Japanese would launch a hard counter-attack that would drive the Marines from their positions and were replied in kind, causing heavy casaulties against the Japanese defenders. There are many accounts of heroism during the night as the Marines regain their positions. The next day they quickly move through the island and finishing securing it as other units move among others of the Marshalls. Througout February 23-25 the Division "returned" to Maui with 737 casualties, 190 dead.

Operation Forager June 1944-August 1944

June 15, 1944 was the D-Day for the landing on Saipan. The 4th with the 2nd Marine Division would land on a 4,000 yard stretch of beach and by nightfall they held a decent beachead with minimal resistance but it was steadily increasing with time. The 2nd Division however took the brunt of a Japanese counterattack that would push the lines back slightly. The next afternoon the 4th renewed their attack and only managed to advance a few hundred yards in as many hours. That night another large counterattack was crushed by the 2nd Division, and a few days later the Japanese for the most part had been crushed. Eventually the divisions would reach the other side of the island and the Marines and Soldiers then attacked abreast of each other to finish securing the island. On July 7, however, the Japanese organized a large scale banzai charge numbering approximately 3,000 which the 27th Infantry Division took the brunt of, but they held. Finally with about 5,981 casualties, a little over 1,000 dead, Saipan was declared secure. But, another battle was quick to follow. The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions under the command of Major General Schmidt landed on Tinian island a few weeks later on 24 July. Both divisions put down on beaches 65 and 130 yards wide. An entire division on each beach! By 1730 the units had landed virtually unopposed with light casualties, and the order to consolidate was given. But that night the most ferocious fighting the 4th had encountered yet awaited the Marines. The Japanese executed a carefully planned counterattack early morning of the 25th. Lead by tanks a force attacked one section of the Division's lines while other groups probed and attacked other portions of the line. All the tanks were destroyed but the Japanese infantry kept coming and close quarters battle ensued. Eventually the hectic night drew to a close as small unit and individual actions help turn the Japanese attacks. On August 14th, the division boarded transports for Maui, with another 1,900 casualties, 200 some dead. They would have a long and well deserved break in Maui as they trained and refit. But one of the most prolific campaigns of the Pacific loomed in the future...

Operation Detachment February 1945-March 1945

Perhaps one of the most famous battles in the Pacific if not the War commenced on February 19, 1945. The 4th Marine Division would land on Yellow and Blue beaches to the right of the 5th landing directly next to Suribachi. The 3rd would tie down the 4th's right flank. The landings were made under little fire. But thats what the Japanese were planning for. They waited for the beaches to become loaded with Marines before they opened fire in earnest. The beaches were covered with both direct and indirect fire and the only place to go was forward, since the ash sands of the beach were very unforgiving, making it hard to dig in, and hard to move. By 1700 with a minimal gain and over 1,000 wounded, the division was ordered to dig in and prepare for a large counter attack. Unlike Saipan and Tinian, the Japanese infiltrated and probed but launched no large night counterattack. They would let the Marines come to them. Again the attack was renewed and by the end of D+1 the 4th Division had suffered over 2,000 total casualties. On D+4, Old Glory was raised over Suribachi but there was a great deal more work to be done. But the psychological meaning of the flag raising and the fact that Suribachi would no longer hit the Marines from the sides or from over their backs would help steel the Marines for what lay next. Airfield Number Two was attacked on the same day, despite a tenacious Japanese defense the Marines took their objective. But, like every Pacific landing it was one objective after another until the Island was cleared.

The next objective was Hill 382, a network of tunnels and block houses. Smaller then Suribachi but it would be much more costly to capture. On February 26, the attack on hill and its surrounding defensive points commenced and would last a week. It was a back and forth asssault as the 4th Division would take the points and then be pushed off only to go back up again. Even when the tired Marines of the 23rd Marines were partially relieved the battle still see-sawed to no end. Finally, despite loosing a large number of Marines they managed to get a break on March 5 and reorganize their numbers. But the battle would still go on as they resumed the attack. On the night of March 8-9 the Japanese commenced their only organized night attack which would be broken up, but not before penetrating Marine lines and causing havoc as close quarters battle and hand to hand actions were fought. Despite this the island was still not secure and the final stage of the battle would go on until 19 March when the last units of the 4th Division boarded transports bound for Maui. The 4th had taken over 9,000 casualties. A little over 2,000 4th Division Marines lost their lives on the small island. Upon their return to Maui they would rest and refit again this time preparing for a campaign that would never happen: The Invasion of Japan itself.