Second Marine Division, 1940-1999 , livre ebook

Turner Publishing Company - Art Sharp

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293 pages

English

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Since 1941, the 2nd Marine Division has written a record of unparalleled success through their courage, spirit, dedication and above all, their sacrifice. Volume II continues the history of the 2nd Marine Division, written by Art Sharp, former Follow Me"" editor. Displays the triumphs they shared through a written history with hundreds of photographs. Features Second Marine Division Association history and information, past presidents, past reunions, Second Marine Division Lineage, Unit Citation, Medal of Honor recipients, Distinguished Service Award recipients, special feature stories written by Second Marine Division members, biographies and an association roster.

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Histoire

2nd Marine Division (United States)

Military

United States

Civil War

History

United States Marine Corps

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Publié par	Turner Publishing Company
Date de parution	15 juin 1999
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781618585233
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	11 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0700€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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S ECOND M ARINE D IVISION

1940 1999
TURNER PUBLISHING COMPANY

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS
Introduction
Second Marine Division History
Second Marine Division Association
Past Presidents
Past Reunions
Second Marine Division Lineage
Unit Citation
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Awards
Second Marine Division Special Stories
Second Marine Division Biographies
Roster
Index
I NTRODUCTION
Training, Travel, and Travails: The Story of the Second Marine Division.
You are about to read a few vignettes which trace the long and storied history of the Second Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
This is the second volume of the Division s history. But, two volumes of history do not begin to scratch the surface of the Second Marine Division s significant accomplishments since its inception in 1941. What they do, however, is keep alive the memory of the thousands of Second Division Marines who have been killed or wounded in major battles like Saipan, Tarawa, or Desert Storm-and of those who have served in between.
Actually, this book is a tribute to those United States Marines who have been fortunate to have served in the Second Division and continue to do so today as members of the Second Marin Division Association (SMDA). There are over 7,000 members of the SMDA, most of whom served with or were attached to the Second Division at some points in their careers. The fact that they choose to continue their association with the division is a credit to the pride instilled in every Marine. Moreover, it is proof that the old saying, Once a Marine, always a Marine, is as true today as it was back on November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the formation of two battalions of Marines. That began a tradition of military service second to none in the United States.
U.S. Marines have a history of gallantry and loyalty to country that is unparalleled among military service veterans in general. Despite their centuries of noteworthy accomplishments, they have often gone about the serious business of protecting the United States without seeking glory.
Nevertheless, glory seems to find them. Of course, they deserve it. After all, they have earned their glory the hard way: protecting the liberty and freedom of millions of Americans. Second Division Marines are no exception to that viewpoint.
To be sure, not every Second Division Marine has served in combat or performed heroic acts that merit Medals of Honor or other military awards.
But, make no mistake about it: military life is not all about war and training. Second Division Marines, like their counterparts in other military services, do have fun, too. That fact is reflected in many of the stories contained in this volume. In total, the book is a journal of Second Division Marines tales of training, travel, and travails. It is a collection of firsthand stories that anyone can appreciate, since it shows Marines as people as well as warriors. So, sit back and enjoy the anecdotes related by this peculiar breed of human beings: the members of the Second Marine Division Association, who have earned their places in the history they so vividly recount in this book.
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO EVERY PAST AND PRESENT MEMBER OF THE SECOND MARINE DIVISION ASSOCIATION AND OF THE SECOND DIVISION. MAY THEY NEVER BE FORGOTTEN-AND BOOKS LIKE THIS WILL ENSURE THEY WILL NOT BE.
T HE H ISTORY OF THE H OLLYWOOD M ARINES
Second Division Marines can rattle off three important birthdays: their own, the Marine Corps , and the Division s-not necessarily in that order. Every Marine remembers that November 10 is the Corps birthday. Most Second Division veterans know that February 1, 1941, is the division s birthday. Their own? Well, for dyed in the wool Second Division members, their own birthdays take a back seat to the other two. That is not surprising. After all, both the Marine Corps and the Second Division have storied histories-and the history of one is the history of the other.
The Birth
Ironically, the Second Division, which is based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was formed in San Diego, California. The Marine Corps combined the 2nd, 6th, and 10th Marine Regiments to form the Second Division, aka the Hollywood Marines and the Silent Second. Not everyone is pleased with the latter, which has been a subject of controversy among Second Division veterans.
The Hollywood Marines And The Silent Second
There is no doubt whence comes the nickname the Hollywood Marines. However, no one can say for sure where the name Silent Second derived. Theories abound. Here is one. Unit mottos are designed to not only reflect, but to help build esprit de corps within the current members of an organization. When organizations [individuals] have performed deeds worthy of note, and they have been written in the sands of time and the annals of history, there is no need to boast or brag. It is fact. Thus, the Silent Second. BUT, just in case there are those who doubt, Silent Second is followed closely by Second to None. And, that leaves no room at the top!
In other words, we are the best -and everyone knows it!
Mere braggadocio? One Second World War veteran who served in the Second Division, Battery A, 2nd Platoon, 2nd Special Weapons, Anti Aircraft, 6th Regiment, known as the Pogey Bait Marines, recalled that at the beginning of the offensive attack against the Japanese at Guadalcanal, only a few small outfits of the Second Division took part in the operation. (See below.) The main forces were in New Zealand and other places training for their turn to take part while the First Division was taking its beating on the front lines. So, the Second Division guns were silent and being used only in training. The rank and file wanted to get in the action, but if they had known of their fate at Tarawa, they would not have been so anxious to have gotten in and lose their lives, as so many did.

So, explained the veteran, it is no disgrace or slap in the face to be called the Silent Second. It is exactly what they were at first in their role in the war effort to defeat the Japanese army. Their guns were silent no more when they made their mark in history at a place called Tarawa. As the old saying goes, Silence is golden. So, too, is the reputation of the Second Marine Division.
There is no debate over the Division s other nickname. The term Hollywood Marines can be traced back to the 22nd Field Artillery Battalion of the Marine Corps Reserve, which trained at Camp Elliott near San Diego before WWII. The original artillery unit hailed from Los Angeles. Active duty Marines called them Hollywood Reservists, since many unit members were involved in the movie industry. The name stuck when they were switched to active duty. Strangely enough, many of the active duty Marines became part of the Hollywood Marines when the two groups were merged to form the 2nd Marine Brigade. Ultimately, several more active duty units were added to form what is now known as the Second Division. It was commanded by BGen Barney Vogel, who was promoted to major general during a ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. The ceremony marked the first time the Division formed on the parade deck. It was by no means the last. Thus began the history of the Second Division, which has long been one of the workhorses of the Marine Corps. Since its inception in 1941, the Division has participated in a wide variety of wartime and peace time operations. Its record is unparalleled in Marine Corps history. Let s take a look to find out why.
WWII
The Second Division did not have to wait long after its inception to see its first action. Shortly after the December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor bombing, the Second Division began training intensely for operations in the South Pacific. It stayed at Camp Elliott under Spartan conditions. Many members slept outside because of a lack of tents. Showers were not always available. In fact, the only time some of the Marines could take showers was when they visited San Diego on liberty. The conditions prepared them well for the war in the Pacific.
A month after Pearl Harbor, the first elements of the Division set sail for the Pacific Theater, where it provided the first and last Marine Corps units sent into action, the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines on Florida Island, where it was attached to the First Marine Division, and the 8th Marines on southern Okinawa respectively. The Division participated in several major battles during the four year war: Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tinian, Tarawa, Okinawa...these were but a few of the places the Marines of the Second Division showed their mettle and brought glory to themselves and the Corps.
Guadalcanal
The first significant stop was Guadalcanal, where the Division took over from the bloodied but unbowed First Division. The combination of the Second Division and the U.S. Army Americal Division and 25th Infantry drove the Japanese off the island, but at a price. A total of 1,187 Second Division Marines were killed or wounded in the Guadalcanal area. What remained of the weary, disease plagued Division sailed to New Zealand for rest, relaxation-and more training. (Almost 13,000 Division members had confirmed cases of malaria after leaving Guadalcanal.)
Kindness And Kiwis
The first ships containing Marines landed in New Zealand in June 1942. The landing began a love affair between U.S. Marines and New Zealanders that exists today. Second Division veterans still make pilgrimages to New Zealand every five years or so and many of the Kiwis, as the New Zealanders are referred to lovingly, show up at the Second Marine Division Association s annual reunions. Movie aficionados may remember the movie Battle Cry , starring Aldo Ray and Van Heflin, which depicted the love affair between the New Zealanders and U.S. Marines.
Let it be emphasized that the Marines were not in New Zealand strictly for social purposes. There was still a war on,

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Second Marine Division, 1940-1999 , livre ebook

Histoire

2nd Marine Division (United States)

Military

United States

Civil War

History

United States Marine Corps

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