All elements of the division were back on Guam by 17 April 1945. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. U.S. Marines with Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, fire M240B machine guns during a mounted machine gun range at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2020. OKINAWA, Japan - Col. Jason Perry, commanding officer of 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, will be relinquishing command of the regiment to Col. Mathew Tracy on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, May 29, 2020. This training increases their proficiency with the launch and recovery of raiding craft for covert insertion and extraction of reconnaissance teams during amphibious operations within the Indo-Pacific region. [7] The Marines of these two infantry regiments, supported by the artillery of the 12th Marine Regiment and tanks of the 3rd Tank Battalion, fought on Iwo Jima until the end of organized resistance on 16 March and the subsequent mopping up operations for the next month. At the end of the battle the division had sustained 677 Marines killed, 3,626 wounded, and nine missing.[5]. The 62nd NCB was then posted TAD to the 3rd for Iwo Jima. Scott Aubuchon), U.S. Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3d Marine Division under the Unit Deployment Program, participate during a Battle Sight Zero range on Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 11, 2020. By the end of 1965 the division had all its regiments (3rd Marines, 4th Marines and 9th Marines) on the ground. The Marines suffered over 1400 killed and over 9,000 wounded. For more TCCOR information, click this picture. [3], The division returned to Guadalcanal in January 1944 to rest, refit, and retrain. This included daily attempts at interdiction of naval traffic on the Cua Viet River near Đông Hà. The Marines and Sailors successfully completed their Restriction of Movement period and began their deployment with this range, which is used to accurately dial in a rifle’s elevation and windage settings. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. BLT 5/l, the Landing Force of SLF B, remained under the operational control (OPCON) of the division throughout February 1968. OKINAWA, Japan - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, return home after being away for almost a year. [14], During the 1968 Tet Offensive, the division conducted operations along the DMZ with a portion of the division fighting in the Battle of Huế. Click here for more 3rd Marine Division imagery. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samantha Sanchez, Cpl. The 3rd Marine Division moved to Okinawa in June 1955 making an amphibious landing. BLT 2/4 conducted operations in the Lancaster II and Kentucky areas. [4] The next two months saw continuous mopping up operations in which the Marines continued to engage leftover Japanese forces. The video is narrated by CWO5 James R. Law, 3rd Marine Division Gunner. Click here for more 3rd Marine Division imagery. In October 1966, then commanding general Lewis W. Walt was ordered to establish strong points just south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Click here for more 3rd Marine Division imagery. At the same time the division was also building outposts along the southern half of the DMZ at Con Thien, Gio Linh, Cam Lộ and Đông Hà. OKINAWA, Japan - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, return home after being away for almost a year. Stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 information regarding travel restrictions, Health Protection Conditions and safety during your move. These landed on Bougainville, as did the 71st NCB which was assigned as the 3rd Division's shore party there. For more 3rd Marine Division imagery, click here. Alize Sotelo), U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conduct Exercise Bougainville I at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, Aug. 19 to Sept. 11, 2020. The Division’s storied legacy in Marine Corps history includes service during World War II, Vietnam, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Tomodachi, and present day operations in support of regional security. Brian L. Shields, first sergeant, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, reads a citation during the regiment’s annual Bougainville Day on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Nov. 1, 2019. The division had to invest many of its assets to open the Cua Viet River to traffic. [17], The division departed South Vietnam in November 1969 with more than 20 Marines having received the Medal of Honor and moved to Camp Courtney, Okinawa, where it is presently located. OKINAWA, Japan – Major General William M. Jurney transitioned command of 3d Marine Division to Major General James W. Bierman Aug. 13, 2020 at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan.