Responsible for the ground combat element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Few commands are as storied and honored among Marines as that of the 1st Marine Division. Their history spans more than a century ranging from Belleau Wood in the fields of Europe, to Afghanistan’s Helmand Province today.
1st Marine Division 1911
The 1st Marine Division was first formed on the 8th of March, 1911, in preparation for the United States’ participation in World War II. During that war, Marines of the 1st, 5th, 7th, and finally the 11th Marine Regiments distinguished themselves fiercely. Twice awarded Medal of Honor recipient, Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, led Marines with the battlecry, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”
For that and many other actions, the Marines who fought in battles such as the Aisne, Belleau Wood, and the Argonne earned for the United States Marines the proud designation of “Teufel hunden” – Devil Dogs – by their German adversaries. A title the Corps still wears proudly to this day. Tensions mounted for the coming of World War II, as the 1st Marine Division was activated again in February 1941. The division fought many of the fiercest battlefields of the Pacific.
World War 11
First Marines deployed to the Battle of Guadalcanal, where cut off by naval defeats. The Marines held against Japanese reinforcements until relief forces finally made possible the securing of the island for Allied forces. Following this, Marines fought for control of Peleliu, one of the bloodiest battles of the early war. From Guadalcanal and Peleliu, the 1st Division was tasked with the assault on Okinawa. This was the last great battle of World War II. Once secured, the Japanese homeland was within striking range of American bombers and thanks to the Marines, the war would soon come to a close.
It was during this time that a new type of unit fought the Japanese, the Marine Raiders. The Raiders were the American Marines’ answer to the newly formed British Commando units. They also married techniques pioneered by the British. With experiences of intelligence officer Major Evans F. Carlson time spent observing Chinese resistance fighters, skilled in their own form of guerrilla warfare. With the creation of the Raiders, Marines were now skilled in the arts of deep penetration of forces behind enemy lines.
General O.P Smith
The division was badly undermanned going into the Korea. In spite of this, they still were assembled for an assault on Inchon. This eventually led to the battle to liberate Seoul. After Seoul, Marines were ordered beyond the Yalu River. 1st Division’s then Commanding Officer, Major General O.P. Smith, felt this was a mistake, and intentionally held back his men in their advance.
At the Chosin Reservoir, the 1st Division was suddenly attacked by ten Chinese Communist infantry divisions. The first fought their way out of the Chosin, suffering over 900 killed and missing, over 3,500 wounded. They left behind them an estimated 37,500 Chinese Communist casualties. For their actions in escaping the “Frozen Chosin”, those who were there are remembered with honor as the “Chosin Few”.
Vietnam saw the 7th Marines open the Corps’ entry into the war in 1965. Over the next two years, the division would take part in over 44 named operations. They squared off against Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army during the 1968 Tet Offensive, successfully pushing back forces and defending their holdings in Hue City.
Iraq In 2003
In the First Gulf War, 1st Marine Division served as the core of the First Expeditionary Force, and the backbone of coalition forces for the retaliatory strike against Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. In that short conflict, 1st Marine Division met with a force of over one hundred enemy tanks and armored troop carriers, utterly annihilating them while suffering no casualties themselves.
Iraq in 2003 brought 1st Division again to leading the push into Iraq. There, they again served the US led coalition toward defeating the Iraqi Baathist Regime. First taking the Rumaila airfields, bypassing Basrah on to An Nasariyah and then on to Talil Airfield, the Marines eventually rolled into Baghdad on April 3rd. Strategically focused on speed, in 17 days of combat, the division secured over 500 miles of territory, leading the American forces in the fastest and most successful blitzkrieg in the history of warfare. Marines of the 1st Division deployed to Iraq through 2007, and have deployed to Afghanistan since 2008.
Marine Corps Rings
Today the 1st Marine Division enjoys one of the greatest histories of any Marine Corps unit. Not satisfied, it endeavors to train, equip, and prepare for the next war. New technologies push for a return to amphibious assault specialties and the Marines are engaged in a redirection of focus for a “shift to the East”. What this means for the future of the Corps, only time will tell, but if tradition serves as the 1st Marine Division’s guide, the Marines will be ready. Military Online Shopping retails some beautiful marine corps rings online for all the divisions and branch. These Marine corps rings are available in gold and silver.
