U.S. 27th Marine Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 27th Marine Regiment (27th Marines) is a deactivated infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps
. They fought during the Battle of Iwo Jima
in World War II
and again for a short time during the Vietnam War
.
battalion
s and one headquarters battalion:
. The regiment first saw action during the Battle of Iwo Jima. During the course of the battle they suffered 566 killed, 1706 wounded and had 4 Marines receive the Medal of Honor
. After the surrender of Japan
the regiment was deactivated on January 10, 1946.
The 27th Marines was again reactivated during the Vietnam War
on January 1, 1966 but was mainly used as a pool for new replacements before they went overseas. After the Tet Offensive in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson
authorized an increase in U.S. troop strength in Vietnam
and the 27th Marines was one of the units sent. They became the first Marine regiment to fly into a combat zone. Their deployment overseas put a severe strain on manpower in the Marine Corps and they were returned to the United States before the close of 1968.
A homecoming parade was presented as a Memorial Ceremony downtown San Diego to the lives the regiment had given in Vietnam. The unit was then reassigned to MCB Camp Pendleton within the area of the base called Camp Margarita or the 33 Area. Until June 1969, the 27th Marines was made up of "Short timers", that is Marines having only months remaining of active duty.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. They fought during the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and again for a short time during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Subordinate units
The Regiment comprised three infantryInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s and one headquarters battalion:
| Battalions |
|---|
| Headquarters Battalion |
| 1st Battalion 27th Marines (1/27) |
| 2nd Battalion 27th Marines (2/27) |
| 3rd Battalion 27th Marines (3/27) |
History
The 27th Marine Regiment was activated on January 10, 1944 as a result of the massive increase in the Marine Corps during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The regiment first saw action during the Battle of Iwo Jima. During the course of the battle they suffered 566 killed, 1706 wounded and had 4 Marines receive the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. After the surrender of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
the regiment was deactivated on January 10, 1946.
The 27th Marines was again reactivated during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
on January 1, 1966 but was mainly used as a pool for new replacements before they went overseas. After the Tet Offensive in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
authorized an increase in U.S. troop strength in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and the 27th Marines was one of the units sent. They became the first Marine regiment to fly into a combat zone. Their deployment overseas put a severe strain on manpower in the Marine Corps and they were returned to the United States before the close of 1968.
A homecoming parade was presented as a Memorial Ceremony downtown San Diego to the lives the regiment had given in Vietnam. The unit was then reassigned to MCB Camp Pendleton within the area of the base called Camp Margarita or the 33 Area. Until June 1969, the 27th Marines was made up of "Short timers", that is Marines having only months remaining of active duty.