Misplaced Pages

17th Marine Regiment
Active	12 January 1943 – 30 June 1944
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Engineer Regiment
Part of	1st Marine Division
Engagements	World War II Battle of Cape Gloucester
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel Harold E. Rosecrans Colonel Francis I. Fenton

The 17th Marine Regiment was a composite engineer regiment of the United States Marine Corps subordinate to the 1st Marine Division. It was formed primarily from units of the Division, and was inactivated during war with the 1st and 2nd battalions remaining in the Division.

Subordinate units

The regiment a composite of three different types of battalions and a headquarters and service company:

• 1st Battalion, 17th Marines, A, B, & C Company 1st Engineer Battalion, now 1st Combat Engineer Battalion
• 2nd Battalion, 17th Marines, D, E, & F Companies 1st Pioneer Battalion, now 1st Landing Support Battalion
• 3rd Battalion, 17th Marines, G, H, & I Companies 19th Naval Construction Battalion

History

World War II

The 17th Marine Regiment participated in the Battle of Cape Gloucester. The subordinate battalions, as independent battalions in 1st Marine Division, participated in all of the Division's major operations during the war. According to the 19th CB's log it was assigned to the 1st Marine 11/05/42 prior to leaving the States. On 04/03/43 "By Division General Order No. 74 of 3 Apr'43 - First Marine Division: the 19th CBs designation will be as follow's in the future, when attached to First Marine Div., Fleet Marine Force ----3rd Battalion, 17th Marines (Engineers) c/o FPO San Francisco. Calif." The 19th was "at Cape Gloucester from 27 Dec 43 until 4 May 44" and remained with the 1st Division until "1 Jul'44 when The 19th CB was detached from the operational control of the 1st MarDiv, re-designated the 19th NCB and transferred to the 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps.

The 19th had a MM1 Chester J. Perkins who was flight qualified. The Seabees got ahold of a light observation aircraft that MM1 Perkins logged 218 hrs in, of which 105 were combat. He flew spotter for the 11th Marine Regiment as well as dropped urgent medical supplies and rations to forward troops. In recognition of his contributions to the assault he was awarded the Navy Air Medal.

note: when the 19th CB was assigned to the Marine Corps 11/05/42 it lost one company and 1/4 of Hq Co. Those men were assigned to the Fleet Marine Force replacement group (as the 19th replacement group). That group would form the core of the 121st CB which would become the 3rd Battalion, 20th Marines (Engineers).

Unit awards

• Headquarters Company PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv
• Company D PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv
• Company E PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv
• Company F PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv

See also

• History of the United States Marine Corps
• List of United States Marine Corps regiments
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps
• 1st Marine Division
• 16th Marine Regiment(Engineer)
• 18th Marine Regiment(Engineer)
• 19th Marine Regiment(Engineer)
• 20th Marine Regiment(Engineer)
• Seabees

References

1. U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle Fleet Marine Force Ground Units, Rottman p. 220
2. Battle Orders - US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1943-44, Gordon L Rottman, Osprey Publishing, p. 13
3. U.S. Marine Corps Order of Battle, Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-45, Gordon L. Rottman, ABC-CLIO, LLC, 130 Cremona Dr, Santa Barbara,CA 93117
4. Cape Gloucester: The Green Inferno: Clearing the Shores of Borgen Bay, Diane Publishing Co. 1996, p.13
5. ^ 19th Naval Construction Battalion Historical Information, Seabee Museum website
6. 6 Jan. 1945, This week in Seabee History, January 5–11, Seabee Museum Archive website,Port Huemene, CA.
7. 121st Naval Construction Battalion Historical Information, Seabee Museum website
8. ^ NAVMC 2922 of 7 May 2012, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, 2008 ELLIOT ROAD, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA 22134-5030 Archived 2018-07-30 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-NBrit/USMC-M-NBrit-VII.html
• Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Cape Gloucester
• Marines in World War II- the Campaign on New Britain, Lt. Col Robert D. Heinl Jr. & Lt. Col. John A. Croon, Pickle Partners Publishing, Appendix IV - Shore Party

v t e United States Marine Corps
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Marine Corps four-star generals Marine Corps three-star generals 1942–1959 2000–2009 2010–present US Congress House Armed Services Committee Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee Senate Armed Services Committee Seapower subcommittee
Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific Marine Corps Combat Development Command Training & Education Command (TECOM) United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory Marine Corps Systems Command
Auxiliary	Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary
Structure	Marine air–ground task force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Marine Security Guard Special Operations Marine Raiders Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program
Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment
History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Flag Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Horse Marines Marine One Color Guard Silent Drill Platoon White House Sentries Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Marine Detachments "Marines' Hymn" Oorah History Division National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis march History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots Gung ho
Category

v t e 1st Marine Division
1st Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 1st Battalion, 4th Marines
5th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines
7th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines
11th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 5th Battalion
Other Battalions	1st Reconnaissance 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance 1st Combat Engineer 1st Tank 3rd Assault Amphibian

• Regiments of the United States Marine Corps
• Inactive units of the United States Marine Corps
• United States Marine Corps in World War II
• Military units and formations established in 1942
• 1942 establishments in the United States