Misplaced Pages

23d Marine Regiment
23d Marines’ Unit Insignia 23d Marines insignia
Active	1942 – 45; 1966 – present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Infantry Regiment
Size	Approximately 4,900
Part of	4th Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	San Bruno, California
Nickname(s)	Forager
Engagements	World War II Battle of Kwajalein Battle of Saipan Battle of Tinian Battle of Iwo Jima Operation Desert Storm Iraq War Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	Col Robert M. Barnhart Jr.
Notable commanders	Louis R. Jones Walter W. Wensinger

The 23d Marine Regiment (23d Marines) is a reserve infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered in San Bruno, California and falls under the command of the 4th Marine Division and the Marine Forces Reserve.

The regiment comprises twenty units which are geographically dispersed throughout eight states from California to Alabama. The regiment consists of Marine reservists, active duty Marines and active duty Navy personnel. The regimental headquarters is located in San Bruno, California.

Mission

To provide administratively and medically ready Marines and Sailors; and trains ground combat formations to augment and reinforce the active component in order to support Combatant Commands and service level requirementslocate.

Subordinate units

• Headquarters Company 23d Marines (HQ/23d Marines) - San Bruno, California
• 1st Battalion, 23d Marines (1/23) - Ellington Field, Texas
• 2nd Battalion, 23d Marines (2/23) - Pasadena, California
• 3d Battalion, 23d Marines (3/23) - Bridgeton, Missouri
• 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines (2/24) - Fort Sheridan, Illinois
• Truck Company 23d Marines - Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

History

World War II

The 23d Marine Regiment was activated on 20 July 1942 at New River, North Carolina; was assigned to the 4th Marine Division in February 1943 and relocated during July 1943 to Camp Pendleton, California. Regiment's first commanding officer was Colonel Louis R. Jones.

During World War II, the 23d Marines participated in the following campaigns: Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and the Battle of Iwo Jima. During the fierce fighting which occurred in the Pacific Theater, four Marines of the 23d Marine Regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor for valor:

1. Richard B. Anderson, 2/23, Kwajalein
2. Joseph W. Ozbourn, 1/23, Tinian
3. Darrell S. Cole, 1/23, Iwo Jima
4. Douglas T. Jacobson, 3/23, Iwo Jima

Starting at Kwajalein, the 23d Marines was assigned to land on beaches red 2 & 3 at Roi. That island was taken in a day. Saipan came next with the 23d Marines assigned to blue beaches 1 & 2 with third Battalion 20th Marines as their Shore Party (121st Seabees). Across the strait at Tinian the 23d Marines was the assault reserve landing on beach white 2. The 121st CB was still assigned to them. For the assault on Iwo Jima the 23d Marines was assigned to yellow beaches with 1/23 the left assault Battalion on yellow beach 1. The right assault Battalion 2/23 was on yellow beach 2 and 3/23 was the assault reserve. The 23d Marines did not have a Pioneer Battalion for the assault Shore Party so the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 were task assigned that duty until relieved D-plus 18. The 23d Marines made four assaults during WWII with Seabees as their beach support each time.

In October 1945, the regiment was again relocated to Camp Pendleton and was subsequently inactivated on 15 November 1945.

Regimental commanders

• Lieutenant Colonel William B. Onley (20 July 1942 - 2 September 1942)
• Colonel Louis R. Jones (3 September 1942 - 15 October 1944)
• Colonel Walter W. Wensinger (16 October 1944 - 9 April 1945)
• Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Dillon (10 April 1945 - 2 May 1945)
• Colonel Leonard B. Cresswell (3 May 1945 - 15 November 1945)

1950s to the 1990s

The 23d Marine Regiment was reactivated on 1 February 1966 in Alameda, California and assigned during the same month to the 4th Marine Division, USMCR.

3d Battalion, 23d Marines was activated in Nov 1990 and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield. 3/23 was attached to the 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division and deployed along the Kuwaiti/Saudi Arabian border conducting patrolling and security operations. Two days before G-Day, 3/23 attacked into Kuwait at Umm Gudair to secure forward artillery positions for the support of the attack into Kuwait. With this action, 3/23 became the first unit of the 2nd Marine Division to enter combat since World War II. 3/23 continued to advance as part of 8th Marines, fighting actions into Kuwait City when the ceasefire was called.

In December 1990, the 2nd Battalion, 1st Battalion, and Headquarters Co. were activated in January 1991 as part of the 23d Marines which were mobilized by Presidential call-up to support Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. 2d Battalion, 23d Marines responded to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippine islands in 1991 and provided critical humanitarian relief.

Global War on Terror

The 23d Marine Regiment, either in whole or in part, have been activated multiple times including 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2011. In June, 2012, the 23d Marine Regimental Headquarters Company deployed to Barbados, Caribbean for Tradewinds 2012.

Unit Awards

•   Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star
•   Navy Unit Commendation
•   American Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars
•   Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Arrowheads (World War II)
•   World War II Victory Medal
•   Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation 1990-91

See also

• Marine Forces Reserve
• List of United States Marine Corps regiments
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps
• Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133
• USS Logan ** USS Newberry ** USS Mifflin ** USS Lowndes

References

1. MCRP 5-12D - Organization of Marine Corps Forces|
2. Saipan and Tinian 1944, Gordon Rottman, Osprey Publishing, 2004 check: the Orders of Battle
3. Annex FOX to The 4th Mar. Div. Op Report for the 23d Marines on Iwo Jima|
4. Annex FOX to the 4th Mar. Div. Op Report for the 23d Marines p. 2-4|
5. Koopman, John (June 17, 2003). "Marines reclaim lives put on hold". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
6. Allday, Erin (May 30, 2006). "Memorial Day of sun and sadness". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
7. Bulwa, Demian (February 23, 2009). "Marine regiment returns to Bay Area intact". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
8. Dannsaappiah, Nana (19 June 2012). "Training the trainer: Reserve Marines share proven tactics with Caribbean troops". Marine Reserve News. Louisiana. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
9. NAVMC 2922 February 2018

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.

External links

• 23d Marines Official Website
• 23d Marines Toys for Tots Website

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 4th Marine Division
14th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 4th Battalion 5th Battalion
23rd Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion TOW Platoon
24th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion
25th Marines	1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion
Other Battalions	4th Combat Engineer 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance 4th Reconnaissance 4th Tank 4th Assault Amphibian Anti-Terrorism

• 4th Marine Division (United States)
• Military units and formations established in 1942
• Regiments of the United States Marine Corps
• Infantry units and formations of the United States Marine Corps
• San Bruno, California
• 1942 establishments in the United States