101 Marine Corps Battles Flashcards
Belleau Wood
- June 6, 1918
- MC greatest battles in history
- Belleau Wood, France during World War I
- The French renamed the area “the Wood of the Brigade of Marines”
- German intelligence evaluated the Marines as “Storm Troops”
- German troops called them “Teufelhunden” or “Devil dogs”.
Guadalcanal
- August 7, 1942
- 1st Marine Division landed on the beaches of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands
- Launched the first United States land offensive of World War II
- This battle marked the first combat test of the new Amphibious Doctrine
- Also provided a crucial turning point of the War in the Pacific
- Provided a base to launch further invasions of Japanese held islands
- Amphibious landings followed on the remaining Solomon Islands including: New Georgia, Bougainville, & Choiseul
Tarawa
- November 20, 1943Japanese
- Commander proclaimed: “It would take a 1,000,000 Americans 100 years to conquer it”
- Marines landed and secured the Island within 76 hours.
But paid a heavy price doing so, because of an extended reef, landing craft could not cross it and Marines were offloaded hundreds of yards from the beaches This led to heavy losses from enemy fire
-Additionally, many Marines drowned while attempting to wade ashore
Mariana Islands
- June and July of 1943
- Lieutenant General Holland M. “Howlin’ Mad” Smith led a combined force of 136,000+ Marines and Soldiers.
- Airfields needed by the Air Force and advanced bases for the Navy.
Iwo Jima
- February 19, 1945
- Marines landed on Iwo Jima becoming the largest and bloodiest all Marine battle in history 23,300 Casualties.
- In June 2007, Japan changed the name of Iwo Jima back to its pre World War II name of Iwo To Of the savage battle Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue”
Okinawa
Oak No Joke! - #6
- April 1, 1945 - June 22, 1945
- Marines took part in the last & largest battle of the Pacific Involving 287,000 troops. By the end of the 82 day campaign:
- Japanese suffered 77,000 causalities
- Allies received 65,000 casualties including 14,000 dead
- 23 Medal of Honors were awarded
Chosin Reservoir
Frozon
- November 1950
- During the Korean War, Marines pushed far into North Korea and cut off after the Chinese Communist Forces entered the War
- 10-division force, Marines smashed 7 enemy divisions in their march from the Chosin Reservoir
- The major significance of this retrograde movement was that the Marines maintained tactical integrity
Hue City
- January 1968, during the Vietnamese Holiday of Tet
- Communist forces launched a surprise offensive by infiltrating large numbers of their troops into the major population centers of Hue City, South Vietnam
- Fighting was house-to-house with progress measured in yards, The city was secured on 25 February 1968
First Battle of Fallujah
- April 4, 2004
- Codenamed: Operation Vigilant Resolve
- Unsuccessful attempt by the U.S. to capture the city of Fallujah, Iraq
1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment
2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment
April 10, 2004
3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment
Second Battle of Fallujah
November 7, 2004
** Al-Fajr (Arabic “The Dawn) **
- Represented a major success for the Iraqi Government and coalition forces
- Nine U.S. Army and Marine Battalions; Six Iraqi Battalions; Attack Aviation from all of the Military Services (including Naval Air flying off an Aircraft Carrier)
** Phantom Fury **
- A joint U.S.-Iraqi -British offensive led by the U.S. Marine Corps -The Marines were well supported by Army mechanized infantry and cavalry units
- This inter-service and fully coordinated air-ground approach gradually overwhelmed the insurgents trapped in the city.
Operation Strike of the Sword
2 July 2009 -AKA Operation Khanjar.
- Largest Marine Offensive since Fallujah 2004.
- Largest Offensive Airlift since Vietnam War.
- US Led against the Taliban in Helmand South Afghanistan.
- 4000 Marines (from 2nd MEB) with 650 Afghan.
Battle of Marjah A K A Operation Moshtarak.
Dari word for “Together”
February 2010
-Together with thousands of Afghan National Security Forces, the Marines tangibly improved the geo-political landscape of Southwestern Afghanistan
