 |
The Third Marine Division in Color
page 1
|
In August 1945, Life Magazine photographer J. R. Eyerman traveled to the island of Guam to photograph garrison and training activities of the Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. At that time the division was preparing for the planned invasion of Japan (Operation OLYMPIC). But fate played a hand in Eyerman's trip and B-29 bombers of the Army Air Forces dropped atomic weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
By the summer of 1945, the Third Marine Division had been deployed to the Pacific for more than 2 and 1/2 years. Its' Marines had fought in combat in three tough campaigns: Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima.
Instead of assault landings on Japanese beach heads, the Leathernecks of the Third switched to occupation planning, and preparations to demobilize many high-point men with long months of service in the Pacific. These color photos are an important record of the division and its Marines. They are from the Life Magazine photo collection on Google.com.
 |
The 3rd MarDiv Color Guard formed in front of divisional headquarters. |
 |
Division Commander MajGen Graves B. Erskine in front of his personal flag.
Gen Erskine, who commanded the 3rd MarDiv from Oct 1944 - Oct 1945, was one of the Corps' most distinguished officers and had an outstanding reputation as a combat commander. |
 |
Dry net training, while not a specific tactical evolution, was a critical skill that all FMF Marines had to master. It was also a hazardous event at sea off the heaving side of a transport. Therefore, Marines maintained their skill by constant repetition. |
|
A flame gunner and a bazooka team push forward during a field problem on Guam.
The M9 bazooka and M2-2 Flamethrower was an integral weapons in the Marine division. Following the campaign for Iwo Jima, the division began intensive training and preparation for the invasion of Japan. Every unit practiced destruction of enemy bunkers and pillboxes, and use of supporting arms.
|
|
A flame gunner fires his weapon in the training area on Guam. The M2-2 Flamethrower was an integral weapon in the Marine division, and these weapons were distributed throughout the infantry regiments and the combat engineer battalion. |
|
A gun crew of the 12th Marines performs preventive maintenance on their 105mm howitzer. Their artillery piece is the M2A1 howitzer, which had a crew of nine Marines, and a maximum effective range of 12,300 yards. The rate of fire was 2-4 rounds per minute.
At this point in its' service, the 3rd MarDiv was organized under the G-100 Table of Organization with three 105mm artillery battalions, and one 155mm artillery battalion.
|
|
Each unit of battalion size had a lieutenant on duty every day in garrison assigned as the Officer of the Day. The OOD served as the CO's representative, was in charge of the guard, and performed other duties as directed.
At each meal, the OOD ate the same chow as enlisted Marines. He was to confirm that the troops received the correct amount of food, and that the meals were fit for human consumption. |
|
Most Marines in garrison were billeted in six-man squad tents. In this picture, some of the Marines are playing cards while their buddy thumbs through the March 12th, 1945 issue of Life Magazine.
These men are fortunate that their tent has a wooden deck, which kept them up off the ground, and they have an electric light suspended from the tent peak. |
THE THIRD MARINE DIVISION IN COLOR, PAGE 2
SPOTLIGHT ON THE THIRD MARINE DIVISION
WORLD WAR II GYRENE HOME
|
