thedrifter
05-04-08, 09:21 AM
Oldest, Proudest' Regiment celebrates 94 years of service
Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
CAMP SCHWAB, Okinawa (May 2, 2008) -- More than 100 Marines with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, celebrated their unit's birthday April 27 during a ceremony at the base theater on Camp Schwab.
The birthday ceremony was intended to increase esprit de corps and camaraderie amongst the regiment, said Cpl. Andrew Green, an intelligence analyst and one of the event organizers.
"We wanted to educate our Marines and give them an understanding that our unit has more to it than what we see on Okinawa, that we truly are the oldest and proudest," Green said.
To accomplish this, the ceremony included an in-depth presentation on the unit's history given by Green.
Green explained that Fourth Marine Regiment was activated April 16, 1914, in Puget Sound, Wash., under the command of Col. Joseph Henry Pendleton, whom Camp Pendleton is named after. In 1927, the unit deployed to Shanghai, China, to protect Americans and their property, as well as foreign nationals, during the Chinese Revolution. The unit spent 14 years in China, earning the regiment the nickname "China Marines." At the onset of the war in the Pacific during World War II , 4th Marines deployed to the Philippines.
In 1942, they defended the Bataan Peninsula and the island of Corregidor with the Armed Forces of the Philippines against the Japanese. As the fighting on Bataan progressed, the Marines and allies started losing defensive positions and eventually resistance ceased at Bataan, leaving forces on Corregidor open to Japanese artillery. Commander of U.S. Forces in the Philippines Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, surrendered, May 6, sparking the darkest moment in the regiment's history. Consequently, 4th Marines destroyed their colors.
The regiment was recreated in 1944 and later saw action at the battles of Guadalcanal and Okinawa. In 1965, the regiment deployed to Vietnam for four years. Three years later, the regiment moved to Okinawa, its current home.
Since its arrival on Okinawa, the regiment has supported Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and countless joint exercises in the Asia-Pacific theater.
Following the history presentation, the regiment's commanding officer, Col. Philip E. Smith, along with several junior Marines, rededicated the unit's battle streamers by reattaching each award and reiterating their award citations. Battle streamers are awards hung from the pike of the unit's organizational flag that display the awards the unit has received and campaigns it has participated in since its birth.
Some of the 21 honors and awards include the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star, Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars and the World War II Victory Medal.
Ellie
Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
CAMP SCHWAB, Okinawa (May 2, 2008) -- More than 100 Marines with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, celebrated their unit's birthday April 27 during a ceremony at the base theater on Camp Schwab.
The birthday ceremony was intended to increase esprit de corps and camaraderie amongst the regiment, said Cpl. Andrew Green, an intelligence analyst and one of the event organizers.
"We wanted to educate our Marines and give them an understanding that our unit has more to it than what we see on Okinawa, that we truly are the oldest and proudest," Green said.
To accomplish this, the ceremony included an in-depth presentation on the unit's history given by Green.
Green explained that Fourth Marine Regiment was activated April 16, 1914, in Puget Sound, Wash., under the command of Col. Joseph Henry Pendleton, whom Camp Pendleton is named after. In 1927, the unit deployed to Shanghai, China, to protect Americans and their property, as well as foreign nationals, during the Chinese Revolution. The unit spent 14 years in China, earning the regiment the nickname "China Marines." At the onset of the war in the Pacific during World War II , 4th Marines deployed to the Philippines.
In 1942, they defended the Bataan Peninsula and the island of Corregidor with the Armed Forces of the Philippines against the Japanese. As the fighting on Bataan progressed, the Marines and allies started losing defensive positions and eventually resistance ceased at Bataan, leaving forces on Corregidor open to Japanese artillery. Commander of U.S. Forces in the Philippines Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, surrendered, May 6, sparking the darkest moment in the regiment's history. Consequently, 4th Marines destroyed their colors.
The regiment was recreated in 1944 and later saw action at the battles of Guadalcanal and Okinawa. In 1965, the regiment deployed to Vietnam for four years. Three years later, the regiment moved to Okinawa, its current home.
Since its arrival on Okinawa, the regiment has supported Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and countless joint exercises in the Asia-Pacific theater.
Following the history presentation, the regiment's commanding officer, Col. Philip E. Smith, along with several junior Marines, rededicated the unit's battle streamers by reattaching each award and reiterating their award citations. Battle streamers are awards hung from the pike of the unit's organizational flag that display the awards the unit has received and campaigns it has participated in since its birth.
Some of the 21 honors and awards include the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star, Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars and the World War II Victory Medal.
Ellie