Active 1942 —45 Type Infantry regiment | Country United States | |
 | ||
Branch United States Marine Corps Engagements World War II
* Battle of Bougainville
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima Notable
commanders Robert Blake
Hartnoll J. Withers | ||
The 21st Marine Regiment (21st Marines) was an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. Activated for service in World War II, they fought in the battles of Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. They fell under the 3rd Marine Division and were deactivated after the end of the war on December 20, 1945.
Contents
Subordinate units
The regiment was composed of three infantry battalions and one headquarters battalion:
History
The 21st Marine Regiment was activated on July 14, 1942 at Camp Elliot, San Diego, California but was actually organized at New River, North Carolina. Many of the first members of the regiment came from the 6th Marine Regiment. They were assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, however from January to June 1943 they were an independent regiment. During the war, the regiment took part in the Battle of Bougainville, Battle of Guam (Fig. 1) and the Battle of Iwo Jima. Following the Japanese surrender, 21st Marines moved to Guam where they were inactivated on December 20, 1945.
Iwo Jima
On Iwo the 21st RCT relieved the decimated 23rd on D-plus3 That placed the 21st in the 4th Marines ZofA assigned to yellow beach 2.(Fig. 2) The front lines were in the vicinities of Motoyama Airfields #1 and #2. On D-plus6 the Regiment reverted to the 3rd Marine Divisions control and was passed through by the 9th Marines.
NOTABLE FORMER MEMBERS
Hershel W. Williams - Medal of Honor recipient