15th Marine Regiment (United States)

The 15th Marine Regiment (15th Marines) is an inactive United States Marine Corps infantry and later artillery regiment.

15th Marine Regiment
ActiveNovember 26, 1918 – August 1, 1922
October 23, 1944 – March 26, 1946
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeInfantry (1918–22)
Artillery (1944–46)
Part of6th Marine Division
EngagementsBanana Wars
  • Occupation of the Dominican Republic

World War II

Commanders
Notable
commanders
Robert B. Luckey
Wilburt S. Brown

History

Infantry regiment

The 15th Marines was first organized on November 26, 1918, as an infantry regiment. It was deployed to the Dominican Republic on February 26, 1919, and saw action against Dominican rebels during the American occupation of the Dominican Republic. Having been organized for possible deployment to Europe in the event that hostilities resumed, the 15th Marines remained on garrison duty in the Dominican Republic. It was deactivated on August 1, 1922 and its assets were absorbed into the 1st and 4th Regiments.

Artillery regiment

15th Marine Regiment 105mm Howitzer crew in Naha, Okinawa.

The 15th Marines was reactivated as an artillery regiment on October 23, 1944, on Guadalcanal, and assigned to the 6th Marine Division. It was formed by combining Pack Howitzer Battalions from the 4th, 22nd, and the 29th Marines. They were redesignated 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, respectively. The 4th Battalion was activated on November 14, 1944. The regiment saw heavy action fighting on Okinawa and the 6th Division received the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the battle.

The Regiment was withdrawn from Okinawa after it was declared secure in July 1945 and was redeployed to Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan. After the surrender of the Japanese, the Regiment was sent to Tsingtao, China to accept the surrender of the Japanese in that area. The 15th Marines remained in China until its deactivation on March 26, 1946.

Organization

BattalionNotes
Headquarters and Service Battalion 15th Marines (H&S/15)
1st Battalion, 15th Marines (1/15)Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 4th Marines. Redesignated 1/15 on October 23, 1944.
2nd Battalion, 15th Marines (2/15)Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 22nd Marines. Redesignated 2/15 on October 23, 1944.
3rd Battalion, 15th Marines (3/15)Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 29th Marines. Redesignated 3/15 on October 23, 1944.
4th Battalion, 15th Marines (4/15)Activated on November 14, 1944.

Notable former members

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See also

References

    • 15th Marine Regiment History (Archived 2014-12-31)
    • Gordon L. Rottman, U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945, Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport, CT, 2002.
    • Gordon L. Rottman, US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1944-45, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2004.
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