27th Marine Regiment (United States)

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27th Marine Regiment
27th Marine Regiment emblem
Active1944 – 46; 1966 – 69
Country United States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
TypeInfantry
Part of5th Marine Division
EngagementsWorld War II

Vietnam War

Commanders
Notable
commanders		Thomas A. Wornham

The 27th Marine Regiment (27th Marines) is an inactivated infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. They fought during the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II and again for a short time during the Vietnam War.

Subordinate units

The regiment comprised three infantry battalions, a headquarters and service company, and a weapons company:

Battalions
Headquarters & Service Company
1st Battalion, 27th Marines (1/27)
2nd Battalion, 27th Marines (2/27)
3rd Battalion, 27th Marines (3/27)
Weapons Company

History

World War II

The 27th Marine Regiment was activated on 10 January 1944, as a result of the massive increase in the Marine Corps during World War II. The regiment first saw action during the Battle of Iwo Jima. During the course of the battle they suffered 566 killed, 1,706 wounded, and had 4 Marines receive the Medal of Honor. After the surrender of Japan the regiment was inactivated on 10 January 1946.

Vietnam War

The 27th Marines was again reactivated during the Vietnam War on 1 January 1966, but was mainly used as a pool for new replacements before they went overseas. The 1st Battalion based at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii was the only battalion with personnel assigned in 1966.[1]

During 1967 the 2nd and 3rd Battalions stationed on the east coast of the U.S. were brought up to strength.[2]

On 12 February 1968 in response to the

Vietcong (VC).[3]: 248  At the end of March 1/27th Marines was moved north to provide security of Route 1 between Huế and Phu Bai Combat Base and the protection of Tân Mỹ Base.[3]
: 249 

2nd Platoon, Company I, 3/27 Marines with captured 122mm rockets

On 5 May a seven-man ambush patrol from the 1st Battalion murdered five South Vietnamese civilians near Huế. Five of the seven Marines were convicted of murder.[4]

On 13 May elements of the 3rd Battalion joined Operation Allen Brook. The entire regiment later joined the operation and assumed operational control until 3 August.[3]: 329–43 

The deployment of the regiment overseas was only intended to be temporary and in March Johnson instructed that it was to return to the U.S. by 15 July, but this was delayed until September due to delays in the training of replacement United States Army forces.[3]: 375, 578  The deployment had put a severe strain on manpower in the Marine Corps.[5]

While the regiment was preparing for its redeployment to the U.S. in August the VC launched their

Danang Air Base while the 2nd Battalion participated in operations to cut off the retreating VC and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces.[3]
: 376–82 

By late August the 1st Marine Regiment had arrived in the Da Nang TAOR and it began to relieve the Regiment.[3]: 383  On 12 September, the first planeload of Regiment Marines left for Okinawa and on 17 September the last of BLT 1/27 arrived in Hawaii.[3]: 579 

A homecoming parade was presented as a Memorial Ceremony downtown San Diego to the lives the regiment had given in South Vietnam. The unit was then reassigned to Camp Pendleton within the area of the base called Camp Margarita or the 33 Area.

Notable former members

See also

References

  1. ^ Shulimson, Jack (1982). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War, 1966 (PDF). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 369.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ISBN 9781482538878.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 0160491258.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1494297602.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1482378696.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .


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