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Appendix C: Marine Task Organization and Command List1

A. Wake Atoll (7-23 December 1942)2

Marine Detachment, Wake

CO—Maj James P.S. Devereux

1st Defense Battalion Detachment

CO—Maj James P.S. Devereux

5-Inch Artillery Group

CO—Maj George H. Potter

Battery A—1stLt Clarence A. Barninger

Battery B—1stLt Woodrow W. Kessler

Battery L—2dLt John A. McAlister

3-Inch Antiaircraft Group

CO—Capt Bryghte D. Godbold

Battery D—Capt Bryghte D. Godbold

Battery E—1stLt William W. Lewis

Battery F (Prov)—MG Clarence B. McKinstry

Separate Batteries

Battery G—Capt Wesley McC. Platt

Battery H—2dLt Robert M. Hanna

Battery I—2dLt Arthur A. Poindexter

Marine Fighter Squadron 211

CO—Maj Paul A. Putnam

B. Philippine Islands (7 December 1941-6 May 1942)3

4th Marines (Reinforced)

CO—Col Samuel L. Howard

ExO—Col Donald Curtis

R-1—Capt Robert B. Moore

R-2—1stLt Robert F. Ruge (to 24 Dec)

LtCol George D. Hamilton (from 25 Dec)

R-3—Maj Frank P. Pyzick

R-4—Maj Reginald H. Ridgely, Jr. (to 3 Jan)

Maj Carl W. Meigs (from 4 Jan)

HqCo—Capt Robert Chambers, Jr. (WIA 6 May)

SerCo—Maj Max W. Schaeffer (WIA 6 May)

1st Battalion, 4th Marines

CO—LtCol Curtis T. Beecher

ExO—LtCol Samuel W. Freeny (WIA 29 Apr)

Bn-1—Capt Golland L. Clark, Jr.

Bn-2—Capt Golland L. Clark, Jr.

Bn-3—LtCol Samuel W. Freeny (WIA 29 Apr)

Bn-4—1stLt Ralph R. Penick

HqCo—1stLt Golland L. Clark, Jr. (to 25 Dec)

Capt Lewis H. Pickup (from 26 Dec)

A Co—Maj Harry C. Lang (KIA 5 May)

Capt Lewis H. Pickup (from 5 May)

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B Co—Capt Paul A. Brown (WIA 4 May)

1stLt Allan S. Manning (from 5 May)

D Co—Capt Noel O. Castle (KIA 6 May)

BnResCo—1stLt Robert F. Jenkins, Jr.

2nd Battalion, 4th Marines

CO—LtCol Herman R. Anderson

ExO—Maj John J. Heil

Bn-1—1stLt Hugh R. Nutter (to 28 Dec)

Capt Lloyd E. Wagner (from 29 Dec)

Bn-2—1stLt Hugh R. Nutter (to 28 Dec)

Capt Lloyd E. Wagner (29 Dec-6 Jan)

1stLt Sidney F. Jenkins (from 7 Jan)

Bn-3—Maj John J. Heil

Bn-4—Capt Austin C. Shofner

HqCo—1stLt Austin C. Shofner (to 4 Jan)

Capt Lloyd E. Wagner (from 5 Jan)

E Co—Maj James V. Bradley, Jr.

F Co—Capt Lloyd E. Wagner (to 28 Dec)

—Capt Clyde R. Huddleson (from 29 Dec)

H Co—Capt Benjamin L. McMakin (WIA 26 Mar)

BnRes Co—Capt Austin C. SHofner

3rd Battalion, 4th Marines

CO—LtCol John P. Adams

ExO—Maj Andrew J. Mathiesen

Bn-1—Capt George R. Weeks (to 31 Dec)

Capt John W. Clark (from 1 Jan)

Bn-2—Capt William F. Prickett

Bn-3—Maj Andrew J. Mathiesen

Bn-4—Maj Carl W. Meigs (to 4 Jan)

Capt Roy L. Robinton (from 5 Jan)

HqCo—Capt George R. Weeks (to 31 Dec)

Capt John W. Clark (from 1 Jan)

I Co—Maj Max Clark (WIA 24 Apr, 29 Apr)

K Co—Capt John W. Clark (to 31 Dec)

Maj George R. Weeks (from 1 Jan)

L Co—2dLt Willard D. Holdredge (to 23 Dec)

1stLt Howard L. Davis (24-31 Dec)

Capt Willis T. Geisman (from 1 Jan, WIA 20 Apr)

M Co—Capt Ted E. Pulos

BnRes Co—1stLt Clarence E. Ban Ray

4th Battalion (Provisional), 4th Marines

CO—Maj Francis H. William (WIA 29 Apr, 6 May)

Bn-1—Capt Calvin E. Chunn, USA (WIA 6 May)

Bn-2—Capt Calvin E. Chunn, USA (WIA 6 May)

Bn-3—1stLt Otis E. Saalman, USA

Bn-4—Ens John McClure, USNR (WIA 6 May)

Q Co—Capt Paul E. Moore, USA

R Co—Capt Harold E. Dalness, USA

S Co—Lt Edward N. Little, USN (WIA 6 May)

1stLt Otis E. Saalman, USA (from 6 May)

T Co—Lt Bethel B. Otter, USN (KIA 6 May)

Capt Calvin E. Chunn, USA (from 6 May, WIA 6 May)

Regimental Reserve

CO—Maj Stuart W. King (to 17 Feb)

Maj Max W. Schaeffer (from 18 Feb, WIA 6 May)

O Co—Capt Robert Chambers, Jr. (WIA 6 May)

P Co—1st Lt William F. Hogaboom

C. Midway Islands (4-5 June 1942)

6th Defense Battalion (Reinforced)

CO—Col Harold D. Shannon

H&S Battery—Capt William P. Spenser

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22nd ProvMarCo—1stLt George E. Metzenthin

23rd ProvMarCo—Capt Boyd O. Whitney

5-inch Artillery Group

CO—LtCol Lewis A. Hohn

H&S Battery—LtCol Lewis A. Hohn

Battery A—Maj Loren S. Fraser

Battery B—Capt Rodney M. Handley

Battery C—Capt Donald N. Otis

7” Battery—Capt Ralph A. Collins, Jr.

7” Battery—Capt Harold R. Warner, Jr.

3”/50 Battery—Capt Jay H. Augustin

3”/50 Battery—Capt William R. Dorr, Jr.

3-Inch Antiaircraft Group

CO—Maj Charles T. Tingle

H&S Battery—MG Maurice C. Pulliam

Battery D—Capt Jean H. Buckner

Battery E—Maj Hoyt McMillan

Battery F—Capt David W. Silvey

Battery G (S/L)—Capt Alfred L. Booth

Machine-Gun Group

CO—Maj Robert E. Hommel

H&S Battery—2dLt George K. Acker

.50 Cal Battery—Maj William E. Boles

.50 Cal Battery—Capt Edwin A. Law

3-Inch Antiaircraft Group, 3rd Defense Battalion

CO—Maj Chandler W. Johnson

H&S Battery—Maj Chandler W. Johnson

Battery D—Maj William S. McCormick

Battery E—Maj James S. O’Halloran

Battery F—Capt Arnold D. Swartz

Battery K (37-mm)—Capt Ronald K. Miller

Battery L (20-mm)—Capt Charles J. Seibert, II

2nd Raider Battalion Detachment

CO—Capt Donald H. Hastie

Company C—Capt Donald H. Hastie

Company D—1stLt John Apergis

Marine Aircraft Group 22

CO—LtCol Ira L. Kimes

H&S Squadron—1stLt Charles F. Hurlbut

VMF-221—Maj Floyd B. Parks (MIA 4 Jun)

Capt Kirk Armistead (from 4 Jun)

VMSB-241—Maj Lofton R. Henderson (MIA 4 Jun)

Maj Benjamin W. Norris (MIA 4 Jun)

Capt Marshall A. Tyler (from 4 Jun)

D. Guadalcanal (7 August 1942-8 February 1943)4

First Marine Division (Reinforced)

Division Headquarters (7 Aug 42-8 Dec 42)

CG—MajGen Alexander A. Vandegrift

ADC—BriGen William H. Rupertus

CofS—Col William C. James (to 21 Sep)

Col Gerald C. Thomas (from 21 Sep)

D-1—Col Robert C. Kilmartin, Jr. (to 21 Sep)

Maj James C. Murray, Jr. (from 22 Sep)

D-2—LtCol Frank B. Goettge (MIA 12 Aug)

LtCol Edmund J. Buckley (from 14 Aug)

D-3—LtCol Gerald C. Thomas (to 20 Sep)

LtCol Merrill B. Twining (from 21 Sep)

D-4—LtCol Randolph McC. Pate (to 21 Oct)

LtCol Raymond P. I. Coffman (21 Oct-25 Nov)

LtCol William S. Fellers (from 26 Nov)

HqBn (Orgd 2nd)—LtCol Edwin J. Farrell

1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion

CO—LtCol Walter W. Barr

1st Aviation Engineer Battalion (18 Sep 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Thomas F. Riley

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1st Engineer Battalion (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—Maj James G. Frazer (to 24 Oct)

Maj Henry H. Crockett (from 25 Oct)

1st Medical Battalion (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—Cdr Don S. Knowlton, MC (to 14 Dec)

LCdr Everett B. Keck, MC (from 15 Dec)

1st Parachute Battalion (7 Aug 42-18 Sep 42)

CO—Maj Robert H. Williams (WIA 7 Aug)

Maj Charles A. Miller (8 Aug-5 Sep)

Capt Harry L. Torgerson (6-8 Sep)

Maj Charles A. Miller (9-17 Sep)

Capt Harry L. Torgerson (from 18 Sep)

1st Pioneer Battalion (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—Col George R. Rowan (to 19 Sep)

Maj Robert G. Ballance (from 20 Sep)

1st Raider Battalion (7 Aug 42-16 Oct 42)

CO—Col Merritt A. Edson (to 20 Sep)

LtCol Samuel B. Griffith, II (from 22 Sep, WIA 27 Sep)

Capt Ira J. Irwin (from 27 Sep)

1st Service Battalion (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—LtCol Hawley C. Waterman

1st Special Weapons Battalion (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—LtCol Robert B. Luckey (to 15 Oct)

Maj Richard W. Wallace (from 16 Oct)

1st Tank Battalion, Forward Echelon (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—Maj Harvey S. Walseth

1st Marine Regiment (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—Col Clifton B. Cates

1st Battalion—LtCol Lenard B. Cresswell

2nd Battalion—LtCol Edwin A. Pollock (to 22 Sep)

—LtCol William W. Stickney (from 24 Sep)

3rd Battalion—LtCol William N. McKelvey, Jr.

5th Marine Regiment (7 Aug 42-9 Dec 42)

CO—Col Leroy P. Unit (to 19 Sep)

Col Merritt A. Edson (from 21 Sep)

1st Battalion—LtCol William E. Maxwell (to 28 Aug)

Maj Donal W. Fuller (30 Aug-11 Oct)

Maj William P. Thyson, Jr. (12 Oct)

Maj William K. Enright (13-23 Oct)

Maj William P. Thyson, Hr. (24-30 Oct)

Maj William K. Enright (from 31 Oct)

2nd Battalion—LtCol Harold E. Rosecrans (WIA 11 Sep)

Capt Joseph J. Dudkowski (11-17 Sep)

LtCol Walker A. Reves (18-24 Sep)

Capt Joseph J. Dudkowski (25-30 Sep)

Maj David S. McDougal (from 1 Oct, WIA 8 Oct)

Maj William J. Piper, Jr. (8-11 Oct)

Maj Lewis W. Walt (from 12 Oct)

3rd Battalion—LtCol Frederick C. Biebush (to 21 Sep)

Maj Robert O. Bowen (from 22 Sep)

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7th Marine Regiment (18 Sep 42-5 Jan 43)

CO—Col James B. Webb (to 19 Sep)

Col Amor LeR. Sims (from 20 Sep)

1st Battalion—LtCol Lewis B. Puller (WIA 8 Nov)

Maj John E. Weber (9-17 Nov)

LtCol Lewis B. Puller (from 18 Nov)

2nd Battalion—LtCol Herman H. Hanneken (to 17 Nov)

Maj Odell M. Conoley (18-28 Nov)

LtCol Herman H. Hanneken (from 29 Nov)

3rd Battalion—LtCol Edwin J. Farrell (to 21 Sep)

LtCol William R. Williams (from 24 Sep)

11th Marine Regiment (7 Aug 42-22 Dec 42)

CO—BriGen Pedro A. del Valle

1st Battalion—LtCol Joseph R. Knowlan (to 18 Oct)

LtCol Manly L. Curry (18 Oct-27 Nov)

LtCol Donovan D. Sult (28 Nov-20 Dec)

Maj Lewis J. Fields (from 21 Dec)

2nd Battalion—LtCol Edward J. Hagen (to 19 Oct)

Maj Forest C. Thomson (20-30 Oct)

Maj Lewis A. Ennis (1-5 Nov)

Maj Forest C. Thomson (6-11 Nov)

Maj Lewis A. Ennis (12-30 Nov)

Maj Forest C. Thomson (from 1 Dec)

3rd Battalion—LtCol James J. Keating

4th Battalion—LtCol Melvin E. Fuller (to 26 Oct)

Maj Carl G. F. Korn (27—31 Oct)

Capt Albert H. Potter (from 1 Nov)

5th Battalion—LtCol Eugene H. Price (to 30 Oct)

Maj Noah P. Wook, Jr. (from 1 Nov)

2nd Raider Battalion (4 Nov 42-17 Dec 42)

CO—LtCol Evans F. Carlson

3rd Barrage Balloon Squadron (8 Sep 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Capt Robert C. McDermond

3rd Defense Battalion (7 Aug 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Col Robert H. Pepper (to 28 Nov)

LtCol Harold C. Roberts (29 Nov-11 Jan)

LtCol Samuel G. Taxis (from 12 Jan)

5th Defense Battalion, Detachment A (8 Sep 42-8 Feb 43) Redesignated 14th Defense Battalion, 15 Jan 43

CO—LtCol William F. Parks (to 5 Dec)

Col Galen J. Sturgis (from 5 Dec)

9th Defense Battalion (30 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Col David R. Nimmer (to 2 Feb)

—LtCol William J. Scheyer (from 3 Feb)

Second Marine Division

Division Headquarters, Advance Echelon (4 Jan 43-8 Feb 43)

CG—BriGen Alphonse De Carre

CofS—Col George F. Stockes

D-1—Maj Lawrence C. Hays, Hr. (to 5 Feb)

Capt Percy H. Uhlinger (from 6 Feb)

D-2—Maj Thomas J. Colley

D-3—LtCol John H. Coffman (to 21 Jan)

LtCol Jesse S. Cook, Jr. (from 21 Jan)

D-4—Maj George N. Carroll

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2nd Special Weapons Battalion (7 Aug 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—LtCol Paul D. Sherman (to 8 Jan)

Maj Guy E. Tannyhill (9-12 Jan)

LtCol Paul D. Sherman (from 13 Jan)

2nd Marine Regiment (7 Aug 42-31 Jan 43)

CO—Col John M. Arthur

1st Battalion—LtCol Robert E. Hill (WIA 11 Nov)

Maj Wood B. Kyle (from 11 Nov)

2nd Battalion—LtCol Orin K. Pressley (to 14 Dec)

Maj Ewart S. Laue (from 14 Dec)

3rd Battalion—LtCol Robert G. Hunt

6th Marine Regiment (4 Jan 43-8 Feb 43)

CO—Col Gilder D. Jackson, Jr.

1st Battalion—LtCol Russell Lloyd

2nd Battalion—Maj Raymond L. Murray

3rd Battalion—Maj William A. Kengla

8th Marine Regiment (2 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Col Richard H. Jeschke

1st Battalion—LtCol Miles S. Newton (to 22 Nov)

LtCol Joseph P. McCaffery (from 23 Nov)

2nd Battalion—LtCol John H. Cook, Jr.

3rd Battalion—LtCol Augustus H. Fricke

10th Marine Regiment (7 Aug 42-8 Feb 43)

1st Battalion (4 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)—LtCol Presley M. Rixey

2nd Battalion (4 Jan 43-8 Feb 43)—Maj George R.E. Shell

3rd Battalion (7 Aug 42-8 Feb 43)—LtCol Manly L. Curry (to 17 Oct)

LtCol Donovan D. Sult (18 Oct-27 Nov)

LtCol Manly L. Curry (from 28 Nov)

2nd Aviation Engineer Battalion (30 Jan 43-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Charles O. Clark

11th Defense Battalion (17 Jan 43-8 Feb 43)

CO—Col Charles N. Muldrow

Marine Air Units

1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Headquarters Detachment (3 Sep 42-8 Feb 43)

CG—MajGen Roy S. Geiger

CofS—BriGen Louis B. Woods

W-1—LtCol Perry O. Parmelee (to 20 Nov)

Capt James G. Hopper (21 Nov-20 Dec)

LtCol Thomas G. Ennis (from 21 Dec)

W-2—LtCol John C. Munn

W-3—Col Lawson H.M. Sanderson (to 31 Dec)

Col Christian F. Schilt (from 1 Jan)

W-4—Col Christian F. Schilt (to 31 Dec)

LtCol Albert D. Cooley (from 1 Jan)

HqSn-1—Capt Herman J. Jesse

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Forward Echelon (26 Dec 42-8 Feb 43)

CG—BriGen Francis P. Mulcahy

CofS—Col Walter G. Farrell

W-1—2dLt Robert E. Coddington

W-2—LtCol Elmer H. Salzman

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W-3—LtCol Joe A. Smoak (to 29 Jan)

LtCol William C. Lemly (from 30 Jan)

W-4—LtCol Franklin G. Cowie

HqSn-2—Maj William K. Snyder

Marine Aircraft Group 14 (16 Oct 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—LtCol Albert D. Cooley (to 17 Dec)

Col William O. Brice

HqSn-14—Capt Claude J. Carson, Jr. (to 17 Nov)

Capt Stanley M. Adams (from 18 Nov)

SMS-14—Maj Arthur R. Stacey

Marine Aircraft Group 23 (20 Aug 42-4 Nov 42)

CO—Col William J. Wallace

HqSn-23—MG Harland W. Bond (to 24 Oct)

—LtCol Charles L. File (from 25 Oct)

SMS-23—2dLt Joseph A. Pawloski

Marine Aircraft Group 25, Advance Detachments (3 Sep 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—LtCol Perry K. Smith

HqSn-25—Maj Leonard W. Ashwell (to 17 Nov)

Capt Dave J. Woodward, Jr. (from 18 Nov)

SMS-25—Maj Leonard W. Ashwell (to 23 Dec)

Capt Ralph R. Yeaman (from 24 Dec)

Marine Fighter Squadron 112 (2 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Paul J. Fontana (to 31 Dec)

2dLt Alexander A. Case (1-6 Jan)

Maj Paul J. Fontana (from 7 Jan)

Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (2 Oct 42-28 Jan 43)

CO—Maj Leonard K. Davis (WIA 11 Nov, to 16 Dec)

MG William F. Wilson (17-31 Dec)

Maj Donald K. Yost (from 1 Jan)

Marine Fighter Squadron 122 (12 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Capt Nathan T. Post, Jr. (to 21 Nov)

Capt James R. Anderson (22 Nov-10 Dec)

2dLt John F. Tenvole (11-23 Dec)

Maj Elmer E. Brackett, Jr. (24-29 Dec)

Capt Nathan T. Post, Jr. (30 Dec-11 Jan)

Maj Elmer E. Brackett, Jr. (from 12 Jan)

Marine Fighter Squadron 123, Flight Echelon (3 Feb 43-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Edward W. Johnston

Marine Fighter Squadron 124, Flight Echelon (3 Feb 43-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj William E. Gise

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 131 (11 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—LtCol Paul Moret (to 20 Nov)

Capt Jens C. Aggerbeck, Jr. (from 21 Nov)

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 132 (1 Nov 42-19 Jan 43)

CO—Maj Joseph Sailer, Jr. (KIA 7 Dec)

Maj Louis B. Robertshaw (from 7 Dec)

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Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 141 (23 Sep 42-17 Jan 43)

CO—Maj Gordon A. Bell (KIA 14 Oct)

1stLt Wortham S. Ashcroft (from 14 Oct, KIA 8 Nov)

1stLt Robert M. Patterson (8-11 Nov)

2dLt Walter R. Bartosh (12-17 Nov)

Maj George A. Sarles (18 Nov-16 Dec)

Capt Claude A. Carlson, Jr. (from 17 Dec)

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 142 (12 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Robert H. Richard

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 144, Flight Echelon (5 Feb 43-8 Feb 43)

CO—Capt Roscoe N. Nelson

Marine Utility Squadron 152, Flight Echelon (21 Oct 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Elmore W. Seeds

Marine Photographic Squadron, Flight Echelon (10 Nov 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—LtCol Elliot E. Bard

Marine Fighter Squadron 212, Flight Echelon (17 Aug 42-21 Nov 42)

CO—LtCol Harold W. Bauer (KIA 14 Nov)

Maj Frederick R. Payne, Jr. (from 14 Nov)

Marine Fighter Squadron 223 (20 Aug 42-16 Oct 42)

CO—Maj John L. Smith

Marine Fighter Squadron 224 (30 Aug 42-2 Nov 42)

CO—Maj Robert E. Galer

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 231, Flight Echelon (30 Aug 42-14 Nov 42)

CO—Maj Leo R. Smith (to 18 Sep)

Capt Ruben Iden (from 19 Sep, KIA 20 Sep)

Capt Elmer G. Glidden, Jr. (from 20 Sep)

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 232 (20 Aug 42-2 Nov 42)

CO—LtCol Richard C. Mangrum

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 233 (25 Dec 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Clyde T. Mattison (to 19 Jan)

Capt Elmer L. Gilbert (from 20 Jan)

Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 234, Flight Echelon (28 Jan 43-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj William D. Roberson

Marine Observation Squadron 251 (19 Aug 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—LtCol John N. Nart (to 29 Oct)

LtCol Charles H. Hayes (30 Oct-30 Nov)

Capt Ralph R. Yeaman (1-7 Dec)

Maj William R. Campbell (8-10 Dec)

Maj Joseph N. Renner (from 11 Dec)

Marine Utility Squadron 253 (3 Sep 42-8 Feb 43)

CO—Maj Harold A. Johnson (to 11 Oct)

Maj Henry C. Lane (from 12 Oct)