U.S. Marines History: The 1st Marine Division and Its Regiments, 5th Marines, 7th Marines, 11th Marines, Guadalcanal, Lineage, Honors and Commanding Officers

The 1st Marine Division is the direct descendant of the Advance Base Brigade, which was activated on 23 December 1913 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the early years of its existence, the brigade was deployed to a number of troubled areas in the Caribbean. The brigade was employed in a combat capacity in the "Banana Wars" in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic, and also participated in the landing at Vera Cruz, Mexico.

After a number of redesignations, the organization ultimately received its present designation of 1st Marine Division on 1 February 1941, while stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The unit thus became the first division in Marine Corps history, and its eventual composition included the 1st, 5th, and 7th infantry regiments, and the 11th Marines artillery regiment.

Following the 7 December 1941 outbreak of war between the United States and Japan, the division deployed to the southwest Pacific to participate in the initial American invasion of Japanese-occupied territory. On 7 August 1942, the 1st Marine Division (reinforced), supported by two naval task forces and other escorting naval units, made amphibious landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. After a hard-fought, six-months campaign, the struggle for Guadalcanal ended with a resounding American victory. The Guadalcanal campaign marked the first ground defeat of the heretofore invincible Japanese legions. In late December 1942, the division was withdrawn to Australia for rest and rehabilitation, having suffered almost 3,000 battle casualties.

Contents include: 1st Marine Division * The Leaders of the Division on Guadalcanal * 1st Marine Division Generals * 1st Marine Division Lineage * 1st Marine Division Honors * The 1st Division Patch * The 1st Marines * Commanding Officers, 1st Marines * 1st Marines Lineage * 1st Marines Honors * The 5th Marines * Commanding Officers, 5th Marines * 5th Marines Lineage * 5th Marines Honors * The 7th Marines * Commanding Officers, 7th Marines * 7th Marines Lineage * 7th Marines Honors * The 11th Marines * Commanding Officers, 11th Marines * 11th Marines Lineage * 11th Marines Honors