21st Marine Regiment (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 21st Marine Regiment


caption= 21st Marines’ Insignia
dates= July 14, 1942 — December 20, 1945
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Infantry regiment
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver
size=
command_structure= Deactivated
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Bougainville
* Battle of Guam
* Battle of Iwo Jima
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The 21st Marine Regiment (21st Marines) is an inactive 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 [Rottman, "USMC WWII OOB", p. 174] .

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 [Rottman, "USMC WWII OOB", p. 134] . 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 and the Battle of Iwo Jima. Following the Japanese surrender, 21st Marines moved to Guam where they were deactivated on December 20, 1945 [Rottman, "USMC WWII OOB", p. 174] .

Notable members

* Hershel W. Williams - Medal of Honor recipient

See also

* List of United States Marine Corps regiments
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

References

;Notes

;Bibliography
* cite book
last = Rottman
first = Gordon L.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle – Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War.
publisher = Greenwood Press
date = 2002
location = Westport, Connecticut
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 0-313-31906-5