The 16th Marine Regiment was a composite

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

of the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

subordinate to the 5th Marine Division. While its subordinate battalions went to the Pacific Theater as part of the 5th Marine Division, the Regimental headquarters was disbanded while still in the United States.

Subordinate units

The regiment comprised two battalions and a headquarters and service company: * 1st Battalion, 16th Marines, 5th Engineer Battalion now the 5th Combat Engineer Battalion * 2nd Battalion, 16th Marines, 5th Pioneer Battalion * 3rd Battalion 16th Marines (no Naval Construction Battalion was ever assigned)

History

World War II

The 16th Marines were inactivated on 25 May 1944 with the 5th Engineers and 5th Pioneers activated that same day. For the assault of Iwo Jima the 5th Marine Division created the 5th Shore Party Regiment with the Commanding Officer from the 16th Marines, Col Benjamin W. Gally as commander. It was composed of the 5th Pioneer Battalion and 31st Naval Construction Battalion.US Marine Corps World War II order of battle : ground and air units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945, p.219

/ref> The 5th Engineer Battalion was under Divisional control.

Unit awards

Notes

References