The 17th 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
1st Marine Division. It was formed primarily from units of the Division, and was inactivated during war with the 1st and 2nd battalions remaining in the Division.
Subordinate units
The regiment a composite of three different types of battalions and a headquarters and service company:
* 1st Battalion, 17th Marines, A, B, & C Company 1st Engineer Battalion now
1st Combat Engineer Battalion
1st Combat Engineer Battalion is a combat engineer battalion of the United States Marine Corps. The unit, nicknamed "The Super Breed", is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and falls under the command of the 1st Marine Divisi ...
* 2nd Battalion, 17th Marines, D, E, & F Companies 1st Pioneer Battalion
* 3rd Battalion, 17th Marines, G, H, & I Companies 19th Naval Construction Battalion
History
World War II
The 17th Marine Regiment participated in the Battle of Cape Gloucester. The subordinate battalions, as independent battalions in 1st Marine Division, participated in all of the Division's major operations during the war. According to the 19th CB's log it was assigned to the 1st Marine 11/05/42 prior to leaving the States. On 04/03/43 "By Division General Order No. 74 of 3 Apr'43 - First Marine Division: the 19th CBs designation will be as follow's in the future, when attached to First Marine Div., Fleet Marine Force ----3rd Battalion, 17th Marines (Engineers) c/o FPO San Francisco. Calif."
[19th Naval Construction Battalion Historical Information, Seabee Museum website]
/ref> The 19th was "at Cape Gloucester from 27 Dec 43 until 4 May 44" and remained with the 1st Division until "1 Jul'44 when The 19th CB was detached from the operational control of the 1st MarDiv, re-designated the 19th NCB and transferred to the 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps.
The 19th had a MM1 Chester J. Perkins who was flight qualified. The Seabees got ahold of a light observation aircraft that MM1 Perkins logged 218 hrs in, of which 105 were combat. He flew spotter for the 11th Marine Regiment as well as dropped urgent medical supplies and rations to forward troops. In recognition of his contributions to the assault he was awarded the Navy Air Medal
The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Criteria
The Air Medal was establish ...
.
note: when the 19th CB was assigned to the Marine Corps 11/05/42 it lost one company and 1/4 of Hq Co. Those men were assigned to the Fleet Marine Force replacement group (as the 19th replacement group). That group would form the core of the 121st CB[121st Naval Construction Battalion Historical Information, Seabee Museum websit]
/ref> which would become the 3rd Battalion, 20th Marines (Engineers).
Unit awards
*Headquarters Company PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv[NAVMC 2922 of 7 May 2012, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, 2008 ELLIOT ROAD, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA 22134-503]
*Company D PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv
*Company E PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv
*Company F PUC 7Aug-9Dec42 SU 1st MarDiv
See also
* History of the United States Marine Corps
The history of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) begins with the founding of the Continental Marines on 10 November 1775 to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and discipline enforcement, and assist in landing forces ...
* List of United States Marine Corps regiments
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV). The most senior Marine commissioned officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recr ...
* 1st Marine Division
* 16th Marine Regiment(Engineer)
* 18th Marine Regiment(Engineer)
* 19th Marine Regiment
The 19th Marine Regiment was a composite engineer regiment of the United States Marine Corps subordinate to the 3rd Marine Division. It existed from September 1942 until September 1944. In December 1943 there was a large change of command in th ...
(Engineer)
* 20th Marine Regiment
20th Marine Regiment was a Composite Engineer Regiment of the United States Marine Corps that fought during World War II.U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle Fleet Marine Force Ground Units, Rottman p. 220''/ref>
Subordinate units
T ...
(Engineer)
* Seabees
United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Force (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion". Depending upon ...
References
;External links
*http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-NBrit/USMC-M-NBrit-VII.html
Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Cape Gloucester
Marines in World War II- the Campaign on New Britain, Lt. Col Robert D. Heinl Jr. & Lt. Col. John A. Croon, Pickle Partners Publishing, Appendix IV - Shore Party
{{1stMarDiv
Eng17
Eng17
United States Marine Corps in World War II
Military units and formations established in 1942
1942 establishments in the United States