Fourth Marine Division of World War II

Fourth Marine Division of World War II. "The Fighting Fourth". Activated 16 August, 1943 - Deactivated 28 November, 1945, Combat Operations . Dates . Casualties. Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands . 31 Jan.-8 Feb. 1944 . 737 Saipan, Marianas Islands . 15 June-9 July 1944 . 5,981 Tinian, Marianas Islands . 24 July-1 Aug. 1944 . 1,906 Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands . 19 Feb.-16 Mar. 1945 . 9,098 Average Combat Strength 18,500 . Total Casualties 17,722, Honors. Medal of Honor 12 . Navy Cross 111 . Distinguished Service Medal 4 . Silver Star 646 . Legion of Merit 53 . Distinguished Flying Cross 36 . Navy-Marine Corps Medal 56 . Bronze Star 2,517 . Air Medal 103 . Purple Heart 14,736 . Presidential Unit Citation 2 . Navy Unit Citation 1, The Fourth Marine Division effected the most combat missions in the shortest time of any military unit during World War II. 31 January 1944 - 16 March 1945 The Fourth Marine Division was the first combat unit to sail direct into action from the United States. By attacking Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands, it was the first to capture a Japanese mandated island while defeating the enemy in the shortest combat time in the Pacific campaign. , By the taking of Saipan, "the Fighting Fourth" obtained air fields and established a port of call for future staging areas of combat troops., The “perfect amphibious operation” was in the landing on Tinian Island where two beaches of 65 and 130 yards were used to land the entire division of combat troops., The landing on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island was not only the strongest effort by the Japanese in defense, with only 660 miles from Tokyo, Japan. The loss gave U.S. landing fields that were to save many B-29 bomber crews returning from bombing runs on the Japanese mainland., Admiral Chester W. Nimitz of CINCPAC said in 1945 after the taking of Iwo Jima "Uncommon valor was a common virtue" ★ Semper Fidelis ★.