15th Marine Regiment (United States)

Not to be confused with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

15th Marine Regiment
Active	November 26, 1918 – August 1, 1922 October 23, 1944 – March 26, 1946
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Infantry (1918–22) Artillery (1944–46)
Part of	6th Marine Division
Engagements	Banana Wars Occupation of the Dominican Republic World War II Battle of Okinawa
Commanders
Notable commanders	Major General Wilburt S. Brown

The 15th Marine Regiment (15th Marines) is an inactive United States Marine Corps infantry and later artillery regiment.

History

Infantry regiment

The 15th Marines was first organized on November 26, 1918, as an infantry regiment. It was deployed to the Dominican Republic on February 26, 1919, and saw action against Dominican rebels during the American occupation of the Dominican Republic. Having been organized for possible deployment to Europe in the event that hostilities resumed, the 15th Marines remained on garrison duty in the Dominican Republic. It was deactivated on August 1, 1922 and its assets were absorbed into the 1st and 4th Regiments.

Artillery regiment

15th Marine Regiment 105mm Howitzer crew in Naha, Okinawa.

The 15th Marines was reactivated as an artillery regiment on October 23, 1944, on Guadalcanal, and assigned to the 6th Marine Division. It was formed by combining Pack Howitzer Battalions from the 4th, 22nd, and the 29th Marines. They were redesignated 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, respectively. The 4th Battalion was activated on November 14, 1944. The regiment saw heavy action fighting on Okinawa and the 6th Division received the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the battle.

The Regiment was withdrawn from Okinawa after it was declared secure in July 1945 and was redeployed to Guam to prepare for the invasion of Japan. After the surrender of the Japanese, the Regiment was sent to Tsingtao, China to accept the surrender of the Japanese in that area. The 15th Marines remained in China until its deactivation on March 26, 1946.

Organization

Battalion	Notes
Headquarters and Service Battalion 15th Marines (H&S/15)
1st Battalion 15th Marines (1/15)	Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 4th Marines. Redesignated 1/15 on October 23, 1944.
2nd Battalion 15th Marines (2/15)	Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 22nd Marines. Redesignated 2/15 on October 23, 1944.
3rd Battalion 15th Marines (3/15)	Formerly Pack Howitzer Battalion, 29th Marines. Redesignated 3/15 on October 23, 1944.
4th Battalion 15th Marines (4/15)	Activated on November 14, 1944.

Notable former members

Harold Gonsalves - posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Okinawa.

References

15th Marine Regiment History (Archived 2014-12-31)
Gordon L. Rottman, U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945, Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport, CT, 2002.
Gordon L. Rottman, US Marine Corps Pacfic Theater of Operations 1944-45, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2004.

United States Marine Corps

Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower

Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific

Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division

Personnel and training	Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program

Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment

History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots White House Sentries

Portal Category

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