When Hitler marched into Poland the total strength of the Marine Corps was 19,701 officers and men, slightly more than a full-strength division. The Fleet Marine Force consisted of two Infantry brigades and two marine aviation groups, a total of 10,000 officers and men on the east and west coasts of the United States. Marine Corps aviation totaled 1,352, which included 227 pilots.

The Fleet Marine Force, ready for instant service with the fleet, was equipped with their initial allowances and their replenishment supply was at the depots at Quantico and San Francisco. Training of the units consisted of landings in the Potomac River area and San Diego, and fleet landing exercises on the Caribbean area and at San Clemente Island. The technique of rubber-boat and heavy combat material landing and ship-to-shore supply was developed.

In November 1940 the 15,000 personnel of the Marine Corps Reserve was mobilized for active duty. At the same time an officer candidates' class was established to provide additional officer personnel for a force of 50,000 men. Schools for Reserve officers were also established at Quantico and Philadelphia.

The First Marine Brigade was transferred to Guantanamo, Cuba, with all available equipment and replenishments for intensive training and landing operations. The brigade gradually increased in strength until sufficient personnel were available to organize the First Marine Division on February 1, 1941. The operational activities of the division were increased and additional equipment provided. A skeleton depot organization was formed to requisition and maintain the supplies and equipment for the division.

The Second Marine Brigade on the west coast gained additional personnel and on March 1, 1941, it was redesignated as the Second Marine Division. A second base depot was activated to furnish supplies and store replenishments for this division. New units were formed and on June 30, 1941, the strength of the Marine Corps was 54,172.

Camp Pendleton, Calif., consisting of over 125,000 acres, was secured as a training base on December 31, 1942, and steps were taken to acquire some 80,000 acres of land at New River, N. C., as a second training area. Thus the Marine Corps later had available two great training and mobilization centers, one on each coast, where combat marines would be organized and trained. A marine aviation base also was acquired at Cherry Point, N. C. The facilities at Guantanamo, Cuba, were expanded to provide quarters and training facilities. Steps were taken to secure a part of Vieques Island in order to augment facilities for training in the Caribbean area. Additional land was acquired at Quantico, Va., to improve combat training areas and to provide greater safety in the firing of small arms. Facilities at Pearl Harbor were increased and a marine aviation field was also established at Ewa, Oahu, T. H., to accommodate the Second Marine Aircraft Group.

During 1940-41, many officers were sent overseas to observe the latest developments and methods of modern warfare. Marine observers also reported on Army maneuvers held in the United States. First Marine Division training in the Caribbean, in late 1940, was climaxed in special landing operations with the United States Atlantic Fleet. This unit also participated in joint maneuvers in June 1941 with the United States Army and the United States Fleet. Marine

aircraft groups conducted extensive operations in support of the fleet and the Fleet Marine Force.

Naval shore activities were increased with Marine Corps guard personnel. Detachments and units were sent to Alaska, Newfoundland, Pearl Harbor, Cuba, Midway, and Samoa. Provisional companies were dispatched to Jamaica, Bermuda, and other islands in the British West Indies and to Brazil.

The First Provisional Brigade was stationed in Iceland from July 7, 1941, until March 8, 1942, and in January 1942 the Second Marine Brigade arrived in American Samoa, an important outpost on the main communication and supply line to Australia and New Zealand. In March 1942 the defense battalion in American Samoa was moved to British Samoa. The Third Marine Brigade joined this battalion in May of the same year. In October 1942 marines from Samoa occupied Funafuti, Ellice Islands, providing air bases from which aircraft could strike at Nauru and the Gilbert Islands.

On August 7, 1942, the First Marine Division opened the Allied offensive in the Pacific by landing in the Guadalcanal area in the Solomons. By August 10 the marines had destroyed the Japanese garrisons at Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo, and had driven the surprised Japanese forces on Guadalcanal into the jungles. For the next 4 months the First Marine Division successfully repulsed numerous Japanese attacks made by land, sea, and air. This bitterly fought and grueling campaign was high-lighted by the battles of the Tenaru River, "Bloody" (or Raiders') Ridge, and the Matanikau River. During this critical period Marine Corps airmen, grimly confident in the face of great odds, thrust their short-bellied Grumman fighter planes into the murky skies above Guadalcanal and fought off the lurking enemy bombers. The First Division was relieved on December 9, 1942, by Army troops and the Second Marine Division. The latter unit participated in the fighting on Guadalcanal until its conquest was completed on February 9, 1943.

At Guadalcanal we won a base which was used as a first stepping stone to Tokyo. The next step up the Solomons ladder was the conquest of Munda, New Georgia Islands, and a steady broadening of the Allied offensive in the island arc north of Australia. In February 1943 Army and marine units went ashore in the Russell Islands, securing an air base for operations against Munda. Four months later marines landed on New Georgia Island and went ashore with the Army at Rendova; and in July landed at Rice Anchorage.

During the following months Munda was captured and landings were made on Vella Lavella, Arundel, and Kolombangara Islands by Army amphibious forces, in which attack marine units played an active part. On November 1 the Third Marine Division went ashore at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. During the next 45 days this division whipped the enemy in the Battle of Koromokina Lagoon and the Battle of Piva Forks, which marked the end of serious opposition to the development of the Empress Augusta Bay area as an Allied air base.

With the many landings in the South Pacific, the supply problem became complicated and additional base and field depots were established.

In order to provide qualified officer candidates for general service, a college training program was inaugurated in conjunction with the V-12 program for naval personnel.

By June 30, 1943, the strength of combat units overseas, including ships detachments, had increased to 140,000; total strength of the corps was 308,929.

The Second and Third Marine Divisions had completed their organization in September and November 1942, and by June 1943 the organization of the Fourth Marine Division was nearly completed. In addition to four raider battalions, two parachute battalions and an antitank battalion, a number of other new units were also organized. The First Marine Amphibious Corps had been formed, and the Com-. mandant had, in July 1942, approved the establishment of an engineer service in the Marine Corps to coordinate and perform all engineer activities. By June 1943, an engineer regiment had been established in each marine division. At that time, a total of 6,460 officers and enlisted men were performing engineering duty. By this time Marine Corps aviation had increased to 57,969 officers and enlisted men. During the latter part of 1943 the slow-motion war in the Pacific suddenly shifted into high gear. The Army forces accelerated their program of leapfrog tactics up the north coast of New Guinea and our Central Pacific forces cracked the Japanese outer line of defense, when on November 20, 1942, the Second Marine Division landed on Tarawa and an Army division on Makin. The marines suffered heavy casualties in the water and on the beaches but through sheer guts and grim determination managed to gain a foothold on Betio Island, the principal defense position for Tarawa Atoll. Within 4 days the marines had wiped out all enemy resistance on the island. At the same time, American and Australian forces cleared part of New Guinea's north coast of Japanese and in December 1943, crossed to Arawe, New Britain, in a drive aimed at the Japanese base at Rabaul. This landing was spearheaded by marine-manned amphibian tractors. On December 26 of that year the First Marine Division landed at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, and on Long Island in the Vitiaz Straits. Heavy fighting took place around the Cape Gloucester airdrome and the hills in the Borgen Bay area. In a series of bloody battles the marines captured these hills, which included strategic Hill 660. In the latter part of February the marines from Cape Gloucester joined the soldiers from Arawe near the Itni River, which brought the western part of New Britain under American control. On March 6, 1944, First Marine Division troops landed on the Willaumez Peninsula.

The western New Britain campaign breached the enemy's defense are from Java to Rabaul, cutting both north and south barge lines, and creating an opening through which the Allies could drive north. The Japanese defensive line in the Central Pacific was definitely breached early in 1944, when Army and Marine Corps troops landed in the Marshall Islands. The Fourth Marine Division went ashore on Roi and Namur Islands at the northern end of Kwajalein Atoll while Seventh Infantry Division attacked Kwajalein Island at the southern end. Preliminary to the assault on the main objectives, marine units landed and occupied four smaller islands (Ennuebing, Mellu, Ennumennet, and Ennugarret), flanking Roi and Namur. Opposition on Roi was light and the advance was very rapid; the airstrip fell to the marines in 4 hours and the entire island was secured by dark. Heavier resistance was encountered on Namur, but it, too, was secured before the end of the second day. Organized resistance ended over the entire Kwajalein Atoll on February 7.

The perfect coordination of all forces smashed the Japanese off balance and the successful conquest of Kwajalein was followed by the assault against Eniwetok and the northern islands of the Marshall group.

The landings in the Marshalls were followed by the occupation of Green Islands in the South Pacific by American marines and New Zealand troops on February 14, 1944, and landing on Emirau in the San Matthias Islands by Marine Corps raider units on March 20, 1944. The capture of the Green Islands, for all strategic military purposes, completed the campaign for the Solomon Islands, as well as making another step in the encirclement of Rabaul, New Britain. The occupation of Emirau, together with the concurrent Army operations in the Admiralties, completed the noose around the Eismarck Archipelago and left approximately 70,000 Japanese troops to surrender or starve.

By June 1944 the total strength of the Marine Corps was 472,582, which included 18,000 enlisted women. The First Provisional Marine Brigade had been organized and on June 9, 1944, the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, was established at Pearl Harbor.

After the conquest of the Marshalls our Central Pacific forces moved into the Marianas Islands. On June 15, 1944, the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions landed on Saipan and 25 days of bitter fighting brought to a successful conclusion the conquest of Saipan. The following month these two units attacked Tinian. On July 20, 1944, the Third Marine Division and the First Provisional Marine Brigade launched a successful assault against Guam. The marines encountered heavy enemy resistance on Guam and were forced to fight for every inch of ground. The Japanese were emplaced in pill boxes and caves on the rugged hills and cliffs and had to be blasted out with demolitions, flame throwers, and grenades. On August 10 all organized resistance on the island had ceased. The conquest of the Marianas Islands, doorstep to Japan, opened up the Japanese mainlands to direct assault by Allied air and naval forces. As a result of the conquest of the Marianas group, the new B-29 bombers had a base from which they could attack the entire Japanese homeland, reach any portion of the Philippines, and blast targets in most of the Indies.

The next move in the Central Pacific offensive was to occupy and establish forward bases in the Halmahera group and the Palau Islands. The First Marine Division landed on the southern end of Peleliu at the southern end of the Palau Island chain. In spite of difficult reef conditions the initial landings were successfully carried out against light opposition. However, heavy opposition developed immediately after the landing and the marines had to fight their way, step by step, over exceptionally rugged terrain. After repulsing a number of counterattacks, the marines went to work with bazookas, flame throwers, and tanks cleaning out the caves and pill boxes. Tank battles and savage counterattacks featured the second day's fighting, but the marines continued their advance. By late afternoon of September 26 the marines had secured the major portion of Peleliu Island, and the next day launched a shore-to-shore attack on Ngesebus Island. The assault phase of the Palau operation ended on October 12, but the Japanese in one remaining pocket continued to resist.

Throughout the Pacific air war Marine Corps airmen have consistently exacted a toll of five Japanese planes for each plane lost. In addition to their important role in the various operations against the enemy in the South and Central Pacific, they played a major part in the campaign which completely destroyed. enemy air power in the Rabaul area in a 69-day campaign.

Two marine Artillery battalions participated with the Army in the landings and subsequent fighting on Leyte, P. I.

By the end of 1944 the Marine Corps had reached an over-all strength of 478,000 officers, men and women. All ground components except recruits and those now preparing to sail have served overseas except about 4,500 men.

In view of the present size and prestige of the Marine Corps, and the eminent services it has rendered in the present war, the committee regards it as fitting and proper that the Commandant of the Marine Corps have the rank of general. The bill, as amended by the committee, has the full approval of the Navy Department.

The following letter from the Secretary of the Navy, addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, setting forth the views and recommendations of the Navy Department with regard to H. R. 197, is made a part of this report:

Hon. CARL VINSON,

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., January 18, 1945.

Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs,

House of Representatives.

MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The bill, H. R. 197, to establish the grade of general in the Marine Corps, and for other purposes, was referred by your committee to the Navy Department with request for a report thereon.

The purpose of the proposed legislation is to establish the grade and rank of general on the active list of the Regular Marine Corps and to authorize the appointment of an officer holding the office of Commandant of the Marine Corps to that grade and rank. Only such an officer could be appointed under the bill, by reason of a proviso to section 4.

Section 2 of the bill would preserve the permanent and temporary status and eligibility for promotion of an officer appointed thereunder. Under section 3 the appointee's pay and allowances would be the same as those of a rear admiral of the upper half, plus a personal money allowance of $2,200 per annum.

Section 4 would provide that, in the discretion of the President, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an officer who shall have been appointed under the bill shall have, upon retirement, the highest grade and rank held by him on the active list, and retired pay equal to 75 percent of that which he received as general on the active list.

Section 5 would limit the effectiveness of the proposed legislation to the duration of the war and 6 months thereafter.

In view of the present size and the prestige of the Marine Corps it is considered fitting that the Commandant of the Marine Corps have the rank of general. The Navy Department, therefore, favors the enactment of H. R. 197. There are, however, certain amendments which this Department believes should be made to the bill in the interest of clarity and to avoid misinterpretation of its provisions. The proposed amendments and the reasons for suggesting them are hereinafter set forth.

It is recommended that section 1 be amended by adding the following sentence at the end of that section: "At no time shall there be more than one such officer on the active list in such grade and rank."

It is the view of the Navy Department that there should be only one officer on the active list of the Marine Corps in the grade of general at any one time. This is apparently contemplated under the bill, but since the bill contains no specific provision to effect that purpose, it is recommended that the above language be added. Section 1 of the bill would establish the "grade" of general and would provide for appointment to that "grade and rank". Section 4 refers to "grade or rank"