3rd Marine Division question

[charlie8137]

Why is it that the 3rd Mar Div never rotated back to the states? I heard RUMORS that at one time, their headquarters were overrun and lost their s and because of this they can never return to the states. Just wondering what the truth is.

[bunniemccosar]

I've read a lot of history and this is the first that I have heard this about this Division. I know that this has been said of the 4th Marines but in actuality they did not "lose their s" as some would claim. They were ordered to surrender when Corregidor fell and most became prisoners of war and many died on the Bataan Death march.

[spook]

I just did some research on the Division. No where in it's histroy is anything about loosing it's s or not being able to return to the states.I found this link http://www.ridinthewave.com/thinkytees/3rdMarDiv.html that give a short history of the division. The division has some subordinate units stationed in Hawaii.

Maybe it is the Army we should look at. I know that supposedly a well know Cav unit of the Army either lost their s or retreated in force in Korea; and was supposedly left overseas for quite sometime. My father was part of the initial cadre of the 3rd when it moved to New Zealand in WWII.

[mecollins]

I've read a lot of history and this is the first that I have heard this about this Division. I know that this has been said of the 4th Marines but in actuality they did not "lose their s" as some would claim. They were ordered to surrender when Corregidor fell and most became prisoners of war and many died on the Bataan Death march.

I was always led to believe that the 4th MARDIV & the 4th MAW.,were elements of the Marine Corps Reserve..???

[bunniemccosar]

The 4th MarDiv is a Reserve Division (Louisiana) but the 4th Marines are not of the Division.

The 4th Marine Regiment is a Regiment of the 3rd MarDiv, presently located at Camp Schwab and its and its' Regiments are presently assigned to the 1stMarDiv regiments in the Afgahnistan area. The old 4th Marines burnt their s prior to surrender and is later rebuilt by the 4 Raider Battalions that were being deactivated.

[Walt]

Since either WW2 or Korea the 3rd Div and 3rd wing has been stationed in the far East in case they are needed. SF