27th Marine Regiment (United States)

27th Marine Regiment
27th Marine Regiment emblem
Active	1944 – 46; 1966 – 69
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Infantry
Part of	5th Marine Division
Engagements	World War II Battle of Iwo Jima Vietnam War Operation Allen Brook
Commanders
Notable commanders	Thomas A. Wornham

The27th Marine Regiment(27th Marines) is an inactivated infantry regiment of theUnited States Marine Corps.They fought during thebattle of Iwo JimainWorld War IIand again for a short time during theVietnam War.

Subordinate units

The regiment comprised threeinfantrybattalions,a headquarters and service company, and a weapons company:

Battalions
Headquarters & Service Company
1st Battalion, 27th Marines(1/27)
2nd Battalion, 27th Marines(2/27)
3rd Battalion, 27th Marines(3/27)
Weapons Company

History

World War II

The 27th Marine Regiment was activated on 10 January 1944, as a result of the massive increase in the Marine Corps duringWorld War II.The regiment first saw action during the Battle of Iwo Jima. During the course of the battle they suffered 566 killed, 1,706 wounded, and had 4 Marines receive theMedal of Honor.After the surrender ofJapanthe regiment was inactivated on 10 January 1946.

Vietnam War

The 27th Marines was again reactivated during theVietnam Waron 1 January 1966, but was mainly used as a pool for new replacements before they went overseas. The 1st Battalion based atMarine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay,Hawaiiwas the only battalion with personnel assigned in 1966.

During 1967 the 2nd and 3rd Battalions stationed on the east coast of the U.S. were brought up to strength.

On 12 February 1968 in response to theTet Offensive,PresidentLyndon B. Johnsonauthorized an increase in U.S. troop strength inSouth Vietnamand the 27th Marines was one of the units sent. On 10 and 12 February, the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, at Hawaii had embarked on board theUSSVancouver,USSBexarand theUSSWashburnto participate in two landing exercises onOkinawa,but with the new orders the ships proceeded toDa Nang.Between 14 and 21 February, the rest of regimental landing team (RLT) 27 deployed by sea and air fromCamp Pendletonto Da Nang.Military Airlift Commandplanes flew more than 3,300 men of the regiment from California to Vietnam. By 17 February, the 27th Marines headquarters, together with those of battalion landing teams (BLT) 2/27 and 3/27 opened their command posts at Da Nang. The forces arriving as part of RLT 27 also included personnel from the artillery battalion,2nd Battalion, 13th Marines.On 21 February, theUSSThomastondepartedNaval Base San Diegowith the surface elements of the RLT, some 200 personnel and over 5,000 tons of equipment. By the end of the month, the 1st Battalion had joined the other two battalions of the regiment at Da Nang.By the end of February, the 2nd Battalion relieved the3rd Battalion, 5th Marinesand the 3rd Battalion relieved the2nd Battalion, 3rd Marinesin the southwest Da Nang tactical area of responsibility (TAOR).During March the 1/27th Marines remained in reserve while the other two battalions conducted over 2,900 small unit patrols throughout its TAOR resulting in about 310 contacts, 182 initiated by the Marines and the remainder by theVietcong(VC).At the end of March 1/27th Marines was moved north to provide security ofRoute 1betweenHuếandPhu Bai Combat Baseand the protection ofTân Mỹ Base.

2nd Platoon, Company I, 3/27 Marines with captured 122mm rockets

On 5 May a seven-man ambush patrol from the 1st Battalion murdered five South Vietnamese civilians near Huế. Five of the seven Marines were convicted of murder.

On 13 May elements of the 3rd Battalion joinedOperation Allen Brook.The entire regiment later joined the operation and assumed operational control until 3 August.

The deployment of the regiment overseas was only intended to be temporary and in March Johnson instructed that it was to return to the U.S. by 15 July, but this was delayed until September due to delays in the training of replacement United States Army forces.The deployment had put a severe strain on manpower in the Marine Corps.

While the regiment was preparing for its redeployment to the U.S. in August the VC launched theirPhase III offensiveand 1st Battalion participated in the defense ofDanang Air Basewhile the 2nd Battalion participated in operations to cut off the retreating VC andPeople's Army of Vietnam(PAVN) forces.

By late August the1st Marine Regimenthad arrived in the Da Nang TAOR and it began to relieve the Regiment.On 12 September, the first planeload of Regiment Marines left for Okinawa and on 17 September the last of BLT 1/27 arrived in Hawaii.

A homecoming parade was presented as a Memorial Ceremony downtown San Diego to the lives the regiment had given in South Vietnam. The unit was then reassigned to Camp Pendleton within the area of the base called Camp Margarita or the 33 Area.

Notable former members

• John Basilone,served with machineguns during World War II
• John A. Butler,served as Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion during thebattle of Iwo Jima
• Jack Lummus,served with F Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines
• Donn J. Robertson,served as Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion during the battle of Iwo Jima
• Thomas A. Wornham,served as Commanding Officer during the battle of Iwo Jima

See also

• List of United States Marine Corps regiments

References

• 3/27 Marines: Operation Allen Brook
• 27th Marine Regiment's History