Appendix IV
Command and Staff List of Major Units1

 
Expeditionary Troops

Commanding General LtGen Holland M. Smith.
Chief of Staff BrigGen Graves B. Erskine.
G-1 LtCol Albert F. Metze.
G-2 Col St. Julien R. Marshall.
G-3 Col John C. McQueen.
G-4 Col Raymond E. Knapp.
G-5 Col Joseph T. Smith.

Northern Troops And Landing Force

Commanding General LtGen Holland M. Smith.
Chief of Staff BrigGen Graves B. Erskine.
G-1 LtCol Albert F. Metze.
G-2 LtCol Thomas R. Yancey (USA).
G-3 Col Robert E. Hogaboom.
G-4 LtCol Joseph C. Anderson (USA).

2d Marine Division

Commanding General MajGen Thomas E. Watson.
Assistant Division Commander BrigGen Merritt A. Edson.
Chief of Staff Col David M. Shoup.
D-1 LtCol James T. Wilbur.
D-2 LtCol Thomas J. Colley.
D-3 LtCol Wallace M. Greene, Jr.
D-4 Col Robert J. Straub.

2d Marines

Commanding Officer Col Walter J. Stuart.
Executive Officer LtCol John H. Griebel.
R-1 Capt Leonard G. Hicks.
R-2 Capt John L. Schwabe.
R-3 Maj Samuel D. Mandeville, Jr.
R-4 Maj Harold "K" Throneson.

1st Battalion, 2d Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Wood B. Kyle.
Executive Officer Maj Wendell W. Andrews.
Bn-3 Maj Charles P. Lewis, Jr.

2d Battalion, 2d Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Richard C. Nutting.
Executive Officer Maj Michael P. Ryan.
Bn-3 1stLt William B. Somerville.

3d Battalion, 2d Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Arnold F. Johnston (WIA 21 June).
Maj Harold "K" Throneson (21 June to 4 July).
LtCol Arnold F. Johnston (from 5 July).
Executive Officer Maj Benjamin T. Owens.
Bn-3 Capt Richard Phillippi.

6th Marines

Commanding Officer Col James P. Riseley.
Executive Officer LtCol Kenneth F. McLeod.
R-1 Capt Philip J. Costello.
R-2 Capt Donald V. Nahrgang.
R-3 Maj Loren E. Haffner.
R-4 Maj Cyril C. Sheehan.

1st Battalion, 6th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol William K. Jones.
Executive Officer Maj James A. Donovan, Jr.
Bn-3 Capt Charles H. Triplett.

2d Battalion, 6th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Raymond L. Murray (WIA 15 June).
Maj LeRoy P. Hunt, Jr. (from 15 June).
Executive Officer Maj Howard J. Rice.
Bn-3 Capt Joseph E. Rowland.

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3d Battalion, 6th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol John W. Easley (WIA 15 June).
Maj John E. Rentsch (15 June to 2 July).
LtCol John W. Easley (from 3 July).
Executive Officer Maj John E. Rentsch.
Bn-3 Capt Edward L. Singletary.

8th Marines

Commanding Officer Col Clarence R. Wallace.
Executive Officer LtCol Jack P. Juhan.
R-1 Capt Lloyd E. Iverson.
R-2 1stLt James H. Kavanagh, Jr.
R-3 Maj William H. Souder, Jr.
R-4 Maj Alfred E. Holland.

1st Battalion, 8th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Lawrence C. Hays, Jr.
Executive Officer Maj Robert J. Oddy.
Bn-3 Maj Daniel V. McWethy, Jr.

2d Battalion, 8th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Henry P. Crowe (WIA 15 June).
Maj William C. Chamberlin (from 15 June).
Executive Officer Maj William C. Chamberlin.
Bn-3 Capt Arthur J. Rauchle.

3d Battalion, 8th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol John C. Miller (WIA 15 June).
Maj Stanley E. Larsen (from 15 June).
Executive Officer Maj Stanley E. Larsen.
Bn-3 Capt Osborne K. LeBlanc.

1st Battalion, 29th Marines
(Attached to 2d MarDiv)

Battalion Commander LtCol Guy E. Tannyhill (WIA 17 June).
LtCol Rathvon M. Tompkins (from 17 June, WIA 2 July).
LtCol. Jack P. Juhan (from 2 July, reverted to 8th Marines' executive officer 4 July).
Maj William W. McKinley (from 4 July).
Executive Officer Maj William S. Vasconcellos.
Bn-3 Maj William W. McKinley.

10th Marines

Commanding Officer Col Raphael Griffin.
Executive Officer LtCol Ralph E. Forsyth.
R-1 1stLt Russell C. White.
R-2 Capt Robert W. Sullivan.
R-3 LtCol Howard V. Hiett.
R-4 Capt Edward R. Gilbert.

1st Battalion, 10th Marines

Battalion Commander Col Presley M. Rixey (transferred to Regimental Executive Officer on 24 June).
Maj Wendell H. Best (from 25 June).
Executive Officer Maj. Wendell H. Best.
Bn-3 Capt Michael J. Bo.

2d Battalion, 10th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol George R. E. Shell (WIA 16 June).
Maj Kenneth C. Houston (from 16 June).
Executive Officer Maj Kenneth C. Houston.
Bn-3 Capt Richard B. Cavanaugh.

3d Battalion, 10th Marines

Battalion Commander Maj William L. Crouch (KIA 7 July).
Maj James O. Appleyard (from 8 July).
Executive Officer Maj Wade H. Hitt.
Bn-3 Capt Alan H. Tully.

4th Battalion, 10th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Kenneth A. Jorgensen.
Executive Officer LtCol Harry N. Shea.
Bn-3 Maj James O. Appleyard.

2d 155mm Howitzer Battalion, V Amph Corps

Battalion Commander LtCol Marvin H. Floom.
Executive Officer Maj Gene N. Schraeder.
Bn-3 Maj Earl J. Rowse.

18th Marines2

Commanding Officer LtCol Russell Lloyd (to 6th Marines on 25 June).
LtCol Ewart S. Laue (from 26 June).

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Executive Officer LtCol Ewart S. Laue.
R-1 Capt Winfield S. Haltom, Jr.
R-2 and R-3 Capt Murdoch J. McLeod.
R-4 Capt Walter J. Hulsey.

1st Battalion, 18th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol August L. Vogt.
Executive Officer Capt Joseph G. Polifka.

2d Battalion, 18th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Chester J. Salazar.
Executive Officer and Bn-3 Capt Jerome R. Walters.

2d Tank Battalion

Battalion Commander Maj Charles W. McCoy.
Executive Officer and Bn-3 Capt John C. Richards, Jr.

2d Amphibian Tractor Battalion

Battalion Commander Maj Henry G. Lawrence, Jr. (transferred to NTLF staff as LVT control officer on 2 July).
Maj Fenlon A. Durand (from 2 July).
Executive Officer Maj Fenlon A. Durand.
Bn-3 Capt William H. Housman, Jr.

5th Amphibian Tractor Battalion

Battalion Commander Capt George L. Shead.
Executive Officer Capt William C. Stoll.
Bn-3 not shown.

2d Motor Transport Battalion

Battalion Commander Maj Milton J. Green.
Executive Officer Maj Robert H. Sanders.
Bn-3 Capt Harry C. Olson.

2d Service Battalion

Battalion Commander Capt Robert V. Perkins.
Executive Officer Lt Francis E. McElroy.
Bn-3 not shown.

2d Medical Battalion

Battalion Commander LtComdr Claude R. Bruner.
Executive Officer and Bn-3 not shown.

4th Marine Division

Division Commander MajGen Harry Schmidt.
Assistant Division Commander BrigGen Samuel C. Cumming.
Chief of Staff Col William W. Rogers.
D-1 Col Walter I. Jordan.
D-2 LtCol Gooderham L. McCormick.
D-3 Col Walter W. Wensinger.
D-4 Col William F. Brown.

23d Marines

Commanding Officer Col Louis R. Jones.
Executive Officer LtCol John R. Lanigan.
R-1 Capt Charlie J. Talbert.
R-2 Capt Richard W. Mirick.
R-3 Maj Edward W. Wells.
R-4 Capt Henry S. Campbell.

1st Battalion, 23d Marines

Battalion Commander Col Ralph Haas.
Executive Officer Maj James S. Scales.
Bn-3 Capt James R. Miller.

2d Battalion, 23d Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Edward J. Dillon.
Executive Officer Maj Albert H. Follmar.
Bn-3 Maj Robert H. Davidson.

3d Battalion, 23d Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol John J. Cosgrove (WIA 19 June).
Maj Paul S. Treitel (from 19 June).
Executive Officer Maj Paul S. Treitel.
Bn-3 Maj Robert J. J. Picardi.

24th Marines

Commanding Officer Col Franklin A. Hart.
Executive Officer LtCol Austin R. Brunelli.
R-1 Capt Kenneth N. Hilton.
R-2 Capt Arthur B. Hanson.
R-3 LtCol Charles D. Roberts.
R-4 Maj Clyde T. Smith.

1st Battalion, 24th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Maynard C. Schultz (DOW 16 June).
Maj Robert N. Fricke (16 to 18 June).
LtCol Austin R. Brunelli (18 June to 4 July).
LtCol Otto Lessing (from 4 July).
Executive Officer Maj Robert N. Fricke.
Bn-3 1stLt Gene G. Mundy.

2d Battalion, 24th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Richard Rothwell.
Executive Officer Capt Claude M. Cappelmann.
Bn-3 Capt Charles C. Berkeley.

3d Battalion, 24th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Alex A. Vandegrift, Jr. (WIA 27 June, evacuated 29 June).
LtCol Otto Lessing (29 June to 3 July).
LtCol Alex A. Vandegrift, Jr. (from 3 July).

--272--

Executive Officer and Bn-3 Capt Webb D. Sawyer.

25th Marines

Commanding Officer Col Merton J. Batchelder.
Executive Officer LtCol Clarence J. O'Donnell.
R-1 Capt Francis A. Norton.
R-2 Capt Charles D. Gray.
R-3 LtCol William F. Thyson, Jr.
R-4 Maj Arthur E. Buck, Jr.

1st Battalion, 25th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Hollis U. Mustain.
Executive Officer Maj Henry D. Strunk.
Bn-3 Capt Fenton J. Mee.

2d Battalion, 25th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Lewis C. Hudson, Jr.
Executive Officer Maj William P. Kaempfer.
Bn-3 Capt Victor J. Barringer.

3d Battalion, 25th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Justice M. Chambers (WIA 22 June).
Maj James Taul (22 to 23 June).
LtCol Justice M. Chambers (from 23 June).
Executive Officer Maj James Tani.
Bn-3 Capt James G. Headley.

14th Marines

Commanding Officer Col Louis G. DeHaven.
Executive Officer LtCol Randall M. Victory.
R-1 1stLt Cecil D. Snyder.
R-2 Capt Harrison L. Rogers.
R-3 Maj Frederick J. Karch.
R-4 Maj Richard J. Winsborough.

1st Battalion, 14th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Harry J. Zimmer.
Executive Officer Maj Clifford B. Drake.
Bn-3 Maj Thomas McE. Fry.

2d Battalion, 14th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol George B. Wilson, Jr.
Executive Officer Maj William McReynolds.
Bn-3 Capt Jack H. Riddle.

3d Battalion, 14th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Robert E. MacFarlane.
Executive Officer Maj Harvey A. Feehan.
Bn-3 Capt Fenton H. Elliott.

4th Battalion, 14th Marines

Battalion Commander LtCol Carl A. Youngdale.
Executive Officer Maj John B. Edgar, Jr.
Bn-3 Maj Roland J. Spritzen.

4th 105mm Howitzer Battalion, V Amphibious Corps

Battalion Commander LtCol Douglas E. Reeve.
Executive Officer Maj Marvin R. Burdett.
Bn-3 Capt Joe H. Daniel.

20th Marines

Commanding Officer LtCol Nelson K. Brown.
Executive Officer Capt William M. Anderson.
R-1 Capt Martin M. Calcaterra.
R-2 Capt Carl A. Sachs.
R-3 Maj Melvin D. Henderson.
R-4 Capt Samuel G. Thompson.

1st Battalion, 20th Marines

Battalion Commander Maj Richard G. Ruby.
Executive Officer Maj George F. Williamson.
Bn-3 Capt Martin H. Glover.

2d Battalion, 20th Marines

Battalion Commander Maj John H. Partridge.
Executive Officer Capt Howard M. Dowling.
Bn-3 Capt George A. Smith.

4th Tank Battalion

Battalion Commander Maj Richard K. Schmidt.
Executive Officer Maj Francis L. Orgain.
Bn-3 Capt Leo B. Chase.

10th Amphibian Tractor Battalion

Battalion Commander Maj Victor J. Croizat.
Executive Officer Maj Harry T. Marshall, Jr.
Bn-3 not shown on rolls.

4th Motor Transport Battalion

Battalion Commander LtCol Ralph L. Schiesswohl.
Executive Officer Maj Vaughan H. Huse.
Bn-3 1stLt Walter W. Alford.

4th Service Battalion

Battalion Commander Col Richard H. Schubert.
Executive Officer not shown.
Bn-3 2dLt James T. Willis.

4th Medical Battalion

Battalion Commander LtComdr George W. Mast.
Executive Officer LtComdr George M. Davis, Jr.
Bn-3 not shown.

27th Infantry Division

Division Commander3 MajGen Ralph C. Smith (relieved 24 June).
MajGen Sanderford Jarman (from 24 June, reverted to

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  Saipan Garrison Force Commander on 28 June).
MajGen George W. Griner (from 28 June).
Assistant Division Commander BrigGen Ogden J. Ross.
Chief of Staff Col A. C. Stebbins.
G-1 LtCol M. Oakley Bidwell.
G-2 LtCol W. M. Van Antwerp.
G-3 LtCol F. H. Sheldon.
G-4 LtCol Charles B. Ferris.

105th Infantry

Commanding Officer Col Leonard A. Bishop.
S-2 Maj Malcolm M. Jameson.
S-3 Maj Philip E. Smith.

1st Battalion, 105th Infantry

Battalion Commander LtCol William J. O'Brien (KIA 7 July).4

2d Battalion, 105th Infantry

Battalion Commander LtCol Leslie Jensen (transferred to Regimental Executive Officer).5
Maj Edward McCarthy.
Executive Officer Maj Edward McCarthy.

3d Battalion, 105th Infantry

Battalion Commander LtCol Edward T. Bradt.

106th Infantry

Commanding Officer Col Russell G. Ayres (relieved 26 June).
Col A. C. Stebbins (from 26 June).
Executive Officer LtCol Joseph J. Parley.

1st Battalion, 106th Infantry

Battalion Commander LtCol Winslow Cornett.
Executive Officer Maj John Nichols.

2d Battalion, 106th Infantry

Battalion Commander Maj Almerin C. O'Hara.

3d Battalion, 106th Infantry

Battalion Commander LtCol Harold 1. Mizony (KIA 28 June).
Maj Francis Fisher (from 28 June).
Executive Officer Maj Francis Fisher.

165th Infantry

Commanding Officer Col Gerard W. Kelley (WIA 28 June).
LtCol Joseph T. Hart (from 28 June).
Executive Officer LtCol Joseph T. Hart.
S-1 Capt Edward S. McCabe.
S-2 Maj William F. McCahill.
S-3 Capt Charles E. Coates, Jr.
S-4 Capt Herman M. Lutz.

1st Battalion, 165th Infantry

Battalion Commander Maj James H. Mahoney.
Executive Officer Capt Edward J. Strong.
S-3 Capt Henry A. Berger.

2d Battalion, 165th Infantry

Battalion Commander LtCol John F. McDonough (WIA 25 June).
Maj Gregory Brousseau (from 25 June, WIA 27 June).
Capt James A. Dooley (temporary 27 June).
Maj Dennis D. Claire (from 27 June).
Executive Officer Maj Gregory Brousseau.
S-3 Capt James A. Dooley.

3d Battalion, 165th Infantry

Battalion Commander Maj Dennis D. Claire (transferred to 2d Bn 27 June).
Maj Martin H. Foery (from 27 June).
Executive Officer Maj Martin H. Foery.
S-3 Capt Martin E. Nolan.

27th Division Artillery

Commanding General BrigGen Redmond F. Kernan, Jr.
Executive Officer Col Harold G. Browne.

104th Field Artillery Battalion

Commanding Officer LtCol George P. VanNostrand.

105th Field Artillery Battalion

Commanding Officer LtCol Nicholas D. LaMorte.

106th Field Artillery Battalion

Commanding Officer LtCol John J. Fitzgerald.

249th Field Artillery Battalion

Commanding Officer LtCol Dwight McCallum.

XXIV Corps Artillery

Commanding General BrigGen Arthur M. Harper.
Adjutant Capt Wayne B. Young.
S-2 Maj Milford W. Wood.
S-3 LtCol F. W. Wheless.
S-4 Maj E. P. Waggoner, Jr.

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Table of Contents ** Previous Chapter (Appendix III) * Next Chapter (Appendix V)


Footnotes

1. Changes in commanders only are shown. Officers listed in other staff positions are those who originally landed with the unit at Saipan. Casualties other than commanders are not shown.

2. Command and staff list of 18th Marines is from the unit's muster roles. A check of other available records and letters from officers gives the following additional information: Lieutenant Colonel Russell Lloyd was also CO 2d Marine Division Shore Party until 25 June 1944 when he was attached to the 6th Marines. Major G. L. H. Cooper commanded the division shore party from 26 to 30 June 1944 when the beaches were turned over to the Army. Lieutenant Colonel Chester J. Salazar retained administrative command of the 2d Battalion, 18th Marines, throughout the period, although his unit, with personnel from other regiments and attached units, functioned as the 2d Division Shore Party. Lieutenant Colonel Ewart S. Lane had administrative command of the 18th Marines until 25 June 1944 and tactical command from 26 June.

3. Complete staff and command list for 27th Division units not available.

4. Name of O'Brien's replacement not shown in documents consulted.

5. Date of this change not shown in documents consulted. Assumed to have been about 1 July.



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