In exchange for hosting sex parties for officers and providing bribes including $22019,000 watches, $2,000 boxes of cigars and $2,000 bottles of cognac, the Navy officials allegedly provided Francis with classified or inside information that allowed his firm, Glenn Marine Defense Asia, to take the Navy for tens of millions of dollars, according to federal prosecutors.
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It took 4,095 men from A Company of the 2nd Tank Battalion, A Company of the 2nd Service Battalion, and parachute and antitank platoons. For the Iceland deployment, the 5th Marine Defense Battalion was attached.Bogart, Charles H., "Fifth Marine Defense Battalion in Iceland", Coast Defense Journal, Vol.
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Conn, pp. 99-101 155 mm Long Tom gun "Scorpion" of the 4th Marine Defense Battalion in Barakoma, Solomon Islands. Besides the Coast Artillery, key islands in the Pacific theater were defended by U.S. Marine defense battalions throughout the war. Their most famous engagement was the Battle of Wake Island in December 1941, in which heavy casualties were inflicted on a Japanese invasion force that eventually took the island.
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The Merchant Marine Defense Medal (Bar) is a decoration of the United States Merchant Marine. The decoration was established by an Act of Congress on August 14, 1944.
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The Republic of Korea Navy was established as the Marine Defense Group on November 11, 1945. In June 1946, the Marine Defense Group became the Korean Coast Guard, and officially recognized by the United States Army Military Government in Korea. The Korean Coast Guard acquired 36 patrol craft (mainly ex-IJN and USN minecraft) through the Military Government. In October 1949, the ROK Navy purchased a 600-ton submarine chaser, the former USS PC-823, which was renamed as ROKS Baekdusan (PC 701) and became "the first significant warship of the newly independent nation".
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Griebel as Major in 1942. Griebel was ordered back to the United States in August 1940 and assumed duty as Post Maintenance Officer at Marine Barracks, Quantico under Major general Louis M. Little and Holland Smith consecutively. He served in this capacity until June 1942, when he assumed command of 155mm Group of the 10th Marine Defense Battalion under Colonel Robert Blake at San Diego, California. The Marine Defense Battalions were special marine units, which were designated the defense force of the Pacific naval bases and should be placed on Midway Atoll, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll and Palmyra Atoll.
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Combining Polipol polyester resins and Polives vinyl ester resin as well as gelcoat products, Composite performance materials provides products for the construction, transport, marine, defense, wind energy, sports equipment, chemical containment industries. Main manufacturing plant is located in Southeastern Europe, Cerkezkoy-Turkey.
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Prior to 1992, the Merchant Marine Defense Medal was a ribbon-only decoration; otherwise known as the Merchant Marine Defense Bar. > On May 19, 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the > availability of new medals for civilian merchant seamen, in recognition of > their service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The medals are being > issued to supplement war zone ribbon bars previously awarded to civilian > mariners who supported the nation's armed forces in these wars. The new medal design consists of: > The shield and anchor, from the United States Maritime Service Seal, are > superimposed in a ship's wheel, denoting control and maritime service.
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Benner completed a one-year course there in the summer of the following year and was promoted to Captain on June 30, 1936. He was subsequently ordered to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, where he served as an instructor of anti-aircraft artillery until April 1940. He was subsequently ordered to Hawaii and joined the Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, where he participated in the newly established Marine defense battalions program. Marine defense battalions, special Marine units, which were designated the defense force of the Pacific naval bases and should be placed on Midway Atoll, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll, and Palmyra Atoll.
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Robert Houston Pepper (April 22, 1895 – June 1, 1968) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general, who is most noted for his work in the development of the Marine defense battalions during World War II and later as commanding general of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific or 3rd Marine Division.
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In 1996, the brigade consisted of, among other things, the Korsö barrier battalion (which is now called marine defense battalion kustförsvarsbataljon), the 1st Amphibious Battalion (1. amfibiebataljonen) and the Battle Group Oxdjupet (submarine security company). The brigade was disbanded on 30 June 2000 and, from 1 July 2000, formed the basis of the Vaxholm Amphibian Regiment (Amf 1).
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George Franklin Good Jr. (September 16, 1901 – October 25, 1991) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. Good is most noted for his service as commander of the Marine Defense Force of Funafuti during World War II and later as commanding general of Department of the Pacific.
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Hamel, p. 52 As the invasion progressed American supplies crowded the beaches as infantry pushed the Japanese defenders inland. The 9th Marine Defense Battalion, in addition to skirmishing with Japanese forces, began securing and clearing their predefined artillery position objectives and the Seabees from the 24th Naval Construction Battalion began clearing an encampment for a medical aid station.Rentz, p.
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In June 1946, the Marine Defense Group became the Korean Coast Guard, and officially recognized by the United States Army Military Government in Korea. The Korean Coast Guard acquired 36 patrol craft (mainly ex-IJN and USN minecraft) through the Military Government. Meanwhile, the Military Government provided limited assistance through U.S. Navy (USN) and U.S. Coast Guard personnel then in South Korea.
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In January 1941, the United States Navy constructed a military base on the atoll. On 19 August, the first permanent military garrison, elements of the 1st Marine Defense Battalion1st Marine Defense Battalion deployed to Wake Island under the command of Major P.S. Devereux, USMC with a force of 450 officers and men. Despite the relatively small size of the atoll, the Marines could not man all their defensive positions nor did they arrive with all their equipment, notably their air search radar units.with only 449 Marines on hand for the battles at Wake Island because one officer [Major Walter Baylor], USMC had been ordered to leave on 20 December with official reports. The Marine Detachment was supplemented by Marine Corps Fighter Squadron VMF-211, consisting of 12 F4F-3 Wildcat fighters, commanded by Marine aviator Major Paul A. Putnam, USMC.
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Six of these units were equipped with howitzers and the other two operated short-ranged howitzers. A provisional corps artillery unit was also formed which comprised two batteries of long-ranged 155 mm "Long Tom" guns from the 3rd Defense Battalion and eight batteries of anti-aircraft guns from the 251st Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment and the marine defense battalion.Miller (1959), pp. 352–355, 357Gillespie (1952), p.
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In the Army, each Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) auto-weapons battalion was authorized a total of thirty-two 40 mm guns in its four firing batteries. Each U.S. Marine division had a "special weapons battalion" that included sixteen 40 mm guns; in early 1944 these were replaced with anti-aircraft battalions with twelve 40 mm guns. Marine defense battalions also used the 40 mm gun.
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4th Marine Defense Battalion artillery at Barakoma Airfield. Seabees of the 58th Naval Construction Battalion began landing on 15 August and set to work unloading the landing ships under frequent air attack. Among the first items unloaded were bulldozers, which were used to construct roads inland to sites where supplies could be dumped, dispersed away from the beach and each other. The Seebees built of roads during August.
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155 mm Long Tom gun "Scorpion" of the 4th Marine Defense Battalion at Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella in the South Pacific. The 4th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was commissioned on February 1, 1940 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. The original manpower for the battalion came from a cadre from the 3rd Defense Battalion. The battalion departed the United States in February 1941 bound for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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On an average day, 350 tactical fighter- bombers, 60 B-52s, and 30 light observation or reconnaissance aircraft operated in the skies near the base.Morocco, p. 178. Westmoreland had already ordered the nascent Igloo White operation to assist in the Marine defense. On 22 January, the first sensor drops took place, and by the end of the month, 316 acoustic and seismic sensors had been dropped in 44 strings.
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Morison 1958, pp. 428–429 On the American side, Hodge's Americal Division and Beightler's 37th Infantry Division manned the Perimeter, while the 3rd Marine Defense Battalion and the US Army 49th Coast Artillery Battalion protected the beachhead. Griswold had learned on New Georgia that waiting for the Japanese to attack was a much surer way to victory than undertaking his own offensive operations in a jungle.Lofgren 1993, p. 27.
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The Republic of Korea Navy was founded on November 11, 1945 as Marine Defense Group after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan. The ROK Navy is the oldest service within the ROK Armed Forces. In 2015, the South Korean navy celebrated its 70th anniversary. Since the Korean War, the ROK Navy had concentrated its efforts on building naval forces against the North Korean navy, which has littoral naval capabilities.
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Four two-gun batteries of 4″/50 caliber ex-Navy guns were emplaced on the North Shore of Oahu in 1942. They seem to have been withdrawn in 1943 as other defenses were constructed. It is not clear who operated these guns; likely possibilities include the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps, Marine defense battalions, or naval personnel. The batteries were at Kaena, Kalihi (Mokuoeo Island), Battery Dillingham at Mokuleia, and Kaneohe Bay.
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The 16th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion was commissioned on 10 November 1942 at Johnston Island. Personnel and equipment for the new battalion came from the re-designation of the Marine Defense Force, Naval Air Station Johnston Island. The battalion remained at Johnston Island providing air defense until 22 March 1944 when it was transferred to Kauai, Territory of Hawaii. Not all of the battalion departed Johnston Island as approximately 450 personnel remained for defensive purposes.
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While they did not participate in the Battle of Iwo Jima, they did land on Okinawa in April 1945. Soon after, the Japanese surrender lead to the disbanding of most of the defense battalions. Marine defense battalions were seen as an ideal unit type for creating and deploying African American units with white leadership, since they trained independently and fought in isolated areas.Melson, "Two African-American Defense Battalions", 1996, pp. 8–9.
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Just earlier, in January 1941, the United States Navy began construction of a military base on the atoll. On August 19, the first permanent military garrison, elements of the U.S. Marine Corps' First Marine Defense Battalion, totaling 449 officers and men, were stationed on the island, commanded by Navy Cmdr. Winfield Scott Cunningham. Also on the island were 68 U.S. Naval personnel and about 1,221 civilian workers from the American firm Morrison-Knudsen Corp.
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Although an airfield was under construction on Johnston, the only aircraft present on the island were Navy PBY patrol planes, usually anchored offshore. Johnston became noticeable to the Japanese command because of its location. Although it was too close to Hawaii to be amphibiously assaulted, it was near the major Japanese air base in the Marshall Islands. The executive officer of the 1st Marine Defense Battalion, Major Francis B. Loomis Jr., had arrived on Johnston on December 7, 1941.
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The naval aviation force consists of about 70 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The ROK Marine Corps has about 300 tracked vehicles including assault amphibious vehicles. The Republic of Korea Navy was established as the Marine Defense Group on November 11, 1945 after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945. Since the Korean War, the South Korean navy had concentrated its efforts on building naval forces to counteract hostilities of North Korea.
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On 8 January 1944, the destroyer escort returned to Pearl Harbor to prepare for her role in "Operation Flintlock", the Marshalls invasion. Twenty days later, she departed Oahu in the screen of a convoy bound for the Central Pacific. As in the case of the Gilberts operation, Wileman took no part in the actual assault phase of Operation Flintlock. Instead, she again escorted the ships carrying part of the garrison troops — the 16th Marine Defense Battalion and a Construction Battalion unit — for Kwajalein Atoll.
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The 2nd 90mm Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion was a United States Marine Corps antiaircraft unit that was active during the 1940s & 1950s. Originally formed during World War II as the 9th Defense Battalion, it took part in combat operations on Guadalcanal, Rendova, Munda Point, and Guam. The unit, like all other US Marine defense battalions, was renamed in September 1944, becoming the 9th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. Returning to the United States in 1946 the battalion was again redesignated, this time as the 1st Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion.
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I Corps commander General Bruce C. Clarke advocated defense on the hills north of the MLR to deny the tactical advantage they offered to the PVA. Vegas was the highest of the "Nevada Cities" and north from the MLR. "From North to South this observation included in its 180-degree sweep, enemy hill mass 57 to the right, friendly outpost Berlin, the MLR, key Marine defense highpoints, Hills 229 and 181 in the 1st Marines sector, and intervening terrain." However, soldiers on Vegas could not see Reno.
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The Association evolved into the Marine Defense Group on November 11, 1945 (later became Navy Foundation Day) and later became the Korean Coast Guard, which was formed in Jinhae. After the new Republic of Korea government was established on August 15, 1948, the Korean Coast Guard has formally renamed the Republic of Korea Navy, and Sohn became the first Chief of Naval Operations of the ROK Navy on September 5, 1948."Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea: The Early Years (1945 to 1957)". _Commander U.S. Naval Forces Korea, U.S. Navy Official Website_.
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The division next moved to the Fiji Islands, beginning 5 March 1943, to assume the defense of the main island of Viti Levu and to engage in extensive training. During the period 25 December 1943 to 12 January 1944 the Americal Division landed on Bougainville, relieving the 3rd Marine Division. They were given the task (alongside the 37th Infantry Division and a Marine defense battalion) of holding and extending the right half of a previously established perimeter. Warned by intelligence, they met a massive and sustained Japanese counter-attack, which began on 7 March 1944.
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Due to its strategic location at the mouth of the Bab el Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, Djibouti also hosts various foreign military bases. Camp Lemonnier is a United States Naval Expeditionary Base, situated at Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport and home to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) of the U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM). In 2011, Japan also opened a local naval base staffed by 180 personnel to assist in marine defense. This initiative is expected to generate $30 million in revenue for the Djiboutian government.
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Gunnarsson was born in Borås, Sweden. Gunnarsson became a lieutenant in 1974 and he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College at the Marine Corps Base Quantico from 1991 to 1992. After his time at Quantico, Gunnarsson was posted to the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, Plans and Policy Directorate, as a section head. In 1994, he took command of one of the marine defense battalions in the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA 1). Gunnarsson was commanding officer of the Marinens krigshögskola (MKHS) from 1995 to 1996 and was promoted to colonel in 1996.
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On 27 March 2014, a Puntland government delegation including President Ali and cabinet ministers met with EU representatives aboard a NATO ship. The meeting concluded with an announcement by the European Union officials that the EU would begin training Puntland Maritime Police Force units in Djibouti. The new training schedule is intended to help the Puntland authorities strengthen their marine defense capabilities in keeping with the New Deal Compact's Somali Maritime and Resources Strategy. President Ali welcomed the initiative, noting that marine cooperation with national and international stakeholders would impact activities on both sea and land, including coastal development projects.
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From the 2010 Cegelec Financial Report, 58.1% of Cegelec's total sales were made within France, the country which contains the highest diversity of Cegelec’s operations, hosting their nuclear, marine, defense and the largest amount of electrical engineering/transport sub-companies. Cegelec’s international headquarters are in Saint-Denis, acting as the central hub for Cegelec’s international interactions. One of their recent contracts in France was the assignment “to design remote handling equipment for France’s proposed underground [nuclear] repository” in 2014. This contract was estimated to be valued at €20 million and took approximately four years to complete.
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He left Quantico again in June 1933 to be assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma. Bleasdale spent a year on that ship, before he was transferred again to Quantico. In June 1936, he was assigned to the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and one year later, he was appointed an inspector-instructor of the 13th Marine Reserve Battalion located in Los Angeles, California. After service at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Marine Corps base in San Diego, California, Bleasdale was appointed executive officer of the Marine Defense Force in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
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ROKS Baekdusan (PC 701), the first warship of the ROK Navy, undergoing refitting at Hawaii in March 1950 A ROKN sailor places a S. Korean naval ensign on a torpedo boat, after its transfer by the U.S. in the midst of the Korean War The Republic of Korea Navy was established as the Marine Defense Group on November 11, 1945. After Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945, Sohn Won-yil, a former merchant mariner and son of the Methodist minister and independence activist Sohn Jung-do,"손원일 중장" . _War Memorial Museum Official Website_. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
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During this time the Commanding Officer of the 10th Defense Battalion also assumed the responsibilities as the Antiaircraft Commander, Russell Islands and Commander Marine Defense Group Solomons. During July 1943, M3A1 Stuart Light Tanks of the 10th Defense Battalion were assigned to support the 43rd Infantry Division securing Munda Point on New Georgia. After Munda, the tank section was transported via landing craft to Arundel Island where they again provided fire support for the 43rd Infantry during their seizure of the island. On December 30, 1943 the US Army's 13th Antiaircraft Group assumed responsibility for air and coastal defense of the Russell Island.
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He then served at Quantico and was promoted to major on July 1, 1939. He was ordered to Hawaii in April 1940 and joined the 3rd Defense Battalion under Colonel Harry K. Pickett as a battery commander. The Marine defense battalions were special Marine units, which were designated as the defense force of the Pacific naval bases and were be placed on Midway Atoll, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll and Palmyra Atoll. In September 1940, Roberts led approximately a third of 3rd Defense Battalion to Midway and assumed responsibility for the anti-aircraft defense of the atoll.
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ROKS Baekdusan (PC 701), the first warship of the ROK Navy Naval ensign of South Korea Naval jack of South Korea This is the list of decommissioned ships of the Republic of Korea Navy. The South Korean navy was established on November 11, 1945 as the Marine Defense Group (later became the Korean Coast Guard) after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945. The Korean Coast Guard became the Republic of Korea Navy after the South Korean government was established on August 15, 1948. Since its inception and until the 1990s, the Republic of Korea Navy had acquired about 150 former United States Navy ships.
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Rearming ROKS Beakdusan (PC 701) at Hawaii in March 1950 Jinhae naval airfield), where the ROKMC was founded, circa 1950 Shortly after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan on August 15, 1945, Sohn Won-yil, a former merchant mariner and son of the Methodist minister and independence activist Sohn Jung-do,"손원일 중장" . _War Memorial Museum Official Website_. Retrieved May 2, 2007. led the Maritime Affairs Association. The Maritime Affairs Association evolved in the Marine Defense Group on November 11, 1945 (Navy Foundation Day), and some 70 people proceeded to the former Imperial Japanese Navy's Chinkai Guard District at Jinhae to establish a naval unit.
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On November 28, 1941, Cunningham, by now a commander, reported for duty as Officer in Charge, All Naval Activities, Wake Island. His command briefing gave top priority to completing the naval air station, over any attention to improving the island's defenses. On December 8, 1941, news of the attack on Pearl Harbor naval / air bases in Hawaii reached Wake Island at 07:00 am, less than 2-1/2 hours after the Japanese struck further east. Cunningham ordered all personnel to battle stations; at the same time Major James Devereux, USMC commanding officer of the Wake Detachment of the 1st Marine Defense Battalion, ordered a "Call to Arms".
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Pepper returned to San Diego in August 1933 and later was transferred to the Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina. He was sent to the Army Coast Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Virginia, during July 1934 and subsequently graduated from the course in June 1935. Pepper was promoted to the rank of major at the same time and assumed duties as Artillery Assistant in the War Plans Section, Division of Plans and Policies, Headquarters Marine Corps. While in this capacity, Pepper met Lieutenant Colonel Charles D. Barrett and they drew up together the concept of Marine defense battalions, which were designated for the Anti-aircraft and coastal defense of the islands in the Pacific Ocean.
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Waller was recalled to active duty in June 1941 as officer in charge of target practice at Marine Corps Headquarters, Washington, D.C. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in January 1942. Almost one year later, Waller was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and appointed as director of Marine Corps personnel. He remained in this capacity until September 1944, when he was transferred to the Pacific Theater, where he was appointed commanding general of the Marine defense on Johnston and Midway Atolls. He was also responsible for defending the naval bases in the Hawaiian Islands, where he was commander of the Marine garrison force of the 14th Naval District.
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Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Kenmore put in at Norfolk, Virginia, on 6 September and embarked men and equipment of the 13th Marine Defense Battalion and the 18th and 19th Naval Construction Battalions. Departing on 19 September, she docked at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on 24 September and steamed in convoy for the Pacific on 4 October. Arriving off Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 11 November, she debarked her troops and offloaded her cargo, then reported on 9 November to Rear Adm. Richmond K. Turner, Commander, Amphibious Forces, South Pacific. Kenmore departed Nouméa on 28 November as a unit of Task Force 62, arriving off the beach east of Togoma Point, Guadalcanal, on 3 December.
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In January 1941, Devereux was ordered to Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands and later dispatched to Wake Island as the officer-in-charge of the First Marine Defense Battalion's Detachment on Wake Island, located in the northwest Pacific Ocean. On the morning of Monday, December 8, 1941, he received the message that Pearl Harbor had been attacked by the Japanese a few hours earlier (Sunday, December 7, 1941). In the fight that followed, (the Battle of Wake Island) then-Major Devereux, and his Marines, supported by Marine Fighter Squadron 211, damaged two cruisers, sank two destroyers, one escort vessel, and destroyed or damaged a total of 72 aircraft, and probably sank one submarine. Two more destroyers were damaged the last day.
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Kitty Hawk rushed the 3d Marine Defense Battalion and planes of Marine Air Groups to Midway Island when intelligence indicated a Japanese attack there. The ship transported aircraft and supplies to support the campaigns in the Southwest Pacific for the remainder of the war. Hammondsport, the former Seatrain Havana, transported PT boats from New York to San Francisco and then remained in the Pacific largely transporting assembled aircraft as in the case of Kitty Hawk. The USAT Seatrain Texas during World War II An early extraordinary demand came when, responding to an urgent British request on July 13, 1942 for tanks and artillery to counter Rommel after the fall of Tobruk, a convoy of six fast freighters was loaded at the New York Port of Embarkation (NYPOE) for Egypt with 300 medium tanks, 100 tank destroyers, and about 13,000 tons of ammunition.
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In December 1941, during the Battle of Wake Island, US Marine defense battalions fired at the Japanese invasion fleet with six 5-inch (127 mm) guns, sinking the Japanese destroyer Hayate by scoring direct hits on her magazines, and scoring eleven hits on the light cruiser Yubari, forcing her to withdraw, and temporarily repulsing Japanese efforts to take the island. The Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays denied Manila harbor to the invading Japanese until Corregidor fell to amphibious assault on 6 May 1942, nearly a month after the fall of Bataan. Beyond tying up besieging Japanese forces (who suffered severe supply shortages due to the inability to use Manila as a port), the forts allowed interception of radio traffic later decisive at Midway. The Japanese defended the island of Betio in the Tarawa atoll with numerous 203 mm (8-inch) coastal guns.
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The defense battalions were first conceived from the fixed defense concept during the Marine Corps's, as well the United States Navy's, critical change in their traditional sea service role to a more "aggressive" amphibious landing force. They conducted "fixed" defense exercises on Culebra Island of Puerto Rico throughout the first half of the 20th century, and other areas around the Caribbean. The first battalions were created in 1939, when the outbreak of World War II caused concerns that overseas bases might be attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. In July 1941 the 5th Marine Defense Battalion landed in Iceland as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade alongside the 6th Marine Regiment and other elements of the 2nd Marine Division, augmenting British forces until they departed in September. The battalion had left its Coast Defense Group behind and exchanged the aircraft sound locators for SCR-268 radar sets.
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After shakedown, Kitty Hawk departed New York on 16 December 1941, for Hawaii via the Panama Canal with aircraft to replace U.S. losses in the Japanese attack, and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 8 February 1942. She unloaded her aircraft at Hickam Field and returned to the mainland on 25 February. Kitty Hawk returned to Pearl Harbor on 17 May. Intelligence reports arrived indicating that a Japanese fleet was approaching the Hawaiian Islands. Immediately, Kitty Hawk loaded the men, armament, and equipment of the 3rd Marine Defense Battalion and aircraft of Marine Air Groups 21 and 45 and sailed at top speed to reinforce Midway, escorted by the destroyer . En route, a PBY Catalina reported a submarine in the area which Gwin drove off with a heavy barrage of depth charges, enabling Kitty Hawk to deliver her vital fighting men and aircraft to Midway on 26 May. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter to in August 1942. Escorted by destroyers Gwin and , Kitty Hawk departed Midway on 29 May and arrived Honolulu on 1 June.
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In March 1942 the battalion was relieved by the Army's 61st Coast Artillery Regiment. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, where defenders shot down three planes on 7 December 1941, the battalions grew rapidly. On 8 December, the Japanese began an assault on Wake Island, and the defenders, including 399 Marines of the 1st Defense Battalion, surrendered after a prolonged battle on 23 December. The year 1942 became a period of defense for the Pacific Theater, and as such, the Marine defense battalions saw much reinforcement, redeployment, and growth. On 4 June, the Marines at Midway Island fended off a Japanese aerial attack, which contributed to the victory of the naval battle hundreds of miles away. On 7 August, the 3rd Defense Battalion went ashore with the infantry to Guadalcanal and defended the island (and others in the Solomon Islands) against Japanese counterattacks during the Battle of Guadalcanal. In the summer of 1943, elements of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Defense Battalions supported the Army's XIV Corps in the central Solomons campaign.
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VMA-211 Insignia. Admiral Frank Fletcher's Task Force 14 (TF–14) was tasked with the relief of Wake Island while Admiral Wilson Brown's Task Force 11 (TF–11) was to undertake a raid on the island of Jaluit in the Marshall Islands as a diversion. TF–14 consisted of the fleet carrier , the fleet oiler , the seaplane tender , three heavy cruisers (, , and ), and 8 destroyers (, , , , , , , and ). The convoy carried the 4th Marine Defense Battalion (Battery F, with four 3-inch AA guns, and Battery B, with two 5-inch/51 guns) and fighter squadron VMF-221, equipped with Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighters, along with three complete sets of FC equipment for the 3-inch AA batteries already on the island, plus tools and spares; spare parts for the 5-inch coast defense guns and replacement fire control gear; 9,000 5-inch rounds, 12,000 rounds, and 3,000,000 rounds; machine gun teams and service and support elements of the 4th Defense Battalion; VMF-221 Detachment (the planes were embarked on Saratoga); as well as an SCR-270 air search radar and an SCR-268 fire control radar for the 3-inch guns, and a large amount of ammunition for mortars and other battalion small arms.
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