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Marine Defense Battalions, October 1939 - December 1942: their Contributions in the Early Phases of World War II

This thesis explores the activities of the U.S. Marine defense battalions from October 1939 to December 1942. More specifically, it explains why Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) decided to continue the defense battalions as separate entities when, by mid-1943, it needed additional men to replace its combat losses and to create new divisions. In this process HQMC disbanded other special units, such as the raider battalions, parachute battalions, barrage balloon squadrons, and the glider squadrons. It retained, however, the defense battalions because of their versatility and utility as demonstrated during the various operations they conducted in Iceland and the Central and South Pacific. In these locations defense battalions performed as: (a) island garrisons, (b) antiaircraft artillery units, and (c) landing forces. Their success in carrying out these missions led to their retention as separate entities throughout World War II.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc279378
Date12 1900
CreatorsMaynard, Stephen Ronald
ContributorsMarcello, Ronald E., Himmel, Richard L., 1950-
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatvi, 171 leaves : ill., maps, Text
Coverage1939-10-1942-12
RightsPublic, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved., Maynard, Stephen Ronald

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