Vietnam War The 5th Marine Division was a United States Marine Corps ground combat division which was activated on 11 November 1943 (officially activated on 21 January 1944) at Camp Pendleton, California during World War II.

Assault troops of the 5th Division were included in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the V Amphibious Corps for extraordinary heroism on Iwo Jima from 19 to 28 February 1945.

The 5th Division was ordered to be reactivated on 1 March 1966 at Camp Pendleton, California, during the Vietnam War.

But in February 1968, General William C. Westmoreland, U.S. Army, commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam, asked for help because of the all-out Communist Tet Offensive.

Parts of the division began to deploy overseas to act as the reserve force during the Battle of Guam where they were not needed.

While there the 31st Naval Construction Battalion was attached to the Division tasked as shore party for the upcoming operation.

Chaplains prayed, Major General Keller E. Rockey added a tribute to the dead and Lieutenant Roland B. Gittelsohn, U.S. Navy and a 5th Division chaplain, spoke of friends buried and "the ghastly price of freedom...." The American flag (there since 14 March) at the northern part of Iwo Jima was raised then lowered to half-staff.

Iwo Jima became an important support and emergency landing field for aircraft based out of the Marianas.

After the Japanese surrender they set sail for Japan where they occupied the southern island of Kyushu.

The 5th Division left Japan in November 1945 and arrived in San Diego, California the week of Christmas 1945.

But in February 1968, General William C. Westmoreland, U.S. Army, commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam, asked for help because of the all-out Communist Tet Offensive.

The 5th Division was formally inactivated on 26 November 1969, and the men reformed into the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Moved out of Camp Pendleton on 6 July and was assigned to the 7th Fleet's Special Landing Force on 5 August.

Moved out of Camp Pendleton on 2 September and was assigned to the 7th Fleet's Special Landing Force on 4 October.

[9] They were part of a top secret program to develop flamethrowing tanks with Seabees from the 117th CB and the 43rd Chemical Laboratory Company.

Early in the assault it was decided that the tanks from all three Divisions would be consolidated into a Regimental command under Lt.

The Battalion departed Subic Bay aboard the USS Washtenaw County for Da Nang in July 1967.

Ord & Maint Co. suffered heavy losses on Hill 88 as 21 Marines perished from mortar fire falling on the 105mm ordnance bunker.

This was the highest number of casualties suffered in a single day by the 5th Tank Battalion during the Vietnam War.

As the result of President Nixon's draw down in troop strength Bravo Company returned to Camp Pendleton in September 1968.