It was created on 1 October 1942, with most of the staff transferred from Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet (ACPF).

It was then deployed to the South Pacific Area – a U.S.-led multinational military command active during World War II that was a part of the U.S. Pacific Ocean Areas – first to Hawaii, then to New Caledonia.

Vandegrift, the commander of the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Guadalcanal was promoted to lieutenant general.

[2] General Vandegrift carried on in command of the Corps when its next-designated commander for the invasion of Bougainville, Major General Charles D. Barrett, died following a fall from the balcony of his quarters in New Caledonia.

Various elements of the Corps used this basic design with their task insignia in white on the red center.