WORLD WAR II 1940 TO 1945

WELCOME TO THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE MUSEUM..... A PICTORIAL WALK INTO THE HISTORY OF THE "UNITED STATES MARINES" IS FEATURED HERE OF DIFFERENT ERAS. OR COME VISIT US AT OUR LOCATION IN SCRANTON,PA.......COME BACK OFTEN FOR A VISIT , WE ARE FOREVER ADDING NEW ARTIFACTS TO YOUR MUSEUM...SEMPER FI

1340 Alder Street, off Wintermantel Ave

THE MCL BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1936 BY W.P.A., THE COMPLETION OF THE MUSEUM WAS 1982. YOU WILL FIND THE MUSEUM LOCATED INSIDE THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE BUILDING. ALL DIORAMAS WERE BUILT BY "JERRY MAUS SR.". MR MAUS WHO SERVED WITH THE UNTIED STATES ARMY, HAD GREAT RESPECT FOR THE MARINE CORPS...........OUR THANKS AND APPRECIATION GOES TO "MR. JERRY MAUS SR.".

MUSEUM OFFICERS ; George Kopestonsky, Leo withline, Bob Tuffy and Dominic DeNunzio. Anyone that wishes to donate items or photos to add to existing display here on this web site may contact: Dominic DeNunzio 2074 Mossy Oak Circle Clarksville Tn. 37043 Or call: (931) 906-8998 or Email to : usmcrd@charter.net


World War II

World War II -- Statistics and overview

During the two decades before World War II, the Marine Corps began to develop the doctrine, equipment and organization needed for amphibious warfare. The success of this effort was proven throughout the Pacific during World War II. By the end of the war in 1945, the Marine Corps had grown to include six divisions, five air wings and supporting troops. The Marine Corps strength in World War II peaked at 475,604. The war cost the Marines nearly 87,000 dead and wounded.

Active Duty Marines

YearOfficerEnlisted
1940 800 26,545
1941 3,339 51,020
1942 7,138 135,475
1943 21,384 287,139
1944 32,788 442,816
1945 37,067 437,613
1946 14,208 141,471

Marine Corps combat losses

Prisoners of War (POW) | 348

Wounded in Action (WIA) | 67,207

Killed in Action (KIA) | 19,733

Other deaths | 4,778

Medal of Honor recipients

USMC personnel received 81 of the 433 Medals of Honor awarded during World War II. Fifty-one of the medals were awarded postumously.

1st Enlisted Marine Recipient: Sergeant Clyde Thomason, Makin Island raid, Aug. 17, 1942.

1st Marine Officer Recipient: 1st Lieutenant George Cannon, Midway Island, Dec. 7, 1941.

Battles

Wake Island -- Dec. 8-23, 1941

Bataan & Corregidor -- Dec. 8, 1941- May 6, 1942

Guadalcanal capture and defense -- Aug. 7, 1942-Feb. 8, 1943

Makin Island Raid -- Aug. 17-18, 1942

New Georgia Occupation June 20, to Aug. 31, 1943

*Tarawa Operation -- Nov. 20 to Nov 23, 1943

Cape Gloucester Operation -- Dec. 26, 1943 to March 1, 1944

Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls Occupation -- Jan. 31 to Feb. 8, 1944

Eniwetok Atoll Occupation Feb. 17 to March 2, 1944

Saipan Capture and Occupation -- June 15 to Aug. 10, 1944

Guam Capture and Occupation -- July 21 to Aug. 15, 1944

Tinian Capture and Occupation -- July 24 to Aug. Aug. 10, 1944

Peleliu Capture and Occupation -- Sept. 15 to Oct. 14, 1944

Leyte Landings (Philippines) Oct. 20, 1944

*Iwo Jima Operation -- Feb. 19 to March 16, 1945

Okinawa Capture and Occupation -- April 1 to June 21, 1945

--There were 1, 556 officers and 26, 369 enlisted in 1940; by 1945, 37,664 officers and 447,399 enlisted were in six Marine divisions.

-- From 1941-1945, nearly 20,000 Marines were killed in action or died of wounds; more than 67,000 were wounded in action.

-- 81 Marines would be awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in WWII.

-- 18 June, 1945 -- Gen. Roy S. Geiger became commanding general, 10th Army; on Okinawa; first time a Marine would command a field army