3rdMarDiv, 1952-1953

[cmyr]

Are there any Marines out there who belonged to 3rdMarDiv in 1952 or 1953?

Any Marines out there who can give me a name and unit of someone assigned to the Division during this timeframe?

I'd like to see if I have their picture.:)

Thanks,
Nancy

[GunnySan]

Nancy,
You came to the right place. I was there (13 Area) when the Division was formed in early 1952. We shipped out to Japan in August of 1953. I'd have to check some of my papers, but as I recall, MajGen. Robert H. Pepper was CG, BGen Lewis B. Puller was ADC. and in Japan MajGen. Homer L. Litzenberg was CG. Hows that for "3 of a Kind" ? I was with Signal Bn. at Pendleton, then Hq. Bn. in Japan.

[cmyr]

Cool! :D

This book has MGen Pepper as Division Commander and BGen Burger as ADC.

But the 3rd Signal Battalion is all pictured here - LtCol Haggerty and all of his staff, the Headquarters Company, the ANGLICO Battalion, and the Signal Company along with some pics of these Marines/Sailors at work.

As the book was advertised as 1952-1953, I'm trying to get a better fix on the year. There are pictures of FEX-1, AIRLEX-II, and PHIBEX-1 in here, too.

[GunnySan]

BGen. Burger as ADC makes sense. Chesty was transferred to TTU at Coronado after making some statements that upset America's mommies. I was with ANGLICO. It was part of 3rdSigBn. I remember Col. Haggerty.
Why the question of the years? It had be 1952-1953. The Division was formed in 1952 and left Pendleton in 1953. We were spread all over Honshu, from Fuji on down.

[cmyr]

GunnySan,

I just wanted to reverify that the Marines shown in this book were actually there in 1952- 1953. This way I can reverify that this book is from that timeframe. There is no print date in the book nor a date on the cover.

I have a slight feeling that maybe this book was put together to commemorate the reformation of the 3rdMarDiv.

Finding a book like this is just so exciting for me and I look forward to sharing it with others in the Special Books section.
Nancy

[GunnySan]

That was a very busy time for 3Div. Cold weather training at Pickel Meadows (I was excused), Nuclear tests in Nevada and lots of field exercises at Pendleton. The division was preparing for possible mounting out to Korea. As I recall, that was the reason we went to Japan, but the cease-fire was signed while the advance parties were in Japan. We stayed there, Glorious! Best 14 months duty in my career.