Division = 20,000 men
Corps = 50,000 or more men
In the Marine Corps, four squads make up one platoon; four platoons and a headquarters section make up a company; three companies and a headquarters company make up a battalion; three battalions make up a regiment; and three regiments plus an artillery regiment make up a division.
A Marine division’s strength is usually about 20,000 men because, in addition to the “line” (infantry) and artillery regiments, there are many special units attached to the division. These special units include battalions of tanks, engineers, motor transport, and amtracks. In addition there are medical-aid, war-dog, rocket, communication, and intelligence units. Two or more of these big 20,000-man divisions form a corps of upwards of 50,000 men, because a corps also has its specialists of service and supply.
At Iwo Jima the Fifth Amphibious Corps included three Marine divisions, the 3, 4, and 5. In all, this was a force of about 70,000 men.
These figures serve only as approximations, because military units always vary in size. A number of men are always sick, on leave, on loan to other units or going home after being discharged. In one campaign a division may need its tanks; in another, impassable terrain will make it necessary to leave the tanks behind. Thus an army, like the wars it fights, is an inconstant, changing thing.
Marines who Won the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima
(* indicates that the award was given after death)
| Name | Rank | Date | Reason for Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Berry, Charles Joseph | Corporal | March 3, 1945 | Smothered grenade with his body to save his comrades |
| *Caddy, William Robert | Private First Class | March 3, 1945 | Smothered grenade with his body to save his comrades. |
| *Cole, Darrell Samuel | Sergeant | Feb. 19, 1945 | Fought his way to Airfield One and destroyed several pillboxes before he was killed |
| Dunlap, Robert Hugo | Captain | Feb. 20-21, 1945 | Spent two nights in front of Marine lines, directing fire on enemy caves. |
| Chambers, Justice Marion | Lieutenant Colonel | Feb. 19-22, 1945 | Exposing himself to enemy fire he inspired his men in assault on Quarry until he fell critically wounded. |
| Gray, Ross Franklin | Sergeant | Feb. 21, 1945 | Wiped out six enemy positions and killed more than 25 enemy soldiers. |
| Harrell, William George | Sergeant | March 3, 1945 | In dawn battle he saved his post, killing a dozen enemy soldiers, but lost both hands. |
| Jacobson, Douglas Thomas | Private First Class | Feb. 26, 1945 | Destroyed 16 pillboxes and killed 75 Japanese in assault on Hill 382. |
| *Julian, Joseph Rodolph | Sergeant | March 9, 1945 | In a one-man assault he smashed enemy positions with grenades, a rifle, demolition charges and a bazooka. |
| *LaBelle, James Dennis | Private First Class | March 8, 1945 | Smothered grenade with his body to save his comrades. |
| Leims, John Harold | Second Lieutenant | March 7, 1945 | Made two trips into enemy area to save wounded men from certain death. |
