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| Paramarines | |
|---|---|
 1st Marine Parachute Regiment insignia | |
| Active | October 26, 1940 – February 29, 1944 |
| Disbanded | 1944 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Role | Airfield seizure Amphibious warfare Close-quarters combat Direct action Forward observer Indirect fire Jungle warfare Long-range penetration Mountain warfare Parachuting Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Special reconnaissance Tracking |
| Size | Regiment |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Victor H. Krulak Robert H. Williams |
TheParamarines (also known asMarine paratroopers) was a short-lived specialized combat unit of theUnited States Marine Corps, trained to beparatroopers dropped from planes by parachute. Marine parachute training which began in New Jersey in October 1940 ended with the parachute units being disbanded atCamp Pendleton, California in February 1944. Paratroopers received a significantly increased salary after completing training, so there was no shortage of volunteers, although all were required to be unmarried. Standards of fitness were high, and 40% failed the training course.
The first cohort of Marines paratroopers trained atNAS Lakehurst inNew Jersey in October 1940, eventually becoming the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion. They were followed by a second group in December 1940, forming the 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion. A third class trained atCamp Kearny inSan Diego, California in early 1941, eventually forming the 3rd Marine Parachute Battalion. After theUnited States enteredWorld War II, the training program was stepped up, and a special training camp and parachute training school was opened temporarily atCamp Elliott in San Diego in May 1942, next to Camp Kearny, moving to purpose-built accommodation nearby atCamp Gillespie in September 1942. A second training camp and parachute training school opened atHadnot Point on theNew River inNorth Carolina in June 1942, but closed in July 1943.
The Marine parachute battalion was organized into three rifle companies and a headquarters company consisting of the headquarters elements and a demolition platoon. Each rifle company consisted of three rifle platoons with each platoon equipped with rifles, light machine guns and a 60mm mortar.[1]
The1st Parachute Battalion was attached to the1st Marine Division for theinvasion ofGuadalcanal. The unit departedNorfolk, Virginia on 10 June 1942 aboard the stores shipUSS Mizar arriving atWellington, New Zealand 11 July 1942.[2] On 7 August 1942 the unit conducted anamphibious assault on the small island ofGavutu and later seized the neighboring island ofTanambogo along with other Marine units. The battalion later moved to Guadalcanal, fighting alongside the 1stMarine Raiders in the Tasimboko raid and theBattle of Edson's Ridge. The high casualties suffered by the Marine paratroopers led the battalion to be withdrawn to Camp Kiser inTontouta,New Caledonia in September.
Prior to themain landing onBougainville, where both the1st and3rd Parachute Battalions would eventually see action, the2nd Parachute Battalion performeda diversionary raid onChoiseul Island, from October 27 - November 4, 1943.
The three parachute battalions, with approximately 3,000 members, had become the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment of theI Marine Amphibious Corps. Four parachute operations were planned but never executed:[3]
However, the need for and cost of a parachute corps in the Marines was questioned, as were other specialized elite units, such as theMarine Raiders. The Marine Corps also lacked thetransport aircraft required for a massed parachute drop. On 30 December 1943,Marine CommandantThomas Holcomb ordered the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment to be disbanded, and along with the Marine Raider units, it officially ceased to exist on 29 February 1944.
Apart from a small group includingPeter Julien Ortiz who were parachuted intoFrance as part of anOffice of Strategic Services team to support theFrench Resistance, the Paramarines never dropped by parachute into combat, but were utilized during beachraids in thePacific campaign, including atGuadalcanal. Paramarines at San Diego were transferred to the5th Marine Division which landed onIwo Jima on February 19, 1945. Former Paramarines, Cpl.Harlon H. Block and Pfc.Ira H. Hayes, assisted in theraising of the American flag onMount Suribachi on 23 February 1945, depicted inJoe Rosenthal's iconic photograph. A third former Paramarine, Sgt.Henry O. "Hank" Hansen, had participated in the first American flag-raising earlier that day. Four of the 82 MarineMedal of Honor recipients inWorld War II were former Paramarines who were awarded the medal for their heroic actions on Iwo Jima.
The modern-day U.S. Marine Corps does not maintain any exclusively dedicated parachute infantry units, though some elite formations are trained and capable of parachute jumps if needed. Ever since the disbanding of the 1st Parachute Regiment in 1944, Marines and sailors have continued to volunteer for paratrooper training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Once a Marine has completedUnited States Army Airborne School, they are authorized to wear the coveted "Jump Wings" on theircamouflage utilities while in garrison. Marines who are awarded the goldNavy & Marine Corps Parachutist Badge often do so as part of theirMOS/billet training, such asMARSOC,Force Reconnaissance,Radio Reconnaissance Platoon,EOD, 3rd, 4th, and 6thANGLICO,JTAC,Parachute rigger, or as part of a reenlistment incentive.
The only official U.S. Marine Corps sport parachute team began in January 1965 and retired in July 1965, when the same personnel became the men's US Parachute Team at the Adriatic Cup inPortorož, Yugoslavia.
Team members were Robert Mathews, Dick Myron, Dave Becker, Tom Dougher, Ed Mikelaitis, Andre Smith, John Freitas, and Bob Armstrong. Captain Mathews was team captain, the others wereNCOs. Major Wilbur Dinegar was team leader. Sergeant Jim Vance was team rigger. Daryl Henry was team coach, recommended by parachutistJacques-André Istel.
The team was billeted atEl Toro MCAS in California and jumped at Elsinore, Oceanside and El Centro, depending upon weather, having a brace ofH-34s and an equipment truck at its disposal. The team represented the U.S. at the CISM games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in April, where they won the overall gold medal.
The team then disbanded, but was resurrected two months later to compete against theU.S. Army Parachute Team to determine who would represent the United States at the 1965 Adriatic Cup. The Marines won, were designated the U.S. Men's Team, and competed at Portorož. They made a respectable showing, although the competition was stiffer than in Rio with theEastern Bloc teams dominating the meet.[citation needed]
At the end of July, the team officially disbanded and all personnel returned to their duty stations, which in many cases included postings to Vietnam.
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