b'thirst, Marines emerged into and, in some cases, in a foggySan Diego and set sail for New Zealand to join the 3d Marine darkness. The irregular placement of barracks designed toDivision and subsequent operations on Bougainville, Guam and confuse enemy aviators worked equally well on disorientedIwo Jima.Marines. Finding the first available empty bed became moreShortly after the 9th Marines departed, units for a new important than maintaining unit integrity. That could bedivision began arriving. The 4th Marine Division officially sorted out at morning muster. unfurled its colors on Aug. 19, 1943.Six months later, that Much to the dismay of some California historians anddivision left Camp Pendleton by rail for San Diego where local citizens, the Marine Corps began using the old Santait combat-loaded aboard an amphibious flotilla and sailed Margarita y Las Flores Ranch House as an officers club. Thedirectly for an assault against the Japanese on Roi-Namur thought of the venerable hacienda, which dated from 1841,in the Kwajalein Atoll. It was the first battle for the division being renovated to accommodate wild merriment by Marinein a campaign across the Central Pacific that would include officers was too much to bear. Letters were written; phoneSaipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. The division would suffer over calls made. The rumblings of discontent even reached the17,700 casualties before returning.ears of President Roosevelt. When the President visitedWithin days of the 4th Divisions departure, the 5thCamp Pendleton for its formal dedication on Sept. 25, 1942,Marine Division stood up at Camp Pendleton. By July 1944, his 16-car motorcade stopped at the Ranch House.initial training completed, it sailed for Hawaii to continue In a pleasant, diplomaticpreparations on an objective identified only as Island X.way, he made his viewsIn February 1945, the 5th Division united with the 3rdknown.He made noand 4th Divisions at Island X, soon to be known to the objection to the Marinesworld as Iwo Jima. Six Marines from the 5th Marine using the Ranch House Division captured the hearts of the American peopleas an officers club, but and symbolized the valor of their many comrades whenhe did instruct that its historical integrity beJoe Rosenthal photographed them raising the Stars and maintained.The MarineStripes on Mount Suribachi. Each division in that horrific Corps has followed hisbattle could trace its origin to Camp Pendleton.wishes to this day. Less glamorous than its role as the launching site for The 9th Marines trainingfamous fighting units, but equally important to the warwas intense, but brief. Oneffort, was Camp Pendletons mission to organize and train Jan. 24, 1943, the regimentreplacement drafts.During the last six months of 1944 embarked aboard ships at.continued on page 27Thank You For Your Service Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 25'