The 5th Marine Division was activated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1943. Division Headquarters Battalion officially began operating at Camp Pendleton on December 1, at which time men and equipment began streaming into Pendleton. The official activation date for the Division was January 21, 1944.
On March 21, 1945 the 5th Marine Division Cemetery was formally dedicated on Iwo Jima. Chaplains prayed, Major General Keller E. Rockey added a tribute to the dead and Lieutenant Roland B. Gittelsohn, U.S. Navy and a 5th Division chaplain, spoke of friends buried and "the ghastly price of freedom...." The flag was raised then lowered to half-mast. Taps was played echoing across the dark foreboding ash of Sulfur Island.
Casualties
World War II
Killed in Action/Died of Wounds – 2,416
Wounded in Action – 6,860
Total Casualties– 9,276
Vietnam War
Killed in Action/Died of Wounds – N/A
Wounded in Action – N/A
Total Casualties– N/A
Honors and Awards
Units of the division included in assault troops of the V Amphibious Corps, reinforced, were awarded the: Presidential Unit Citation, and those included in support troops of the V Amphibious Corps, reinforced, were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Iwo Jima, 19–28 February 1945.
