3/25 Marine regiment fought on Iwo Jima
Friday, August 05, 2005
The Brook Park armory of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, has a humble origin and distinguished name.
It was once an elementary school. Now, the home of the battalion's Headquarters and Service Company is named for Col. Justice M. Chambers.
He was a West Virginian and never lived here, but led the 3rd Battalion in early 1945 when it landed in the black volcanic sands of Iwo Jima.
The battalion lost about half its men, according to Chambers' Medal of Honor citation. His sector was beneath high ground from which the Japanese shelled an important landing beach. While directing a rocket barrage, he was seriously wounded by heavy machine gun fire. His wounds forced his retirement.
Before that, he also led the battalion on Saipan and Tinian.
Chambers' medals are preserved in a glass case at the Brook Park armory, and they include the Silver Star, three Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, the Legion of Merit and the Medal of Honor.
The 25th was activated in 1943, deactivated at the close of World War II, and re-activated in 1962 as a Reserve unit. The whole regiment mobilized for Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
The 3rd Battalion has companies in Akron, Columbus, Buffalo, N.Y., and Moundsville, W.Va.
According to an official history of the battalion, it has deployed three rifle companies to three combat zones in Iraq.
Members of the Headquarters and Service Company stood in the gym of this former elementary school in January for a ceremony. Then, family members and friends bade the 200 Marines farewell before they shipped out for Iraq.
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posted by the nomad at 10:33 AM
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