United States Marine Corps 7th Defense Battalion
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HISTORICAL NOTE
The 7th Defense Battalion was commissioned on 16 December 1940 at MCB San Diego, CA. From 16 December through 26 February 1941 the battalion focused on organizing, equipping and training for future employment. The battalion was organized differently then the other defense battalions at the time which were optimized for coastal and air defense. The 7th originally lacked the air defense capability and was composed of a headquarters company, an infantry company (Company A), and a artillery company (Company B). On 27 February 1941 the battalion's main body embarked for Tutuila, American Samoa with a stop at Pearl Harbor on the way. The main body of the 7th Defense Battalion arrived at Tutuila on 18 March 1941. On 28 March 1942 the 7th Defense Battalion departed Tutuila bound for the island of Upolu in Samoa. Later on the battalion also establish a position on Savai'i. Beginning on 12 August 1943, the battalion left Apia Harbor in three successive waves headed for Nanumea, the northernmost of the Ellice Islands. The battalion departed Nanumea on 9 March 1944 arriving at Kauai, HI on 21 March 1944. The battalion was re-designated as the 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion on 16 April 1944. The assault echelon of the newly reorganized 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion departed Kauai on 7 August 1944. The main body of the advance echelon went ashore on Anguar, Palau Islands on 24 September 1944. The 7th AAA Battalion remained on Anguar as the garrison force until it was relieved of its mission on 12 July 1945. The battalion's personnel were transferred to the United States or other units in theater and the battalion was officially decommissioned 2 August 1945 on Guam.
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1943-03-22 |
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Censored Marines mail |
At Upolu, Samoa. From the Greg Ciesielski collection.
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