FIRST PROVISIONAL MARINE BRIGADE
Like it's Army counterpart, Marine units were drastically understrength, having only two of the three authorized rifle companies in each regiment and only four of the six guns authorized for each firing battery.
JULY 1: Chief of Naval Operations asked the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINPAC) as to how soon a reinforced battalion or reinforced regiment from the 1st Marine Division could be ready to embark for duty in the Far East Command. After consulting with the Commanding General Fleet Marine Force, on that same day he replied that a battalion could be ready in six days and that a regiment could be ready in ten days.
JULY 2: Chief of Naval Operations directed the CINPAC to prepare a reinforced regiment with supporting air for immediate embarkation.
JULY 5: Fleet Marine Force Pacific prepared Operation Plan 2-50 dated this date. It covered task organization, mission and instructions covering embarkation, equipment and supplies. It was hand carried to Camp Pendleton. Pending approval of the Marine Corps Commandant, the RCT-MAG was designated as the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. Commandant, Marine Corps approved the formation of three rifle companies of three platoons each.
JULY 6: 1st Marine Division General Order 9, dated this date, formally activated the First Provisional Marine Brigade effective 7 July 1950.
JULY 7: Personnel required to fill shortages began arriving this date. Brigade officially activated. Marine Air Group (MAG-33) activated this date.
JULY 9: Embarkation plans were completed, the first ships became available and loading began.
JULY 12: The first two ships LSD's (Landing Ship Dock) sailed on this date. One has been identified as the USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5). Three pictures appear below.
JULY 13: Loading was completed and all remaining troops embarked.
JULY 14: Convoy sailed for Japan this date. Due to lack of shipping, approximately 200 assorted vehicles were left behind. The shortage was met in part by assignment of Army vehicles and by capture of North Korean vehicles. A total of 6,553 Brigade troops sailed.
JULY 16: Generals Craig and Cushman and Advance Party departed by air for Tokyo.
JULY 19: Generals Craig and Cushman and all the advance party arrived in Tokyo.
JULY 25: Ground component orders were changed and the convoy sailed directly for Korea.
JULY 31: MAG-33 arrived at Kobe, Japan. Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 2 (MTACS-2) and ground echelon of VMO-6 left by Landing Ship Tank (LST) for Pusan.
AUGUST 1: MTACS-2 and ground echelon of VMO-6 arrived at Pusan. The 70 aircraft of the three fighting squadrons launched from the CVE and landed at Itami.
AUGUST 2: Ground elements arrived and began unloading this date. Air elements debarked at Kobe and went to Itami airfield where VFM-214 and VMF-323 were loaded on CVE's Sicily and Badoeng Strait shown below. The Brigades ground elements arrived at Pusan.
CVE SICILY
CVE-116 BADOENG STRAIT
AUGUST 3: Brigade Command Post (CP) established in the vicinity of Changwon at 6 PM and the last elements of the Brigade were in place by 9:25 PM. The Brigade was attached to the 25th Infantry Division
The Brigade and the Army's 5th RCT were designated as Army reserve in the Masan area. A radio net was established using thirteen LST,s and an APA anchored off Masan which were being used to supply the Brigade. The net served all units operating in the Masan area and also tied in with the Pusan net.
AUGUST 6: The Brigade was attached to the 24thj Infantry Division and issued a warning order to prepare to move to the Chindong-ni area beginning at 9 AM.
AUGUST 7: Ground and air elements attacked towards Chindong-ni supported by Corsairs flying from the two carriers shown above.
AUGUST 15: Enemy in Zone of Action consists of elements of the North Korean 4th Rifle Division. Troops are located as follows: 100 troops, 10 machine guns and 3 mortars reported in vicinity of 1145.3-1383.0 at 0400 hours. At 0800 hours 1,000 people clad in white wre reported in the vicinity of 1153.6-1388.6at 1545 hours 4 artillery pieces ware reported at 1133-1386. 75 -100 troops moving east in the vicinity of 1141.8-1383.5 at 1425 hours.
16 AUGUST: Friendly forces were attacked at 0500 hours with enemy lines reported fron 1144-1383.9 to 1142.8-1385.7. Estimated strenght as a depleted regiment. Four enemy tanks were reported in the area of the bridgehead. 1st Provisional Marine Brigade relieved elements of the 34th Infantry Regiment after darkness on the night of 16-17 August and captured objectives 1,2 and 3. Brigade Command Post is in the vicinity of Yongsan.
17 AUGUST: 24th Infantry Division attacks at H Hour to recapture positions and destroy enemy East of the Naktong River. Formations from right to left: 19th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade and 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment.. Attack was preceded by artillery and air strikes. Dog Company attacked on the right and Easy Company attacked on the left. After Dog Copmpany reached the top of Objective 1, it was withdrawn in order to allow more artillery and air strikes. The 2nd Battalion got about 3/4 of the way up the hill, receiving about 180 casualties from small arms, hand grenades and mortar fire. First Battalion passed through the First Battalion and captured the objective at 1800 hours. Three enemy T-34 tanks were destroyed by our M-26 tanks.
18 AUGUST: The Attack to captureO bjective 2 began at 0700 hours. 1800 hours. 1st and 2d Battalions are holding objectives one and two respectively. The 3d Battalion is completing mopping up Objective three. An estimated 250 opf the enemy were killed.
19 AUGUST; Ten or twelve artillery rounds from across the river fell in our area and G Company received some small arms fire. Neither resulted in any casualties. 1st Battalion 11th Marines artillerry moved to Miryang. 5th marines completed mnovement East of Yongsan.
20 AUGUST. Brigade will move from present positions near Miryang to new positions near Changwon. Heavy vehicles will ove by rail. 2 1/2 ton trucks and smaller vehicles will move by road.
1 SEPTEMBER: