United States Marine Corps 4th Marine Division (The New Breed)

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 4TH MARINE DIVISION (THE NEW BREED) -  The 4th Marine Division is a reserve division in the United States Marine Corps.  It is the ground combat element of the Marine Forces Reserve and is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana and has units throughout the United States.

After intensive training, it shipped out on January 13, 1944, and in 13 months made four major amphibious assaults, in the battles of Kwajalein (Roi-Namur), Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima, suffering more than 17,000 casualties during WWII.  It was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations and a Navy Unit Commendation, and then deactivated November 28, 1945.

The division patch worn on Saipan had a gold "4" on a scarlet background, the official colors of the U.S. Marine Corps.  The emblem was designed by SSgt John Fabion, a member of the Division's Public Affairs Office before the Marshalls Campaign.  His commanding officer was astonished to find that when the Division attacked Roi Islet in Kwajelein Atoll in the Marshall Islands (January 1944), the layout of the runways on the airstrip there were an exact replica of the "4".

In February 1966, it was reactivated as the only division in the Marine Forces Reserve.  Early in 1962, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara indicated to the Congress that he wanted the Marine Corps to have a fourth division/wing team, to be formed of Ready Reserves.  In April of that year, the Commandant of the Marine Corps announced a major reorganization of the Marine Corps Reserve to be effective July 1, 1962.   In this reorganization, 53 reserve units were redesignated as 4th Marine Division units.  While July 1, 1962 is regarded as the date of reactivation of the division, it was not until  February 14, 1966 that the 4th Marine Division headquarters nucleus was actually activated at Camp Pendleton.  Post-1966 4th Marine Divisions shoulder patch identified them as "The New Breed".

Between November 1990 and January 1991, Bravo Company, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division was mobilized in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.  Elements of the battalion were "in country" and combat ready within 32 days of activation.  During the fighting, Bravo Company engaged Iraqi tanks in combat on February 25, reporting 34 enemy tanks destroyed or disabled in less than 90 seconds.  This battle was named the “Reveille Engagement” and went on to be the biggest and fastest tank battle in United States Marine Corps history.  They were the only Marine unit equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks.  Bravo company went on to destroy 59 tanks, 32 APCs, 26 non armored vehicles, and an artillery gun.   Bravo Company destroyed a total of 119 enemy vehicles and took over 800 POWs.  Tank crew “Stepchild” has the longest confirmed live kill (Iraqi BMP) by a tank at 3,750 meters (2.33miles).