Marine Defense Battalions in World War II

This account reveals the overlooked role of Marine Defense Battalions in shaping the early Pacific War, from Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal. Highlighting their coordination with Marine aviation and their legacy in today’s littoral regiments, it shows how these units built the foundation for modern coastal defense strategy. During World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps revolutionized coastal defense with the creation of twenty Defense Battalions, a critical backbone in the early fight for the Pacific.