4th Marines, Philippines 1941

Fighting a lost cause, this squad of the 4th USMC Regiment keeps fighting the Japanese invaders of the Philippines in early days of US involvement in World War Two. Battle hardened; these men keep fighting. The squad is using the standard two, 4-man fire teams each with a Tommy Gun toting NCO (Sgt. Pat Hitchcock & Cpl. Earl Dodson), a BAR (PFC's James Faulker & Don Thompson) and two riflemen (PFC's Ben Lohman, Lesly Scoggin, Joseph "French" Dupont & George Sparks).  Although, in the 2nd fire team, PFC Sparks has traded his beloved Springfield Rifle for a 12-gauge Trench Gun for its up close and personal stopping power.

After 14+ years in China, on November 27/28th, 1941, the 4th US Marines Regiment left China to relocate to the Philippines to join in the defense of the Commonwealth. Landing just days before the outbreak of war between the US and the Empire of Japan, the 4th Marines had little time to train and prepare for war. 

By joining with other Marines on the islands, the 4th could call on approximately 1500 men with most but not all their TOE of weapons. The outbreak of war was to quickly reduce manpower, equipment and supplies. Soon the men were reduced to two meals a day while under constant bombardment by Japanese airpower.

After the Japanese invasion of the islands, the two battalions of the 4th were in constant use, for air defense, security, recon, and a myriad of other duties as the general American situation deteriorated.

With no further USMC reinforcements forthcoming from the US, drafts of men from other American units were need.

For as the situation worsened, sailors, Philippine Air Cadets & Scouts, army personnel, even tankers without their tanks, were all reassigned into the 4th Marines whose men were parceled out into cadres to train the newcomers. The 4th now had four understrength battalions, that had weapons and ammo but little else. Even helmets were in short supply.

Soon, Manila fell, then Bataan, and the 4th was relocated to Corregidor where they were some of the first troops to meet the initial Japanese landing. Using every weapon available, including
"Molotov Cocktails," two platoons of the 4th faced off against 760 + Japanese supported by three tanks (one a captured M-3 Stuart). As the fighting retreat grew intense the Marines were informed that a surrender had been ordered by Army command. The 4th Marines ceased to exist. 

After the surrender, the men of the 4th joined the rest of the American force on the infamous "Bataan Death March." Unlike the other units, no Marines died on the brutal march, throughout their years of imprisonment the survivors of the Old 4th lived by their new motto: "Surrendered Yes! Defeated NO!*

These are plastic pieces that I kit-bashed to make early war worn and battered Marines. I painted them this week.

For a fuller rendition of the experiences of the 4th Marines check out "From Shanghai to Corregidor, Marines in Defense of the Philippines."

From Shanghai to Corregidor: Marines in the Defense of the Philippines (Introduction) (nps.gov)