1st Provisional Marine Brigade

{{Use American English|date=January 2026}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2026}}

{{Infobox military unit

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=1st Provisional Marine Brigade

| unit_name = 1st Provisional Marine Brigade

|image=Marines carrying wounded - Pusan.jpg

| image = Marines carrying wounded - Pusan.jpg

|alt=Several men carry a man on a stretcher through a field of grass

| alt = Several men carry a man on a stretcher through a field of grass

|caption=Members of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade carry a wounded man on a stretcher during the [[Battle of Pusan Perimeter]] in 1950.

| caption = Members of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade carry a wounded man on a stretcher during the [[Battle of Pusan Perimeter]] in 1950.

|dates=May–July 1912
14 July 1941 – 25 March 1942
18 April – 9 September 1944
1 June – 1 October 1947
7 July – 13 September 1950

| dates = May–July 1912
14 July 1941 – 25 March 1942
18 April – 9 September 1944
1 June – 1 October 1947
7 July – 13 September 1950

|country={{flag|United States of America}}

| country = {{flag|United States of America}}

|allegiance={{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg}} [[United States Marine Corps]]}}

| allegiance = {{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps.svg}} [[United States Marine Corps]]}}

|branch=[[Active duty]]

| branch = [[Active duty]]

|type= [[Marines]]

| type = [[Marines]]

|role= [[Amphibious warfare]]
[[Anti-tank warfare]]
[[Armoured warfare]]
[[Artillery observer]]
[[Cold-weather warfare]]
[[Combined arms]]
[[Counter-battery fire]]
[[Force protection]]
[[Fire support]]
[[Indirect fire]]
[[Jungle warfare]]
[[Maneuver warfare]]
[[Military intelligence]]
[[Military supply-chain management]]
[[Patrolling]]
[[Raid (military)|Raiding]]
[[Reconnaissance]]

| role = [[Amphibious warfare]]
[[Anti-tank warfare]]
[[Armoured warfare]]
[[Artillery observer]]
[[Cold-weather warfare]]
[[Combined arms]]
[[Counter-battery fire]]
[[Force protection]]
[[Fire support]]
[[Indirect fire]]
[[Jungle warfare]]
[[Maneuver warfare]]
[[Military intelligence]]
[[Military supply-chain management]]
[[Patrolling]]
[[Raid (military)|Raiding]]
[[Reconnaissance]]

|size= Brigade

| size = Brigade

|command_structure=

| command_structure =

|current_commander=

| current_commander =

|garrison=

| garrison =

|ceremonial_chief=

| ceremonial_chief =

|colonel_of_the_regiment=

| colonel_of_the_regiment =

|nickname="Fire Brigade"

| nickname = "Fire Brigade"

|patron=

| patron =

|motto=

| motto =

|colors=

| colors =

|march=

| march =

|mascot=

| mascot =

|battles='''[[Negro Rebellion]]''' />

| battles = {{tree list}}

*[[Negro Rebellion]]

'''[[World War II]]'''

* [[Allied occupation of Iceland|Occupation of Iceland]]

*[[World War II]]

**[[Allied occupation of Iceland|Occupation of Iceland]]

* [[Invasion of Guam]]

**[[Invasion of Guam]]

'''[[Korean War]]'''

*[[Korean War]]

* [[Battle of Masan]]

** [[Battle of Masan]]

* [[1st Battle of Naktong Bulge]]

** [[1st Battle of Naktong Bulge]]

* [[2nd Battle of Naktong Bulge]]

** [[2nd Battle of Naktong Bulge]]

{{tree list/end}}

|notable_commanders=[[John Marston (USMC)|John Marston]]
[[Lemuel C. Shepherd]]
[[Edward A. Craig]]

| notable_commanders = [[John Marston (USMC)|John Marston]]
[[Lemuel C. Shepherd]]
[[Edward A. Craig]]

|anniversaries=

| anniversaries =

|identification_symbol=

| identification_symbol =

|identification_symbol_label=

| identification_symbol_label =

}}

}}

=== Korean War ===

=== Korean War ===

{{main|Battle of Pusan Perimeter}}

{{main|Battle of Pusan Perimeter}}

[[File:Marines at Pusan.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Men in trucks and military uniforms park in a town |Marines disembark at Pusan on their way to the front lines in August 1950.]]

[[File:Marines at Pusan.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Men in trucks and military uniforms park in a town |Marines disembark at Pusan on their way to the front lines in August 1950.]]

The USMC, which had been drastically reduced in size after World War II, was unprepared at the outset of the [[Korean War]] on 25 June 1950. The [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] ordered the Marine Corps to ready a 15,000-man division for duty in Korea as a part of the [[United Nations Command (Korea)|United Nations Command]] being created there. The Marine Corps began rebuilding the 1st Marine Division to wartime strength, but in the meantime assembled a 4,725-man force around the [[5th Marine Regiment (United States)|5th Marine Regiment]] to assist in the war effort as quickly as possible. On 7 July the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was reactivated in California. One week later it sailed from [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] and [[San Diego, California|San Diego]]. The regiment, which had originally been slated for landing in [[Japan]], bypassed that country and landed at [[Pusan]] in [[South Korea]] on 3 August. As it sailed to Korea, it was put under the command of Brigadier General [[Edward A. Craig]], who met the brigade in-country.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=258}} The brigade was supported by [[Marine Aircraft Group 33]], and became a subordinate unit of the [[Eighth United States Army]] under [[US Lieutenant General|Lieutenant General]] [[Walton Walker]], who placed it in his [[Military reserve|reserve]].{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=259}}

The USMC, which had been drastically reduced in size after World War II, was unprepared at the outset of the [[Korean War]] on 25 June 1950. The [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] ordered the Marine Corps to ready a 15,000-man division for duty in Korea as a part of the [[United Nations Command (Korea)|United Nations Command]] being created there. The Marine Corps began rebuilding the 1st Marine Division to wartime strength, but in the meantime assembled a 4,725-man force around the [[5th Marine Regiment (United States)|5th Marine Regiment]] to assist in the war effort as quickly as possible. On 7 July the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was reactivated in California. One week later it sailed from [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] and [[San Diego, California|San Diego]]. The regiment, which had originally been slated for landing in [[Japan]], bypassed that country and landed at [[Pusan]] in [[South Korea]] on 3 August. As it sailed to Korea, it was put under the command of Brigadier General [[Edward A. Craig]], who met the brigade in-country.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=258}} The brigade was supported by [[Marine Aircraft Group 33]], and became a subordinate unit of the [[Eighth United States Army]] under [[US Lieutenant General|Lieutenant General]] [[Walton Walker]], who placed it in his [[Military reserve|reserve]].{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=259}}

==== Task Force Kean ====

==== Task Force Kean ====

{{Main|Battle of Masan}}

{{Main|Battle of Masan}}

The brigade was immediately moved to [[Masan]], the westernmost flank of the [[Pusan Perimeter]], which the Eighth Army had set up to resist the [[North Korea]]n [[North Korean Army|Army]] which was attempting to overrun the UN forces. The brigade joined the [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|U.S. 25th Infantry Division]] and the [[US 5th Regimental Combat Team|5th Regimental Combat Team]], under Major General [[William B. Kean]]. The three units together formed "Task Force Kean", a formation of about 20,000 men.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=266}}

The brigade was immediately moved to [[Masan]], the westernmost flank of the [[Pusan Perimeter]], which the Eighth Army had set up to resist the [[North Korea]]n [[North Korean Army|Army]] which was attempting to overrun the UN forces. The brigade joined the [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|U.S. 25th Infantry Division]] and the [[US 5th Regimental Combat Team|5th Regimental Combat Team]], under Major General [[William B. Kean]]. The three units together formed "Task Force Kean", a formation of about 20,000 men.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=266}}

==== First Naktong Bulge ====

==== First Naktong Bulge ====

{{Main|First Battle of Naktong Bulge}}

{{Main|First Battle of Naktong Bulge}}

[[File:Pusan Perimeter.jpg|thumb|A tactical map of the Pusan Perimeter in August 1950.|alt=A map of a perimeter on the southeastern tip of a land mass]]

[[File:Pusan Perimeter.jpg|thumb|A tactical map of the Pusan Perimeter in August 1950.|alt=A map of a perimeter on the southeastern tip of a land mass]]

Immediately north on the line, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was desperately needed to break a stalemate between the [[U.S. 24th Infantry Division]] and the [[NK 4th Division]]. Beginning at midnight on the night of 5–6 August, North Koreans had begun crossing the [[Naktong River]] at the Ohang ferry site, {{convert|3.5|mi}} south of Pugong-ni and west of [[Yongsan]], carrying light weapons and supplies over their heads or on rafts.{{harvnb|Gugeler|2005|p=30}}{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=293}} At 02:00 on the morning of 6 August, the North Koreans began engaging the 3rd Battalion, [[34th Infantry Regiment (United States)|U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment]], and moved forward after a short fight, attempting to penetrate the lines to Yongsan. The North Korean infantry forced the 3rd Battalion back, and the battalion abandoned its command post to consolidate its positions.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=294}} The North Koreans surprised the Americans, who had been expecting an attack from further north, and captured a large amount of American equipment.{{harvnb|Catchpole|2001|p=25}} The attack threatened to split the American lines and disrupt supply lines to the north.{{harvnb|Alexander|2003|p=136}}

Immediately north on the line, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was desperately needed to break a stalemate between the [[U.S. 24th Infantry Division]] and the [[NK 4th Division]]. Beginning at midnight on the night of 5–6 August, North Koreans had begun crossing the [[Naktong River]] at the Ohang ferry site, {{convert|3.5|mi}} south of Pugong-ni and west of [[Yongsan]], carrying light weapons and supplies over their heads or on rafts.{{harvnb|Gugeler|2005|p=30}}{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=293}} At 02:00 on the morning of 6 August, the North Koreans began engaging the 3rd Battalion, [[34th Infantry Regiment (United States)|U.S. 34th Infantry Regiment]], and moved forward after a short fight, attempting to penetrate the lines to Yongsan. The North Korean infantry forced the 3rd Battalion back, and the battalion abandoned its command post to consolidate its positions.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=294}} The North Koreans surprised the Americans, who had been expecting an attack from further north, and captured a large amount of American equipment.{{harvnb|Catchpole|2001|p=25}} The attack threatened to split the American lines and disrupt supply lines to the north.{{harvnb|Alexander|2003|p=136}}

==== Second Naktong Bulge ====

==== Second Naktong Bulge ====

{{main|Second Battle of Naktong Bulge}}

{{main|Second Battle of Naktong Bulge}}

By 1 September, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was down to 4,290 men, having suffered 500 casualties in its month of Korean service,{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=382}} and was preparing to move back to Pusan to evacuate to Japan. There, the brigade was to join with Marine reinforcements to re-form the 1st Marine Division, which would then be a part of [[US X Corps|X Corps]] for a [[Battle of Inchon|counterattack at Inchon]]. However, the North Korean [[Great Naktong Offensive]] delayed these plans, as the brigade was needed to repel one more North Korean crossing of the Naktong River.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=453}}

By 1 September, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was down to 4,290 men, having suffered 500 casualties in its month of Korean service,{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=382}} and was preparing to move back to Pusan to evacuate to Japan. There, the brigade was to join with Marine reinforcements to re-form the 1st Marine Division, which would then be a part of [[US X Corps|X Corps]] for a [[Battle of Inchon|counterattack at Inchon]]. However, the North Korean [[Great Naktong Offensive]] delayed these plans, as the brigade was needed to repel one more North Korean crossing of the Naktong River.{{harvnb|Appleman|1998|p=453}}