Marines in World War Two

Marines landing on a Pacific island during WWII

World War Two: The Marine's Legacy Is Born

During World War Two, the Marine Corps played a key role in nearly every battle in the Pacific War and expanded to a strength of over 475,000 Marines. Marines participated in fierce engagements with Japanese troops across the South Pacific and were essential to the Allies' "Island-Hopping" strategy of advancing the war into Japanese territory.

From 1942 to 1945 the Marines executed hundreds of successful amphibious landings from Okinawa to Iwo Jima, where a group of Marines raising the American Flag atop the island caused a media sensation and solidified the WWII legacy of the Marine Corps.

Article Citation (MLA format):

"Marines in World War Two." Military Ranks Online. 04 Feb 2012. 11 Apr 2021. <>