When the 4th Marine Regiment arrived from China (just prior to the start of war), it had
only Headquarters Company, Service Company, and two battalions,
each with only two rifle companies (A, B and E, F Companies), each with only two rifle platoons.
Strength on arrival in the Philippines was 44 Officers, 728 enlisted marines, and 32 Naval Corpsmen.
It was understrength because for months Admiral Hart had held back all replacement personnel,
("had been permitted to dwindle by attrition" in China)
for the regiment at Cavite, where they were used to form the 1st Separate Battalion.
To fill up the 4th Marines, the Regimental Band and Marine Guard Detachment at Olongapo
Naval Station were disbanded, being used to form some of the missing platoons. Later, the
Cavite Marine Barracks was also absorbed, and the 1st Separate Battalion was used to
form a 3rd Battalion. A 4th Battalion was created using supernumerary Army
Air Force and Naval personnel. Ultimately the 4th Marines contained:
1st Battalion
· A Company
· B Company
· D Company
· Reserve Company
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2nd Battalion
· E Company
· F Company
· H Company
· Reserve Company
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3rd Battalion
· I Company
· J Company
· K Company
· M Company
· Reserve Company
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Regimental Reserve
· O Company
· P Company
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4th Battalion
· Q Company (Army Air Force)
· R Company (Army Air Force)
· S Company (Naval)
· T Company (Naval)
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