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Letter of citation for The First Marine Division, Reinforced

Date4 February 1943

Object number00055127

NameLetter

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 266 × 202 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Hon John Morrell Berry

Terms

DescriptionA typed letter of citation from The Secretary of the Navy in Washington for The First Marine Division, Reinforced under the command of Major General Alexander A. Vandergrift, U.S.M.C. foor their actipons in the South Pacific Ocean. Members of the US Marines First Division received a Presidential Citation recognising their bravery and four months of dogged fighting against Japanese forces in the Guadacanal Campaign (Solomon Islands) in which 7,100 Allied and 19,200 Japanese men were killed.HistoryThe citaion is part of a collection realating to Marine Morrell Jospeh Berry of the US Marine First Division and their involvement in the Guadalcanal Campaign and later campaigns of WWII in the Pacific. Here United States forces joined Australian and other Allied forces to defeat the Japanese invasion and occupation of the nations of the South-West Pacific. The photographs provide a candid, personal record and point of view of a front-line fighter and include images of Japanese and American servicemen, bombardment, land and seascapes, equipment and US Navy vessels at Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, the Philippines and Japan. An important interlude for Morrell Berry was recreation leave in Melbourne at Christmas 1942 after the First Division was relieved at Guadalcanal which is documented by photographs. The welcome provided by Melbournites profoundly affected the men of the US Marine First Division which as a result adopted 'Waltzing Matilda' as its official divisional anthem and included the southern cross on its divisional colour patch. Berry was so impressed by Australia and Australians it influenced his son John Berry's career choice to become the United States Ambassador to Australia, 2013-2016.SignificanceThe citation is an essential artefact that complements and concludes the story of US Marine Morrell Joseph Berry's experience at Guadalcanal as recorded in his Marine photo album.