III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs Story by Lance Cpl. Thomas Provost
OKINAWA, Japan - From advancing on Santo Domingo to defending the island of Corregidor in Manila Bay to fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan, the many generations of the Okinawa-based 4th Marine Regiment have fought their way around the world.
"The Marines of 4th Marines continue to uphold the traditions of the past in serving in the oldest and proudest Regiment in the Marine Corps," said Capt. Dale H. Webster, operations officer, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. "They continue to accomplish their duties in remembrance of those gone before all throughout the Pacific Theatre to include China, Philippines and Vietnam."
First activated April 16, 1914, 4th Marines is officially the oldest regiment in the Corps and has birthed many stories of honor, courage and commitment, said regiment Marines.
One such story that resounds with the current Marines of the regiment is of former prisoner of war Pfc. Arthur 'Art' Jones and the 4th Marines plaque.
The story began in 1942 with a simple order, "Hang on to that plaque."
"The Marines of 4th Marines continue to uphold the traditions of the past in serving in the oldest and proudest Regiment in the Marine Corps," said Capt. Dale H. Webster, operations officer, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. "They continue to accomplish their duties in remembrance of those gone before all throughout the Pacific Theatre to include China, Philippines and Vietnam."
First activated April 16, 1914, 4th Marines is officially the oldest regiment in the Corps and has birthed many stories of honor, courage and commitment, said regiment Marines.
One such story that resounds with the current Marines of the regiment is of former prisoner of war Pfc. Arthur 'Art' Jones and the 4th Marines plaque.
The story began in 1942 with a simple order, "Hang on to that plaque."
This was the order Capt. Austin C. Shofner, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, gave to Jones about a plaque that had made its way from China to the Philippines with the regiment.
"This I expected to do against all odds," recounted Jones in his biography.
After a gallant defense of the Philippines and with no reinforcements on the way, orders were passed down for all U.S. forces in the Philippines, including 4th Marines, to surrender. Reluctantly, those Marines were the first in the Corps' history to surrender.
Jones held on to the plaque throughout his detainment. The plaque was taken away several times as he was beaten by Japanese guards, but it always found its way back to him.
The plaque quickly became a source of motivation for Jones to survive.
"I knew that I had to do something in order to survive," Jones recalled in the biography. "One night on our return from work detail, I was looking in the bag I had with me when I glimpsed the Marine Corps plaque. This brought me a new surge of strength and determination."
Jones said the plaque saved him.
"In Hanawa one day, I had the Marine plaque out when a Japanese guard was getting ready to rough me up with his rifle butt," Jones said in his biography. "He asked if I was a Marine. I replied in the affirmative. This guard could speak broken English. I told him the story of the plaque. He told me that he knew of the Marines and said they were brave fighting men. He then turned around and left me. The plaque, I'm sure, saved me from a beating."
Jones eventually became ill with fluid and congestion built up in his chest, causing a great amount of sustained pain. The pain became too great and Jones knew he had to do something. His mind traveled to the plaque.
"I got to my feet and with all the strength I could muster; I began to jog up and down the length of the barracks. Oh, how it hurt," Jones stated in the biography. "I don't know exactly what happened, but the fluids in my chest seemed to go someplace else and the pain eased. Again, due to the Marine plaque, I had a will to survive."
Eventually the war in the Pacific ended with the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri. Jones, with plaque in hand, was freed.
In 1973, Jones contacted his old company commander, now retired Brig. Gen. Shofner. In 2004, the two met again and decided to give the plaque to the Marine Corps Museum.
According to Staff Sgt. Kelly R. Vansickle, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense chief, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, this is just one of many stories of Marines from 4th Marines.
"When people come up to the regiment to train, or if they are part of the regiment, they should take with them the history of the unit when they leave," said Vansickle.
The regiment is still adding to its history today as regiment Marines are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and numerous exercises and contingencies around the Asia-Pacific region.
Past generations of the 4th Marines live on though stories kept and retold by the current Marines of the Corps' oldest regiment.
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