Fleet Marine Force, Pacific

Not to be confused with United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.

Main article: Fleet Marine Force

The Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC) is the largest maritime landing force in the world. Its units are spread across the Pacific Ocean and reports to the United States Pacific Command. It is headquartered at MCB Camp H. M. Smith, HI and directs and commands all the subordinate elements of the Navy Expeditionary Strike Force and Marine Air-Ground Task Force components that follow under the 3rd, 5th, and 7th Fleet and the Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC). The Commanding General of Marine Corps Forces, Pacific is dual-posted as the Commanding General of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. FMFPAC is under operational control of the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), when deployed.

Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Active	17 September 1944 – present
Country	United States of America
Type	maritime general and special purpose landing force
Role	Amphibious warfare, expeditionary warfare
Part of	United States Marine Corps  United States Navy
Garrison/HQ	MCB Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, U.S.
Commanders
Current commander	LtGen James F. Glynn

FMFPAC was established by General 'Howling Mad' Smith in 1944 to assume command of very large Marine forces in the Pacific theatre of World War II, of the order of 500,000. Since then, the forces commanded by FMFPAC have been the largest field command in the Marine Corps, representing two-thirds of its combat strength.

History

The provisional administrative headquarters of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, was established on 12 June 1944 as the reformation of the V Amphibious Corps, and it formally was designated as Headquarters Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, on 17 September 1944. On 12 July of the same year, Holland Smith became Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, after being appointed by Admiral Chester Nimitz, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.^[1] The force grew to a strength of six divisions and five aircraft wings by the end of the war.^[2]

The preceding units of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, were mainly from the original Fleet Marine Force, established on 7 December 1933 by the Secretary of the Navy, Claude A. Swanson.^[3] It consisted of two brigades, one on the East Coast in Quantico, Virginia, and one on the West Coast in San Diego, California.^[4] In 1941 the Fleet Marine Force was reduced to a training command in the continental United States during the war, while two amphibious forces, one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific, were created as field commands. In 1943 the Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet, became V Amphibious Corps. In the spring of 1944, the commander of V Amphibious Corps had his role expanded to cover the III Amphibious Corps as well, and this position developed into the Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, in September 1944. FMFPAC was created as a U.S. Navy type command responsible for organizing, training, and supporting Marine forces in the Pacific Fleet, as well as advising the Commander of the Pacific Fleet on all matters related to the Marine Corps.^[5] In December 1946, the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) was created as the East Coast counterpart to FMFPAC.^[6]

In July 1992, the Marine Corps established two service component commands to geographic unified combatant commands, including the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC). Since then, the Commander, MARFORPAC, has been dual-hatted as the Commanding General, FMFPAC.^[1]

Marine units from FMFPAC were deployed to China during the Chinese Civil War, and participated in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It also sent units to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan,^[1] because before 2005 the area covered by the U.S. Central Command was in the jurisdiction of FMFPAC. The head of MARFORPAC and FMFPAC was also nominally the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT), from 1992 until 2005, when that role was given to the commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force.^[7]

Organization

Reporting directly to the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (CG FMFPAC) are the Commanding Generals of two Marine Expeditionary Forces (I MEF and III MEF), the Commanding Generals of two Marine Expeditionary Brigades (1st MEB and 3rd MEB), and the Commanding Officers of four Marine Expeditionary Units (11th, 13th, 15th, and 31st MEUs).

The Commanding General, I MEF, exercises operational control over the 1st Marine Division, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and the 1st Marine Logistics Group, while the Commanding General, III MEF, exercises operational control over the 3d Marine Division, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and the 3rd Marine Logistics Group.

Hierarchy of Fleet Marine Force units

Commander, United States Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT)

Camp H. M. Smith
Aiea, Hawaii

Marine Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC)

Landing Force, Third Fleet (LF3F)
Task Force 36		Naval Base Point Loma San Diego, CA
Task Force 39
I Marine Expeditionary Force		MCB Camp Pendleton California, United States
III Marine Expeditionary Force		Camp Courtney Okinawa, Japan

Marine Forces, Central (MARCENT)

Landing Force, Fifth Fleet (LF5F)
Task Force 56		Naval Support Activity Bahrain Kingdom of Bahrain
Task Force 59
I Marine Expeditionary Force		MCB Camp Pendleton California, United States

Marine Forces, Korea (MARFORK)

Landing Force, Seventh Fleet (LF7F)
Task Force 76		U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka Yokosuka, Japan
Task Force 79
III Marine Expeditionary Force		Camp Courtney Okinawa, Japan

List of commanders

No.	Commander		Term			Ref
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
Commanding General FMFPAC
1		Smith, HollandLieutenant General Holland Smith (1882–1967)	17 September 1944	3 July 1945	289 days	[1][5]: 31
2		Geiger, RoyLieutenant General Roy Geiger (1885–1947)	3 July 1945	15 November 1946	1 year, 135 days	[8]
3		Turnage, AllenLieutenant General Allen Turnage (1891–1971)	15 November 1946	1 January 1948	1 year, 47 days	[9]
4		Watson, Thomas E.Lieutenant General Thomas E. Watson (1892–1966)	1 January 1948	1 July 1950	2 years, 181 days	[10]
5		Shepherd, Lemuel C.Lieutenant General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. (1896–1990)	1 July 1950	January 1952	1 year, 184 days	[11]
6		Hart, Franklin A.Lieutenant General Franklin A. Hart (1894–1967)	January 1952	1 August 1954	2 years, 212 days	[12]
7		Pepper, Robert H.Lieutenant General Robert H. Pepper (1895–1968)	1 August 1954	9 September 1955	1 year, 39 days	[13]
8		Brice, William O.Lieutenant General William O. Brice (1898–1972)	9 September 1955	1 September 1956	358 days	[14]
9		Pollock, Edwin A.Lieutenant General Edwin A. Pollock (1899–1982)	1 September 1956	10 December 1957	1 year, 100 days	[15]
10		Megee, Vernon E.Lieutenant General Vernon E. Megee (1900–1992)	10 December 1957	30 October 1959	1 year, 324 days	[16]
11		Wornham, Thomas A.Lieutenant General Thomas Wornham (1903–1984)	30 October 1959	1 April 1961	1 year, 153 days	[17]
12		Lieutenant General Alan Shapley (1903–1973)	1 April 1961	1 June 1962	1 year, 61 days	[18]
13		Roberts, Carson A.Lieutenant General Carson A. Roberts (1905–1983)	1 June 1962	1 March 1964	1 year, 274 days	[19][20]
14		Krulak, Victor H.Lieutenant General Victor Krulak (1913–2008)	1 March 1964	31 May 1968	4 years, 91 days	[21]
15		Buse, Henry W.Lieutenant General Henry W. Buse Jr. (1912–1988)	31 May 1968	1 July 1970	2 years, 31 days	[22]
16		Jones, William K.Lieutenant General William K. Jones (1916–1998)	1 July 1970	1 September 1972	2 years, 62 days	[23]
17		Wilson, Louis H.Lieutenant General Louis H. Wilson Jr. (1920–2005)	1 September 1972	May 1975	2 years, 212 days	[24]
-		Miller, Thomas H.Major General Thomas H. Miller (1923–2007) Acting	May 1975	August 1975	92 days	[25]
18		McLaughlin, John N.Lieutenant General John N. McLaughlin (1918–2002)	August 1975	1 July 1977	1 year, 334 days	[26]
19		Brown, Leslie E.Lieutenant General Leslie E. Brown (1920–1997)	1 July 1977	1 October 1978	1 year, 92 days	[27]
20		O'Donnel, Andrew W.Lieutenant General Andrew W. O'Donnell Sr. (1924–1997)	October 1978	30 June 1981	2 years, 272 days	[28]
21		Davis, John K.Lieutenant General John K. Davis (1927–2019)	30 June 1981	1 July 1983	2 years, 1 day	[28]
22		Cooper, Charles G.Lieutenant General Charles G. Cooper (1927–2009)	1 July 1983	31 July 1985	2 years, 30 days	[29]
23		Gray, D'wayneLieutenant General D'Wayne Gray (1932–2014)	31 July 1985	16 September 1987	2 years, 47 days	[30][31]
-		Cooke, Richard M.Major General Richard M. Cooke (1930–2019) Acting	16 September 1987	2 October 1987	16 days	[30]
24		Milligan, Robert F.Lieutenant General Edwin J. Godfrey (1932–2002)	2 October 1987	28 September 1989	1 year, 361 days	[30]
25		Milligan, Robert F.Lieutenant General Robert F. Milligan (born 1932)	28 September 1989	22 August 1991	1 year, 328 days	[32]
26		Moore, Royal N.Lieutenant General Royal N. Moore Jr. (born 1935)	22 August 1991	9 July 1992	322 days	[33][34]
Commanding General FMFPAC / Commander MARFORPAC / Commander MARCENT
27		Stackpole, Hank C.Lieutenant General Hank Stackpole (1935–2020)	9 July 1992	22 July 1994	1 year, 356 days	[35][36]
28		Krulak, Charles C.Lieutenant General Charles Krulak (born 1942)	22 July 1994	15 June 1995	342 days	[37]
29		Howell, Jefferson D.Lieutenant General Jefferson D. Howell	29 September 1995 Acting: 15 June 1995	7 May 1998	2 years, 220 days	[38][39]
30		Fulford, Carlton W.Lieutenant General Carlton W. Fulford Jr. (born 1944)	7 May 1998	22 June 1999	1 year, 46 days	[40]
31		Libutti, FrankLieutenant General Frank Libutti (born 1945)	22 June 1999	16 August 2001	2 years, 55 days	[41]
32		Hailston, Earl B.Lieutenant General Earl B. Hailston (born 1947)	16 August 2001	1 August 2003	1 year, 350 days	[42]
33		Gregson, Wallace C.Lieutenant General Wallace C. Gregson (born 1946)	1 August 2003	5 August 2005	2 years, 4 days	[43][44]
Commanding General FMFPAC / Commander MARFORPAC
34		Goodman, John F.Lieutenant General John F. Goodman (born 1945)	5 August 2005	22 August 2008	3 years, 17 days	[45]
35		Stalder, Keith J.Lieutenant General Keith J. Stalder	23 August 2008	2 September 2010	2 years, 10 days
36		Thiessen, Duane D.Lieutenant General Duane D. Thiessen (born 1951)	2 September 2010	2 August 2012	~1 year, 335 days	[46]
37		Robling, Terry G.Lieutenant General Terry G. Robling	2 August 2012	15 August 2014	2 years, 13 days	[46][47]
38		Toolan, John A.Lieutenant General John A. Toolan (born 1954)	15 August 2014	26 August 2016	2 years, 11 days	[48][49]
39		Berger, David H.Lieutenant General David H. Berger (born 1959)	26 August 2016	8 August 2018	1 year, 347 days	[50]
40		Craparotta, Lewis A.Lieutenant General Lewis A. Craparotta (born 1960)	8 August 2018	16 July 2020	1 year, 343 days
41		Rudder, Steven R.Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder (born c. 1962)	16 July 2020	7 September 2022	2 years, 53 days
42		Jurney, WilliamLieutenant General William M. Jurney	7 September 2022	12 September 2024	2 years, 5 days	[51]
43		Glynn, JamesLieutenant General James F. Glynn	12 September 2024	Incumbent	8 days	[52]

See also

• Advanced Base Force
• Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT)
• Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC)
• Marine Corps Forces, Command (MARFORCOM) [formerly Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic (MARFORLANT)]

References

1. MARINE CORPS FORCES PACIFIC. Marine Corps University. Published 15 September 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
2. FMFPac celebrates 40th anniversary. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 13, No. 37. Published 13 September 1984. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
3. Swanson, Claude A. (7 December 1933). The Fleet Marine Force. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
4. Heinl, R.D., Jr. (November 1947). The U. S. Marine Corps: Author of Modern Amphibious War. Proceedings of the United States Naval Institute, Vol. 73/11/537.
5. Garand, George W.; Strobridge, Truman R. (1971). Western Pacific Operations: History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II (Volume IV). Marine Corps History Division. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
6. MARINE CORPS FORCES COMMAND. Marine Corps University. Published 6 June 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
7. Dawson, David A. (12 May 2010). The Evolution of U.S. Central Command from Operational to Strategic Headquarters. U.S. Army War College – p. 28. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
8. General Roy Stanley Geiger (archived). Marine Corps History Division. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
9. Wellons, James B. (June 2007). GENERAL ROY S. GEIGER, USMC: MARINE AVIATOR, JOINT FORCE COMMANDER. Air Command and Staff College. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
10. Lieutenant General Thomas Eugene Watson (archived). Marine Corps History Division. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
11. General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
12. General Franklin A. Hart (archived). Marine Corps History Division. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
13. Gen. Harte's Finale. Hawaii Marine. Published 6 August 1954. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
14. Parade and Review to Honor Gen. Brice. Hawaii Marine. Published 31 August 1956. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
15. Lt. Gen. Megee Arrives in HawaiiTues.; Assumes Duty as CG, FMFPac. Hawaii Marine. Published 6 December 1957. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
16. Retirement Parade Honors Lt. Gen. Megee Tomorrow. Hawaii Marine. Published 30 October 1959. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
17. Lt. Gen. Shapley Assigned As FMFPac Commander. Hawaii Marine. Published 31 March 1961. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
18. Lieutenant General Alan Shapley. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
19. Lieutenant General Carson Abel Roberts. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
20. New FMFPac CG Takes Helm Tomorrow. Hawaii Marine. Published 28 February 1964. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
21. Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
22. Change of Command Ceremony Tomorrow. Hawaii Marine. Published 30 May 1968. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
23. LtGen Wilson takes reins of FMFPac. Published 1 September 1972. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
24. LtGen. Wilson selected as new Commandant. Hawaii Marine. Published 2 May 1975. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
25. "Official Biography: Lieutenant General Thomas H. Miller". Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
26. Gen McLaughlin to retire soon. Hawaii Marine. Published 10 June 1977. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
27. New CG slated for FMFPac post. Hawaii Marine. Published 8 September 1978. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
28. Command changes hands. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 10, No. 25. Published 24 June 1981. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
29. Cooper takes helm of FMFPac. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 12. No. 22. Published 1 June 1983. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
30. LtGen Godfrey takes command. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 16, No. 41. Published 8 October 1987. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
31. Lieutenant General D'Wayne Gray. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
32. Command of Pacific Marines set to change hands Monday. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 18, No. 38. Published 28 September 1989. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
33. FMFPac colors to change hands. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 20, No. 33. Published 22 August 1991. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
34. Marine Corps Says a General Cheated on His Flight Test. New York Times. Published 5 April 1992. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
35. Stackpole assumes command. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 21, No. 26. Published 9 July 1992.
36. Lieutenant General H.C. Stackpole III. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
37. LtGen. Krulak assumes command of MarForPac. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 22, No. 30. Published 28 July 1994.
38. Okinawa receives LtGen. Howell, Jr. Hawaii Marine, Vol 23. No. 44. Published 16 November 1995.
39. Evening parade Honors Assistant Commandant bids Aloha to Commander Marine Forces Pacific. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 23, No. 21. Published 15 June 1995
40. Change of command. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 27, No. 17. Published 7 May 1998.
41. Lt. General Frank Libutti, USMC (Ret.). Flagofficers.us. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
42. MarForPac changes command. Hawaii Marine, Vo. 30, No. 32. Published 16 August 2001.
43. Force leadership change. Hawaii Marine, Vol. 32. No. 30. Published 1 August 2003.
44. Allen, David (16 May 2003). Bush taps Gregson for top Pacific Marine slot. Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
45. Marion, Brian A. (22 August 2008). Goodman relinquishes command of MARFORPAC. U.S. Marines. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
46. Robling tapped to lead Marine forces in Pacific. Stars and Stripes. Published 18 April 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
47. Karstan, Kristian (7 August 2012). USMC Lt. Gen. Thiessen Retirement/MARFORPAC COC. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
48. Anderson, Sarah (August 15, 2014). "MARFORPAC bids farewell to Robling, welcomes Toolan". DVIDS. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
49. "MARINE CORPS BASE KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii - Sgt. Maj. Paul G. McKenna, the sergeant major of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, marches with the colors during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 26, 2016. During the ceremony, Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan relinquished command of MARFORPAC to Lt. Gen. David H. Berger". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. August 26, 2016.
50. Werner, Ben (August 10, 2018). "Lt. Gen. Lewis Craparotta Relieves Lt. Gen. David Berger As MARFORPAC Commander". USNI News. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
51. Little, Chuck (September 7, 2022). "U.S Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Change of Command". DVIDS. U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
52. "Webcast: MARFORPAC Change of Command Ceremony". DVIDS. Retrieved September 8, 2024.

External links

• http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1989/SJH.htm
• http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1995/MJS.htm