Paramarines
Paramarines made contributions in WWII
Did you know that the Marines had three battalions of paratroopers, known as Paramarines, in WWII? On Oct. 26, 1940, the first group of volunteers reported for Paramarine training. These and other early volunteers eventually formed the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion. Trained to perform reconnaissance, advanced guard, and guerilla forces, the Paramarines underwent 16 weeks of intense training, producing a staggering 40% dropout rate.
While the Paramarines never made a combat jump, they made important contributions to the invasion of Guadalcanal and Bougainville and even performed a diversionary raid on Choiseul Island. In 1944, the Paramarines were disbanded to provide manpower to other divisions.
The museum proudly displays the Paramarine uniform of Ed Eyre, a long-time museum volunteer. Ed Eyre’s uniform is on display alongside equipment, photographs, and memorabilia from this lesser-known unit of the Marine Corps. Stop in to view an important part of US Marine Corps history!
