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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

"Magic Carpet" Press Release

UNITED STATES
PACIFIC FLEET and
PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS
(For Immediate Release to
Press and Radio, Sunday,
19 October 1945.)

Press Release No. 829.

Seven escort carriers of the Navy's "magic carpet" have been retailed to return eligible veterans of the Fourth Marine Division to the United States for demobilization and discharge, and it is expected that virtually all elements will have embarked from Maui by the end of October,

Nearly 11,000 veterans of the division are being returned under the demobilization program, which is based on points and months overseas. They are moving to Camp Pendleton, San Diego, for separation. The remainder of the men will be sent to forward areas to replace high point men in the other five Marine Divisions.

Since 6 October eligible men from two Fourth Marine Division regiments -- the 24th and 25th -- with accompanying headquarters and other units, have embarked on the USS Attu, USS Kadashan Bay, USS Sargent Bay, USS Admiralty Islands and USS Casablanca. Elements of the 23rd regiment will leave on two CVE's.

The Fourth, which saw action in the Roi-Namur campaign, at Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima, is the first Marine Division to be demobilized in World War II. Major-General C. R. Gates is the commanding.


28 Nov 2006