Organization of 3rd Battalion
The 3rd Marine Raider Battalion was the only one of the four Raider Battalions to be organized and trained overseas. Its personnel was made up of volunteers from the various units plus a nucleus of two officers and 25 enlisted men, each from the 1st and 2nd Marine Raider Battalions.
On September 20th 1942 the 3rd Raiders began to take shape as the HQ Company, and Companies A & E were organized on Upolu. Western Samoa. D Company was organized on Uvea Island, Wallis Island Group.
On the 23rd of December B & C Companies arrived at Pago Pago and on Christmas Day officially joined the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion. The Battalion was now complete and ready for action.