4th Marines formed out of 4 Raider Battalions
By 1 February 1944, four Marine Raiders battalions were amalgamated into a re-established 4th Marine Regiment, bearing the name and honors of the original 4th Regiment lost in the Philippines in 1942. The 1st, 4th, and 3rd Raider Battalions became respectively the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 4th Marines. The 2nd Raider Battalion became the regimental weapons company.
The Fourth Marines, as a part of the new strategy, would seize the island of Emirau a part of the St. Mathias Islands. Once the island was secured, airfields would be constructed to eliminate any threat New Ireland might have upon sea, land or air operations.
On very short notice the regiment prepared, loaded out and landed on Emirau 1 March. There was no resistance and the island was quickly secured. The regiment’s mission was completed in early April and they returned to their base camp at Tassafaronga, Guadalcanal.