5th Marine Division
  • HOME
  • WELCOME
    • About
    • What's New
  • HISTORY
    • 5th Division History >
      • 1. Camp Pendleton
      • 2. Camp Tarawa
      • 3. Off To War
      • 4. Iwo Jima >
        • The Battle of Iwo Jima
        • D-Day to D+10
        • D+11 to D+20
        • D+21 to D+30
        • D+31 to D+35
      • 5. The Price of Victory
      • 6. Return To Hawaii
      • 7. Occupation of Japan
      • 8. End of the Mission
    • Awards & Decorations
    • Monuments & Memorials
  • MEN
    • Great Uncle Bob >
      • Bob's Story
      • Photos of Bob
      • The Letters
      • Great Uncle Floyd
    • Legends
    • Tributes A - G
    • Tributes H - P
    • Tributes Q - Z
    • Paramarines
    • Flag Raisers
  • MEDIA
    • WWII Photo Gallery
    • WWII Unit Photos
    • Maps
    • Videos
    • Documents & Articles
    • Unique Finds
    • Memorabilia
    • The Spearhead
    • Books & Film
    • Uniforms & Equipment
    • Living History
    • Weapons
  • VIETNAM
    • Vietnam History >
      • Vietnam Overview
      • Con Thien
      • Operation Allen Brook
      • LZ Margo
    • Vietnam Legends
    • Vietnam Tributes
    • Vietnam Photo Gallery
    • Vietnam Books & Film
    • Vietnam Links
  • LINKS
  • Contact
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February 23, 2014 on the 69th Anniversary of the flag raising.

WELCOME!

Welcome to 5th Marine Division.com!  My name is Eric Krelle of Omaha, Nebraska and I am a historian of the 5th Marine Division, a collector of World War II and Vietnam militaria, and an active World War II reenactor.  I first became interested in the 5th Division after a visit with my great uncle Bob Lauritsen.  I guess I had always known growing-up that he had been a Marine, but it wasn't until sometime around 2002 that I learned that he actually served on Iwo Jima.  I began a letter writing correspondence with Bob in the summer of 2006 and quickly became fascinated by all of his stories, insights and humor.  I began heavily collecting World War II Marine uniform and equipment items that summer which has eventually developed into a fairly extensive 5th Marine Division collection.  In 2012, I started building this website as a little tribute project to Bob.  And now with a lot of time, research, and energy it has grown to become the most extensive 5th Marine Division website on the internet today.  I hope you stay awhile and learn a little more about the truly incredible men who served in the Spearhead Division.  And as Bob always ended his letters to me... SEMPER FI!
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  • HOME
  • WELCOME
    • About
    • What's New
  • HISTORY
    • 5th Division History >
      • 1. Camp Pendleton
      • 2. Camp Tarawa
      • 3. Off To War
      • 4. Iwo Jima >
        • The Battle of Iwo Jima
        • D-Day to D+10
        • D+11 to D+20
        • D+21 to D+30
        • D+31 to D+35
      • 5. The Price of Victory
      • 6. Return To Hawaii
      • 7. Occupation of Japan
      • 8. End of the Mission
    • Awards & Decorations
    • Monuments & Memorials
  • MEN
    • Great Uncle Bob >
      • Bob's Story
      • Photos of Bob
      • The Letters
      • Great Uncle Floyd
    • Legends
    • Tributes A - G
    • Tributes H - P
    • Tributes Q - Z
    • Paramarines
    • Flag Raisers
  • MEDIA
    • WWII Photo Gallery
    • WWII Unit Photos
    • Maps
    • Videos
    • Documents & Articles
    • Unique Finds
    • Memorabilia
    • The Spearhead
    • Books & Film
    • Uniforms & Equipment
    • Living History
    • Weapons
  • VIETNAM
    • Vietnam History >
      • Vietnam Overview
      • Con Thien
      • Operation Allen Brook
      • LZ Margo
    • Vietnam Legends
    • Vietnam Tributes
    • Vietnam Photo Gallery
    • Vietnam Books & Film
    • Vietnam Links
  • LINKS
  • Contact