- U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Name: Wilburn L Trolinder
Muster Date: Apr 1945
Rank: Private First Class
Station: Headquarters, 2D Bn, 21St Marines, 3D Mar Div, Fmf, In The Field.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Name: Wilburn L Trolinder
Muster Date: Jul 1944
Rank: Private
Station: Sixty Third Refl Bn, Transient Center, Administrative, Command, Fmf Pacific, Fpo, San Francisco
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Name: Wilburn L Trolinder
Muster Date: Apr 1944
Rank: Private
Station: Third Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment, Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, 41, California
The Third Marine Division officially activated 16 September 1942 at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California. It was built around the 9th Marines, commanded by Colonel Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. who later became the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Major General Charles D. Barrett was the first Commanding General of the Division.
As 1942 drew to a close the Division was still located at Camp Elliott. It busied itself organizing and training for action in the South Pacific. In January and February 1943 divisional elements moved to Auckland, New Zealand.
By August 1943 the Division was stationed on Guadalcanal where special training and rehearsals for the Bougainville operation were intensified. On 1 November 1943 the Division landed at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. For approximately two months the Division took part in the fight against stiff and heavy enemy resistance. On 16 January 1944, with the transfer of command in the area to the Army's XIV Corps, the last elements of the Division returned to Guadalcanal.
Following the Bougainville operation the Division began training for the next campaign. Verbal instructions received in February 1944 led to planning for an operation against the Japanese on Emirau Island. The projected Emirau operation was subsequently cancelled and instructions were received to initiate planning for an operation against enemy forces at Kavieng, New Ireland. This operation was also called off. A few days later the Division received word to start training for the amphibious assault against the Japanese on Guam, Marianas.
Divisional elements embarked at Guadalcanal on 2 and 3 June 1944 and sailed for Kwajalein, Marshall Islands enroute to the Marianas. It remained afloat off Saipan from 15 to 28 June 1944 as part of the reserve force for the Saipan operation, then being carried out by the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions in conjunction with the 27th Infantry Division. With the situation on Saipan well controlled the Division returned to its restaging area awaiting the target date for the Guam operation.
On 21 July 1944, as a part of the Southern Troops and Landing Force, the Division landed on western beaches of Guam in the vicinity of Asan Point. After twenty days of savage fighting the divisional units reached the northern coast of the island. On 10 August 1944 Guam was declared secure. Until its departure for the Iwo Jima campaign, the Division remained on Guam taking part in the mopping up operations.
By the middle of February 1945 the Division completed embarkation at Guam for participation in the Iwo Jima operation. Initially, the Division remained afloat off Iwo Jima as Expeditionary Troops Reserve. Elements began landing on 21 February. On 25 February, the 3d Marine Division launched an attack in its zone between the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions.
The Third Marine Division faced well-organized and determined enemy resistance. The terrain, ideal for defense, was heavily fortified by pillboxes, caves, and covered artillery emplacements. Progress was slow and casualties heavy during the first few days of fighting. The Division slowly pushed the enemy back and by 3 March had severed the last enemy east-west artery of communication by occupying positions overlooking the sea. The Division secured its zone of action on 11 March and then initiated intensive patrolling and mopping-up operations. On 16 March, units of the 3d Marine Division relieved elements of the 5th Division and delivered the final attack of the Iwo Jima operation - a drive to Kitano Point. Iwo Jima was declared secure on the same day. On 4 April the 3d Marine Division was relieved by Army units.
By mid-April 1945 the Division was back on Guam preparing for the next operation. On 3 August 1945 the Battalion received initial plans for the "Olympic" operation which called for an amphibious landing of Kyushu about 1 November 1945. The 3d Marine Division, along with the 2nd and 5th Marine Divisions, was assigned to the V Amphibious Corps for the projected operation. Japan's agreement to cease hostilities and subsequent surrender cancelled "Olympic", and the Division remained on Guam until its deactivation on 28 December 1945.
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- Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl Crater)
Plot: B, 566
Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA
Inscription: Wilburn L Trolinder Texas PFC 21 Marines 3 Mar DIV World War II Oct 26 1925 April 19 1945 (Marker number "B566" also inscribed.)
Honolulu, Hawaii, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl)
Name: Wilburn L Trolinder
Birth Date: 26 Oct 1925
Death Date: 19 Apr 1945
Origin State: Texas
U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms
Name: Wilburn L Trolinder
Death Date: 19 Apr 1945
Cemetery: National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific
Burial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings
Name: Wilburn L. Trolinder
State Registered: Hawaii
Death Date: 19 Apr 1945
Cemetery: Honolulu Memorial
Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot B Row 0 Grave 566
Cemetery City: Honolulu
Cemetery Country: Hawaii
War: World War II
Title: Private First Class
Rank: Private First Class
Service: U.S. Marine Corps
Service ID: 938230
Division: United States Marine Corps
Data Source: World War II Honor Roll
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1925 - 1945 (19 years)
