1st Samoan Battalion
Triangle, VIRGINIA — Founded in July 1941, American Samoan reservists were initially part of the 7th Marine Defense Battalion, based at Tutuila, American Samoa. With an authorized strength of 500 men, they patrolled beaches, manned coastal defense guns, and defended the home island.
Known...

![Members of the 1st Samoan Battalion USMCR stand at attention in their unique dress uniforms. [National Museum of the Marine Corps]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/wwii_samoan_unit.jpg?itok=5BbIf6J2)