[A] Gen Vandegrift, 1st Marine Division commander on
Guadalcanal, relieved MajGen Clayton B. Vogel as IMAC
commander in July 1943. He in turn was relieved as IMAC
commander by MajGen Charles D. Barrett on 27 September. Gen
Vandegrift was on his way home to Washington to become 18th
Commandant of the Marine Corps when, on the sudden death of
Gen Barrett on 8 October, he was recalled to the Pacific
to resume command of IMAC and lead it in the Bougainville
operation. He, in turn, was relieved by MajGen Roy S.
Geiger on 9 November.
The Marine riflemen in these units were supplemented by a wide range
of support: 155mm artillery; motor transport; amphibian tractor; and
signal, medical, special weapons, Seabee, and tank battalions. The 3d
Division had its own engineers and pioneers in the 19th Marines and
artillery in the 12th Marines.
Immediately following Vandegrift’s operation order, practice landing
exercises were conducted in the New Hebrides and on Guadalcanal and
Florida Islands.
[Illustration: TREASURY ISLANDS LANDINGS