Of the 17,162 eligible Marines at Camp Pendleton at that time, the regulars in excess of those required to mount out between the 10th and 15th were placed in the rear echelon of the division as a cadre for the third infantry regiment.[57] The following troops were made available to draw upon for the formation of the 7th Marines: [57] See Appendix B for the build-up of the 1st Marine Division and Appendix C for the Task Organization. Officers and men from 2d Marine Division 1,822 Officers and men of 3d Bn, 6th Marines in the Mediterranean 735 Officers and men of Marine Corps Reserve selected as combat-ready 1,972 Officers and men of rear echelon of Division, and from posts and stations 1,109 --------- Total [58]5,638 [58] This account of the build-up of the 7th Marines is based on the summary in PacFlt _Interim Rpt No. 1_, XV: Zebra, pt. V. Colonel Homer L. Litzenberg was designated as commanding officer on the date of activation, 17 August 1950. The Chief of Naval Operations directed the regiment to embark for the Far East not later than 3 September. These components were included in the build-up: 3d Battalion, 11th Marines; Company D, 1st Tank Battalion; Company D, 1st Engineer Battalion; Company C, 1st Shore Party Battalion (including two Shore Party communication teams from Signal Company, Signal Battalion); Company D, 1st Motor Transport Battalion; Company E, 1st Medical Battalion. Forming the nucleus of the regiment, the 6th Marines, at peace strength and less two battalions, arrived from Camp Lejeune on 16 August. The 3d Battalion of this FMFLant regiment, then stationed afloat in the Mediterranean, was ordered to proceed through the Suez Canal to become part of the 7th Marines upon arrival in Japan. While the other elements were being absorbed at Camp Pendleton, a conference attended by General Smith, Major General Alfred H. Noble, and Colonel Litzenberg was held to discuss rear echelon personnel and the formation of RCT-7. The following troops were found to be available to take care of casuals and retain custody of such division supplies and equipment as had not yet been embarked: MARINE CORPS NAVY ----------------- ----------------- _Off._ _Enl._ _Off._ _Enl._ 224 1,029 11 35