Jersey. In January 1935, Bone was attached to the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department under Read Admiral Harold R. Stark. Bone was detached from Washington, D.C., in July 1938 and ordered for Senior Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. He was then appointed instructor within reserve 15th Marine Regiment in San Diego. World War II With the increasing danger of Japanese expansion in Pacific during 1939, chairman of navy's Special Board, Admiral Arthur J. Hepburn, recommended the activation of Marine defense battalions. These special marine units were designated the defense force of the Pacific naval bases and should be placed on Midway Atoll, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll and Palmyra Atoll. Bone was meanwhile promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in May 1939. In November 1939, the 1st Defense Battalion was activated in San Diego with Bone as its commanding officer. As experienced artillery officer, Bone supervised the formation and initial training. His battalion consisted of the batteries with 5"/51 caliber guns, searchlight and aircraft sound locator and antiaircraft groups with M2 Browning and M1917 Browning machine guns and were ideal for the defense of the islands from the attack from the sea and air. At the beginning of March 1940, 2nd Defense Battalion was activated at San Diego Base and Bone again supervised the formation. He handed over the command to Major Lewis A. Hohn in July of that year and retook command of 1st Defense Battalion. His battalion was transferred to Hawaii in March 1941 and Bone was subsequently in charge of the construction of anti-aircraft, seacoast and beach defenses on Palmyra Atoll and the establishment of logistical facilities for his command there. In spite of a severe shortage of building materials and equipment and limited shipping facilities for procuring them, he displayed sound judgment and high professional skill in solving the many problems which confronted him. During the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Bone was stationed on Hawaii and coordinated the trucks with ammunition. In May 1942, Bone was transferred to the staff of South Pacific Island Base Inspection Board under Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd and travelled to the South Pacific Area as a member of the inspecting party. He was promoted to the rank of colonel on July 24, 1942. During September of that year, Bone was transferred to Washington, D.C., and appointed Chief of the Gunnery Section, Division of Plans