2nd Battalion 23rd Marines
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| 2nd Battalion 23rd Marines | |
|---|---|
 2/23 Insignia |
|
| Active | Early 1920s |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Infantry regiment |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver |
| Size | 1000 |
| Part of | 23rd Marine Regiment 4th Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Encino, California |
| Motto | "Prepared and Professional" |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Kwajalein Battle of Tinian Battle of Saipan Battle of Iwo Jima Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LtCol. Paul K. Lebidine |
2nd Battalion 23rd Marines (2/23) is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout the Western United States consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the 23rd Marine Regiment and the 4th Marine Division.
Contents |
[edit] Current Units
| Name | Location! |
|---|---|
| Headquarters and Services Company | Pasadena, California |
| Echo Company | San Bruno, California |
| Fox Company | Las Vegas, Nevada & Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Golf Company | Los Alamitos, California |
| Weapons Company | Port Hueneme, California |
[edit] Mission
Provide trained combat and combat support personnel and units to augment and reinforce the active component in time of war, national emergency, and at other times as national security requires; and have the capability to reconstitute the Division, if required.
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
Activated on 20 July 1942 at New River, North Carolina, 23rd Marines was assigned to the 4th Marine Division in February 1943 and relocated during July 1943 to Camp Pendleton, California. 23rd Marines participated in the following campaigns during World War II: Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.
During the fierce fighting which occurred in the Pacific Theater, four Marines of the 23rd Marine Regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor. In October 1945, the Regiment was again relocated to Camp Pendleton and was subsequently deactivated on 15 November 1945. For its actions against enemy forces, 23rd Marines received the following awards: Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Bronze Star, American Campaign Streamer with four Bronze Stars, and World War II Victory Streamer.
[edit] Vietnam
23rd Marines was reactivated on 1 February 1966 in Alameda, California and assigned during the same month to the 4th Marine Division, USMCR.
[edit] Gulf War
In December 1990, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was mobilized by Presidential Call-up to support Operation Desert Shield/Storm. 99.2% of those on the rolls reported to their seven separate drill centers for duty. Within two days of activation, this, the largest and most geographically diverse infantry battalion in the Marine Corps, reported to its Station of Initial Assignment at Camp Pendleton, California with 1,015 Marine and Navy personnel. Unlike the standard 180 day build up period which most UDP battalions require to prepare for deployment, 2/23 deployed within 16 days of activation and joined III MEF on 25 December 1990 in Okinawa, Japan.
[edit] Global War on Terror
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was activated initially for one year to act as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for any additional terrorist attacks that might occur in the United States. Just before its one year deactivation date, the battalion's active duty status was extended in order for the unit to deploy to the Middle East to participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was the first complete reserve battalion to deploy in support of OIF I.
The unit initially acted as camp security for Camp Commando located in Kuwait, but later was pushed forward into Iraq. Among other locations, the battalion fought in An Nasiriyah to assist Task Force Tarawa's operations in that area after a U.S. Army convoy was ambushed and several soldiers were taken prisoner by insurgent forces. A company from the battalion was also part of Task Force Tripoli, which was the Marine vanguard into Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown.
