2nd Battalion 5th Marines
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| 2nd Battalion 5th Marines | |
|---|---|
 2/5 Insignia |
|
| Active | July 1, 1914 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Infantry battalion |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver |
| Part of | 5th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton |
| Motto | "Retreat, Hell" |
| Battles/wars | World War I * Battle of Belleau Wood * Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Cape Gloucester * Battle of Peleliu * Battle of Okinawa Korean War * Battle of Inchon * Battle of Chosin Reservoir Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom |
2nd Battalion 5th Marines (2/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.
2/5 is the most highly decorated battalion in the Marine Corps and their motto, "Retreat, Hell!", , comes from the French trenches of World War I, as a Marine officer ordered to retreat said, "Retreat? Hell, we just got here!"
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[edit] Early history
It was formed in July 1914 and immediately sailed to the Caribbean to quell political turmoil in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In June 1917, the Battalion sailed for France with its parent regiment to participate in many of the major battles of World War I. Having fought during the Battle of Belleau Wood, Soissons, and the Meuse-Argonne campaign, the Battalion was twice awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm and one Gold Star. To this day, members of the Battalion wear the French Fourragere representing this award. Following the armistice of 1918, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines was assigned to occupation duties in Germany until their return to Quantico, Virginia in August of 1919.
[edit] Interwar years
Beginning in 1920, the Battalion began guarding US Mail trains throughout the United States. In 1927, the Battalion was sent to Nicaragua to fight bandits and to supervise the 1928 Nicaraguan national elections.
[edit] World War II
In 1941, the battalion joined the newly-formed 1st Marine Division at New River, North Carolina, but later relocated to the west coast of the United States. During World War II the battalion fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Cape Gloucester, Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the Japanese surrender, the battalion was assigned to occupation duty in Northern China until 1947, at which time they returned to the United States.
[edit] Korean Conflict
Immediately following the 1950 North Korean invasion of South Korea, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines sailed from Camp Pendleton, California to defend the Pusan Perimeter as a part of the famous "Fire Brigade". The Battalion would also participate in the landing at Inchon, the liberation of Seoul, the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, and the defense of the East, Central, and Western Fronts before the war was over. From July 1953 to February 1955, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines assisted in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, after which they again returned to Camp Pendleton.
[edit] Medal of Honor recipient
Private First Class Robert E. Simanek, while serving with Company F, 2/5, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his act of valor on of the August 17, 1952, in which he threw himself on a grenade to save the lives of fellow Marines. PFC Simanek survived and received the Medal of Honor from President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
[edit] Vietnam War
In April 1966, the Battalion deployed to the Republic of Vietnam and would remain there until 1971. During this time, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines participated in combat operations at Hue City, Que Son, Phu Bai, Dong Ha and Phu Loc. Immediately after their return to Camp Pendleton in 1971, the Battalion joined Operation New Arrival, the relocation of Southeast Asian refugees to the United States.
[edit] 2/5 Medal of Honor recipients
Captain James A. Graham, a member of Company F, 2/5, was killed in action in Vietnam during Operation Union II. For his heroic actions on June 2, 1967 he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
On July 4, 1967, PFC Melvin E. Newlin single-handedly broke up and disorganized an entire enemy assault force. In the course of his actions, he was mortally wounded. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism.
[edit] Recent history
During the next fifteen years, the Battalion deployed regularly as part of the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program. In December 1990, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines sailed for the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield / Desert Storm and later landed in Saudi Arabia and participated in the liberation of Kuwait. During the return transit to the United States, the Battalion was diverted to Bangladesh in order to provide humanitarian relief as part of Operation Sea Angel.
In 1993, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable) and participated in operations in Rwanda and Somalia in support of Operation Distant Runner. In 1995, the Battalion began regular deployments to Okinawa for service as the Battalion Landing Team for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and participated in several operations in East Timor.
In 2003, 2/5 crossed into Iraq the first night of the invasion and got as far north as Samarra before the end of the initial combat phase of the Iraq War. They then conducted security and stabilization operations (SASO) in Samawah, Iraq. Relieved by Dutch Forces (who were soon augmented by Japanese forces acting in a strictly non-combat role), 2/5 returned to Camp Pendelton in August.
September 2004 saw 2/5 return to Iraq, this time being stationed in Ramadi, a hotbed of insurgent activity near the Syrian border.
From December 2005 to July 2006, 2/5 was deployed to Okinawa as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. They participated in several humanitarian operations on Jolo Island and landslide recovery in Southern Leyte in the Philippines.
[edit] In fiction
- The film Full Metal Jacket portrays the Marines of Hotel Company 2/5 during the Battle of Hue.
