2nd Battalion 8th Marines
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| 2nd Battalion 8th Marines | |
|---|---|
 2/8 Insignia |
|
| Active | -April 1, 1940 - November 13, 1947 - November 1, 1950 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Infantry battalion |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver |
| Part of | 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname | "America's Battalion" |
| Battles/wars | World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Battle of Tarawa * Battle of Saipan * Battle of Tinian * Battle of Okinawa Operation Urgent Fury Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom |
2nd Battalion 8th Marines (2/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. Nicknamed "America's Battalion," they fall under the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.
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[edit] Mission
Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, and to repel the enemy's assault by fire and close-combat.
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
- Activated on April 1, 1940 at San Diego as the 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment and assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade.
- Participated in the following WWII campaigns: Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa
- Deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki Japan.
- Participated in occupation of Japan from September 1945 to June 1946
- Relocated during June-July 1946 to Camp Lejeune North Carolina.
- Deactivated November 13, 1947
[edit] 1950 - 2000
- Reactivated on December 1, 1950 at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as 2nd Battalion 8th Marines and assigned to 2nd Marine Division.
- Participated in the landing of Lebanon July-September 1953.
- Participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis October to December 1962.
- Relocated in June 1968 to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- Relocated in August 1973 to Camp Lejeune NC.
- Participated as part of Multi-Nation Peace Keeping Force in Lebanon August – September 1982, and February- October 1984
- Participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada October – November 1983.
- Participated in Operation Provide Comfort Iraq April – July 1991.
- Elements participated in Operation Support Democracy Cuba October – November 1993.
- Participated in support of Operation Joint Endeavor Adriatic Sea October 1996.
- Elements participated in security operations Haiti and Panama November 1997 – February 1998 and January – August 1999.
[edit] Global War on Terror
- Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, March – May 2003.
- Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan November 2003 to May 2004.
- Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, August 2006 - anticipated return February 2007.
[edit] Awards
- Presidential Unit Citation with 3 bronze stars
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Navy Unit Commendation
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 silver star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal with 3 bronze stars
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 3 bronze stars
- Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 bronze star
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
