2nd Battalion 3rd Marines
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| 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines | |
|---|---|
 2/3's Insignia |
|
| Active | May 1, 1942 - December 31, 1945 July 20, 1951 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver |
| Part of | 3rd Marine Regiment 3rd Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Hawaii |
| Nickname | "Island Warriors" |
| Motto | "Fortuna Fortes Juvat" "Fortune Favors the Brave" |
| Engagements | World War II *Battle of Bougainville *Battle of Guam Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LtCol Max A. Galeai |
2nd Battalion 3rd Marines (2/3) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. The battalion falls under the 3rd Marine Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division.
Contents |
[edit] Subordinate Units
- Headquarters and Services Company
- Echo Company
- Fox Company
- Golf Company
- Weapons Company
[edit] History
[edit] World War II
The 3rd Training Battalion, Division Special Troops, 1st Marine Division was activated on May 1, 1942 at New River, North Carolina. On June 17 of that same year they were redesignated the ‘’’2nd Training Battalion, 3rd Marines’’’ and in September were deployed to Tutuila, American Samoa and reassigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. They remained there until they moved to Auckland, New Zealand in May of 1943. In June of that year they were reassigned to the 3rd Marine Division and were again moved to Guadalcanal in July.
2/3 participated in the following World War II campaigns:
- Battle of Bougainville
- Battle of the Northern Solomons
- Battle of Guam
- Battle of Iwo Jima
[edit] Vietnam War
2/3 deployed to DaNang in the Republic of Vietnam in April of 1965. They fought in Vietnam from April of 1965 until October of 1969 operating from DaNang, Camp Carroll, Quang Tri, Cam Lo, the A Shau Valley and Khe Sahn. The battalion made a night helicopter assault in the Elephant Valley south of Da Nang on 12 August 1965 shortly after Marine ground troops arrived in country. In October of 1969, the battalion relocated to MCB Camp Pendleton.
[edit] The Gulf War and the 1990s
In September 1990, 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines deployed to Saudi Arabia and participated in Operation Desert Storm and the Liberation of Kuwait. The battalion was deployed to Southwest Asia from September 1990 to April 1991 at which time 2/3 returned to Kaneohe Bay.
[edit] The Global War on Terror
The battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Haditha region of Al Anbar Province in western Iraq[1] in 2006 - 2007.
[edit] Awards
[edit] 2/3 Medal of Honor recipients
During World War II, PFC Leonard F. Mason, serving with the 2/3, despite being mortally wounded, singlehandly destroyed an enemy machine gun position during the Battle of Guam. Mason was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
During the Vietnam War, PFC Bruce W. Carter threw himself on a grenade to save the lives of fellow Marines. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
[edit] Unit awards
- Presidential Unit Citation w/ 2 bronze star
- Guam - 1944
- Vietnam - 1965 - 1967, 1967
- Navy Unit Commendation
- Bougainville - 1943
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Vietnam - 1967 - 1968
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 4 bronze stars
- World War II Victory Medal
- National Defense Service Medal w/ 3 bronze stars
- Korean Service Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 silver stars
- Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 bronze stars
- Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ palm streamer
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraqi Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- Web
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