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 |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| 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" |
| Engagements | 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 * 2003 invasion of Iraq Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LtCol Jay M. Bargeron[1] |
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.
Contents |
[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
2nd Battalion, 8th Marines was activated on April 1, 1940 in San Diego as the 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment and assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. During World War II, the battalion participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the surrender of Japan, the battalion deployed to Nagasaki, Japan in September 1945 as part of the occupation. They remained in Japan in theis capacity until they redeployed back to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in June of 1946. The battalion was deactivated on November 13, 1947 as part of the post-war drawdown of forces.
[edit] 1950 - 2000
The battalion was reactivated on December 1, 1950 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and assigned to 2nd Marine Division. From July to September 1958 they took part in the United States intervention in during the Lebanon crisis. This was followed by a deployment to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base as part of the Cuban Missile Crisis from 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
- Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, March – May 2003.
- Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan November 2003 to May 2004.
- 26th MEU - Iraq, March 2005 - September 2005.
- Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, July 2006 - February 2007.
- Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, October 2007 - May 2008[2]
[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
- Lt. Gen. Chesty B. Puller Outstanding Leadership Award — on May 15, 2007, the 2/8 received this award for "professional achievement and sustained superior performance in training, maintaining, equipping, fostering, nurturing and mentoring Marines and sailors as well as overall unit mission accomplishment from April 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006."[3]
[edit] See also
- 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines - Also known as "America's Battalion"
- History of the United States Marine Corps
- List of United States Marine Corps battalions
- Organization of the United States Marine Corps
[edit] Notes
- ^ LCPL Billy Hall. "Passing the torch: “America’s Battalion” welcomes new commander", Marine Corps News, II Marine Expeditionary Force, USMC, May 25, 2007. Story ID# 200752594159. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ LCpl Charles McKelvey. "Weapons Company makes name in recently tamed East Ramadi", Marine Corps News, United States Marine Corps, December 18, 2007. Story ID# 200712186191. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ LCpl Zachary W. Lester. "2/8 Marines awarded Chesty Puller award", Marine Corps News, United States Marine Corps, May 21, 2007. Story ID# 2007521164016. Retrieved on 2007-05-23.
[edit] References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- Bibliography
- Rottman, Gordon L. (2002). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle - Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.’’. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31906-5.
- Web
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