| 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines | |
|---|---|
2nd Battalion, 8th Marines insignia |
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| Active | 1 April 1940 – 13 November 1947 1 November 1950 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | USMC |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or repel the enemy's assault with fire and close combat. |
| Part of | 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname | "America's Battalion" |
| Motto | "Front Towards Enemy" |
| 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 *Operation Strike of the Sword |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LtCol Harrill |
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 900 Marines and Sailors. Nicknamed "America's Battalion," they fall under the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.
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Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, and to repel the enemy's assault by fire and close-combat.
2nd Battalion, 8th Marines was activated on 1 April 1940 in San Diego as the 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment and assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Brigade was re-designated 1 February 1941 as 2nd Marine Division. 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 this capacity until they redeployed back to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in June 1946. The battalion was deactivated on 13 November 1947 as part of the post-war drawdown of forces.
The battalion was reactivated on 1 December 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.
2/8 deployed to Afghanistan in May 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.[2][3] They were part of the 17,000 troop increase announced by President Obama in mid-February 2009.[4].
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