2nd Battalion 8th Marines
| 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines | |
|---|---|
|
2nd Battalion, 8th Marines insignia | |
| Active |
1 April 1940 – 13 November 1947 1 November 1950 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Branch |
 United States Marine Corps |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role | The mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver and/ or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat. |
| Part of |
8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune |
| Nickname(s) | "America's Battalion" |
| Motto |
"Non Sibi Sed Patriae" "Not for self, but for country" |
| Engagements |
World War II Operation Urgent Fury Operation Strike of the Sword |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | LtCol David M. Fallon (May 2014-Current) |
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.
Subordinate units
- Headquarters Company
- Echo Company
- Fox Company
- Golf Company
- Weapons Company
Mission
The mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver and/ or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat.
History
World War II
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.
1950–2000
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.
- 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.
2 Bat 8th Marines Echo Company was the Unit in Haiti in 93 3rd Platoon from Golf Company was attached to Echo Company
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.[1]
- Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, May 2009 – November 2009.
- Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, January 2011 - August 2011.
- Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, March 2013-October 2013
Awards
Presidential Unit Citation with 4 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- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraqi Campaign FEAST * Lt. Gen. Chesty B. Puller Outstanding Leadership Award — on 15 May 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 1 April 2006 to 30 September 2006."[2]
Notable former members
- Barney Ross, served in B Company in World War II
See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2nd Battalion 8th Marines. |
- 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
Notes
- ↑ LCpl Charles McKelvey (18 December 2007). "Weapons Company puts name in recently tamed Feast Ramadi". Marine Corps News (United States Marine Corps). Story ID# 200712186191. Retrieved 18 December 2007.
- ↑ LCpl Zachary W. Lester (21 May 2007). "2/8 Marines awarded Chesty Puller award". Marine Corps News (United States Marine Corps). Story ID# 2007521164016. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
References
-
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of 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
- "2/8 Official website". Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
- 2/8's official website while forward deployed in Iraq
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