2nd Battalion 1st Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines


caption= 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines insignia
dates=*August 1, 1922 - July 20, 1924
*March 1, 1941 - October 31, 1947
*August 4, 1950 - January 24, 1989
*September 9, 1994 - present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=USMC
type= Light Infantry
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy with fire and maneuver
size=
command_structure= 1st Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
current_commander=Lt Col P.J. Nugent
garrison=Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= The Professionals
patron=
motto= No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Peleliu
* Battle of Okinawa
Korean War
* Battle of Inchon
* Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
* Operation Vigilant Resolve
* Operation Steel Curtain
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. Normally they fall under the command of 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

History

* Activated August 1, 1922 at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment and assigned to the 2d Brigade.
* Participated in the occupation of the Dominican Republic, Deactivated July 20, 1924

World War II

* Reactivated March 1, 1941 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and assigned to the 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
* Deployed during April 1941 to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina
* Deactivated June 14 1941
* Reactivated February 11 1942 at New River, North Carolina, and assigned to the 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
* Deployed during July 1942 to Wellington, New Zealand
* Participated in the following World War II campaigns:
** Battle of Guadalcanal
** Battle of Peleliu
** Battle of New Britain
** Battle of Okinawa
* Redeployed during September 1945 to Tiensin, China
* Participated in the occupation of North China, September 1945-October 1947

Korean War & early 1960s

* Reactivated August 4 1950 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and assigned to the 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
* Deployed during August 1950 to Kobe, Japan
* Participated in the Korean War, September 1950-July 1953,
** Inchon-Seoul
** Chosin Reservoir
** East Central Front
** Western Front
** Participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone
* Relocated during April 1955 to Camp Pendleton, California
* Participated in the Battalion transplacement system between the 1st Marine Division and the 3d Marine Division
* Participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, October-December 1962

Vietnam War

* Deployed during November 1965 to the Republic of Vietnam, and assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
* Participated in the War in Vietnam, November 1965-May 1971,
** Hue/Phu Bai
** Da Nang
** Quang Tri
** Thua Thien
** Quang Nam
** Lien Ket
* Detached during April 1971 from the 1st Marine Division, and reassigned to the 3rd Marine Amphibious Brigade, Fleet Marine Force
* Relocated during June 1971 to Camp Pendleton, CA, and reassigned to the 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force

Post War & the 1980s

* Participated during April - May 1975 in Operation New Arrivals, the relocation of refugees from Indochina
* Participated in the Battalion rotation between the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa and Divisions stationed in the United States during the 1980's
* Deactivated January 24, 1989
* Reactivated September 9, 1994 at Camp Pendleton, CA, and assigned to the 1st Marine Division

Global War on Terrorism

As part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the battalion deployed to Kuwait in February 2003, and participated in the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.The battalion deployed in March 2004, to Fallujah, Iraq and took part in Operation Vigilant Resolve. They returned to Iraq in 2005 with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and fought during Operation Steel Curtain in Husaybah, Karabilah, and New Ubaydi. The battalion is currently attached as the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Notable former members

* Robert Leckie - author of "Helmet for My Pillow"
* Peter Pace - former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
* Douglas Zembiec - The "Lion of Fallujah"

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps battalions
* Organization of the United States Marine Corps

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/div/1mar/2bn/ 2/1's official website]