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.
Subordinate units
- Headquarters Company
- Echo Company
- Fox Company
- Golf Company
- Weapons Company
Mission
Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, and
to repel the enemy's assault by fire and close-combat.
History
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. The 2nd Marine Brigade
was re-designated
February 1,
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
November 13,
1947 as part of the post-war drawdown of forces.
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.
Global War on Terror
2/8 will
deploy to Afghanistan
in 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary
Brigade. They will be part of the 17,000 troop increase
announced by
President Obama in
mid-February..
Awards
- 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."
See also
Notes
- Lejeune Brigade prepares for Afghanistan
References
- Bibliography
- Web
.
October 1996.
and Panama
November
1997 – February 1998 and January – August 1999.
, March – May
2003.
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
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