Military

2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines

The MEU Ground Combat Element (GCE) is the Battalion Landing Team (BLT), an infantry battalion reinforced with artillery, amphibious assault vehicles, light armored reconnaissance assets, tanks, combat engineers, and other units as the mission and circumstances require.

The Masters of the Iron Horse arrived at 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines. The "Ironman" detachment from Delta Company, 2d Tank Battalion joined the "Warlords" to give the BLT 2/2 a fighting capability that is unmatched. The 20 tankers and 12 TOW gunners are the best in the Corps. The tank platoon is a close knit family who work, and play together as a team. The abbreviated TOW section, consisting of two TOW squads, comes from the TOW platoon 2d Tank Bn. These 12 Marines are the finest that the Tank Battalion has and have won awards for being the best TOW missile gunners in the Marine Corps. The Tank Detachment leadership consists of one Officer and two SNCO.

The Combat Engineer Platoon joined the BLT with 44 Marines and 1 Sailor. The platoon mission is to provide mobility, countermobility and survivability support to BLT 2/2. It also bring the demolitions and mine expertise critical to the BLT's overall success, and safety. The two key words that ring out in the battery position that alert every Marine to fulfill the primary role of sending artillery rounds down range. Working together as a team being the "king of battle" gives great pride in being part of India Battery, 3rd Battalion 10th Marines. India Battery ["I" Battery], 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines, was attached to BLT 2/2 since the beginning of 2001 for the work-up and deployment cycle.

The Second Battalion, Second Marines was activated at Camp Haitian, Haiti on 1 July 1925 and assigned to 1st Brigade serving at the time with Garde d'Haiti. Throughout 1925 and 1926, Marines of the Battalion were employed to quell political disturbances in Haiti. During the period 1929 through 1933, the Battalion assisted in building roads and schools, improving sanitary conditions and training and supervising the native Haitian constabulary.

Second Battalion was deactivated on 1 January 1941. On 9 August 1942, the battle for Guadalcanal began with Marines landing on the Tulagi Island Complex, Guadalcanal. On 10 October, elements of the 2d Battalion conducted a two-day raid on the villages of Koilotamaria and Garabaus, Guadalcanal. During January 1943, 2d Battalion participated in the final assault to clear Guadalcanal of the remaining Japanese resistance. For its participation in the battle, 2d Battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. As part of the 2d Marine Division, 2d Battalion 2d Marines deployed and spearheaded the attack on Tarawa. The Japanese resistance was fierce, and the initial losses of the Battalion were heavy. Throughout the battle, Marines of the Battalion distinguished themselves: there were two Navy Cross winners and numerous lesser medals awarded for individual actions. The Battalion was again awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its heroic assault at Tarawa. The 2d Battalion conducted similar operations during Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa Campaigns of World War II. In September 1945, the Battalion deployed to Nagasaki, Japan as part of the U.S. occupation forces.

During June and July 1946, the Battalion relocated back to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as part of the post-war reduction of forces. The Battalion was deactivated on 18 November 1947.

With the birth of NATO, the Marine Corps was assigned a new mission and 2d Battalion was reactivated 20 October 1949. Since its reactivation, the Battalion has seen extensive service in joint and combined operations and exercises. On 15 July 1958, as part of Landing Force Sixth Fleet, 2d Battalion landed in Beirut, Lebanon in order to secure Beirut International Airport. Having accomplished its mission, the Battalion redeployed on 14 August 1958. In October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 2d Battalion deployed to the waters off the coast of Cuba as part of a task force comprised of 40 ships and 20,000 Marines and Sailors. When the successful blockade terminated on 3 December 1962, the Battalion returned to Camp Lejeune.

Service in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Okinawa was routine for the 2d Battalion during the intervening years between 1963 and 1977. In February 1979, elements of the Battalion (U.S. Air Alert force) deployed to the Azores on standby alert to reinforce the American Embassy, Tehran, Iran. The unit was recalled when dissidents evacuated the Embassy. On 4 December 1979, in the face of terrorist attacks on United States Naval personnel at the Naval Station, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, 2d Battalion, 2d Marines deployed a force to reinforce the Marine Barracks. The last 2d Battalion units were withdrawn in April 1980.

In December 1990, the Battalion deployed to Southwest Asia and participated in operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. During its deployment, the Battalion was attached to the Sixth Marine Regiment. The Battalion returned from Southwest Asia in April 1991. In May 1992, the Battalion deployed with LF6F to the Mediterranean where they participated in 5 major NATO exercise while concurrently supporting Operation PROVIDE PROMISE off the coast of the former republic of Yugoslavia and returning to Camp Lejeune in 1992.

In July 1994, the Battalion was sent to Haiti as the ground combat element of Special Purpose MAGTF Caribbean in support of Operation SUPPORT DEMOCRACY and UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. The Battalion returned to Camp Lejeune in October 1994. In July 1995, the Battalion became the ground combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). During the subsequent deployment to the Mediterranean, the Battalion provided security for the American Embassy, Monrovia, Liberia during Operation ASSURED RESPONSE and the American Embassy, Bangui, Central African Republic during Operation QUICK RESPONSE. In February 1997, elements from the Battalion deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to conduct Chinese Migrant operations in support of Operation PRESENT HAVEN. During July 1998 the Battalion deployed as part of the 22nd MEU (SOC) and participated in nine major exercises and four real world contingencies to include Operation Security Force Albania where units of BLT 2/2 spent 97 days, defending the US Embassy against terrorist and civil unrest.

The 2d Battalion has adopted the motto of the 2d Marine Division, "Second to None." For its actions, the Battalion has been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Star, the American Defense Service Steamer, the Asia Pacific Campaign Streamer, the Navy Occupation Service Streamer (with Asia and Europe clasps), the National Defense Service Streamer with one Bronze Star, and the Southwest Asia Service Streamer.