3rd Battalion 2nd Marines

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines


caption= 3/2 Insignia
dates= -January 18, 1941 - March 27, 1946
-December 28, 1950 - present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= USMC
type= Light infantry
role= Locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver
size=
command_structure= 2nd Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
current_commander=
garrison= Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=Lt. Col. Peter B. Baumgarten
nickname= "Betio Bastards"
patron=
motto= "We quell the storm, and ride the thunder!"
"Unus Supra(one above)"
colors=Red, Black, & Gold
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of Tarawa
* Battle of Saipan
* Battle of Tinian
* Battle of Okinawa
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Iraqi Freedom
* 2003 invasion of Iraq
anniversaries=

3rd Battalion 2nd Marines (3/2) 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 the "Betio Bastards," they fall under the command of the 2nd Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division.

Subordinate Units

* H&S Company
* India Company
* Kilo Company
* Lima Company
* Weapons Company

History

World War II

Activated January 18, 1941 at San Diego, California. They were assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade during February 1941. Deployed to Koro Island with the 2nd Marine Division in June 1942. The battalion participated in the following World War II campaigns:

* Guadalcanal
* Tarawa
* Saipan
* Tinian
* OkinawaFollowing the war the battalion stood occupation duty in Kagoshima, Japan until February 1946 when they redeployed to Camp Pendleton, California. The battalion was deactivated on March 27, 1946.

Post World War II history

3/2 was reactivated on December 28, 1950 at Camp Pendleton, and were again assigned to the 2nd Marine Division. They deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962

The battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia in August 1990 and participated in Operation Desert Storm in early 1991. In 1994 they participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise.

Global War on Terror

In 2003, 3/2 deployed to Kuwait as part of Task Force Tarawa and beginning in March supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion participated in the battle of Nasiriyah. During this deployment 3/2 had 1 Marine killed in action.

During 2004, 3/2 was designated as the AT (anti-terrorism) battalion and was assigned to different areas around the globe. The battalion was spread between Afghanistan, Djibouti, and Cuba.

The battalion again deployed to Iraq in February 2005. The battalion launched major combat operations Operation Matador, Operation Spear, and Operation Quickstrike. They conducted security and stabilization operations in Al Anbar Province until September 2005. During this deployment 3/2 had 3 Marines killed in action.

The battalion again deployed to Iraq in the summer of 2006. They conducted security and stabilization operations in Al Anbar Province until the beginning of 2007. During this deployment the battalion had 14 Marines killed in action [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Honoring those who give us freedom: 3/2 remembers fallen
work = Marine Corps News
publisher = USMC
date =
url = http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/ABC308B18602459E852572B1006182C2?opendocument
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-04-02 ] .

The battalion deployed to Iraq again in November 2007 and are operating in the Al Qaim region of Al Anbar Province, Iraq. [cite web
last = Cpl Hall
first = Billy
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 3rd Bn., 2nd Marines hits ground running
work = Marine Corps News
publisher = USMC
date =
url = http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ad983156332a819185256cb600677af3/48b9fd609c498fef8525738c004db13c?OpenDocument
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-11-22]

ee also

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

Notes

References

:Marine Corps

;Web
* [http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dmardiv/32/index.htm 3/2's official website]