Second Battalion Seventh Marines is garrisoned on board the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms, CA. 2d Battalion, 7th Marines activated 01 January 1941 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the 2d battalion, 7th Marines and was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade, Fleet Marine Force. It was reassigned during February 1941 to the 1st Marine Division, and relocated during April 1941 to Paris Island, South Carolina, and relocated during September 1941 to New River, North Carolina. The Battalion was attached during March 1942 to the 3rd Marine Brigade, and deployed during April 1942 to Samoa. It was detached during August 1942 from the 3rd Marine Brigade and reassigned to the 1st Marine Division. It participated in the following World War II campaigns: Guadalcanal; Eastern New Guinea; New Britain; Peleliu; and Okinawa. It participated in the occupation of North China, September 1945 - January 1947. The unit relocated during January 1947 to Camp Pendleton, and deactivated 26 February 1947.
The Battalion was reactivated 17 August 1950 at Camp Pendleton, California, and assigned to the 1st Marine Division. It deployed during September 1950 to the Republic of Korea and participated in the Korean War from September 1950 through July 1953, operating from Inchon-Seoul, Chosin Reservoir, East Central Front, and Western Front. It participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, July 1953 - March 1955, and relocated during March 1955 to Camp Pendleton.
It deployed during June 1965 to Camp Schwab, Okinawa, and participated in the War in Vietnam, July 1965 - October 1970, operating from Qui Nhon, Chu Lai, Dai Nang, Dai Loc and An Hoa.
The Battalion relocated during October 1970 to Camp Pendleton, and was reassigned to the 5th Marine Amphibious Brigade. Reassigned during April 1971 to the 1st Marine Division, it participated in the battalion rotation between the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa and divisions stationed in the United States during the 1980s. It relocated during January 1990 to Twenty-nine Palms, California, and participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Southwest Asia, August 1990 - March 1991, and relocated during March 1991 to Twenty-nine Palms, California.
The battalion continued to participate in the rotation between 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa and divisions stationed in the United States from March 1991 - June 2005. From July 2005 - January 2006 and January 2007 - August 2007, the battalion was assigned to Regimental Combat Team 6 and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, operating around the Fallujah area. Upon returning to Twenty-Nine Palms, California the battalion started predeployment workup for another tour. In April 2008, the battalion deployed to Afghanistan to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom.
From April 2008 to November 2008 the Battalion deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 08 and was assigned to Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, and later to the Special Purpose MAGTF - Afghanistan. Operating from locations in Northern Helmand and Eastern Farah Provinces, the Battalion engaged in heavy fighting with insurgent forces while conducting full-spectrum COIN with a focus on development of the Afghan National Police.
The Battalion deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from January to July of 2010. During this deployment the Battalion participated in Operation Cobra Gold 2010 and Operation Balikatan 2010 in the countries of Thailand and Republic of the Philippines. The Battalion again deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the 31st MEU from June to December of 2011. During this deployment the Battalion participated in Talisman Saber 2011 and PHIBLEX 2011 in the countries of Australia and Republic of the Philippines.
Notable Persons
Medal Honor - Vietnam -
PFC Oscar Palmer Austin
Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin (MCSN: 2472757), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 February 1969, while serving as an assistant machine gunner with Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with operations against enemy forces west of DaNang, Republic of Vietnam.
Description
Mar 4 – 7; 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and ARVN 2nd Division search and destroy operation against the NVA 36th Regiment and VC Main Force units operation. First USMC contact with the NVA 11 km northwest of Quảng Ngãi City, 632 VC KIA and 83 US and 32 ARVN KIA during the operation.
During the night of 4 -5 March, the enemy continued to harass the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, particularly when helicopters arrived. Company "H" took a trench line in a night assault and killed 20 NVA when they revealed themselves by firing 60mm mortars at the Marines and machine-guns at the resupply helicopters. Much need supplies were brought in to the Marines and 70 casualties were evacuated by those brave helicopter pilots who flew through a hail of steel each time they arrived to the Battalions perimeter. With the heavy contact and loss of personnel, Gen. Platt had already taken measures, he ordered another 155mm Battery deployed to Binh Son, and the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines to establish blocking defenses north of Utters Battalion. LtCol. P. X. Kelleys 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines was ordered to standby in Chu Lai and be ready for deployment in the morning.
The NVA stuck the ARVN near Hill 50 around 05:00 in the morning. Marine Corps artillery battery's fired 1,900 rounds in support for period of two hours and the 1st Marines were ordered to leave their blocking poasitions advance south . While the 1st Marines were to link with the ARVN under attack, the ARVN 2d Division Commander ordered addition ARVN troops to join the operation in progress. The 2d Battalion, 7th Marines were ordered to clear a landing zone of the arrival of fresh troop, clear it's battlefield from the previous day , and serve as the Task Force Delta reserve unit. Kelly's Marines began landing shortly after 08:30 and the helicopters once again were immediatly taken under fire. Several helicopters were put out of commission before all the troops were on the ground and moving towards their objectives. Two Company's of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines engaged the NVA in close quarters but persevered until all the Companies reached LtCol. Utter's Battalion and established night defensive postions. North of Utter's and Kelley's Marines the 1st Marines were slugging it out with a persistant enemy who was dug into a network of interconnected tunnels, bunkers and spider traps. Despite these defenses the Marines pressed the attack with Company "L" succeeding in taking Hill 50 after a three hour engagement. Little headway was made in the vicintiy of Chau Ngai (3) and with the coming of darkness the Marines were forced to withdraw. The 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines losses for the day were 32 killed and 90 wounded.
Company "B", 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, which had been attached to the 4th Marines and guarding a downed helicopter, came under heavy small arms fire and a mortar attack. The Marines came under increasing pressure and at about 01:30, the NVA launched a three pronged assault. This was repulsed with the help of supporting artillery fire. By morning, when relief arrived, 38 enemy dead were found. Twice that number were believed to have been carried away during the previous night. The Marines and ARVN pulled back and a intensive two and one-half hour air and artillery bombardment was launched. At approximately 12:40 on 6 March, the three Battalions advanced but the North Vietnamese were no longer there.
The Aftermath
A search of the area revealed a cave complex which apparently served as the NVA Regimental Command Post, and 100 enemy bodies on hill 50 were found by the 1st Marines. LtCol. Utter's Marines discouvered 43 enemy bodies in another tunnel complex. During Utah, the allied forces claimed to have killed 600 North Vietnamse soldiers, captured 5 prisoners, and 49 weapons including three 12.7mm machine-guns and two mortars. Marine casualties were 98 dead and 278 wounded, while the ARVN lost 30 killed and 120 wounded, the battle had been hard fought and won by Marines who stood their ground.
