Activated 1 August 1922 at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment and assigned to the 2nd Brigade.
Participated in the occupation of the Dominican Republic, Deactivated 20 July 1924
1941 - 1947
Reactivated 1 March 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 Parris Island, SC
Deactivated 14 June 1941
Reactivated 11 February 1942 at New River, NC, and assigned to the 1st Marines Division, Fleet Marine Force
Deployed during July 1942 to Wellington, New Zealand
Participated in the following World War II campaigns
* Guadalcanal
* Finschhafen
* New Britain
* Peleliu
* Okinawa
Redeployed during September 1945 to Tiensin, China
Participated in the occupation of North China, September 1945-October 1947
1950 - 1964
Reactivated 4 August 1950 at Camp Lejuene, 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, Operating from
* Inchon-Seoul
* Chosin Reservoir
* East Central
* Western Front
Participated in the defense of the Korean demilitarized zone July 1953 - April 1955
Relocated to Camp Pendleton, CA in April 1955
Participated in the Battalion transplacement system between the 1st Marine Division and the 3rd Marine Division during June 1959 - July 1960
Participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, October-December 1962
1965 - 1974
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, Operating from
* Hue/Phu Bai
* Da Nang
* Quang Tri
* Thua Thien
* Quang Nam
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
1975 - 1994
Participated during April - May 1975 in Operation New Arrival, the relocation of refugees from Indochina
Participated in numerous training exercises during the 1970's and 1980's
Participated in the Battalion rotation between the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa and Divisions stationed in the United States during the 1980's
Deactivated 24 January 1989
Reactivated 9 September 1994 at Camp Pendleton, CA, and assigned to the 1st Marine Division
2003 - 2006
Participated from January to June 2003 in Operation Enduring Freedom I with the 15th MEU.
Participated from February to October 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom II wi 1st Marine Division.
Participated from October 2005 to December 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06 with 2nd Marine Division and the 13th MEU.
Notable Persons
Medal Honor - Vietnam -
PFC DeWayne Thomas Williams
Private First Class Dewayne Thomas Williams (MCSN: 2420506), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 18 September 1968, while serving as a rifleman with the First Platoon, Company H, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in action against communist insurgent forces in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam.
Medal Honor - Vietnam -
LCpl Emillio A De La Garza, Jr.
Lance Corporal Emilio Albert De La Garza, Jr., United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 11 April 1970, while serving as a machine gunner with Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, near DaNang, Republic of Vietnam
Medal Honor - Vietnam -
PFC Gary Wayne Martini
Private First Class Gary Wayne Martini (MCSN: 2217825), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in action against enemy forces near Binh Son, Republic of Vietnam.
Description
This campaign was from 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969. In November 1968 the South Vietnam government with American support began a concentrated effort to expand security in the countryside. This project was known as the "Accelerated Pacification Campaign."
This period covers the election of President Richard M. Nixon and a change of policy brought about by his administration after January 1969 when he announced a coming end to US combat in Southeast Asia and a simultaneous strengthening of South Vietnam's ability to defend itself. Formal truce negotiations began in Paris on January 25, 1969. The period can be characterized as marking time in preparation for an about face. Forty-seven ground combat operations were recorded during this period, the following being the most important:
(1). Operation NAPOLEON in the Dong Ha area initiated previously (1967) by Marine units, terminated on 9 December 1968.
(2). Operation WHEELER WALLOWA by 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 196th Infantry Brigade (Light) in north-central Quan Tin Province. This ended on 11 November.
(3). Operation MACARTHUR initiated by 4th U.S. Infantry Division in II Corps tactical zone terminated on 31 January 1969.
(4). Operation COCHISE GREEN conducted by the 173d Airborne Brigade in Binh Dinh Province.
(5). Operation TOAN THANG II consisted of ground operations throughout III CTZ. This was a multi-division operation involving allied forces.
(6). Operation SEA LORDS was a coast and riverine operation. On 6 December Operation GIANT SLINGSHOT was started to disrupt enemy infiltration of materials from the "Parrot's Beak" area of Cambodia. Air operations continued to be important with over 60,000 sorties flown.