2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Nicknamed "The Professionals," the battalion consists of approximately 1,200 Marines and Sailors. Normally they fall under the command of 1st Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.
Activated August 1, 1922 at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment and assigned to the 2d Brigade.
Participated in the occupation of the Dominican Republic, Deactivated July 20, 1924
Reactivated March 1, 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 Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina
Deactivated June 14, 1941
Reactivated February 11, 1942 at New River, North Carolina, and assigned to the 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
Deployed during July 1942 to Wellington, New Zealand
Participated in the following World War II campaigns:
Guadalcanal Campaign, withstood the bombings on Henderson Field
Battle of Cape Gloucester, was able to hold the line against many wild and deadly Banzai Charges
Battle of Peleliu, was among those that suffered the worst casualties during the attack on the Umurbrogal Pocket
Battle of Okinawa, helped in capturing Shuri amid the mud and terrible conditions
Redeployed during September 1945 to Tiensin, China
Participated in the occupation of North China, September 1945 – October 1947
Reactivated August 4, 1950 at Camp Lejeune, 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,
Inchon-Seoul
Chosin Reservoir
East Central Front
Western Front
Participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone
Relocated during April 1955 to Camp Pendleton, California
Participated in the Battalion transplacement system between the 1st Marine Division and the 3d Marine Division
Participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, October–December 1962
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,
Hue/Phu Bai
Da Nang
Quang Tri
Thua Thien
Quang Nam
Lien Ket
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
Post War and the 1980s
Participated during April – May 1975 in Operation New Arrivals, the relocation of refugees from Indochina
Participated in the Battalion rotation between the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa and Divisions stationed in the United States during the 1980s
Deactivated January 24, 1989
Reactivated September 9, 1994 at Camp Pendleton, CA, and assigned to the 1st Marine Division.
As part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the battalion deployed to Kuwait in February 2003, and participated in the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The battalion deployed in March 2004, to Fallujah, Iraq and took part in Operation Vigilant Resolve. They returned to Iraq in 2005 with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and engaged in combat operations during Operation Steel Curtain in Husaybah, Karabilah, and New Ubaydi, and Operation Iron Hammer in Hit. The battalion deployed to Okinawa to serve as the Ground Combat Unit for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from January 1, 2007 until January 1, 2008. The battalion deployed to Iraq in January 2009 and returned in August of the same year.
The battalion deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010 through May 15, 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They operated in the Garmsir District, Helmand Province. In June 2012, the battalion returned to Okinawa as the Ground Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. In March 2014, 2/1 deployed as the Ground Combat Element of the 11th MEU.
A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. 2/1 has been presented with the following awards:
Raymond Kelly - served with unit during the Vietnam War
Robert Leckie - author of Helmet for My Pillow
Gen Peter Pace - former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. - son of General Lewis "Chesty" Puller and Pulitzer prize winning author
Douglas Zembiec - The "Lion of Fallujah"
Charles C. Krulak - 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1999
