2nd Battalion, 1st Marines: A History
The history of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines
This is the lineage of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. This is their story. Their history. Before we dive into 2/1’s 2010-11 deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, it’s important to reflect on the past. The grunts that shaped their culture.
This is meant to be a wavetop highlight of 2/1’s history. While I would love to explore each conflict in greater depth, that would only make this a lot longer than it already is. The table of contents below will allow you to read on each era of 2/1, or you can read this in chronological order.
The information is presented in bullet format for ease of reading. I would greatly appreciate any feedback to improve future iterations for other units.
Table of Contents
1913 - Founding of First Marine Regiment
The First Marine Regiment was born on November 27, 1913 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were actually stood up under a different name: 2d Advance Base Regiment. In 1916, they were renamed to “First Regiment of Marines.” There were actually many different “First Regiments” in the Marine Corps in the late 19th century and early 20th century. There was one in the Philippines that fought in Peking, China, during the Boxer Rebellion. Another in Panama in 1906. But only one has a continued history through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq and Afghanistan.
November 27, 1913: 2d Advance Base Regiment is stood up in Philadelphia.
Fought in Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1914.
Fought in Haiti (1915-16)
Fought in the Dominican Republic in 1916
Renamed to the First Regiment of Marines in 1916
Stationed in Cuba in 1918 before being disbanded in 1922.
1922 - The Dominican Republic
Shortly after being disbanded in early 1922, the First Regiment of Marines were once again stood up in August to assist the Dominican Republic in establishing a government. This is also where 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines traces their roots.
August 1, 1922: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines is formed in Santo Domingo to assist with the local Dominican Policia.
1924, the unit (alongside the regiment) was disbanded when a formal government in the Dominican Republic was established.
The Regiment was briefly reactivated in 1930 and given the present designation of First Marines.
World War II
While the United States was not an active participant in the massive war unfolding in Europe, they began making preparations for possible war. 2/1, alongside other units, was formed to bolster manpower and military power in the US.
Spring 1941: 2/1 (alongside the rest of 1st Marines) was reactivated in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in preparation for possible war.
2/1 deployed to Parris Island, South Carolina, and conducted numerous training exercises.
2/1 was temporarily disbanded in June 1941. The Regiment continued training on the grounds of modern-day Camp LeJeune.
On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor, forcing the United States to respond and enter the war officially the following day.
At New River, North Carolina, 2/1 was reactivated and assigned to the First Marine Division. 2/1 relocated to the West Coast and deployed to New Zealand in July 1942.
2/1, alongside other units of the 1st Marine Division, participated in the first land battle of the war for the United States: Guadalcanal. 1st Marine Regiment fought in the jungle from August - December 1942.
1st Marine Division relocated to Melbourne, Australia, for R&R.
2/1 and its Division counterparts sailed to New Britain Island in December 1943. There, the Marines took over the island’s airfield and repelled an intense Japanese assault in the Battle of Coffin Corner.
2/1 participated in one of the most fierce engagements of the war: Peleliu. The invasion began on September 15, 1944. 2/1 suffered severe casualties in the Umurbrogol pocket, aka “Bloody Nose Ridge.” There, Japanese soldiers displayed levels of unusually high fire discipline, only inflicting casualties when it was certain they would inflict maximum casualties.
The final battle of the war for 2/1 was Okinawa. From April 1 - June 15, 1945, First Marines fought in brutal close combat. Following the end of the war (Sept. 2, 1945), 2/1 was deployed to Tientsin, China, where the unit was headquartered until its deactivation in 1947.
The Korean War
In 1950, the Korean War broke out. 2/1, along 1st Marine Regiment, was reactivated.
2/1 deployed to Kobe, Japan, in August 1950 for a brief outfitting for the upcoming invasion of Korea.
In September, 2/1 participated in the amphibious assault of Inchon. Following Inchon, the Marines liberated South Korea in the capital city, Seoul.
The Marines pushed north, and in late November, they were surrounded by Chinese forces at the Chosin Reservoir. 2/1, along with many other units of the 1st Marine Division, made a heroic outbreak despite being surrounded by 10 Chinese Divisions.
Over the course of the next two years, Marines in 2/1 saw combat in the Central Front and the Western Front. The Marines fought North Korean forces until the summer of 1953, when an armistice was signed.
1st Marines defended the Demilitarized Zone until they returned to Camp Pendleton in 1955.
The Vietnam War
In 1965, the first wave of Marines was sent to Vietnam.
1st Marine Regiment began sending elements to Southeast Asia, including 2/1. The regiment was attached to 3rd Marine Division.
In July 1966, 2/1 was part of some of the heaviest fighting of the war during Operation Hastings.
By 1967, the Regiment as a whole was operating in the northern I Corps, near the border of North Vietnam.
1st Marines, including 2/1, fought alongside other Marine units and South Vietnamese in the recapture of Hue City following its fall in January 1968. The Battle of Hue was the heaviest urban combat experienced since World War II.
By early 1971, 1st Marines redeployed back to the United States and was stationed in Camp Pendleton, where it was reassigned to the 1st Marine Division.
Post-Vietnam and the 80s
Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, 2/1 participated in Operation New Arrivals, which facilitated the relocation of Indochinese refugees. 2/1 spent time on Okinawa before the battalion was deactivated in 1989. On September 9, 1994, the battalion was reactivated and assigned to 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton.
Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)
2/1 saw heavy combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). In 2010, 2/1 deployed to Afghanistan, which is where we will focus our attention. Below are highlights of their participation in the GWOT.
2/1 participated in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
2/1 returned to Iraq in 2004 and fought in the First Battle of Fallujah (Operation Vigilant Resolve).
In 2005, 2/1 deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and fought in Husaybah, Karabilah, and New Ubaydi (Iraq—Operation Steel Curtain). 2/1 also fought in Hit (Operation Iron Hammer) in that same deployment.
2/1 returned to Iraq in 2009.
In late 2010, 2/1 deployed to the Garmsir District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 2/1 returned stateside in 2011.
In 2021, 2/1 was sent to Afghanistan to assist with the withdrawal during their SPMAGTF deployment. Nine Marines and 1 Corpsman were among the 13 killed in action during a suicide bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Sources:
John A. Johnstone, A Brief History of the 1st Marines, Washington D.C.: Historical Branch, 1962
Danny J. Crawford, Robert V. Aquilina, Ann A. Ferrante, and Shelia P Gramblin, The First Marine Division and Its Regiments, Washington D.C.: History and Museums Division, 1999
Stephen M. Fuller and Graham A. Cosmas, Marines In the Dominican Republic, Washington D.C.: History and Museums, 1974