2nd Marine Division History
After war outbreak, 8th Marine Regiment and other division’s assets assortment formed 2nd Marine division and they were dispatched to the American Samoa. During the Second World War, 2nd Marine division participated in some authorized engagements and operations at the Pacific Theater of Operations. The Division also participated in the war of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands Campaign which began on 4th January to 8th February 1943.2nd Marine Division also took part in the 1958 major action when components participated in the United States intervention in the Lebanon serious Crisis of 1958. They helped to reinforce the Guantanamo Bay throughout the period of Cuban Missile crisis which occurred in 1962.
They also went to the Dominican Republic, Southern America in the year 1965 to form part of the Operation Power Pack. Other peacekeeping missions that the division took part in include Lebanon from August 1982 to February 1984. During 1983 Beirut Barracks bombing, the division suffered a great loss of more 200 marines and sailors. By late 1980s, the marines of this division participated in the popular invasion of Panama in the Operation Just Cause.
The 1990s started with the elements of this division taking part in the Operation Sharp Edge – the evacuation of the allied civilians and Americans from the war torn Liberia. The deployment to Saudi Arabia followed the operation. In Saudi Arabia they supported the Operation Desert Shield after which they participated in the Kuwait liberation in the Operation Desert Storm. After the war, some elements of this Division took part in the Operation Provide Comfort in Iraq.
Participation In Global War Against Terror
Some members of the division in early 2003 went to Kuwait to offer support to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The units formed the Marine Expeditionary Brigade also known as MEB and named the Task Force Tarawa. They crossed over to Iraq soon after the day of ground war with their first task being seizing Jalibah airfield located in the Southern Iraq.After this, the Marines moved to Al-Kut where they offered security and participated in stabilization operations in the Central Iraq. In 2005, the division’s elements were deployed into Iraq to participate in the Operation Iraq Freedom. Further the division was deployed for one year between 2007 and 2008 at Camp Fellujah. Other elements of the department were deployed to Leatherneck Camp, Afghanistan as a ground combat element in what is referred as the Task Force Leatherneck.
2nd Marine Division Training
Before any deployment, the marines have to undergo training in Camp LeJune, North Carolina. They also participate in rigorous training cycles with anticipations of future deployment. The Marines also wear Marine Corps Rings to symbolize the division’s emblem.
