1st Battalion, 8th Marines T-shirt 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. Nicknamed "The Beirut Battalion," they fall under the command of the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division. History Activated April 1, 1940 at San Diego, California the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Brigade was re-designated February 1, 1941 as 2nd Marine Division. 1st Battalion, 8th Marines was assigned during December 1941 to 2d Marine Brigade, 2d Marine Division. Deployed during January 1942 to American Samoa and detached from the 2nd Marine Division, they participated in the following World War II campaigns: Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. It deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki, Japan, and participated in the occupation of Japan from September 1945 – June 1946. They relocated during June-July 1946 to MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and were deactivated November 18, 1947. 1st Battalion, 8th Marines participated as part of the multinational peace keeping force in Lebanon, May – November 1983. On Sunday, October 23, 1983, 1/8 was the main victim of what came to be known as the Beirut Bombing when a truck bomb was detonated at its headquarters at the airport in Beirut. The battalion participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia during December 1990 through April 1991. Elements participated in support of Operation Provide Promise and Deny Flight, Bosnia, September – October 1993 and January 1994, Operation Sea Signal in Cuba, June - July 1994, in support of Operation Support Democracy, Caribbean Area, May – July 1994, and Operation Silver Wake in 1997. In March 2003 Battalion Landing Team 1/8 departed Camp Lejeune, North Carolina with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The battalion deployed in support of combat operations in Mosul, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion would also take part in training exercises in Albania and Djibouti in the summer of 2003. Prior to its redeployment elements of the battalion inserted into Roberts International Airport and the port facility in Monrovia, Liberia. Lima company, 1/8 conducted airfield security operations as part of Joint Task Force Liberia in an effort to prevent rebel factions from ousting President Charles Taylor. The battalion would eventually return to Camp Lejeune in late October, 2003 The battalion deployed in June 2004 to Iraq. They conducted combat operations in Al Anbar Province and was one of the lead battalions during Operation Phantom Fury in November 2004 leading the assault into Fallujah.
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2nd Battalion, 8th Marines 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. Nicknamed "America's Battalion," 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines falls under the 8th Marine Regiment and the 2nd Marine Division. History World War II 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines was activated on April 1, 1940 in San Diego as the 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment and assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade. The 2nd Marine Brigade was re-designated February 1, 1941 as 2nd Marine Division. During World War II, the battalion participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian and the Battle of Okinawa. Following the surrender of Japan, the battalion deployed to Nagasaki, Japan in September 1945 as part of the occupation. They remained in Japan in this capacity until they redeployed back to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in June 1946. The battalion was deactivated on November 13, 1947 as part of the post-war drawdown of forces. 1950 - 2000 The battalion was reactivated on December 1, 1950 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and assigned to 2nd Marine Division. From July to September 1958 they took part in the United States intervention in during the Lebanon crisis. This was followed by a deployment to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base as part of the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to December 1962. Relocated in June 1968 to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Relocated in August 1973 to Camp Lejeune NC. Participated as part of Multi-Nation Peace Keeping Force in Lebanon August – September 1982, and February- October 1984. Participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada October – November 1983. Participated in Operation Provide Comfort Iraq April – July 1991. Elements participated in Operation Support Democracy Cuba October – November 1993. Participated in support of Operation Joint Endeavor Adriatic Sea October 1996. Elements participated in security operations Haiti and Panama November 1997 – February 1998 and January – August 1999. Global War on Terror Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, March – May 2003. Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan November 2003 to May 2004. 26th MEU - Iraq, March 2005 - September 2005. Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, July 2006 - February 2007. Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq, October 2007 - May 2008. 2/8 will deploy to Afghanistan in 2009 as part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. They will be part of the 17,000 troop increase announced by President Obama in mid-February.
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