2375

2ND BATTALION, 10TH US MARINES, FLEET MARINE FORCE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
2ND BATTALION, 10TH US MARINES, FLEET MARINE FORCE
FLAG. 50” x 64” finely embroidered with gold fringe.
What would become the 2nd Marine Division first formed in 1936 as the 2nd Marine Brigade in San Diego. After creation, the brigade deployed to China in 1937 but came back home in 1938. In February 1941, the newly created 2nd Marine Division held its first dress parade. The division then consisted of the 2nd, 6th and 8th Marine Regiments (Infantry), the 10th Marine Regiment (artillery) plus engineer, tank and other battalions and assorted company sized units.

In mid-1941, elements of the division were sent to Iceland to help protect that island nation from German U-Boats and possible German invasion. The 8th Marine Regiment was dispatched to American Samoa along with a few other division assets after the war in the Pacific broke out on December 7, 1941. Its first combat action was at Guadalcanal when the 2nd and 8th Marine Regiments of the division assisted in the capture and defense of that island. From mid-November through early December 1943, the 2nd Marine Division invaded Tarawa and suffered heavily in that action. The division received a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions. From June into July 1944, the 2nd Marines attacked Saipan and along with other American units involved, also suffered heavy casualties. The division also attacked nearby Tinian assisting in its capture. It was from this island that the B-29s that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki launched. During the Okinawa Campaign part of the division served as a floating reserve.

The division remained active after World War Two and in 1958 elements of the division helped in the intervention in Lebanon. In 1962, units of the division were sent to the base at Guantanamo Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis as well as the Dominican Republic in 1965. Elements were again posted to Lebanon from August 1982 to February 1984. It was during this time that 238 Marines and sailors were killed in the Beirut bombing attack. At the end of the 1980s, units of the division took part in the invasion of Panama. In the early 1990s, members of the division deployed to Liberia to assist in evacuating American civilians from the war-torn nation and then deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield. They were among the first American combat units to engage the Iraqi Army when the latter attacked Saudi Arabia at Khafji. With Operation Desert Storm the 2nd Marines were tasked with taking Kuwait’s airport. Units of the division went to war with Iraq again in 2003 as well as in 2005.

The 2nd Marine Division remains active today with its headquarters at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina.

The 10th Marine Regiment is the artillery component of the division. It began in 1914 as the 10th Marine Battalion and were artillery from inception. In January 1917, the battalion was expanded into the 10th Marine Regiment Field Artillery. The regiment initially had five battalions but only the 1st and 2nd Battalions remain today plus the headquarters battery. The 3rd, 4th and 5th Battalions have been disbanded with the 3rd Battalion being the last in April 2013.

This flag, with its golden fringe, is the ceremonial standard for this command. 2nd battalion was active WW1 disbanded 1920, WW2 disbanded 1945, reactivated 1948-2009. CONDITION: fine overall. (02-17547-14/JS). $300-500.