2nd Marine Division (United States)

2nd Marine Division
2nd Marine Division insignia
Active	Full division active 1 February 1941 – present. 6th Marine Regiment served in World War I
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Marine ground combat element forces
Role	Command and control organization containing four Marine regiments and several separate combat support battalions
Size	Marine Division (Approximately 20,000)
Part of	II Marine Expeditionary Force
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Nickname(s)	The Silent Second
Motto(s)	Follow Me
Engagements	World War I Aisne Defensive Battle of Belleau Wood Battle of Château-Thierry (1918) Battle of Saint-Mihiel Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Tarawa Battle of Saipan Battle of Tinian Battle of Okinawa (8th Marine Regiment only) Vietnam War Operation Buffalo (1967) Operation Prairie IV Operation Kentucky Battle of Khe Sanh Operation Frequent Wind Operation Just Cause Gulf War Battle of Khafji Battle of Kuwait International Airport Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	MajGen John K. Love
Notable commanders	Alfred M. Gray, Jr. Thomas E. Watson (USMC) Clayton Barney Vogel Randolph M. Pate James L. Jones Julian C. Smith Alphonse DeCarre

World War I

World War II

Vietnam War

Operation Just Cause
Gulf War

Operation Enduring Freedom

The U.S. 2nd Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and headquartered at Julian C. Smith Hall.

The 2nd Marine Division earned renown in both World Wars, distinguishing itself at such battles as the Belleau Wood, Château-Thierry, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I, and Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa.

The four original regiments of the Second Marine Division – the 2nd, 6th, 8th, and 10th – were formed before the outbreak of World War I. The 2nd Marine Regiment was formed as the 1st Advance Base Regiment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 19 June 1913. After actions including Vera Cruz and Haiti, the regiment was redesignated the 2nd Marine Regiment on 1 July 1916. The 6th Marine Regiment was formed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia on 11 July 1917. It shipped over to France and became a part of the 4th Marine Brigade in late 1917. The 8th Marine Regiment was activated 9 October 1917 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The 10th Marine Regiment was formed up at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia on 25 April 1914, and has the longest record of unbroken service of any Marine regiment.