1:2nd Marines Hawaii

• Formation and Nickname: 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines (1/2) is a battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps. Its nickname is "The Professionals." • PACOM Posting: Although based at Camp Lejeune, 1/2 has frequently deployed to the Pacific, and elements have been stationed in Hawaii as part of rotational deployments and the Unit Deployment Program (UDP). • World War II Service: 1/2 participated in major battles such as Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa, earning a formidable combat reputation. • Korean War Action: The unit was instrumental in the Inchon Landing and the Chosin Reservoir campaign, enduring some of the harshest conditions in Marine Corps history. • Vietnam Deployments: 1/2 served in Vietnam from 1965–1971, conducting combat operations in Quang Nam, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien provinces. • Hawaii Rotation: During the 1980s and 1990s, 1/2 periodically deployed to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, for training and Pacific defense missions. • Operation Desert Storm: 1/2 participated in the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, providing mechanized infantry support during the ground war. • Global War on Terror: 1/2 completed multiple deployments to Iraq (including Fallujah and Ramadi) and Afghanistan (notably Helmand Province), earning Navy Unit Commendations. • Humanitarian Missions: The unit has conducted disaster relief in the Pacific, including typhoon response operations and humanitarian assistance exercises while in Hawaii. • Legacy and Traditions: 1/2 is renowned for its discipline, leadership, and "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" ethos, often celebrated in Marine Corps lore and honored during reunions in Hawaii.