2nd Battalion 23rd Marines

2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines (2/23) is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout the Western United States consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. They fall under the command of the 23rd Marine Regiment and the 4th Marine Division.

Mission
Provide trained combat personnel and units to augment and reinforce the active component in time of war, national emergency, and at other times as national security requires.

World War II
Activated on 20 July 1942 at New River, North Carolina, 23rd Marines was assigned to the 4th Marine Division in February 1943 and relocated during July 1943 to Camp Pendleton, California. 23rd Marines participated in the following campaigns during World War II: Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.

During the fierce fighting which occurred in the Pacific Theater, four Marines of the 23rd Marine Regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor. In October 1945, the Regiment was again relocated to Camp Pendleton and was subsequently deactivated on 15 November 1945.

For its actions against enemy forces, 23rd Marines received the following awards: Presidential Unit Citation Streamer with one Bronze Star, Asia-Pacific Campaign Streamer with four Bronze Stars, and World War II Victory Streamer.

Vietnam
On July 1, 1962 2/23 was reactivated, reassigned to the 4th Marine Division and relocated to Santa Monica, California on property adjacent to the Santa Monica Airport. As a Marine Corps Reserve unit during Vietnam era, the battalion's weekend drills and annual two week training were often held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as well as other Southern California military installations that included Twenty Nine Palms, Coronado, and Point Hueneme.

In January, 1973 the battalion again relocated this time to Encino, California.

Gulf War
There was an initial call-up of six specialists in late November 1990 from the Fox Company, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They left within five days to join 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines whose headquarters is in the New Orleans, LA. area. From there they proceeded to Camp Lejeune for preparation before deploying to Al Jabail, Saudi Arabia. They proceeded north into Kuwait where their final location was Hill 99, just outside of Kuwait City. They were released from active duty in May 1991 and returned home.

In December 1990, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was mobilized by Presidential Call-up to support Operation Desert Shield/Storm. 99.2% of those on the rolls reported to their seven separate drill centers for duty. Within two days of activation, this, the largest and most geographically diverse infantry battalion in the Marine Corps, reported to its Station of Initial Assignment at Camp Pendleton, California with 1,015 Marine and Navy personnel. Unlike the standard 180 day build up period which most UDP battalions require to prepare for deployment, 2/23 deployed within 16 days of activation and joined III MEF on 25 December 1990 in Okinawa, Japan.

Global War on Terror
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was activated initially for one year, in participation of Operation Enduring Freedom, to act as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for any additional terrorist attacks that might occur in the United States. Just before its one year deactivation date, the battalion's active duty status was extended in order for the unit to deploy to the Middle East to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was the first complete infantry reserve battalion to deploy in support of OIF I(2003).

2/23 pushed forward into Iraq on March 20, 2003. Among other locations, the battalion fought in An Nasiriyah assisting Task Force Tarawa's operations in that area after a U.S. Army convoy was ambushed and several soldiers were taken prisoner by insurgent forces. The battalion moved up Route 17 as part of Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT-1) fighting in Al Gharraf and Al Fajr among other towns. The battalion suffered its only combat fatality in Al Fajr. The battalion continued north with RCT 1 and was part of the tactical feint at Al Kut. Ultimately traveling west to An Numaniyah where the 1st Marine Division crossed the Tigris River. A few days later, on April 8, 2003, the battalion entered Baghdad with the Division. Fox Company found itself engaged in combat with approximately 200 Fedayeen and Iraqi intelligence personnel. A scout sniper attached to Fox company, Sergeant Scott Montoya, was awarded Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism in combat" during this engagement. The next day Golf company moved to secure the Iraqi intelligence headquarters from which Fox Company had been attacked the previous day. Once Baghdad was largely secure, Golf Company and a CAAT section from Weapons Company were then selected to be a part of Task Force Tripoli, which was the Marine vanguard into Tikrit.

On December 1, 2008, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was activated for deployment to Iraq in support of OIF 9.1. Operating near the city of Ar Ramadi. During their deployment, contributions were made to Afghanistan and the withdraw of troops as the last participating Infantry Marine force. With over 300 missions successfully completed 2/23 completed their mission. Weapons company successfully completed missions out of TQ where they were part of the Quick Reaction Force.

On March 1, 2011, the Battalion deployed to Okinawa and served as a Quick Reaction Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit was attached to the 4th Marine Regiment as Alpha Company. 2/23 deployed all over Southeast Asia and participated in KITP (Korean Incremental Training Program). The unit returned home in September 2011.