2nd Battalion, 28th Marines

2nd Battalion, 28th Marines
Unit name	2nd Battalion, 28th Marines
Dates	1944–1946, 1967–1969, 2007–2015
Country	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Infantry
Command structure	5th Marine Division
Garrison	Camp Pendleton
Notable commanders	Hershel W. "Herb" Mullin

2nd Battalion, 28th Marines was an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps assigned to the 5th Marine Division that saw combat during the Battle of Iwo Jima and later served in training and reserve roles during the Cold War and post-9/11 era. The battalion earned unit citations and campaign streamers for actions in the Pacific Theater and maintained traditions tied to the 28th Marine Regiment and 5th Marine Division heritage. Elements of the battalion participated in amphibious operations, combined arms training, and force generation for deployments at Camp Pendleton and other United States bases.

History

The battalion was activated as part of the expansion of the United States Marine Corps in World War II under the auspices of the Pacific Ocean Areas command structure and the United States Pacific Fleet logistics network. Following deactivation after postwar drawdowns overseen by the Department of the Navy, the battalion was reactivated during the Vietnam-era force restructuring that involved the Marine Corps Reserve and later reestablished to meet operational requirements during the Global War on Terrorism. Throughout its existence the unit aligned with higher echelons including the 28th Marine Regiment and the 5th Marine Division, operating from installations such as Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and reserve centers tied to III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Reserve elements.

World War II

Organized during 1944 as part of the 5th Marine Division, the battalion trained at Camp Pendleton and staged through Pearl Harbor and Saipan in preparation for operations in the Bonin Islands. The battalion’s most notable action was in the Battle of Iwo Jima where companies assaulted fortified positions held by the Imperial Japanese Army under the overall campaign directed by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and General Thomas Holcomb. Units conducted coordinated amphibious landings with naval gunfire support from elements of the United States Navy, close air support from the United States Army Air Forces and later United States Navy carrier aviation, while engineering and logistical support came from Seabees and Naval Construction Battalions. Actions during the campaign resulted in engagement with defending forces entrenched in volcanic terrain and cave complexes constructed by commanders associated with the Thirty-Fifth Army (Imperial Japanese Army). Following heavy casualties and the end of major combat operations the battalion remained on occupation duty before deactivation during the postwar demobilization phases managed by the Office of the Secretary of the Navy.

Cold War and Reactivations

In the context of Cold War contingency planning and force posture adjustments, the battalion saw intermittent reactivation tied to the expansion of the Marine Corps Reserve and the restructuring of marine infantry units during the Vietnam War era. Reactivations and deactivations correlated with policy decisions from the Secretary of Defense and operational requirements set by commanders of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. During later reactivations in the 21st century, the battalion participated in Unit Deployment Program rotations associated with III Marine Expeditionary Force and force generation cycles supporting operations in the Indo-Pacific and training exchanges involving United States Army and allied forces from Japan Self-Defense Forces and Australian Defence Force units.

Organization and Structure

The battalion followed the standard infantry organization prevalent in United States Marine Corps doctrine: a headquarters and service company plus three rifle companies and a weapons company, aligning with tables of organization and equipment promulgated by Headquarters Marine Corps. Command relationships placed the battalion under the 28th Marine Regiment and the 5th Marine Division for operational tasking, with liaison and support nodes interacting with Combat Logistics Regiment elements and Marine Aviation for close air support. Training cycles included combined arms rehearsals with amphibious assault vehicle units, coordination with naval gunfire liaison platoon assets, and marksmanship and maneuver training consistent with Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation standards.

Notable Engagements and Honors

The battalion’s most prominent combat credit is participation in the Battle of Iwo Jima, an operation that resulted in multiple unit commendations and campaign streamers recorded in Marine Corps lineage. Individual Marines from the battalion received decorations including the Medal of Honor (among other United States military decorations), Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star Medal for actions during the Pacific campaigns. The unit’s legacy is preserved in regimental histories and memorials that recall actions alongside formations such as the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Division, and supporting United States Navy task groups. Postwar honors have included unit awards administered under the authority of Secretary of the Navy and recognition at commemorative events hosted by organizations such as the Marine Corps Historical Center.

Unit Insignia and Traditions

Insignia and traditions of the battalion derived from regimental heraldry common to the 28th Marine Regiment and division symbols of the 5th Marine Division. Emblems incorporated elements reflective of the Pacific campaigns, with unit colors and guidons displayed during formal reviews at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and ceremonies connected to the Marine Corps Birthday and Memorial Day observances. Oral histories and veteran associations, including Marine Corps League detachments and reunion groups, maintain the battalion’s collective memory through preservation of unit flags, citation scrolls, and documentation housed in repositories like the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Category:Infantry battalions of the United States Marine Corps