The Second Battalion, Fifth Marines was initially formed in July 1914. In June 1917, the Battalion sailed for France with its parent regiment. During World War I, the Battalion participated in the Battle of Belleau Wood, Soisson, and the Meuse-Argonne Campaign. For these actions, the Battalion was twice awarded the French Croix de Guerre. The Fourragere representing these awards is worn today by members of the Battalion.
Second Battalion, Fifth Marines participated in the occupation of Germany and returned to the United States in August 1919. In 1920, at Quantico, Virginia, the Battalion was ordered to guard U.S. mail trains. The Battalion was sent to Nicaragua in 1927 to fight bandits and supervise the 1928 national elections there.
At Quantico from 1934 on, the Battalion participated in
exercises contributing to the development of amphibious doctrine. In 1941,
Second Battalion, Fifth Marines joined the newly-formed First Marine Division at
New River, North Carolina.
During World War II, the Battalion fought at Guadalcanal, New Britain, Peleliu,
and Okinawa. After the war, the Battalion served on occupation duty in Northern
China until 1947.
In July of 1950, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines sailed to Pusan, Korea. The Battalion fought at the Pusan Perimeter, the landing at Inchon, the liberation of Seoul, and the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. From 1953 to 1955, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines defended the Korean de-militarized zone.
In April 1966, the Battalion deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. During the next five years the Battalion participated in combat operations at Hue City, Que Son, Phu Bai, Dong Ha and Phu Loc. The Battalion returned to Camp Pendleton in 1971.
During the next nineteen years, the Battalion deployed regularly as part of the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program. In December 1990, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines sailed for the Persian Gulf and participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Second Battalion, Fifth Marines landed in Saudi Arabia and participated in the liberation of Kuwait. During the return transit to the United States, the Battalion was diverted to Bangladesh in order to provide humanitarian relief as part of Operation Sea Angel.
The Battalion returned to the United States in June 1991, and
immediately re-deployed to Okinawa from December 1991 to May 1992. In January
1994, the Battalion deployed to the western Pacific as the ground combat element
of the 11th MEU (SOC). Marines participated in operation Quickdraw, the
withdrawal from Somalia, and operation Distant Runner, the evacuation of Rwanda.
The Battalion most recently participated in operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Second Battalion, Fifth Marines is the most highly decorated
infantry battalion in the history of the United States Marine Corps.