ACTIVATED 1
NOVEMBER 1940 AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, AS THE 3D BATTALION, 8TH MARINES AND
ASSIGNED TO THE 2D MARINE BRIGADE
2D MARINE BRIGADE REDESIGNATED 1 FEBRUARY 1941 AS 2D MARINE DIVISION
ASSIGNED DURING DECEMBER 1941 TO 2D MARINE BRIGADE, 2D MARINE DIVISION
DEPLOYED DURING JANUARY 1942 TO AMERICAN SAMOA AND DETACHED FROM THE 2D MARINE
DIVISION
DETACHED DURING OCTOBER 1942 FROM THE 2D MARINE DIVISION
ASSIGNED DURING FEBRUARY 1943 TO THE 2D MARINE DIVISION
PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGNS:
GUADALCANAL
TARAWA
SAIPAN
TINIAN
OKINAWA
DEPLOYED DURING SEPTEMBER 1945 TO NAGASAKI, JAPAN
PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN, SEPTEMBER 1945 - FEBRUARY 1946
RELOCATED DURING FEBRUARY - MARCH 1946 TO CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA
DEACTIVATED 26 MARCH 1946
REACTIVATED 15 JANUARY 1951 AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, AS THE 3D
BATTALION, 8TH MARINES AND ASSIGNED TO THE 2D MARINE DIVISION
DEPLOYED AT VARIOUS TIMES FROM THE 1950S TO 1980S TO THE MEDITERRANEAN,
CARIBBEAN, AND NORTH ATLANTIC AREAS
PARTICIPATED IN THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1962
PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERVENTION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, FEBRUARY 1966
PARTICIPATED AS PART OF THE MULTINATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN LEBANON, OCTOBER
1982 - FEBRUARY 1983
PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION SHARP EDGE, LIBERIA, AUGUST 1990 - JANUARY 1991
PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT, IRAQ, JULY 1991
PARTICIPATED IN SUPPORT OF DENY FLIGHT, BOSNIA, APRIL - SEPTEMBER 1995
PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ASSURED RESPONSE, LIBERIA, JUNE - AUGUST 1996
ELEMENT PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION QUICK RESPONSE, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, JUNE
1996