“We’ve gotta get out of this place”. Southern edge of the DMZ. Vietnam, 1966

US Navy crew member portrait

“Let’s get out of here!” – Cityfight in Farah Province, 2nd Battalion 7th Marines

The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines is a light infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and consist of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. The battalion falls under the command of the 7th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

2/7 deployed to Helmand and Farah Provinces, Afghanistan from April to December 2008. The battalion spearheaded the return of Marines to Afghanistan, and was engaged in heavy combat with insurgent elements throughout their deployment. 2/7 operated from Camp Bastion and bases in Sangin, Gereshk, Musa Qaleh, Now Zad, Delaram, Gulistan, Bakwa and Bala Baluk. Called “the hardest hit battalion in the Corps this year,” The battalion suffered 20 men killed and 160 wounded, thirty of which were amputees. 2/7 returned to Afghanistan in 2012 (font Wikipedia).

USMC 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade

Operation Iraqi Freedom
The battalion saw combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of Task Force Tarawa in 2003 and with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2004, having combat operations in Iskandariyah, Musayyib, Haswa, and Jurf Al Sakhar, located in the Babil province. In the summer of 2006, the battalion completed their third tour in Iraq as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in Hīt located within the Al Anbar province. In March 2007 the battalion on its 4th combat deployment operated in Kahn ar Bagdadi, Ar Rutbah, and Anah, located in Al Anbar province. From July 2008 through February 2009 the battalion deployed to Al Habbaniyah in the Al Anbar province. The battalion also spent a portion of its 5th deployment to Iraq in Sinjar, located in the Ninawa province.

Operation Enduring Freedom
The battalion deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2010. Their area of operations (AO) included Now Zad, Salaam Bazaar, Karimanda, Kunjak, Musa Qal’eh, and the Musa Qal’eh Wadi down to Sangin. The battalion took heavy casualties but was able to push out a large portion of the Taliban in the AO and double the size of the AO that they were responsible for. 1/2 came home in late September when they were relieved by 1st Battalion 8th Marines.

The ‘Frozen Chosen’ – The battle of Chosin Reservoir (North Korea, 27 November – 13 December 1950)

In November 1950 the US 1st Marine Division was trapped in the Chosin Reservoir following the intervention of Red China in the Korean War. Fought during the worst blizzard in a century, the ensuing battle is considered by the United States Marine Corps to be ‘the Corps’ Finest Hour’. The soldiers who fought there would later become known as the ‘Frozen Chosen’.
The fierce struggle in defense of the Chosin Reservoir was a shining example of heroism and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, as a handful of Marines fought desperately against wave after wave of Chinese forces. Sometimes forced into desperate hand to hand combat, the fighting retreat from Chosin marked one of the darkest moments for Western forces in Korea, but would go on to resonate with generations of Marines as a symbol of the Marine Corps’ dogged determination, fighting skill, and never-say-die attitude on the battlefield.

On display at the Suncoast Center For Fine Scale Modeling (FLA)