2:7th Marines

• Formation and Legacy: The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7) was activated in August 1917, making it one of the oldest and most storied battalions in the Marine Corps. • World War II Valor: 2/7 played a critical role in major Pacific battles, including Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa, earning a Presidential Unit Citation for its actions. • Peleliu’s Bloody Ridge: During the Battle of Peleliu in September 1944, 2/7 Marines fought fiercely for control of Bloody Nose Ridge, suffering heavy casualties in one of the war’s most brutal fights. • Korean War Heroics: 2/7 participated in the famed Inchon Landing and the Chosin Reservoir campaign, enduring extreme cold and fierce combat against Chinese forces. • Vietnam War Operations: From 1965 to 1970, 2/7 was involved in numerous operations, including Starlite, Harvest Moon, and Oklahoma Hills, earning a Navy Presidential Unit Citation and other awards. • Operation Desert Storm: The battalion deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990–91, conducting security and support operations during the liberation of Kuwait. • Global War on Terror: 2/7 has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003, often operating in some of the most dangerous regions such as Sangin and Now Zad in Helmand Province. • Medal of Honor Recipients: Several Marines from 2/7 have received the Medal of Honor, including Private First Class Harold Gonsalves (WWII) and Corporal Larry E. Smedley (Vietnam). • Battalion Nickname: 2/7 is known as "The Magnificent Bastards," a nickname reflecting the unit’s tenacity and fighting spirit. • Modern Deployments: In recent years, 2/7 has participated in the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program to the Pacific and continues to serve as a rapid response force, ready to deploy worldwide on short notice.