1936 - 1940
Activated 1 July 1936 at San Diego, California, as the 2d Marine Brigade, Fleet Marine Force Deployed during August-September 1937 to Shanghai China
Relocated during February-April 1938 to San Diego, California
1941 - 1957
Redesignated 1 February 1941 as the 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force
Elements deployed to Iceland, July 1941-March 1942
Deployed to the South Pacific during January 1942-January 1943
Participated in the following World War II campaigns:
GUADALCANAL
SOUTHERN SOLOMONS
TARAWA
SAIPAN
TINIAN
OKINAWA
Deployed during September 1945 to Nagasaki, Japan
Participated in the occupation of Japan, September 1945-June 1946
Relocated during June-July 1946 to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
1958 - 1991
Elements participated in the landing in Lebanon, July-October 1958
Participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, October December 1962
Elements participated in the intervention in the Dominican Republic, April-June 1965
Participated in numerous training exercises throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s
Participated as part of a Multinational Peace-Keeping Force in Lebanon, August 1982-February 1984
Elements participated in the landing on Grenada-Carriacou, October-November 1983
Elements participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama, December 1989- January 1990
Participated in Operations Desert shield and Desert Storm from December 1990-April 1991
1991-1998
Elements participated in Operation Provide Comfort, Iraq, April-July 1991
Elements participated in Haitian Refugee Operations, Cuba, November 1991-December 1995
Elements participated in Operations in Somalia, December 1992-March 1994
Elements participated in Operation in Haiti, October 1993-October 1994
Elements participated in Operations in Bosnia, August 1994, June 1995-February 1996
Elements participated in Operation Assured Response, Liberia, April-August 1996
1999-2012
Elements participated in Operations in Kosovo, March-July 1999
Participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, March-June 2003, February 2005-March 2006, February 2007-March 2008 and February 2009-January 2012
Elements participated in Operation Secure Tomorrow, Haiti, February-June 2004
Elements participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, August 2004-February 2005 and February 2006-February 2007
Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, March2011-March 2012
Honors
Presidential Unit Citation Streamer - World War II, Tarawa
China Service Streamer
American Defense Service Streamer with one Bronze Star
European-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign Streamer
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with one Silver Star and Two Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Streamer
Navy Occupation Service Streamer with Asia and European Clasps
National Defense Service Streamer with one Bronze Star
Marine Corps Expeditionary Streamer
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer with Two Bronze Stars
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
Southwest Asia Streamer with Three Bronze Stars