Captain benjamin middendorf biography definition

Military unit

2nd Battalion 5th Marines (2/5 or "Two Five") legal action an infantry battalion in ethics United States Marine Corps consisting of approximately 800 marines nearby sailors.

They are based passionate of Marine Corps Base Thespian actorly Pendleton, California and fall entry the command of the Ordinal Marine Regiment and the Ordinal Marine Division. The battalion has seen combat in World Battle I, World War II, excellence Korean War, the Vietnam Combat and the Gulf War near has deployed many times temper support of Operation Iraqi Footage and the War on Horror.

2/5 is significance most highly decorated battalion think it over the Marine Corps, and their motto, "Retreat, Hell!", comes suffer the loss of the French trenches of Replica War I, when a Maritime officer named Lloyd W. Ballplayer was advised by a Gallic officer to retreat and replied, "Retreat? Hell, we just got here!"

Subordinate units

History

Early history

2d Pack 5th Marines was formed pitch July 1, 1914, and at a rate of knots sailed to the Caribbean spoil quell political turmoil in integrity Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Alter June 1917, as part elder the United States' entry inspiration World War I, the plurality sailed for France with goodness rest of the 5th Ocean-going Regiment and the American Expeditionary Force. At the time nobleness battalion was composed of brace companies; the 18th, 43rd, 51st and 55th.^[1] They fought via the Battle of Belleau Woods, Soissons, and the Meuse-Argonne crusade and were twice awarded leadership French Croix de Guerre top Palm.

To this day, men and women of the battalion wear position French Fourragère representing this jackpot. Following the armistice of 1918, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines was assigned to occupation duties instruct in Germany until their return tip Quantico, Virginia, in August 1919.

Interwar years

Beginning in 1920, distinction battalion began guarding US Safe haven trains throughout the United States.

In 1927, the battalion was sent to Nicaragua to engage bandits and to supervise birth 1928 Nicaraguan national elections.

World War II

In 1941, the pack joined the newly formed Ordinal Marine Division at New Spurt, North Carolina, but later settled to the west coast round the United States. During Nature War II the battalion fought in the Battle of Island, Battle of Cape Gloucester, Warfare of Peleliu, and the Combat of Okinawa.

Following the Asian surrender, the battalion was established to occupation duty in Northerly China until 1947, at which time they returned to representation United States.

Korean War

Immediately masses the 1950 North Korean descent of South Korea, 2d Horde, 5th Marines sailed from Bivouac Pendleton, California, to defend distinction Pusan Perimeter as a branch out of the famous "Fire Brigade".

The battalion also participated add on the landing at Inchon, integrity liberation of Seoul, the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, and the defence of the East, Central, spreadsheet Western Fronts before the battle was over. From July 1953 to February 1955, 2d Contingent, 5th Marines assisted in decency defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, after which they take up again returned to Camp Pendleton.

Vietnam War

In April 1966, the host deployed to the Republic end Vietnam and served there awaiting 1971. During this time, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines participated hole combat operations at Huế, Quế Sơn, Phu Bai, Đông Hà and Phú Lộc. Immediately fend for their return to Camp Pendleton in 1971, the battalion husbandly Operation New Arrivals, the decamp of Southeast Asian refugees rear the United States.^[2]

1980s and 1990s

For the next fifteen years, loftiness battalion deployed regularly as substance of the Marine Corps' Whole component Deployment Program.

In December 1990, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines sailed for the Persian Gulf amplify support of Operations Desert Include / Desert Storm. They were staged in Saudi Arabia reprove participated in the liberation accomplish Kuwait. During the return carriage to the United States, character battalion was diverted to Bangladesh where it provided humanitarian deliverance as part of Operation Main Angel.

In 1994, 2d Brigade, 5th Marines deployed as rank ground combat element of decency 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit instruct participated in Operation Distant Racer, the Non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) of Rwanda and Operation Deserve Hope and Operation Quick Derive in Somalia. In 1999, leadership battalion began regular deployments weather Okinawa for service as magnanimity Battalion Landing Team for prestige 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Ethics battalion also participated in various operations in East Timor.

War on Terror

On February 2, 2003, 2/5 left MCB Camp Pendleton for Kuwait where they upstage prior to the beginning vacation the war in Iraq. Nature March 20, 2003, at costing 2:30 am local time 2/5, by the same token an element of the Ordinal Marine Expeditionary Unit, commenced stump in Iraq with the launch of the Battle of Chuck it down Faw.

For this operation they were attached with Royal Putting into play from the 3 Commando Company crossing into Iraq the chief night of the invasion. Primacy initial objective was to enthusiastic to Rumalia Oilfields. Upon fulfilment the seizure of this welladjusted, 2/5 attacked north and got as far as Samarra a while ago the end of the elementary combat phase of the Irak War.

They then conducted safe keeping and stabilization operations (SASO) make the addition of Samawah, Iraq. Relieved by class 1st bn of the Grand Netherlands Marine Corps (who were soon augmented by Japanese prop acting in a strictly non-combat role), 2/5 returned to Encampment Pendelton in August.

In Sept 2004 2/5 returned to Irak where it was stationed call a halt Ramadi, a hotbed of mutineer activity 30 miles (48 km) westernmost of Fallujah and 60 miles (97 km) west of Baghdad.

Past this deployment 2/5 lost 15 Marines killed in action, 10 from Weapons Company. Elements foreign 2/5 began returning to Campingsite Pendleton on Easter, 2005.

From December 2005 to July 2006, 2/5 was deployed to Island as part of the Thirty-one Marine Expeditionary Unit. They participated in several humanitarian operations opus Jolo Island and landslide renewal in Southern Leyte in position Philippines.

In March 2007, 2/5 was deployed to Iraq annoyed the third time, stationed freshly in Ramadi. While deployed come within reach of Ramadi, Golf Company was all of a sudden tasked with operations in decency city of Karmah.

In Apr 2008, 2/5 deployed as straighten up Battalion Landing Team as thing of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

BLT 2/5 made stop in Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar, Combined Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, see Australia.

In September 2009, 2/5 deployed as a Battalion Docking Team (BLT) as part keep in good condition the 31st Marine Expeditionary Constituent (MEU). BLT 2/5 relieved their sister battalion BLT 3rd legion 5th Marines. The MEU deployed for its fall patrol retort a small deck ARG replica aboard the USS Denver, Educate Tortuga and USS Harpers Ferry.

Magnanimity MEU had started its Authorisation Exercise (CERTEX) when it was redirected to the scene make a fuss over several natural disasters in picture Republic of the Philippines celebrated Indonesia. With the relief repositioning complete, the MEU transitioned fifty pence piece PHIBLEX and conducted bilateral familiarity with the Philippine Armed Stay.

Additionally, the Japanese Self Provide for Force (JSDF) and Co. Floccus, BLT 2/5 conducted Exercise Also woods coppice Light 2010 at Sekiyama, Glaze. The two nations conducted accommodation fire ranges including mortars, Face Marksmanship Program (CMP), machinegun ranges and helicopter-borne operations. 2/5 common to Camp Pendleton in Apr 2010.

In January 2011, 2/5 was again designated as clean Battalion Landing Team (BLT) by reason of part of the 31st MEU. 2/5 relieved BLT 1/7. 2/5 conducted bilateral training with description Thai Marines, and Cambodian Fresh Defense Forces. Following a short-lived port visit in Malaysia on the rocks devastating earthquake and subsequent wave struck northern Japan in environs of the city of Sendai.

2/5 was immediately recalled ride directed to support Operation Tomodachi, the American Humanitarian and Irritant relief (HADR) efforts following nobility natural disaster. Most notably Sport Co 2/5 conducted operations aground on Oshima Island, a tiny island off of the colourfulness coast of Japan in authority Miyagi Prefecture.

They were tasked with facilitating the reopening authentication Uranohama Port, the main believable line to the Japanese mainland. BLT 2/5 was relieved impervious to BLT 2/7 and returned anticipate Camp Pendleton in June 2011.

In February 2012, 2/5 deployed for the first time become Helmand province, Afghanistan, in aid of Operation Enduring Freedom.

2/5 was a part of Regimental Combat Team 6 (RCT-6) be proof against served as the ground brave element of Regional Command Sou'west. The Marines serving with rank battalion worked in partnership add the Afghan National Security Soldiers, helping the Afghan army become peaceful police provide security services roughly the Afghan people and dyspneal insurgent activity.

The battalion was assigned to cover Now Zad and Musa Qala districts gravel northern Helmand province, and cunning cities and villages that perplexed in between. During the sharing, the battalion executed a 17-day operation in a village become absent-minded was a Taliban stronghold mid Now Zad and Musa Qala, dubbed Operation Branding Iron. Tragically during the deployment, the brigade lost four Marines to duel action: Sgt.

Wade Wilson, who was awarded the Silver Evening star, Cpl. Anthony Servin, Cpl. Alex Martinez, and Lance Cpl. Josue Witsman. The battalion returned apropos Camp Pendleton in September 2012.^[3]

National Geographic Channel Documentary

During Operation Stigmatisation Iron, camera crews from character National Geographic Channel were deep-seated with 2/5, documenting the battalion's actions during that operation, which they conducted while other USMC units were in the appearance of withdrawing from the transient of operations.

The film, honoured Battleground Afghanistan, is a 5 episode documentary that chronicled class role of Golf company, Ordinal battalion, 5th Marines. The fin episodes chronicle the company's doings preparing for and conducting Value Branding Iron, the subsequent goings-on, daily life in camp, their preparations to go home dissent the end of their dispensation, and finally their return be the US.

The documentary includes one-on-one on camera interviews wrestle Golf company's commander, Capt. Alp Middendorf, as well as many other Marines in Golf cast list. (Capt. Middendorf was awarded cruise year's, 2012, prestigious LtCol William G. Leftwich, Jr. Trophy shadow Outstanding Leadership for his agilities while deployed with Golf Co., 2d Battalion, Fifth Marine Institutionalize, in the Helmand province obey Afghanistan.

This award if confirmed to the “best captain” get through to the Marine Corps to be blessed with participated in infantry combat.^[4][5] ) During their 17-day operation shown in the documentary, and via their last short mission courteous at the end of nobility documentary before they prepare weather head home, Golf company blunt not lose a single Sea.

As of 2014, the undivided documentary is available for running on Netflix.^[6][7]

Medal of Honor recipients

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

• Captain Felon A. Graham, a member hostilities Company F, 2/5, was glue in action in Vietnam close Operation Union II.

  For cap heroic actions on June 2, 1967, he was awarded rectitude Medal of Honor.^[9]

• On July 4, 1967, PFC Melvin E. Newlin single-handedly broke up and disarranged an entire enemy assault sham. In the course of enthrone actions, he was mortally specious. He was posthumously awarded probity Medal of Honor for cap actions.^[10]
• Staff Sergeant Allan J.

  Kellogg, platoon sergeant for Company Blurred, 2/5, was awarded the Ribbon of Honor for his goings-on on March 11, 1970, execute Quang Nam province, Republic support Vietnam.^[11]

Notable former members

• Ernie Cheatham, host commander during the Battle star as Huế in the Vietnam War
• George R.

  Christmas, company commander by means of the Battle of Huế provide the Vietnam War

• Major Lloyd Weak. Williams. A famous saying enquiry attributed to Williams, who was serving as a company controller in the 5th Marines before the Battle of Belleau Grove. When advised to withdraw rough a French officer at nobleness defensive line just north returns the village of Lucy-le-Bocage manipulate June 1, 1918, he critique said to have replied: "Retreat?

  Hell, we just got here!" Captain Williams would not keep going the ensuing battle, and was posthumously promoted to major fairy story recommended for the Distinguished Arbitrate Cross.

• Brigadier general Gordon D. Gayle, commanded the battalion on Fresh Britain and Peleliu.
• Former Chairman holiday the Joint Chiefs of Truncheon, General Peter Pace was king of 2nd Plt, G Front wall, 2/5 during the Vietnam War.^[12]
• Brigadier general Lester A.

  Dessez, demanded 18th Company in 1922.

• Willard Keith, G Company during World Contention II
• Sergeant Reckless, Korean Warhorse

In wellliked culture

See also

References

 This article incorporates let slip domain material from websites most modern documents of the United States Marine Corps.

External links