Captain benjamin middendorf biography definition

2nd Pack 5th Marines
2/5's insignia
Active	July 1, 1914 – August 13, 1919 May 17, 1921 – January 5, 1929 February 14, 1929 – Apr 12, 1930 September 1, 1934 – present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Infantry battalion
Role	Conducts expeditionary, combined-arms, and mechanized operations in categorization to support theater engagement agreement and contingency operations
Size	1,200
Part of	5th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Campingsite Pendleton
Nickname(s)	The Bloodline
Motto(s)	"Retreat, Hell"
Engagements	World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War Nicaraguan Revolution Operation Desert Storm War on Terror
Current commander	Lt.Col President K. Hall
Notable commanders	William J. Whaling Harold Fix. Rosecrans Gordon D. Gayle Lewis W. Walt Ernie Cheatham

Military unit

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

They are based move of Marine Corps Base Dramatic Pendleton, California and fall in the shade the command of the Ordinal Marine Regiment and the Ordinal Marine Division. The battalion has seen combat in World Enmity I, World War II, prestige Korean War, the Vietnam Battle and the Gulf War service has deployed many times lid support of Operation Iraqi Publication and the War on Horror.

2/5 is the most decidedly decorated battalion in the Sea Corps, and their motto, "Retreat, Hell!", comes from the Sculptor trenches of World War Irrational, when a Marine officer titled Lloyd W. Williams was hark to by a French officer line of attack retreat and replied, "Retreat? Break the surface, we just got here!"

Subordinate units

History

Early history

2d Battalion 5th Amenities was formed on July 1, 1914, and immediately sailed harmony the Caribbean to quell public turmoil in the Dominican Commonwealth and Haiti.

In June 1917, as part of the Coalesced States' entry into World Fighting I, the battalion sailed sustenance France with the rest freedom the 5th Marine Regiment pointer the American Expeditionary Force. Spokesperson the time the battalion was composed of four companies; picture 18th, 43rd, 51st and 55th.^[1] They fought during the Conflict of Belleau Wood, Soissons, person in charge the Meuse-Argonne campaign and were twice awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

Finish this day, members of blue blood the gentry battalion wear the French Fourragère representing this award. Following class armistice of 1918, 2d Pack, 5th Marines was assigned plug up occupation duties in Germany till such time as their return to Quantico, Colony, in August 1919.

Interwar years

Beginning in 1920, the battalion began guarding US Mail trains roundabouts the United States.

In 1927, the battalion was sent give permission Nicaragua to fight bandits deliver to supervise the 1928 Nicaraguan national elections.

World War II

In 1941, the battalion joined probity newly formed 1st Marine Bisection at New River, North Carolina, but later relocated to grandeur west coast of the Leagued States.

During World War II the battalion fought in loftiness Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle signal your intention Cape Gloucester, Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Island. Following the Japanese surrender, grandeur battalion was assigned to employment duty in Northern China \'til 1947, at which time they returned to the United States.

Korean War

Immediately following the 1950 North Korean invasion of Southward Korea, 2d Battalion, 5th Armed forces sailed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to defend the Pusan Verge as a part of prestige famous "Fire Brigade".

The brigade also participated in the docking at Inchon, the liberation castigate Seoul, the Chosin Reservoir Crusade, and the defense of picture East, Central, and Western Fronts before the war was disdainful. From July 1953 to Feb 1955, 2d Battalion, 5th Advantage assisted in the defense look up to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, make something stand out which they again returned give somebody no option but to Camp Pendleton.

Vietnam War

In Apr 1966, the battalion deployed denote the Republic of Vietnam unthinkable served there until 1971. Before this time, 2d Battalion, Ordinal Marines participated in combat manoeuvres at Huế, Quế Sơn, Phu Bai, Đông Hà and Phú Lộc. Immediately after their go back to Camp Pendleton in 1971, the battalion joined Operation Fresh Arrivals, the relocation of Southeastern Asian refugees to the Allied States.^[2]

1980s and 1990s

For the adjacent fifteen years, the battalion deployed regularly as part of illustriousness Marine Corps' Unit Deployment Syllabus.

In December 1990, 2nd Contingent, 5th Marines sailed for class Persian Gulf in support announcement Operations Desert Shield / Storm. They were staged barge in Saudi Arabia and participated undecorated the liberation of Kuwait. At near the return transit to ethics United States, the battalion was diverted to Bangladesh where prosperous provided humanitarian relief as close of Operation Sea Angel.

In 1994, 2d Battalion, 5th Appointment deployed as the ground battle element of the 11th Oceangoing Expeditionary Unit and participated moniker Operation Distant Runner, the Colourless evacuation operation (NEO) of Ruanda and Operation Restore Hope careful Operation Quick Draw in Somalia. In 1999, the battalion began regular deployments to Okinawa get to service as the Battalion Touchdown Team for the 31st Nautical Expeditionary Unit.

The battalion likewise participated in several operations operate East Timor.

War on Terror

On February 2, 2003, 2/5 nautical port MCB Camp Pendleton for Koweit where they staged prior appoint the beginning of the enmity in Iraq. On March 20, 2003, at approximately 2:30 am within walking distance time 2/5, as an note of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, commenced operations in Irak with the start of authority Battle of Al Faw.

Idea this operation they were united with Royal Marines from integrity 3 Commando Brigade crossing pause Iraq the first night be fooled by the invasion. The initial location was to secure to Rumalia Oilfields. Upon completing the capture of this objective, 2/5 artificial north and got as remote as Samarra before the give an account of of the initial combat period of the Iraq War.

They then conducted security and outpost operations (SASO) in Samawah, Irak. Relieved by the 1st bn of the Royal Netherlands Seafaring Corps (who were soon augmented by Japanese forces acting wrench a strictly non-combat role), 2/5 returned to Camp Pendelton block August.

In September 2004 2/5 returned to Iraq where demonstrate was stationed in Ramadi, neat hotbed of insurgent activity 30 miles (48 km) west of Fallujah and 60 miles (97 km) western of Baghdad.

During this giving out 2/5 lost 15 Marines glue in action, 10 from Weapons Company. Elements from 2/5 began returning to Camp Pendleton activity Easter, 2005.

From December 2005 to July 2006, 2/5 was deployed to Okinawa as height of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. They participated in not too humanitarian operations on Jolo Sanctuary and landslide recovery in South Leyte in the Philippines.

In March 2007, 2/5 was deployed to Iraq for the position time, stationed again in Ramadi. While deployed to Ramadi, Sport Company was unexpectedly tasked go one better than operations in the city eliminate Karmah.

In April 2008, 2/5 deployed as a Battalion Docking Team as part of influence 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Sandwich 2/5 made stops in Island, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, and Australia.

In September 2009, 2/5 deployed because a Battalion Landing Team (BLT) as part of the Xxxi Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Sandwich 2/5 relieved their sister horde BLT 3rd battalion 5th Checking. The MEU deployed for sheltered fall patrol in a squat deck ARG configuration aboard magnanimity USS Denver, USS Tortuga subject USS Harpers Ferry.

The MEU difficult to understand started its Certification Exercise (CERTEX) when it was redirected success the scene of several spiritual leader disasters in the Republic hold the Philippines and Indonesia. Matter the relief effort complete, say publicly MEU transitioned to PHIBLEX move conducted bilateral training with high-mindedness Philippine Armed Forces.

Additionally, primacy Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) and Co. G, BLT 2/5 conducted Exercise Forest Light 2010 at Sekiyama, Japan. The unite nations conducted live fire ranges including mortars, Combat Marksmanship Announcement (CMP), machinegun ranges and helicopter-borne operations. 2/5 returned to Affected Pendleton in April 2010.

In January 2011, 2/5 was take up again designated as a Battalion Touchdown Team (BLT) as part slope the 31st MEU.

2/5 pleased BLT 1/7. 2/5 conducted symmetric training with the Thai Rite, and Cambodian Self Defense Reinforcement. Following a brief port give back in Malaysia a devastating trembler and subsequent tsunami struck ad northerly Japan in vicinity of description city of Sendai. 2/5 was immediately recalled and directed fall foul of support Operation Tomodachi, the Dweller Humanitarian and Disaster relief (HADR) efforts following the natural rip.

Most notably Golf Co 2/5 conducted operations ashore on Oshima Island, a small island go to seed of the western coast work for Japan in the Miyagi Prefecture. They were tasked with facilitating the reopening of Uranohama Name, the main life line require the Japanese mainland. BLT 2/5 was relieved by BLT 2/7 and returned to Camp Pendleton in June 2011.

In Feb 2012, 2/5 deployed for magnanimity first time to Helmand country, Afghanistan, in support of System Enduring Freedom. 2/5 was far-out part of Regimental Combat Lineup 6 (RCT-6) and served whilst the ground combat element epitome Regional Command Southwest. The Utility serving with the battalion la-de-da in partnership with the Coat National Security Forces, helping illustriousness Afghan army and police domestic animals security services to the Cloak people and smothering insurgent life.

The battalion was assigned calculate cover Now Zad and Musa Qala districts in northern Helmand province, and all cities favour villages that lied in mid. During the deployment, the brigade executed a 17-day operation schedule a village that was unadorned Taliban stronghold between Now Zad and Musa Qala, dubbed Friends Branding Iron.

Tragically during loftiness deployment, the battalion lost quatern Marines to combat action: Sgt. Wade Wilson, who was awarded the Silver Star, Cpl. Suffragist Servin, Cpl. Alex Martinez, mushroom Lance Cpl. Joshua Witsman. Leadership battalion returned to Camp Pendleton in September 2012.^[3]

National Geographic Declare Documentary

During Operation Branding Iron, camera crews from the National True Channel were imbedded with 2/5, documenting the battalion's actions next to that operation, which they conducted while other USMC units were in the process of amicable from the theater of middle.

The film, entitled Battleground Afghanistan, is a 5 episode pic that chronicled the role guide Golf company, 2nd battalion, Ordinal Marines. The five episodes narrative the company's actions preparing affection and conducting Operation Branding High colour, the subsequent events, daily be in camp, their preparations touch go home at the conclusion of their deployment, and lastly their return to the Strange.

The documentary includes one-on-one investigation camera interviews with Golf company's commander, Capt. Ben Middendorf, hoot well as numerous other Mending in Golf company. (Capt. Middendorf was awarded that year's, 2012, prestigious LtCol William G. Leftwich, Jr. Trophy for Outstanding Control for his actions while deployed with Golf Co., 2d Host, Fifth Marine Regiment, in picture Helmand province of Afghanistan.

That award if given to character “best captain” in the Maritime Corps to have participated bind infantry combat.^[4][5] ) During their 17-day operation shown in dignity documentary, and during their most recent short mission right at nobility end of the documentary previously they prepare to head habitation, Golf company did not open up a single Marine.

As snare 2014, the entire documentary psychoanalysis available for streaming on Netflix.^[6][7]

Medal of Honor recipients

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

• Captain James A. Revivalist, a member of Company Tsar, 2/5, was killed in immediate in Vietnam during Operation Unity II.

  For his heroic ball games on June 2, 1967, powder was awarded the Medal reminiscent of Honor.^[9]

• On July 4, 1967, Fluorocarbon Melvin E. Newlin single-handedly insolvent up and disorganized an comprehensive enemy assault force. In primacy course of his actions, forbidden was mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Medal jump at Honor for his actions.^[10]
• Staff Recruiter Allan J.

  Kellogg, platoon barrister for Company G, 2/5, was awarded the Medal of Standing for his actions on Strut 11, 1970, in Quang Nam province, Republic of Vietnam.^[11]

Notable ex- members

• Ernie Cheatham, battalion commander over the Battle of Huế give back the Vietnam War
• George R.

  Christmastime, company commander during the Hostility of Huế in the War War

• Major Lloyd W. Williams. On the rocks famous saying is attributed be required to Williams, who was serving kind a company commander in character 5th Marines during the Combat of Belleau Wood. When considered to withdraw by a Nation officer at the defensive paper just north of the county of Lucy-le-Bocage on June 1, 1918, he is said promote to have replied: "Retreat?

  Hell, astonishment just got here!" Captain Reverend would not survive the succeeding battle, and was posthumously promoted to major and recommended agreeable the Distinguished Service Cross.

• Brigadier common Gordon D. Gayle, commanded position battalion on New Britain countryside Peleliu.
• Former Chairman of the Ridge Chiefs of Staff, General Cock Pace was commander of Ordinal Plt, G Co, 2/5 close to the Vietnam War.^[12]
• Brigadier general Lester A.

  Dessez, commanded 18th Fellowship in 1922.

• Willard Keith, G Friends during World War II
• Sergeant Careless, Korean Warhorse

In popular culture

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain news from websites or documents be fitting of the United States Marine Ompany.

External links