2nd Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion

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2nd Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion
2d LAAM Bn (1960s - 1).jpg
2nd LAAM Battalion insignia
Active
  • 1 Aug 1960 – 1 Sep 1994
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg United States Marine Corps
TypeAir Defense
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Blackhawks
Engagements Vietnam War
Gulf War
Commanders
Current
commander		N/A

2nd Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion (2d LAAM Bn) was a United States Marine Corps air defense unit equipped with the medium range surface-to-air MIM-23 HAWK Missile System. 2nd LAAM was based at Chu Lai during the Vietnam War and was responsible for providing air defense for the Marine Corps in the northern part of the I Corps sector. After Vietnam, the battalion was based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona and fell under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 (MACG-38) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW). 2nd LAAM Battalion's last combat tour saw it providing air defense for the Marine Corps area of operations during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. 2nd LAAM Battalion was deactivated on 1 September 1994 as part of the post-Cold War draw down of forces and because the Marine Corps had made the decision to divest itself of its medium-range air defense. The battalions personnel and equipment were transferred to 1st Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion (1st LAAM).

Contents

History

The 2nd Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion was activated at Marine Corps Training Center 29 Palms, California on 1 August 1960. At the time of activation the battalion consisted of just a Headquarters and Service Battery as the personnel that would form the firing batteries were still undergoing conversion training on the HAWK missile at Fort Bliss, Texas. [1] At the completion of their training in January 1961 the Marines at Fort Bliss joined the battalion at MCB 29 Palms and helped fill out the four firing batteries that were formed between 5-8 February 1961. On 14 September 1960, "D" Battery, 2nd LAAM became the first HAWK battery to be tactically airlifted from its home installation to its firing point. Three Marine Corps Lockheed Martin KC-130s made a total of 13 trips over 10 hours to complete the movement from 29 Palms out to San Clemente Island. [2] The battalion was reassigned from Force Troops to Air, Fleet Marine FOrce, Pacific on 10 May 1962.[ citation needed ]

In September 1965 the battalion deployed to Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam. 2nd LAAM remained in Vietnam until October 1968 when it returned to MCB 29 Palms. Upon its return, the battalion fell under the command of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. On 1 April 1971 the battalion relocated to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.[ citation needed ]

Gulf War

In August 1990, 2nd LAAM Battalion flew in four firing units in two missile batteries to cover the large Marine Corps Area of Operations during Operation Desert Shield. Initially Battery A/2, was established in firing positions north of Shaikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain while Battery B/2 established a firing unit north of King Abdul Aziz Naval Base near Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The command and control of these HAWK batteries ran through the Tactical Air Operations Center run by Marine Air Control Squadron 1 (MACS-1) which was integrated into the Saudi Arabian Royal Air Force Easter Sector Command Center in Dhahran. In early September 1990, these Marine Corps HAWK units were the only Medium Altitude Air Defense in Saudi Arabia. As the buildup continued, 2nd LAAM took part in force on force engagements against friendly aircraft in Saudi Arabia.[ citation needed ]

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The 2nd Light Antiaircraft Missile Battalion has been presented with the following awards:

StreamerAwardYear(s)Additional Info
Streamer PUC Navy.PNG Presidential Unit Citation Streamer 1965-67Vietnam
NDS 3B.PNG National Defense Service Streamer with one Bronze Star1961–1974, 1990–1995 Vietnam War, Gulf War
SWASM 2B.PNG Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze StarsSeptember 1990 – February 1991Desert Shield, Desert Storm
SASM 2S 3B.PNG Vietnam Service Streamer with one Silver and two Bronze Star

VMUA PALM.PNG Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Streamer

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Second HAWK Missile Battalion Formed Monday". Observation Post. MCB Twentynine Palms,CA. 3 August 1960. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "HAWK Firing Battery Airlifted First Time". Observation Post. MCB Twentynine Palms,CA. 1 September 1960. Retrieved 17 February 2017.

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