3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines

Unit Lineage

Activated on 18 January 1941 at San Diego, California, the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines is an infantry battalion assigned to the 2nd Marine Regiment under the 2nd Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Known as "The Betio Bastards," the battalion earned its nickname at the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943. On 20 November 1943, the Marines of 3/2 stormed Red Beach 1 on Betio Island under withering Japanese fire. The nickname has defined the battalion ever since.

World War II

3/2 deployed to the Pacific and fought at Guadalcanal and across the Gilbert, Mariana, and Ryukyu Islands. At Tarawa, 3/2 landed on Red Beach 1, the most exposed sector of Betio's assault. An unexpected low tide grounded the Higgins boats on the reef, forcing later waves of Marines to wade hundreds of yards through chest-deep water under machine gun fire. Many landing vehicles were sunk or destroyed before reaching shore. Major Michael P. Ryan rallied survivors and a pair of Sherman tanks to breach the Japanese defenses and penetrate 500 yards inland, the most significant advance of the first day. Ryan's composite force opened Green Beach, allowing the 6th Marines to land and reinforce the shattered assault battalions. The battle cost 3,166 casualties across the 2nd Marine Division in 76 hours. After Tarawa, 3/2 fought at Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa before deploying to Kagoshima, Japan for occupation duty.

Global War on Terror

In 2003, 3/2 deployed to Kuwait as part of Task Force Tarawa and participated in the Battle of Nasiriyah during the opening weeks of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In February 2005, the battalion deployed to western Al Anbar Province and conducted Operations Matador, Spear, and Quick Strike along the Euphrates River Valley and Syrian border, clearing insurgent strongholds in Al Qaim, Haditha, and surrounding areas. 3/2 returned to Iraq in July 2006, operating in Habbaniyah. Fourteen Marines were killed in action during that deployment. The battalion deployed again to Al Qaim in October 2007, operating along the Syrian border and Euphrates River with Iraqi police and army partners.

Haiti and Afghanistan

In January 2010, 3/2 deployed with the 22nd MEU to provide humanitarian relief following the Haiti earthquake during Operation Unified Response. In February 2011, the battalion deployed to the Musa Qala and Now Zad districts of Helmand Province, Afghanistan for combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Gear for the Betio Bastards

This collection is for the Marines who served with 3/2 and the families who carry their legacy. Every t-shirt, hoodie, flag, and accessory honors the battalion that earned its name wading through chest-deep water under Japanese fire on a coral reef in 1943. From Tarawa to Haditha to Helmand, the Betio Bastards have been there. Veteran-owned and made in the USA.

Browse our 3/2 Marines t-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies, tank tops, flags, decals, drinkware, and more below. OIF and OEF veteran designs available. Every order ships free at $75+.