From May to July 1941 2/6 reassigned to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade and deployed to occupyReykjavík, Iceland to relieve British forces. In March 1942 the battalion returned to San Diego and was reassigned to the 2nd Marine Division. Lieutenant Colonel William A. Worton served as Battalion Commander at the time.
In the fall of 1942 2/6 sailed to Wellington, New Zealand where it began advanced combat training. This was followed by movement to Guadalcanal on January 1, 1943. The 2/6 also took part in the Battle of Tarawa, beginning on November 21, 1943, the battle's second day.
As part of the post war draw down of forces, 2/6 was deactivated on October 1, 1947.
The exploits of the 2/6 were immortalized in the World War II classic novel, "Battle Cry", by Leon Uris. Although the characters were fictional, the movements of the 2/6 were historically accurate and were based on Uris' own experiences in the 2/6 during World War II as a PFC.
On March 3, 1989, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines was deactivated and placed into a cadre status. 2/6 was reactivated on July 23, 1994, at Cuzco Wells, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Then took part in Operation Sea Signal, the security and processing of Haitian migrants. In September of that same year the battalion's main force returned to Guantanamo Bay to provide security for Cuban migrants.
From April to May 2000, Echo company, Weapons Co and elements of Headquarters and Services' (H&S) Surveillance, Targeting and Acquisition (STA) deployed to Kosovo and took part in Operation Dynamic Response.
Global War on Terror
From February 2002 to August 2002, the battalion was assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) as the Battalion Landing Team. From February 2003 to May 2003, the entire Battalion deployed to Kuwait to participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
From August 2003 to April 2004, 2/6 deployed to Okinawa, Japan for a UDP, becoming a part of the 4th Marine Regiment. From August 2004 to July 2005, 2/6 became a part of the 4th MEB, acting as the Brigade's Anti-Terrorism Battalion. While in this capacity the battalion deployed Marines and Sailors to guard the American embassies in Baghdad and Kabul. From September 2005 to April 2006, the battalion deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They operated in the areas around the city of Fallujah as part of Regimental Combat Team 5. From April 2007 through October 2007, the battalion again deployed to Fallujah, Iraq. There they pacified a formerly hostile city through the development of professional local city police.
Henry, Mark R. (1999). U.S. Marine Corps in World War I 1917-18. New York: Osprey Publishing Company. ISBN1-85532-852-6.
Owen, Peter F. (2007). To the Limit of Endurance - A Battalion of Marines in the Great War. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN978-1-58544-599-8.
