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 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:
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