OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 23rd MARINES MEDAL OF HONOR NAVY CROSS CHALLENGE COIN. Great piece of history to add to your collection. The following information is taken from Wikipedia. Global War on Terror. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was activated initially for one year to respond to any additional terrorist attacks that might occur in the United States. Just before its one-year deactivation date, the battalion’s active duty status was extended in order for the unit to deploy to the Middle East to participate in the Iraq War. 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was the first complete infantry reserve battalion to deploy in support of the Iraq War. 2/23 pushed forward into Iraq on March 20, 2003. Among other locations, the battalion fought in An Nasiriyah assisting Task Force Tarawa’s operations in that area after a U. Army convoy was ambushed and several soldiers were taken prisoner by insurgent forces. The battalion moved up Route 17 as part of Regimental Combat Team 1 (RCT-1) fighting in Al Gharraf and Al Fajr among other towns. The battalion suffered its only combat fatality in Al Fajr. The battalion continued north with RCT 1 and was part of the tactical feint at Al Kut. Ultimately traveling west to An Numaniyah where the 1st Marine Division crossed the Tigris River. A few days later, on April 8, 2003, the battalion entered Baghdad with the Division. Fox Company found itself engaged in combat with approximately 200 Fedayeen and Iraqi intelligence personnel. A scout sniper attached to Fox company, Sergeant Scott Montoya, was awarded Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism in combat” during this engagement. The item “OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 23rd MARINES MEDAL OF HONOR NAVY CROSS CHALLENGE COIN” is in sale since Friday, September 10, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Current Militaria (2001-Now)\Original Items\Challenge Coins”. The seller is “lot_of_coins” and is located in Cypress, California. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States