WEBVTT

00:05.710 --> 00:08.960
On March 20th , 2003 , Operation Iraqi

00:08.960 --> 00:12.260
Freedom began . More than 60,000 US

00:12.260 --> 00:14.482
Marines deployed in the opening phase .

00:14.770 --> 00:16.826
Among them were Marines with the 2nd

00:16.826 --> 00:20.360
Marine Division . Tasked with combat

00:20.360 --> 00:22.304
and security missions , 2nd Marine

00:22.304 --> 00:24.249
Division units supported the rapid

00:24.249 --> 00:26.549
advance into Iraq alongside 1st Marine

00:26.549 --> 00:30.540
Expeditionary Force . From urban

00:30.540 --> 00:32.560
combat to route security , Marines

00:32.560 --> 00:34.449
fought house to house , street to

00:34.449 --> 00:36.449
street , pushing coalition momentum

00:36.449 --> 00:39.950
forward . By April

00:39.950 --> 00:41.950
2003 , Saddam Hussein's regime

00:41.950 --> 00:44.549
collapsed , but Operation Iraqi Freedom

00:44.549 --> 00:48.229
continued until December 15 , 2011 as

00:48.229 --> 00:50.340
marines conducted years of security ,

00:50.340 --> 00:52.790
counterinsurgency , and stability

00:52.790 --> 00:56.020
operations . Operation Iraqi Freedom

00:56.020 --> 00:58.353
stands as a testament to the discipline ,

00:58.419 --> 01:00.979
sacrifice , and resolve of 2nd Marine

01:00.979 --> 01:02.009
Division Marines .