INTRODUCTION TO THE MARINE RAIDER WEB SITE

This history of the United States Marine Raiders has been compiled from the most accurate sources available to us and will be periodically updated and upgraded. The goal of this web site is the establishment of a limited United States Marine Raider search engine, by linking pages to relevant Raider information Online. The history of a small military unit can not be adequately appreciated, unless it is viewed in context of the larger effort of which it is a part. Effort will be made to relate Raider operations to such efforts.

We promise that the story of these first combat ready ground troops of World War II, the predecessor of all United States special forces, will both educate and fascinate you, with the astounding tales of their combat against the Japanese enemy. The Marine Raiders made the intial ground offensives against the Japanese in WW II; they participated in turning around the Japanese advance; the only ground unit that participated in every island assault in the Solomon Islands; following which, Raiders as individuals or units were in virtually every Island hopping event in the Pacific War and the first landing in Japan after it's announced surrender.


The cooperation of Committee members: Jerome Beau, John E. Dornan, Frank Guidone, Melvin Heckt, Jon T. Hoffman, George A. MacRae, the late Steve Zentner; USMRA Presidents John B. Sweeney, John J. Freeling and Michael B. Beeler, John McCarthy, Editor of Raider Patch; Members of the USMRA Board of Directors; Executive Director of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Susan Hodges; David B. Crist of the Marine Corps Historical Center and many others is acknowledged

All copyrighted information is reproduced with permission.

The United States Marine Raider Association wishes to express its' gratitude to Andrew and Luciana "Lucy" Young. The designed, maintain & host the website free of charge in honor of Andrew's father, The late James L. Young Jr. of Houston, Texas, who served with the Marine Raiders and the 6th Marine Division.

Ervin Kaplan, M.D.
(Served as an enlisted Marine in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion)

Chairman of the United States Marine Raider Association, "Committee to Preserve the History, Legend and Legacy of the United States Marine Raiders via the Internet".

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