The US Marine Raider was an "elite within an elite." Modeled on British Commandoes, they were the earliest forerunners of the various special operations units of the modern US military. These units would conduct operations with only the equipment they could carry on their backs; their heaviest weapons were light mortars and light machine-guns. Highly trained in close-in fighting, the Raiders were expected to be equally skilled in watercraft, jungle survival, and jungle warfare. This book details the Raiders' experiences through some of the toughest raining ever to be experienced by a Marine and onto combat during the Makin Raid, and through the horrific jungle battles of the Solomon Islands.

Introduction · Chronology · Recruiting Marines · Boot Camp · Raider Recruitment and Training · Belief and Belonging · Appearance, Dress, and Special Weapons · Daily Life · Battle Experience · The End of the Raiders · Museums, Collections and Depictions · Glossary · Bibliography · Color Plate Commentary · Index