WWII Marine Raider

[WGH0922]

Good story on Raider Harold Berg, Peoria, Illinois.

http://www.pjstar.com/news/20161210/...m-world-war-ii

[usmc_3m]

Great article. Serious bad-ass. Glad he is still around to share his stories.

What really blew me away were the awards accumulated by the original Raider battalions:
- 7 MOH
- 141 Navy Crosses
- 330 Silver Stars
- 2,406 Purple Hearts

That was from a group of 8,000 men over a span of only two years. That's just astounding. Maybe I shouldn't be so amazed given the nature of the battles they fought and their missions. It still seems incredible to me.

And I don't understand why the original Raiders were disbanded so quickly, given the success they demonstrated.

[8654maine]

Mr. Berg is a certifiable Hero.

The Raiders were and are bad-asses.

[Agoge]

A truly humble Warrior and a man that serves as a great example for other Warriors to emulate.

Thank you for your service, Sir!

[WGH0922]

Originally Posted by usmc_3m

And I don't understand why the original Raiders were disbanded so quickly, given the success they demonstrated.

After the fights in the Central Pacific and Solomon's the Corps was moving north to the Japanese home islands, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and a more conventional fight. They rolled them up and re-formed the 4th Marines which was destroyed at Corregidor. I think the Raiders would have had great success in the Philippines in 1944-45 but I'm not gonna "coulda, woulda, shoulda" shit from 70yrs ago. The Force Recon 'Stingray' missions were similar to what the Raiders did in WWII.

[usmc_3m]

Thanks for the history lesson, Top. I'm actually reading a book about the Stingray missions now. Very cool to see the linkage (if not "lineage") between these two units.

[8654maine]

I kind of wish guys (Raiders and FR) would write more of the history and exploits. History preservation and all.

[Gumby2/6]

Originally Posted by 8654maine

I kind of wish guys (Raiders and FR) would write more of the history and exploits. History preservation and all.

These guys' service seems like the kind of experience every summer box office action movie tries to capture. The reality is that it is impossible to do so. BZ Raider Berg!

[Gunk]

A great man. They stepped up at our darkest hour.
A friend's father was an original Marine Raider. Although his father is gone now, both his sons serve in the Marine Corps and each has an EGA from their grandfather.

[WGH0922]

Originally Posted by 8654maine

I kind of wish guys (Raiders and FR) would write more of the history and exploits. History preservation and all.

There is. There was a manual titled 'AARUUGA!' back in the day. Detailed quite a bit of Force Reconnaissance operations during their time in VN. Quite a read. In the early 90's they had had copies of STANAG patrol reports, sketches and debriefs in the S-2 vault at 1st Force.

[57Medic]

Thank you for sharing this Top. These men were the very best of the best.
I didn't realize the Marine Raiders were only operational for 2 years. What a legacy. Todays SOC should be puffed out chest proud of this lineage!!

[CTA]

As an aside, Kermit Roosevelt was a Marine Raider and he was the son of Teddy Roosevelt Junior. He also received the MOH, DSC, SS, PH.... Stud.

[CTA]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Roosevelt

Other Roosevelt mentioned:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Jr.

[m48dat]

Just finished a good read on the subject entitled "Bloody Ridge and Beyond" A WW2 Marine's memoir of Edson's Raiders in the Pacific by Marlin "Whitey" Groft. Amazing what these men endured.

[WGH0922]

Originally Posted by m48dat

Just finished a good read on the subject entitled "Bloody Ridge and Beyond" A WW2 Marine's memoir of Edson's Raiders in the Pacific by Marlin "Whitey" Groft. Amazing what these men endured.

Here's a short video clip of Bloody Ridge/Edson's Ridge with a few of the Raiders who fought there. A good friend took some pics of what it looks like now when he went to the 70th Anniversary of the Guadalcanal battle in 2012. I'll post them when he sends.

https://www.awesomestories.com/asset...-Edson-s-Ridge

ETA: I forgot to mention that Chesty's younger brother LtCol Sam Puller went on to take command of 1st Raider Bn in 1943 and was KIA on Guam in 1944 as the XO of 4th Marine Regt.

[usmc_3m]

Your knowledge of Marine history, and Raider/Recon history in particular, is awesome. I didn't even know Chesty had a brother that served.

[WGH0922]

Originally Posted by usmc_3m

Your knowledge of Marine history, and Raider/Recon history in particular, is awesome. I didn't even know Chesty had a brother that served.

LOL. I'm not a historian but I am a student of those who came before me and respect of my forebears. Chesty also had a son, L.B. Puller Jr., who was severely wounded, tri-amputee who took his own life in 1994. The tilte of the book he wrote, 'Fortunate Son', was a take on the CCR song.

[Gumby2/6]

Originally Posted by WGH0922

ETA: I forgot to mention that Chesty's younger brother LtCol Sam Puller went on to take command of 1st Raider Bn in 1943 and was KIA on Guam in 1944 as the XO of 4th Marine Regt.

Damn...

[GRENDEL]

Impressive warrior. Not that long ago I was invited over to 1st MSOB to listen to another Raider talk about his experiences. He had been a, big surfer prior to joining. He was also part of the early OSS and their exploits. He had some of the first fins and mask ever used, and some other really unique pieces of history were laid out for everyone to see. Great stuff.