How To Find Information on Raider Relatives

There are several ways you can research information about a Marine Raider.

FAMILY:
The first involves a search through records held by family members. These may include, but are not limited to discharge papers, wound records, travel orders, obituary notices, medal awards certificates, and letters. Some family member may have these records and not realize their significance.

GOVERNMENT:
The second method would be a search of the military records maintained by the Government Personnel Records Division. Military Records are available upon request by an immediate family member. Write to the address below giving as much information you have such as serial numbers or unit designation.

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Ave,
St Louis, MO 63132-5100

Ask for Standard Form SF-180. When you receive the form, fill it out and return it to St. Louis. You will receive (in up to three months) your relative's military records.
This information is only available to next of kin. To save time, if you have a computer, you can also access a Standard Form from the Records Center's web site, which can be used to submit requests for information:
http://www.archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs/index.html or this one
www.nara.gov/regional/mprsf180.html

When you access the web site, follow their instructions to next of kin for requesting information.

RAIDER HISTORIAN:
The Raider Association Historian is Jerome J.C. Beau, Major, USMC (Ret.). He is charged with the responsibility of collecting historical documents about the Raiders. If you ask, Jerry will research muster roll records and provide a chronology of individual Raiders. Jerry can be contacted at:

Jerome J.C. Beau, Major, USMC (Ret.)
5139 S. Cole Road
Boise, ID 83709-6010

Jerry normally has a huge backlog of requests. Usually, new requests go on the bottom of a large pile. If you are able to provide any of the following records, Jerry will try to expedite getting his research done. Send him copies of: Discharge, Decorations, Citations. Wound citations, Pictures of the Raider, Pictures of areas in which he lived or fought, Obituary or Government notification of death, Promotions and/or transfer orders. Any other records which might pertain to the Raider and/or his service.

When you receive the records from St. Louis, copy them and send the copy with a picture and, if possible, the obituary and a brief biography of your relative to Jerry Beau.

These records will someday reside at the Marine National Museum at Quantico.

THE RAIDER MUSEUM:
You may also be interested to know that your Raider's name and unit is listed on the Memorial Doors at the Marine Raider Museum in Richmond, VA. Should you ever visit there, the museum is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 to 15:00 hours and is located at 1142 W. Grace Street. Admission is free.

COMPUTER RESOURCES:
You can also find out more about the Raiders at the Marine Raider Association web site www.usmarineraiders.org Also look at Dan Marsh's www.usmcraiders.com On the first site you can download an application blank and become an Associate Member of the Marine Raider Association and receive a quarterly copy of their news magazine, The Raider Patch. It carries stories of the Raiders two-year existence during World War II. The Patch also gives current news of the attempts to recover the remains of the nine men captured on Makin Island and executed at Kwajalein Island in October of 1942. The second site shows pictures of the Arlington Cemetery burial of 13 Raiders on 17 August 2001. Also pictures of past reunions. We think you will find both sites interesting.

We wish you success in your search.

Rudy Rosenquist, Director
George MacRae, Curator
Robert Whichard, Museum Coordinator