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He is charged with the responsibility of collecting historical documents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, Raider Museum Director Emeritus
George MacRae, Raider Museum Currator Emeritus
Robert Whichard, Museum Coordinator
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