Item:
ONSV7337

Original U.S. WWII USMC Marine Raider Collection with Camillus Stiletto Dagger - Purple Heart Medal - Patches - Captured Japanese Good Luck Flag

Item Description

Original Items: Only One Set Available. Originally acquired from the estate of a WWII Marine veteran who served in the Pacific Theater, this is a collection of Marine Raider material. Included in this set are the following items:

- Original WWII Rare Marine Raider Stiletto dagger by Camillus Cutlery Company with correct M6 leather scabbard. Camillus produced the USMC Raider's Stiletto in 1942 and a total of 14,370 knives were made. The design was heavily influenced by the British Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife issued to Commando Units. The knife features a cast zinc handle, and originally bore the USMC scroll and Camillus maker's markings etched on the blade. This example saw service, which have faded the etched markings, however traces of CAMILLUS / CUTLERY can still be seen on one side. Edges remain very sharp. The zinc handle has been very well preserved, and shows very little wear or degradation. The checkering is still fully present. The blade measures about 7" with an overall length of 12". These knifes were issued to both Marine Raiders and Paramarines. Leather scabbard is in good condition.

- Original WWII USMC/Navy Purple Heart Medal in original case with medal ribbon.

- Original WWII Medal ribbon bars.

- Original WWII Captured Japanese silk good luck flag that measures 30" x 43"

- Original WWII 1st Marine Raider Battalion Patch in Excellent Condition.

- Original WWII 3rd Marine Amphibious Battalion Shoulder Patch.  This is a shoulder patch for the United States 3rd Marine Amphibious Battalion. The patch reads III and shows a golden dragon with coiled tail. The reverse of the patch has a grayish tint to the threads. Excellent Condition.

- Original WWII 6th Marine Division (MAR) Shoulder Patch. This is a variant World War II United States Marine Corps 6th MAR shoulder patch. The patch is round and reads MELANESIA MICRONESIA ORIENT 6 and shows a sword at center. Excellent Condition.

The Marine Raiders were originally elite units established by the United States Marine Corps during World War II to conduct special amphibious light infantry warfare, particularly in landing in rubber boats and operating behind the lines. "Edson's" Raiders of 1st Marine Raiders Battalion and "Carlson's" Raiders of 2nd Marine Raiders Battalion are said to be the first United States special operations forces to form and see combat in World War II.

However, despite the original intent for Raiders to serve in a special operations capacity, most combat operations saw the Raiders employed as conventional infantry. This, combined with the resentment within the rest of the Marine Corps that the Raiders were an "elite force within an elite force", led to the eventual abandonment of the experiment.

Four Raider battalions served operationally but all were disbanded on 8 January 1944 when the Corps made the doctrinal decision that the Raiders had outlived their original mission. The changing nature of the war in the Pacific, with many large-scale amphibious assaults to come against well-defended islands, negated the requirements for small light units that could strike deep into enemy territory.

On 1 February 1944, the 1st Raider Regiment was redesignated the 4th Marine Regiment, thus assuming the lineage of the regiment that had garrisoned Shanghai in the interwar years and fought so gallantly on Bataan and Corregidor. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th Raider Battalions became respectively the 1st, 3rd, and 2nd Battalions of the 4th Marines. The 2nd Raider Battalion filled out the regimental weapons company. Personnel in the Raider Training Center transferred to the newly formed 5th Marine Division. Leavened with new men, the 4th Marines went on to earn additional distinctions in the assaults on Guam and Okinawa. At the close of the war, the regiment joined the occupation forces in Japan and participated in the release from POW compounds of the remaining members of the old 4th Marines.
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