"At the beginning of World War II, the U.S. Marines set out to form the most ruthless, skilled, and effective fighters the world had ever seen, a select group to conduct special operations at the highest level in the Pacific theater. They were known as the Marine Raiders ... Marksmen, brawlers, and tacticians, the Marine Raiders could accomplish their objective before the enemy even knew they were there."--Back cover.

Boys become men --Edson's Raiders -- Gung ho -- Beyond the seas -- The Raiders go to war -- Taking Makin Atoll -- The Raiders of Carlson's Ark -- From Tulagi to the 'Canal -- Raiding bandits -- On the river of death -- Paradise lost -- New siblings in the Raider family -- Fourth Raiders enter the fray -- First and Fourth Raiders at Enogai -- Disaster at Bairoko -- The beginning of the end -- The weight of glory -- Echoes of honor.