Marine Corps Legacy Museum


Reference Material & Additional Reading

For additional information, we recommend the following works. This list will be updated as additional works are discovered. Authors are invited to send a copy of their works for inclusion in the MCLM Archives.

For General information:  Leatherneck Magazine Published by The Marine Corps Association. Bldg. # 715, MCB Quantic,o VA 22134
The Marine Corps Gazette Same as above.
Marines Superintendendent of Documents, U.S. Gov. Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Historical Monographs (Unit histories, Chronologies, Battle Histories, People, Registers of Personal Papers, etc.) Strongly suggest the following as outstanding reference sources for collectors and historians:

  • U.S. Marine Corps Marksmanship Badges from 1912 To Present
  • United States Marine Corps Ranks and Grades 1798-1962
  • The Eagle Globe and Anchor 1868-1968

    • History & Museums Division, Headquarters USMC, Washington, DC 20380
    First to Fight Lt. Gen. Victor Krulak, USMC (Ret.) A great history of the the Marines, from a "Why does America need the Marines," stand point. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD 21402.
    Military History Magazine Great pieces on the Corps on a semi-regular basis. Mil. Hist. Circulation, PO Bx 373, Mt. Morris IL, 61054-7967
    History Of The United States Marines Thomas A. Siefring. Great overview of USMC History from start to 1975. Many photos and maps. Bison Books Ltd., 4 Cromwell Place, London, UK, SW7.
    Marines In The Revolution Written by Charles R. Smith, Illustrated by Col. Charles H. Waterhouse USMC (Ret.). Probably the definitive work on this period of the Corps' history. Many beautiful full color paintings showing accurate detailed renderings of the uniforms of the period. History & Museums Div., HQ USMC, Washington, DC 20380.
    The United States Marines, A Pictorial History Lynn Montross. Profusely illustrated, (434 black & white photos line drawings & paintings.) Out of print, but well worth looking for. History from inception to the late 50's.
    U.S. Marine Corps Uniforms & Equipment In World War II Jim Moran. Outstanding work on the title subject. Minor discrepancies, which are being corrected in the follow on edition. Over 300 photographs which show great identification points. Currently in the publishing stage, he also has a work due out of same type on World War I uniforms & equipment. Windrow & Greene.
    For The Common Defense, A Military History Of The United States Of America Allan R, Millett & Peter Maslowski. Not a work about the Marines in particular, but necessary for understanding the whys and when's of employment of the Corps since the birth of the Nation. (Great reading, easy and comprehensive. STRONGLY SUGGESTED!!) The Free Press.
    Helmet For My Pillow Robert Leckie. Outstanding memoir of a W.W.II Marines service during that conflict. Bantam War series.
    Marine. A Guided Tour Of A Marine Expeditionary Unit Tom Clancy. I believe this book will become the historian's reference for this period of the Corps' history. Weapons, Tactics, People, Ships and Aircraft. Great overview of the Marine Corps mission of today and how we do it. Berkley Nonfiction.
    United States Navy, Wings Of Gold. From 1917 to The Present Ron L. Willis & Thomas Carmichael. Collector's reference work on US Naval Wings. Solidly illustrated with history and issue dates. The number one work for this subject. Schiffer Military History.
    Fortitudine, Bulletin of the Marine Corps Historical Program A quarterly bulletin with outstanding articles and photos of Marine Corps history and the Marine Historical program. Avail. from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Gvt Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
    Forged in Steel. U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Heatly & Glenn. Beautiful coffee table book packed with some of the best and most stunning color photos of Marine aviation from 1987 to the early 90's with a good section on early Marine Aviation. Howell Press.
    The Marines Edgeworth & De St. Jorre. Another fantastic coffee table book, Again, pages of outstanding color photos featuring an overview of the Corps of the late 80's to mid 90's. Notable for back section which shows ALL uniforms and individual weapons in a thumbnail gallery format. Also provides an abbreviated chronology of Marine Corps History. Highly recommended.
    U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Unit Insignia 1941-1946 Jeff Millstein. Superb reference book for patch collectors or students of W.W.II Marine Corps Aviation. Solid photo documentation. Best work available today on this subject. Turner.
    A Fellowship Of Valor. The Battle History of The United States Marine Corps Col. Joseph H. Alexander. USMC (Ret.) Advertised as the definitive combat history of the Marines. Very easy to read with great facts and side bars in margins. Some photos never before seen. Highly recommended. Harper Collins.
    History Of Marine Corps Aviation In World War II Robert Sherrod. The definitive work on this subject. Well researched and documented. 45 photos, 23 maps, 20 charts. Must have book for historians, and aviation types. Nautical & Aviation Publishing Co of America.
    Victory At High Tide. The Inchon-Seoul Campaign Col. R.D. Heinl Jr. USMC (Ret.) Any book by this Marine is a gold mine. Great writing style plus superb data make these books "MUST HAVE," for any research shelf. No photos, but many battle maps. Nautical & Aviation Pub. Co. of America.
    Fix Bayonets and Other Stories Capt. John W. Thomason USMC. Strongly recommended. Provides not only a great read, but is accompanied by the author's own sketch work. This book is the best to capture the feel of service in the Marines in the early part of this century. Fiction?? You tell me. Marine Corps Association Heritage Library Series.
    History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II A five volume work, authored by some of the Corps' premier historians. The definitive work on the subject. Some photos, maps and charts. A trove of information for historians of this conflict. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Historical division HQMC, Washington, DC 20402.
    The Marine Corps Search For a Mission 1880-1889 Jack Shulimson. Outstanding book on a pivotal point in the history of the Marines. " ...reveals the processes, politics, and personalities that converged to create tense relations before Marine officers (with the Navy's blessing) eventually transcended their second-class role." Critical work for those studying how the Marine Corps got to where it is today. Kansas.
    The U.S. Marine Corps Story J. Robert Moskin. My personal favorite. Provides a timeline of the history of the Corps in an easy to read but fairly comprehensive format. Some photos and maps. McGraw Hill.
    Soldiers Of The Sea. The United States Marine Corps, 1775-1962 Col. R.D. Heinl Jr., USMC (Ret.) Again, books by this man are always gems. Great information, some found nowhere else. One of the prime volumes for any shelf. Nautical & Aviation Pub. Co. Of America.
    Semper Fidelis, The History of The United States Marine Corps Allan R, Millett. Marine Corps History from 1775-1979. A worthwhile volume which provides the reader with a goodly amount of information. No photos, but volume of written information makes this a valuable resource. Macmillan.
    Ambassadors in Green Tom Bartlett. A monograph about the Corps involvement in the Vietnam conflict. Heavily illustrated with black and white photos, this is a great ID reference for a collector or researcher for period issue uniforms and equipment. Shows that as late as the mid 60's, Marines were still using W.W.II articles of equipment. Hard to find, but worth it. Leatherneck Magazine. 1971.
    Marines in World War II Commemorative Series of pamphlets Several authors, this multi volume set breaks down this war into sections with each having a volume. Well worth the effort of finding these, they are still available from the US Gvt Printing Office. Solid maps and photos make these valuable to collectors and historians alike. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
    The Trading Post. The American Society Of Military Insignia Collectors Summer (July-Sept. 1994) This issue provides an outstanding selection of articles for Marine related information. Articles are, Samoan Marine Battalion, Marine Air Warning Squadron 11, First Marine Brigade (Provisional) Iceland, Marine Corps Chevrons, addendum, USMC Shoulder Patches. (This is the best single article ever published, and is accompanied by 4 pages of color photos of the W.W.II Marine patches and variants. Hard to find, but worth it!!
    U.S. Marine Corps Aviation 1912 To The Present Peter Mersky. Outstanding general history of USMC aviation. 203 great black and white photos. Covers history, Aircraft and personalities. Nautical & Aviation Publishing Co. of America.
    U.S.Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959 William T. Larkins. The referance photo work of Marine aviation for the period covered. Strongly recommended for students of Marine Air. Several hundred superb quality black and white photos. Orion Books.
    Hold High the Torch A superb history of the 4th Marine Rgt.
    The U.S. Marines and Amphibious War Isley & Crowl. Charts the development of the Marines Corps doctrine of amphibious warfare. MCA Heritage Library.
    Devil Dogs, Fighting Marines of World War One George Clark. Probably the single best source of information on the Marines of WWI. This book is not "standard," and discusses not only the events, but the leadership and sometimes the lack of, of the first large scale deployment of the Corps in our history. Strongly suggested! Presidio.
    U.S. Marine Corps Biographical Dictionary Karl Schuon. Copywritten in 1963, an outstanding volume which covers Medal of Honor winners and other Marine personalities up to the date of publishing. Out of print. Franklin Watts, Inc.
    Marine Badges & Insignia of the World Campbell & Reynolds. Outstanding source for information on rank insignia and emblems of the world's marine and marine missioned units. 1983. Blandford Press, UK
    The United States Marine Corps in the Civil War David M. Sullivan. Three volume work which provides the BEST source of information for U.S. Marine history of the period. Very well written, easy to follow and strongly supported w/ period photos and art work. Recommended for any person who is interested in this period of the Corp's history. 1998 White Mane Publishing Co. Inc.
    The Confederate States Marine Corps, The Rebel Leathernecks Ralph W. Donnelly. The ONLY comprehensive work on the subject. very well written with an immense amount of data on a seldom seen subject. Well illustrated, this volume superbly dovetails with Sullivan's series above. 1989 White Mane Publishing Co. Inc.
    Good to Go, The Rescue of Scott O'Grady From Bosnia Mary Pat Kelly. Great source for information on both the operation to rescue a downed AF pilot and the structure and thoughts of the TRAP team and Marines assigned to this mission. Well documented with great photos. 1996 Naval Institute Press.
    Garde D'Haiti James McCroklin. The best and only source in one cover of the period between 1915 & 1934 which documents the Marine Corps' involvement in the occupation and restructuring of that small island nation. Strongly recommended, however, very difficult to find as currently out of print. 1956 U.S. Naval Institute.
    The Landing at Veracruz 1914 Jack Sweetman. Very well written history of the landing and occupation of Vera Cruz in 1914. Some photos, most not seen anywhere else. Great information in the 4 appendix sections. Currently out of print. 1968 Naval Institute Press.
    Small Arms of the Sea Services and also Uniforms of the Sea Services Col R. H. Rankin USMC (Ret.) Outstandin books which cover both the Navy and Marine Uniforms and small arms from inception to the period just after the Vietnam conflict. MANY Color and black and white plates. A must have set of books for the historian or collector. Difficult to find, currently out of print. SASS, 1972 Flyderman & Co. USS, 1962 U.S. Naval Institute.
    American Medals and Decorations Evans Kerrigan. Fantastic book covering the title subject. Great color plates for all services and brief histories of each decoration / campaign award. Strongly recommended. 1990 Mallard Press
    The Banana Wars Ivan Musicant, Pub By Macmillian: Historical reference on the US and USMC’s involvement in Central America and the Caribbean.
    The Devil’s Anvil The Assault On Peleliu, James H. Hallas, Pub by Praeger: Outstanding, detailed, superbly written work on the subject.
    To The Far Side Of Hell The Battle For Peleliu, 1944, Derrick Wright, Pub by Crowood. Good general history of the subject battle.
    Before the First Wave The 3rd Armored Amphibian Tractor Battalion- Peleliu & Okinawa, Larry L. Woodard, Pub by Sunflower University Press: Good primary source document.
    To The Shores Of Tripoli The Birth Of The U.S. Navy And Marines, A.B.C. Whipple, Pub by Morrow. Good document on the Barbary Pirates War.
    Always Faithful A Memoir Of The Marine Dogs Of WWII, Capt. William W. Putney, Pub by Free Press.
    Suddenly We Didn’t Want To Die Elton Mackin, Pub by Presido Press, Great 1st person account of service in France w/ the Marines.
    Maverick Marine General Smedley D. Butler And The Contradictions Of American Military History, Hans Schmidt, The Univ. of Kentucky Press – Good bio on Gen. Butler during and after his service in the Corps.
    A History Of The United States Marine Corps (out of print) Clyde Metcalf, Pub by G.P. Putnams’s Sons, 1939. OUTSTANDING history! Because it was published prior to WWII, this book spends MUCH more time and attention to the earlier parts of USMC history. Serious reference for students of the Corps.
    With The Old Corps In Nicaragua George B. Clark, Pub by Presidio Press, Another fine “Clark” book, Highly recommended.
    The Battle For Pusan Addison Terry, Pub by Presidio Press. Good book about the a pivotal operation of the Korean War.
    The Co-Vans-U.S. Marine Advisors In Vietnam John Grinder Miller, Pub by Naval Institute Press. Outstanding 1st person account.
    Killing Ground On Okinawa The Battle For Sugar Loaf Hill, James H. Hallas, Pub By Praeger: Much like Heinl, any book by this author is VERY well researched and and written; well worth the time taken to read! Highly recommended. (See also his book above-The Devil’s Anvil.)
    Retreat Hell We’re Just Attacking In Another Direction- The Epic Story Of The First Marines In Korea, Jim Wilson, Pub by Morrow: Outstanding 1st person accounts of the historic battles of Chosin.
    2 Volume set: Volume 1, The Outpost War: U.S. Marines in Korea 1952, and Volume 2, The Final Crucible, U.S. Marines in Korea 1953 Lee Ballenger, Pub by: Brassey’s: Very well written and researched. Good maps and photos.
    Conflict-The History Of The Korean War Robert Leckie, Pub by De Capo: Good overview of America’s involvement during and in the Korean War.
    The Navajo Code Talkers Doris A. Paul, Pub by Dorrance, Very good, well done volume on the subject. Has outstanding language lists and many photos.
    Marines Under Armor The Marine Corps And The Armored Fighting Vehicle, 1916-2000, Kenneth W. Estes, Pub by Naval Institute Press, VERY well documented with both technical and photo series of the development and use of armor by the USMC.
    Civil War Small Arms of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps John D. McAulay, Pub by Mowbray, Outstanding work on the subject very well done with MANY excellent period photos.
    The March Up, Taking Baghdad With The 1st Marine Division Bing West and MGen. Ray L. Smith USMC (ret), Pub By Bantam, Good early volume written early on the Corps involvement during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unique first person observations of the Corps at war.
    U.S. Marine Corps Uniforms 1912-1940 Jim Moran, Pub by Phillips, well done, photos could have been better done in color for use as identification guide. Much better then his earlier work (see above) with fewer errors Of note: The appendix on the Marine Corps emblem written by Steven G. Orgel promises to be a VERY good reference when published as a book. Look for it!
    Steel Pots The History of America’s Steel Combat Helmets, Chris Armold, Pub by, R. James Bender, This book is in my opinion, the best reference on the subject! Well photo documented.
    U.S. Martial Web Belts And Bandoliers: 1903-1981 R. Stephen Dorsey, Pub by Collector’s Library. This is an excellent reference work STRONGLY recommended. Easy to use and more comprehensive then other works on the subject.
    Grunt Gear USMC Combat Infantry Equipment Of WWII. Written by Alec S. Tulkoff and pub by R. James Bender, this book IS THE REFERENCE work on the field equipment and uniforms of the Corps for this period. Extremely well done and written, heavily color photo documented and with many images of makers tags and memos from the Corps on weapons lots issued etc. This book is notable for many things but of major interest is the chapter on USMC Dog Tags, and tactical marks on uniforms and equipment. Without a doubt, this is a REQUIRED volume for any serious student or collector. The author is also working on a second volume for field equipment and uniforms for the Corps of earlier periods as well. Look for it!

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