The material is this book has been extracted from Chapter 4of Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal- History of the United States Marine Corps Operations in World War II, vol. I by Lt. Col Frank O. Hough, USMC, Maj. Verle E. Ludwig, USMC and Mr. Henry I. Shaw, Jr. In addition, a bibliography and appendix has been added. This work supersedes Marine Corps historical Reference Series pamphlet, no. 34, The United States Marines in Iceland, 1941-1942, published and last reviewed in 1962, by the Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps.

Designed as a reference work for those interested in the combat history of the U.S. Marine Corps, this book describes the engagements from the formation of the Continental Marines to the Corps' great exercise at the Battle of Okinawa. Organized chronologically, the individual skirmishes illustrate how each of the Marine Corps' engagements contributed to the formation and evolution of the United States. Persons and divisions of note are mentioned, including key players, commanders and medal recipients.