Death Head Southern Cross - WWII Patch - 704th Raiders - Vietnam War Era - M.862

The 704th Raider Battalion was a United States Marine Corps (USMC) unit that served during World War II.

Formation and Training: The 704th Raider Battalion was activated on February 1, 1943, at Camp Pendleton, California, as part of the Marine Raiders, a special elite force modeled after British Commandos. The battalion underwent rigorous training in amphibious warfare, jungle operations, and raiding tactics.

Combat Operations: In September 1943, the 704th Raider Battalion deployed to the Pacific theater and participated in the Bougainville campaign in the Solomon Islands. The battalion conducted reconnaissance, raids, and patrols behind enemy lines, disrupting Japanese communications and supply lines.

New Georgia Campaign: In July 1943, the 704th Raider Battalion took part in the New Georgia campaign in the Solomon Islands. The battalion's actions helped secure the island and pave the way for further Allied advances in the Pacific.

Disbandment: After the New Georgia campaign, the Marine Raiders were disbanded in early 1944, and the 704th Raider Battalion was redesignated as the 4th Marine Regiment. Many of the former Raider units and personnel were integrated into other Marine units, continuing to serve in the Pacific theater for the remainder of the war.

Legacy: The Marine Raiders, including the 704th Raider Battalion, are remembered for their bravery, skill, and unconventional tactics during World War II. They were pioneers in modern special operations warfare and set the standard for future Marine Corps special operations units.

After the war, the Marine Corps continued to develop its special operations capabilities, eventually forming units such as the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), which carries on the legacy of the Marine Raiders.

VNBP

VNBP – (Viet Nam Backing Paper) - VNBP - Vietnam War, in-country made - Tailor, period Vietnamese backing paper to rear. VNBP relates to the backing paper used by Vietnam War, in-country tailors making patches for US Military Units.

Used across a variety or patches it almost always represents the highest quality tailor made patches.

Varying languages were used, Vietnamese, English and French. VNBP patches are among the rarest and most collectable of patches.