Expert: Jason Grabill - 8/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jason!
In the book "American Military Patches", on the page of WW2 USMC patches, there is a patch of the 704th Marine Raider Bn.
It resembles the I MAC Raider patch, depicting a white skull within a red diamond on blue backing - plus the lettering "704 Bn".
From that I would assume it was a WW Two formation. However, I was not able to find any information regarding the 704th Marine Raider Battalion.
Can you shed some light on that matter?
Thanks, and best regards,
Willy

ANSWER: Willy:

  I assume you mean Thurman's paperback book?  The 704 patch is not mentioned in Smith, or Glenn's, books on WWII American military patches.  I believe it to be a 'fantasy' piece.  I've seen them at shows, but unless you are trying to fill a hole in your "possible" collection (Patches that were made and 'possibly' worn/used but no one knows for sure) I'd pass on that one.   

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jason,
thanks for your reply.
Yes, I was talking about the book by Morgan & Thurman. As for the patch I'm in the same boat with you. However, I'm still looking for some information regarding the 704th Marine Raider Battalion. When and where was it activated? Did it see action? etc.
There is a "704th Marine Raider Parachute Battalion" mentioned in the July 2007 issue of the Special Forces Newsletter ( http://www.specialforces.com/newsletter/2007_07/ ), but no information regarding that unit. Any hint would be appreciated.

Best regards,
Willy  

Answer
Willy:


   I've went through all my reference library, including the Marine Corps unit awards manual, my other, older patch books, and went back to Smith's book.  Coming up with nothing, not even a mention in passing.  Since there were only 4 Raider Battalions stood up during WWII, and all were eventually incorporated into the 4th MarDiv, I think this is either something 'locally made' (if it's real at all) or a fantasy piece.   When I used a search engine with multiple terms, there seems to be confusion as to which era the patch belongs;  (ebay)...some say it's WWII, others say Vietnam.  While the newsletter does make mention of the patch, I still believe that it's not something that was ever authorized or worn.   The Marines in WWII wore very, very few 'locally made/small unit' insignia, and most of that was Air Wing stuff (squadron patches, etc).   Many of the divisional patches were made in Australia and such, but again, I don't think this is an "approved" patch, and I don't think it was ever worn.  I have my doubts that a 704th Raider Bn even existed in WWII, since that number is far outside any of the regular numbering systems (1,2,3,4) that the Marines use.  

 If you have one of these patches,the first thing I would do would be to black light it, see if it glows.  Next I'd do the burn test, see if you get melting.  If either of these factors are present, it's likely a new made patch.  

Jason