This volume, in the Osprey Military Fighting Elite series, contains detailed information on the uniforms and insignia of one of the world's most famous military forces. While the U.S. Marine Corps was one of the smallest of American armed services in World War II, its contribution to the final victory cannot be overstated, and the Marines suffered 10% of the nation's combat casualties. By the end of the war, 98% of the Marine Corps' officers and 89% of its enlisted men had been deployed abroad. The Marines conducted proportionally more amphibious assaults than the Army; these landings were often followed by some of the most brutal combat experienced by U.S. forces. The book includes over 50 photographs and diagrams, plus 12 full-color plates.