Historical Writing & Research
Military History
RESEARCH, WRITING, ADVOCACY, WEB DESIGN
Human history is a study in contact, conflict, and resolution.
Preparing memorial crosses for Marines killed in the invasion of Tarawa, November 1943. Virtually none of these crosses were placed above an actual grave; several hundred men, including PFC Benvenuto, have never been accounted for. (Photo by LIFE Magazine)
MISSING MARINES
When someone goes missing, they leave an empty space in the lives of loved ones denied the closure of confirmation or ceremony. This generational trauma affects a family for decades; it is a wound that never heals.
Missing Marines was founded to tell the stories of a small subset of the lost – the 3,000-odd members of the USMC missing in action from World War II. It has evolved from a simple commemorative blog to a resource recognized by the MIA recovery community, veterans, families, and recovery agencies. I perform all research, write all articles, and maintain the entire website at MissingMarines.com. (Please visit for a complete list of provided services.)
Selected Projects:
The Tarawa Cemeteries
Casualty mapping for Tarawa and Guadalcanal
Biography of Arthur B. Ervin, the inspiration for the project
Biography of Elwood R. Bailey – this article received the 2019 General Roy S. Geiger Award
The search for Bobby Liston and the mystery of Gavutu Grave 13
ONE TWENTY-FOUR
When I graduated from college, I received a photocopied packet of letters from an ancestor in the 1940s. Philip Wood was twenty-two, like me, and addressed most of his missives to his younger sister (who happens to be my younger sister’s namesake). He was a phenomenal writer; although initially opposed to war, he volunteered to become a Marine Corps officer and earned respect as a leader of men.
The Corps never quite quashed Phil Wood’s individuality, and his letters home reflect the bemusement, confusion, and enthusiasm of a young man asked to do great things. He died in action on Saipan, giving his life to rescue civilians trapped between hostile lines. And several of his men sacrificed their lives trying to bring him back.
Learning my ancestor’s history illustrated the vast scope of human experience in the Second World War: an easy concept to talk about but daunting to comprehend. I started writing to and speaking with veterans from his battalion; today, The 1/24 Project tells the story of this unit from 1942 to 1945 and traces the lives of its members up to the present day. I do all the research, writing, web design, and maintenance.
Corporal Peter Kakadelis (C/1/24) on wrecked Japanese bomber, Tinian campaign, July 1944. USMC photo.
Selected Projects:
Dear Girls! The Letters of Philip Emerson Wood, Jr. – illustrated and annotated
The Weary Warrior – the true story behind an iconic World War II photograph
Photo Collections – pictures from private collections (some galleries are works in progress)
Operation Detachment – a day-by-day account of the battle for Iwo Jima
Published Works
To read more reviews or a sample, visit Missing Marines.
Debut Book, Published in 2019
Between 1942 and 1944, nearly four hundred Marines virtually vanished in the jungles, seas, and skies of Guadalcanal. They were the victims of enemy ambushes and friendly fire, hard fighting and poor planning, their deaths witnessed by dozens or not at all. They were buried in field graves, in cemeteries as unknowns, or left where they fell. They were classified as “missing,” as “not recovered,” as “presumed dead.” And in the years that followed, their families wondered at their fates and how an administrative decision could close the book on sons, brothers, and husbands without healing the wounds left by their absence.
”Leaving Mac Behind” reconstructs the lives, last moments, and legacies of some of these men. Original records, eyewitness accounts, and recent discoveries shed new light on the lost graves of Guadalcanal’s missing Marines—and the ongoing efforts to bring them home.
“[Leaving Mac Behind] shines an important spotlight on a grim yet vital task. This book is a tribute to the Heculean efforts to bring home our heroes and give peace to their families.”
Other Print Works
Click an article to download a PDF
