U.S. Marine Casualty Card Databases

The U.S. Marine Corps History Division has Casualty Card Databases

... for World War II, War Dogs, Interwar Period 1946-50, Korea, Interwar Period 1955-1965, and Vietnam.  Casualty cards were issued when a Marine was wounded, missing, killed or deemed a prisoner of war. 

In an effort to increase patron usage and preserve the historic cards, the branch has digitized them and created a database of the information.  The cards and corresponding database are NOT COMPREHENSIVE as there are often gaps or omissions.  This does not mean that the event (KIA, WIA, etc.) did not happen, just that the branch did not have a card.  The Marine Corps History Division is NOT the official repository* for Marine Corps casualty information and cannot create new additions to our inhouse collection of casualty cards nor the online databases.

While the cards for World War II through Korea are not classified, they can often be very graphic.  Therefore, to maintain the dignity and honor of the Marines, the individual cards will only be released, upon request, on a case by case basis.  To request a card, please send an email to [email protected] or a request in writing to:

United States Marine Corps History Division
Attn: Reference Branch

3078 Upshur Avenue

Quantico, Virginia 22134.   

The cards are organized by conflict and by last name (surname) within each conflict.

NARA in its Military Records collection has online resources for War Casualties (WWII) for those who served in the Marine Corps as well as Navy and Coast Guard Personnel.  These are organized by state and then separated into Dead and Wounded, organized alphabetically by surname.  Next of kin are included.  There are comparable lists for the Army and Army Air Force which are organized by state and then by county and then alphabetical by surname.  Less information is provided with these entries.

There are other war/conflict casualty databases online such as the American Battle Monuments Commission (Burials and Memorializations) which would also provide information on casualties.

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