Semper Fidelis: The Homecoming of Carlson’s Raiders follows the story of the Second Marine Raider Battalion and the events surrounding the Makin Island raid during World War II. The book brings together military action, family history, and a long search connected to Marines who never returned home.

At the center is Tom Holtom’s connection to his uncle, Captain Gerald P. Holtom. Years after the war, Tom began looking deeper into his uncle’s service and the fate of the Raiders. His search led him through records, conversations, historical information, and personal family memories.

The story then moves decades forward, when the mass grave of the fallen Raiders was uncovered fifty-seven years after the raid. What followed was a careful effort to recover and identify the remains. Tom became part of that effort as he searched for a way to confirm which Marine was his uncle.

The book brings this long story to its emotional homecoming. It connects the courage of young Marines with the lasting grief of the families they left behind. It also shows how determination, family ties, and a willingness to keep searching can bring answers after many years. The result is a deeply personal account of remembrance, service, and bringing the fallen home.