PATROL REPORT

NEWSLETTER

The Memory Remains, Not All Wounds Are Visible

The association's "Patrol Report" is published twice yearly with reunion information and other Recon news. Join by clicking on the Application link at the top of this page.

2004 Volume 11 - Issue 02

Newsletters Archived Page

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Archived

Association Officers

PRESIDENT
Charles Kershaw 

VICE PRESIDENT
Patrick Grady 

SECRETARY/TREASURER
Garry Kline 

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
Lennie Miller 

HISTORIAN
Kent Dickson 

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
Bob Morris

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Jim Richards 

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Bob Buehl 

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Dave Backer 

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Jim Wilker 

CHAPLAIN
Ray Tibbets 

BN. UNIT DIRECTOR
Rodney Polston

Message from the President


        The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association Reunion 2004, August 12-15, at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC was one of our best attended reunions. Fifty-two Association members registered at the reunion. Washington was the first reunion for nineteen members. An estimated 85 members and their guests attended one or more reunion events.

       The August 13th Washington Navy Yard luncheon was attended by 172 members and their guests. Guest of Honor Lieutenant General Earl B. Hailston, USMC (Ret), a recon marine and Association member, was motivating and reaffirming. Special guests of the Association were Corporal James Wright and Sergeant Eric Kocher, B Company WIA in Fallujah in April; William Leftwich, Jr. son of of Lt Col William Leftwich, Commanding Officer of 1st Recon Battalion killed in action RNV, Nov 1970, accepting a memorial plaque from Ron Huegel on behalf of the Leftwich family.

       Our reunion was successful largely because the dedicated efforts of many volunteers manning the hospitality suite, registering Association members, selling raffle tickets, providing refreshments, and assisting with reunion events. The Association’s thanks and appreciation to these who, year after year, serve the 1st Recon Bn Association as reunion volunteers.

       Your new elected officers include Pat Grady, relected Vice President; Garry Kline, Secretary/Treasurer; Dave Backer, Associate Director, and Rodney Polston, Unit Director. Congratulations to our new directors and our thanks for accepting the responsibility and challenges of Association leadership. To Jim Fossos, our long time Secretary Treasurer, and Joe Wheeler, an Associate Director, our thanks and appreciation for your dedication, ideas, and service to 1st Recon Battalion Association.

Semper fideles,
Charlie Kershaw

Welcome Aboard to new members

Albert Rodriguez 64/66 Alpha/Bravo
Anthony Arrum alpha Co. 63/64
Arthur Rivard Echo Co. 68/70
Barry Page 1st Recon Alpha 84/87
Bill Bailey Bravo Co 66/67
Bill Kreilick Recon Co. 52/53
Carlos Rojas Nov. 02/Feb. 04
Christopher Weare B & H&S 63/66
Daniel Caporale 1st Recon 61/65
Denis Donovan 1st Force 68/69
Dennis Slack 1st Recon Charlie 67/68
Edward Ford May 99 to Dec. 01
Edward Reed 1st Recon Bravo 66
Frank Castellano 1st Recon Delta /1st Force 67/69
George Douglas Bravo 68/69
George "Skip" Lester 1st Recon 67/68
George Ross Alpha Co. 58/59
Gerald Warren 1st Recon 67/68
JC Howland 1st Recon 67/68
Jeff Balliet Alpha Co. 69
Joe Brooks Charlie Co 12/70 to 10/72
John Cronin Delta 67 (medivac)
John Grant Bravo Co. Aug 99 - April 02
John Howard, Alpha 1, 1st Recon 52/63
John Miller Charlie Co. Oct. 90 /Jan. 93
John Peterman H&S Comm 65/67
Michael Stinetorf Bravo 6/02/10 04
Paul Lerma Alpha 1/69 - 1/70
Peter Cetani Bravo Co Sept 64 to Sept 66
Richard Sikkema Echo Co. 69/69
Richard Johnson A, D, & H&S 63/65
Robert Harrison 62-64 66-68 & H&S 68-69
Stan Trzcinski Alpha and H&S May 84
Steve Bruch Alpha Co. 67/68
T.C. Grudger Bravo 1st Recon 69/70
Walter Wise 69/70
William Meyers H&S 84/86
William Young Bravo 3rd Plt. 86/89

1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association Memorial Fund

1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association Memorial Fund

The foresight and leadership of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is making the dream of a National Museum of the Marine Corps a reality. Construction began last year at Quantico Virginia. The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a unique opportunity “ to honor those Marines who preceded us…to confirm our heritage…to share with our nation, and with each other, the riches of our experiences…and to leave a lasting and glorious legacy for the future.” At Reunion 2002 in New York City, our Association established a Memorial Fund in honor of the 240 Marines and Corpsmen who gave their lives in service to their country as members of 1st Recon Bn in Vietnam. Our goal is to donate to the National Museum of the Marine Corps $100.00 in memory of each of our fallen comrades. The gift will be commemorated by a plaque placed in the memorial park adjoining the National Museum. Contributions to the Memorial Fund should be check or money order payable to:

1st RECON BN ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL FUND

Contributions may be mailed to:
Secrectary/Treasurer Jim Fossos
20750 7th Ave. South
Des Moines, WA 98198
or
President Charlie Kershaw
2527 Unicornio Street
Carlsbad, CA 92009

1st Reconnaissance Battalion
           Change of Command

Colonel Rory Talkington relinquished command of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion to Lieutenanat Colonel Joseph C. Marello, Jr. in a ceremony at Camp Pendleton on 14 October 2004. Our thanks and appreciation to Colonel Talkington for his leadership through Operation Iraqi Freedom II and best wishes in his future assignments. Congratulations to Lieutenant Colonel Marello on his assumption of command and best wishes for his success and the continued success of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.

ASSOCIATION MEMBERS MIA!

Does anyone know the whereabouts of: Ben Alexander, Mark B. Carlson, Chris M. Dixon, Chuck Fenwick, John S. Greenwood, Samuel B. Hay, Jr. , William A. Hay, Terry Heffley, Gary A. Lakis, Gary L. Marshall, David M. McGraw, Gerald F. Murray, Jon P. Nelson, Chad Ramsey, Michael E. Reynolds, Randall J. Smoot, Mark E. Stargardt, Thomas M. Sutter, Todd J. Weidner, Gary J. Willis, Joseph E. Whitmire, and Mathew K. Zeisler? If you know the address these missing members, call

1st Reconnaissance Battalion
                   Birthday BallAssociation members and their guests are cordially invited to join 1st Recon Battalion for the 229th Marine Corps Birthday, to be celebrated Tuesday 16 November 2004 at Pechanga Resort and Casino, starting at 1800 until….
Cost: $50 per person.
Room Rate (advance purchase): $89.00.
Call: 1-877-711-2946
POC: 1stSgt Shirreffs at (760)763-2013
or SSgt Brooks at 760-725-7270

FUTURE REUNIONS
2005
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
KANSAS CITY MARRIOTT, DOWNTOWN
AUGUST 3 -7

2006
DENVER, COLORADO
AUGUST 3-7

2007
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
AUGUST 27-28

2008
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
GAYLORD OPRYLAND HOTEL
AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 2

Message from the new Secretary/Treasurer

 

Hello fellow Marines.

Thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I pledge my loyalty to the Association as I did 35 years ago to you as fellow Marines. God Bless you all and Semper Fidelis.


Garry D. Kline,
Sgt., USMC (retired)

1st Recon returns to Pendleton 


CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Nearly 200 men with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion returned home Oct. 5 after seven months in Iraq, where the battalion did 600 combat patrols. Recon Marines, met with a low-key homecoming at Camp Margarita, weren't alone in their celebrations at Camp Pendleton. Later that night at the base's Camp Horno, a company with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, which fought pitched battles in Fallujah's populated Julon district, returned.

     For 1st Recon, which deployed in late February, this year's combat tour brought the unit back to its roots of "swift, silent and deadly." Unlike last year's invasion of Iraq, when 1st Recon operated mostly as a maneuver battalion for 1st Marine Division, the battalion's platoons this time focused on hunting anti-coalition forces with Regimental Combat Team 1 in the Fallujah region. They collected weapons, money and drugs during raids,
uncovered weapons caches, ran reconnaissance and surveillance missions and nabbed two "high value" targets near Karmah.

     "We hit hard. We could come and go as we please," said Col. Rory E. Talkington, the battalion's commander who recently pinned on the rank of colonel. "Reconnaissance should be the force of choice today," said
Talkington, who was welcomed home by his wife, two young sons and their newest family member, a two-day-old daughter.

     In the coming days, his men will catch up on their sleep, relax with family and friends and, as senior leaders hope, steer themselves and others from potential trouble at home. Senior leaders hope the men continue the
practice in Iraq of "combat buddies" to reinforce the importance of safety and survival, even after the deployment's over.

      An oft-repeated message to the junior Marines, said Gunnery Sgt. Dean Doolittle, is to "take it slow."

     "The biggest thing you want to [curb] is excess alcohol, excess eating, excess speeding," said Doolittle, the battalion's assistant jumpmaster with Headquarters and Service Company. His advice? "Don't overdo it."

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