1st Recon Battalion Association

1st Recon Battalion Association

Thanks for your service.

Part 39

2025

May 1st Half

1st Reconnaissance Battalion
Missions / Patrol Reports

Are you looking for your Old Patrol Reports? Check out this page on my website:

http://www.weststpaulantiques.com/reconmissions.html

Too close to whisper...
...one click for "yes", two for "no"...
"Brothers of the Bush"

----------------------------
Recon...their name is
their honor...and nothing more
need be said...Recon

Floyd Ruggles

Check Out New Messages/Newsletter

...

All Companies

Photo Gallery

The Memory Remains Not All Wounds Are Visible.

"A Brotherhood Forged In Combat"

1st Reconnaissance Battalion Index

Message Board Links

Part 1 - 2018-2019 

Part 2 - 2019-2020 

Part 3 - 2020 

Part 4 - 2020 

Part 5  - 2020

Past Message Board

Past Newsletters 

Part 1 - 2017-2018 

Part 2 - 2018 

Part 3 - 2018 

Part 4 - 2018-2019 

Past Reunions 

Past Stories 

Send in your photos

Part 6  - 2020

Past Photos Galleries 

Part 7  - 2020

Part 8  - 2020

Bobby Bare

 

 

Photo Gallery

Part 10  - 2021

Click a photo to link to a page on our  website or Facebook. Links are found on nearly all Web pages. Links allow users to click their way from page to page. You will find thousands of links on the 1st recon battalion association website.

In Remembrance of our brother Reconnaissance Marines & Corpsmen killed in action or otherwise while on duty.

Look at it as your Time Capsule. This website won't stand long after we are all gone.

 

Daniel M Turpin

1st Recon Battalion Association

Part 11  - 2021

1st Reconnaissance Battalion
Missions / Patrol Reports

Too close to whisper...
...one click for "yes", two for "no"...
"Brothers of the Bush"

----------------------------
Recon...their name is
their honor...and nothing more
need be said...Recon
------------------------

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Bravo Company 1968-1969

Part 12  - 2021

Meet some of our members of our association.

To all Association Members,

Please reply and update or confirm your Information.
Your 1st Recon Battalion Association Website Information
can be found at: 1streconbn.org/members.html

Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks for all your help.

My email address is floyd@weststpaulantiques.com.
Please keep your information up to date.

This will allow the Association to send messages out from time to time by email or by mail.

Semper Fi,
Floyd Ruggles
Membership Director & Webmaster

1st Recon Battalion Association

New Members to the Association of the Natural Warrior

2023

Part 13  - 2021-2022

Part 14  - 2022

Part 15  - 2022

Part 16  - 2023

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

Get involved send in your messages, photos, stories share what you think about our website. I will post them on this page.

1st Recon Battalion Association

Message Board will be our newsletter going forward. 

It's ongoing and you can be a part of it, each month through out the year.

1st Recon Battalion Association

Message Board will be our newsletter going forward. 

It's ongoing and you can be a part of it, each month through out the year.

1st Recon Battalion Association

Message Board will be our newsletter going forward. 

It's ongoing and you can be a part of it, each month through out the year.

Click a photo to link to a page on our website. Links are found on nearly all Web pages.
Links allow users to click their way from page to page.

Navigator is at the top of each page.

**WELCOME to FIRST RECON'S WEBSITE** 2009-2023 

Don't be fooled by the warning signs it's a safe website, it's just an old platfrom. Just hit advance, you will enjoy this website, it's my personal website.

1st Recon Battalion Association

Message Board will be our newsletter going forward. 

It's ongoing and you can be a part of it, each month through out the year.

Association Purpose

Our mission is to help locate former Recon Marines and their families, and to recognize those who paid the ultimate price through the 1st Recon Memorial Fund which has established and will help maintain the permanent memorial at the Marine Corps Historical Museum at Camp Quantico Virginia.

Message from webmaster!

May 2025 - 1st Half Newsletter

Part 17  - 2023

Part 18  - 2023

Part 19  - 2023

Part 20  - 2023

Part 21  - 2023

Part 22  - 2024

Member of 1st Recon Battalion Association

1st Recon Bn KIA Vietnam War

..

War Story

.....

Rest in Peace

The Jim Southall Story, Over 200 1st Recon Battalion Marines involved in this story. The story is a work in progress over the next year. Over 100 Patrol Reports.

Some Give It All

Vietnam 1968-1969

Thoughts of that Day

Doug Wolfe's Story

Patrol Report #349-68

98 hours on Charlie Ridge

Index by dates & names

Sergeant Jim Southall - Hill 200 1969

Are Message Board is now our new newsletter.

1968

1969

Membership Director & Webmaster

2016-2025

Floyd

Last night I awoke to the sounds of thunder. I was recalling a small part of a day a long time ago. As if it was yesterday...

Today is a particularly dreary, rainy day. Lookout Mountain is socked in good. It is not unusual for it to be socked in. Hell they fought the Battle Above the Clouds there during the Civil War.

However, today it put me in mind of another dreary, socked in ridge I was on for around 2 hours on 3 June, 1968. Known only to me as Hill 200, it was a desolate, indefensible place that somebody in the 1st Mardiv G3 shop picked off the map to insert my platoon on as an observation post & radio relay.

Stories from Members

Some Give It All

THE DAY THE CRAP WENT UP IN FLAMES
By Gary Graves, HM3

5 Minutes ‘Til Forever

Part 40

Coming Soon

Applicants

1st RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 4. DUES. Association members have no mandatory dues. However, Members and Associate Members are encouraged to make donations, annually, to help defray the Association’s operating expenses. An annual donation of $10.00 is suggested.

Semper Fi, Floyd Ruggles

Membership Director & Webmaster

1st Recon Battalion Association

Welcome to our New Members Page

1st Recon Battalion Association

Next Page

Previous Page

Some of the 1st Marines into Afghanistan in the aftermath of 9/11

For Membership in 1st Recon Battalion Association

All Units
March 1966 - May 1971

This link is to my old website It's a safe website on a old plarform follow instructions to the webpage. 

Part 24  - 2024

Part 25  - 2024

Part 9  - 2020

1st Recon Battalion

Association of the Natural Warrior

May 2025 - 1st Half Newsletter

Part 26  - 2024

Part 27  - 2024

Part 29  - 2024

Click a photo to link to a page on our website. Links are found on nearly all Web pages.Links allow users to click their way from page to page. You will find thousands of links on this website.

1st Recon Battalion Association is a non-profit organization of former and current members of the 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division

Thanks for taking the time to stop by our website today.

Your Webmaster

Floyd Ruggles

CPL "Doggy" McBride with a happy face because mail call was good to him. Delta Co 1st Recon Bn 1970 SFMFZ Doc

Thanks for stopping by today

Part 28  - 2024

Part 30  - 2024

Part 31  - 2025

Floyd,

The Force Recon Association (FRA) invites our members to join the FRA. !st Recon members are also invited to attend the FRA reunion, 24 - 27 Apri 2025.l
Please post their announcement.

Thanks,
Charlie

CKershaw <invictus7@earthlink.net> 12/17/2024 4:01 PM FRA Recon 2025 - FRA Annual Reunion

Email from:

Rest In Peace, Marines!

from: Bruce Fogarty
I remember that day. I met Colonel Leftwich’s son in Washington Naval Yard for a Recon Reunion. I remember that day as if it was yesterday

Part 32  - 2025

Part 33  - 2025

Vietnam War 1st Recon Battalion 1965-1971

Part 34  - 2025

SAVE the DATE :1st Recon Battalion Association 2025 Reunion

Book signing , 11-17 August Washington , D.C./ Quantico

Marines and Corpsmen,

 

I hope to see all of you at the 2025 Reunion in Washington DC in August! Please pass the word. This is a combo Reunion First Marine Division Association and 1st Recon Bn. Association.

 

I plan on attending the 1st Recon Reunion in August in Washington/Quantico. I will be signing my just released NEW BOOK; Hill 119, Defending a Reconnaissance Marines' OP, Vietnam, 1969-1970.

 

This book covers Delta Companies OP Hill 119 but also covers other Recon teams’ actions like Echo Company’s, Team Bad Actor lead by 1st Lt Earl Hailston. If you lived at Camp Reasoner or were part of Team Mission Impossible, its all in this 500+ page history book with over 50 pictures. The Forward is by legendary Marine and author, Bing West.

 

For many of you, this is your history with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Buy a book, bring it with you to the 1st Recon Battalion Association Reunion , 11-17 August, Washington DC / Quantico. I will sign it for you at the Reunion.

 

Register thru FMDA website for further details https://1stmda.org/  Our 78th Annual Reunion 10-17 August 2025 in Arlington, Virginia ,Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel.

 

Book:  Hill 119, Defending a Reconnaissance Marines' OP, Vietnam, 1969-1970 is now available for pre-order.

 

Websites to pre-order: www.pog-llc.com   https://www.pog-llc.com/

 

Casemate Publisher: https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781636245928/hill-119/

 

Amazon https://a.co/d/4GRUwYs

 

Hope to see you at the reunion !

Semper Fi

Mike

Marine

Delta-1

1st Recon Bn., 1970

3/26, 1969

1/1, 1990/91

https://www.pog-llc.com/

Coming Summer 2025

Defending a Reconnaissance Marines’ OP, Vietnam, 1969-1970
by Michael Fallon, Colonel,
U.S. Marine Corps, Retired

.

.

A narrative account of Reconnaissance Marines in Vietnam. Small Teams launching daring deep Stingray patrols in the bush. On the Observation Post, Hill 119 defending for 600 relentless days and nights. Surrounded by the NVA with the constant challenge of determining friendly Vietnamese civilians from hard corps Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars. Their lifeline were the Marine helicopters that flew out bringing water, ammo, food, and their replacement platoon. In 1969 and 1970, Delta Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division manned the OP and ran patrols in Phu Loc Valley and Go Noi Island. This firsthand account of the Marines and Corpsmen who patrolled deep and occupied the OP describes their struggle to survive. Based on participant interviews and the detailed declassified debriefing reports compiled after each patrol returned to their rear base, at Camp Reasoner, Da Nang in the Republic of South Vietnam. This is their history!

Learn More & Pre-Order

Coming Summer 2025

Learn More & Pre-Order

2025 Reunion Informaion

Message from Charlie regarding Team Rush Act and our 2025 reunion. We will be having a memorial ceremony.
Rest in peace.

Join your 1st Recon brothers at a Rush Act memorial service in Quantico at the Marine Corps Memorial Park August 2025

(Recon Reunion details to follow next spring)
Semper Fidelis,


Charlie Charles Kershaw


Here are the details about the reunion from Ralph M. Witkin

1st Recon Battalion Association Facebook Page

Marine's and Corpsmen who have served with 1st Marine Reconnaissance Battalion from it's inception 1 March 1937 at Quantico, Virginia as the 1st Tank Company and assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade until today's current force. Only members can see who's in the group and what they post.

Passed away on February 8, 2022

3 years ago

Gunny Pu

I have a picture Gunny Pu gave to me 15-20 years of him and his PRU company. He told me that they worked out of a building in Danang they called the White House. I was interviewing Reconners for their personal history. I had arranged a mini-reunion in LV, about 20 people including spouses showed. It was past 0200 and well into our cups listening to Gunny weave his stories, mostly emphasized with grunts and sneers. I had recently completed a visit to VN and I asked Gunny to return with me. I promised him we would find the White House.  david snider <docsnidley@aol.com>

Original Photo, Doc David Snider 

Floyd could you please post this query to the Battalion Web site. Thank You

 

Current lineup: Back Row L-R: Unk; SSgt Beardslee; GySgt Terry Moore; Unk; SSgt Muchett

 Front Row L-R: LCpl Dan Nelson; LCpl Sparks; Sgt Papua; Unk; Cpl Randle Manella; Doc Hunt; MSgt Rene Regalot

1969 - 55 Years Ago Camp Reasoner - Da Nang Vietnam

Vietnam
July 1968 - July 1969

I can recall that day I arrived in Nam as a green know it all rookie marine with an attitude. I was going to win the war by myself. What a dumb kid I must have been then. Only moments after arriving that day, reality set in and I learn quickly that I was in hell or some where close.

The Memory Remains,

Not All Wounds Are Visible.

Part 36  - 2025

Part 35  - 2025

Part 37  - 2025

Remember you are not forgotten while I am still on patrol.

Part 38  - 2025

REMEMBERING A WARRIOR...
Today, we remember the life and service of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II as we mark 26 years since his passing on February 22, 1999.
Carlos Hathcock was born on May 20, 1942, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on his 17th birthday in 1959. His Marine Corps career is truly the stuff that legends are made of and his missions in Vietnam and accomplishments are well known to generations of Marines. With 93 confirmed kills, Hathcock’s legacy has left an indelible mark on the annals of military history. After a 20 year career in the Marine Corps, Carlos continued his life of service by teaching his tradecraft to military operators and counter snipers in law enforcement agencies all across the nation.
Sadly, Carlos lost his battle with multiple sclerosis on February 22, 1999, at the age of 56. The final resting place for GySgt Hathcock is in Norfolk, Virginia, at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.
Semper Fi, Devil Dog

Bravo Company Photo Gallery 1968 & 1969

Bravo Company Photo Gallery 1968 & 1969

Bravo Company Photo Gallery 1968 & 1969

Bravo Company Photo Gallery 1968 & 1969

Bravo Company Photo Gallery 1968 & 1969

Thurman Mullins

May 2025 - 1st Half Newsletter

Message Board

Larry was the son of Archell J. Pierson and Edna I. Pierson, of Indianapolis, dear brother of Tom and Ted Pierson of Beech Grove. He was the loving father of Steven J., Angela C., Daniel L., and Jennifer I. Pierson of Elkhart Indiana. Larry enlisted in the US Marine Corps on April 4, 1966 in Indianapolis and arrived in Vietnam on December 17, 1967 where he was assigned to and served with Company D, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, attached to H&S Company, BLT (Battalion Landing Team) 3/1, 9th MAB, FMFPac.

During the month of May the 1st platoon continued to be attached to BLT 3/1 which was under the operational control of the 4th Marine Regiment with the mission of keeping Route 9 open for convoys from Ca Lu in northern Quang Tri Province.

On May 26, in the mountainous area 5 kilometers southwest of Ca Lu, near the Cam Lo, Huong Hoa District border in the vicinity of Hill 512 the a patrol was ambushed. Claymore mines were detonated and immediately rifle fire raked the Marines. Four men were killed in the engagement, one of the casualties was LCpl James Pierson killed in the action by shrapnel wounds from the hostile explosive device.

Name: MIKE PIERSON
Email: mpierson@thedali.org
Phone number: 727-294-2291
Subject: Lance Corporal Larry James Pierson
Message: Seeing if anyone new my Uncle Larry James Pierson1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, H S Company He Died at South Vietnam, Quang Tri province on 26 May 1968.
Thanks, Mike Pierson

Looking for your help!

Part 40  - 2025

May 2025 - 1st Half Newsletter

Old school 4th Platoon 2nd Force Reconnaissance Co.....there are some true legends in this photo.

A few pictures of memorial for Larry Huffman in little town of Harlan, Oregon—-May 18 2025

Grave side service for Larry Huffman—forgot to take pictures of reception and lunch at community center. Our Assoc. Purchased flowers and family had beautiful setup of pictures of Larry through the years and of Vietnam. Family was extremely grateful Dan & I could attend. Was really an honor to be there.

Larry Huffman- Radio man “Airhose” -1969

San Diego 2001
With Larry Huffman deceased , Doc Schwartz, Doc Upton deceased our numbers are dwindling and the dial is hitting 80 years and and higher. What a ride SF

Paul Olenski
is that the reunion where we visited 1st Recon at Pendleton and they did like an 8 man jump out of a CH-46. The 2nd to the last 'jumper' was an actual dummy they hooked up to 'mae-west' chute and it swearled down and crashed onto the deck. And all the women in the crowd were screaming and crying. The regular Recon Marines were all laughing because they knew the gig. Now thats GOOD, CLEAN, FUN. Carry-on. See y'all in D.C.

Eric Schwartz
Oh yeah I took that photo! Team Fig Newton Delta Company spring of 1970

Regarding Recon Reunions. I must always thank US Navy Corpsman Doc 'Bob' Buehl, for making them happen. He did it. He put most of the first 10 together with some help. The 1st one in Columbus Ohio, was very well attended. Lots of members, with a handful of wives and girlfriends (thank you Ladies, it was an Honor to meet you all). I found this one pix from the Kansas City reunion - 6 of our 15 man Recon Team: Dublin City. In KC, I got to meet Lt General Wallace 'Chip' Gregson, a great leader, who knew my Recruiter on the southside of Chicago, Gunnery Sgt Benjamin. What a guy. 'Chip' had also been the Colonel in Charge of Recruiting in Chicago. he gave me an update on Gunny Benjamin - made Sargeant Major and retired from the Corps. Small World. So in KC, we had 6 of 15. Same in Denver. L/R - Olenski, Wilker Beard, Bird, Slack and Shafer. Not bad - 6 of 15. All great Marines and vicious jungle fighters. Not pictured are our 3 Patrol Leaders in 1968. Sgt Lopez, Corporal House and Lance Corporal Gordon. Took some digging, but found out the enemy officers we/they faced in several 'encounters' in the mountainous jungle. Lopez/June 4, 1968, a PAVN Captain. House/July 15, 1968, a Major, known as the toughest PAVN commander in South Vietnam. I have his picture post War. Gordon/July 26, 1968, General/PAVN/2nd NVA Division - 2 Recon Teams, Mad Hatter and Dublin City, 10 Marines each, confronted the 2nd NVA division near Phu Loc #4, about 1pm, several miles apart. These three encounters against the finest enemy officers proves our NCO Patrol Leaders were the most cunning leaders in that mysterious mist-shrouded mountainous rainforest of S.E. Asia. Including all three encounters, we suffered one KIA, PFC Curtis Brown, July 15, 1968, our point man and about 8 wounded in action. God Bless Them All. Looking forward to D.C. in August, 2025.

Paul Olenski

Ralph Witkin
I went to my first reunion 10 years ago, but haven't missed one since. I reported directly to (then) 1st Lt Gregson in 1970

Reese Larry
team roadtest 1970 alpha company Team leaders Sgt CRter P
Cpl Domanche

Clarence Conner 1/1/91
1st recipient of The Purple Heart
Operation Desert Storm

Lots of brothers have made the trip.

50 years later, Vietnam's battlefields draw retrospective veterans and other tourists

David Emery's Post

It has been a very tough week. Susan fell in the apartment on Saturday morning. She broke her hip. Surgery followed Saturday afternoon and she was transferred to rehab yesterday evening. Her pain is still intense but she is healing. Now the long rebuilding programs. If it isn't one thing it's three.

Dave Doc Snider
I am so very sorry, boss man to hear that. We know that you will give Susan the best of care. SF

Congratulations to our brother & teammate Dante Collins on the occasion of his retirement.

Dante served our Nation and our Corps for over two decades in any clime and place.

This is a loss for the Recon community.
We are proud of you brother, fair winds and following seas.


With you.
Never above you
Never below you
Always by your side

Birthday Wishes going out to the 8th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major John R. Massaro as he celebrates turning 95 today.
SgtMaj Massaro was born on May 22, 1930, in Orrville, Ohio. He enlisted in the USMC in 1948, and graduated from Parris Island. During his 31 year career in the Corps, he served in both, Korea and Vietnam.
SgtMaj Massaro also served in the Drill Field at MCRD San Diego, as well as, Drill Instructor School. He also served with 1st Force Recon Company and 4th Force Recon Company.
SgtMaj Massaro is credited with popularizing the greeting "OohRah" in the Marine lexicon. Massaro carried the popular phrase into his drill field tours after it was used during his days with 1st Marine Division Reconnaissance Company in the mid-1950s. The origins of the phrase go back to when Massaro and his fellow Recon Marines were training on submarines and got in the habit of imitating the sub's klaxon horn of "arrugah" as a form of greeting each other.

DEVIL DOGS Forever

"It became some kind of greeting, when you saw one of your Marines, instead of saying, 'How are you?'" Massaro said. "It kind of got passed around. It was used as a chant, when people were running."
It was then passed on during his tours on the drill field, at first slowly making it's way into the Marine vernacular until present day where it has long since been firmly established as a Marine greeting.
Happy Birthday, Sergeant Major Massaro... OOHRAH!

George Keely
It is as fresh as though it was yesterday, alas, it has been 61 years since planting my feet on the yellow foot prints……semper fi brothers!

The Monsoons did funny things to our bodies on patrol.

Our fingers wrinkled up as did other parts but the big surprise was my weenie shriveled up. If this happened to you-you may bed entitled to compensation.

Jimmy Page

Photos from Hill 119 Early 1970. I was up on the Hill 4 times. The 106 was up there only once. I never saw it fired. The boys from Tennessee got the room with a view. SFMFz Doc Delta "Dublin City"

Photos from Hill 119 Early 1970. I was up on the Hill 4 times. The 106 was up there only once. I never saw it fired. The boys from Tennessee got the room with a view. SFMFz Doc Delta "Dublin City"

July 1968

Semper Fi,

Floyd Ruggles

Membership Director & Webmaster

Just got off the phone with Milo Roberson, Larry Huffman’s nephew. Sad news that Larry passed Saturday April 26th. Larry had been declining since his stroke a few years back. Dementia and lung challenges were his down fall. I thought Larry had passed already from lung cancer. Saw him at reunion in Oceanside and he told me doctor had given him only a couple months to live. His dementia had already set in, Milo said he didn’t have cancer. Larry lived with Milo his last year and was going down hill till the end. Memorial service will be in Harlan Community Center on June 18th @ 2pm. Milo asked if anyone could attend service that would be appreciated. Eddyville, Oregon 97326 was his mailing address. Harlan I guess is a spot on the road next to the bigger spot of Eddyview. Any comments from you guys still out there who served with him would be great. Larry was with Alpha 1st Platoon, 1st Recon, 69-70. I plan on going to memorial.

Some ,
those who seek to write our histories, would have you believe our war was fought at Hue..Khe Sanh..Au Shau, places famous in their own right, when in reality the bulk of the war was fought in unknown paddies, no name villages, across small clearings , hills known only by their height , dirt trails that lead nowhere, was fought belly down , up close, sometimes as close as feet, in dark tunnels, under dark skies, in 100 degree heat and torrential rain, the names and places forever lost, where our war was hammered out, day after day, in a world without end....Amen .