Welcome Aboard: Marly Bryant

1st RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION ASSOCIATION


July 8th, 2023


I approved your membership in the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association today.


I am pleased to have the opportunity to welcome you aboard.


I hope that you find membership in the association rewarding and that it fulfills your expectations.


I hope that you make contact with members that knew you.


I will posted your name on our website today.


The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association’s 2023 reunion will be held in concert with the 1st Marine Division Association’s 76th Annual Reunion at the Orleans Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada. 


Essential Elements of Information for the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association Reunion follow. 


Location and Date. Orleans Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.  1st Marine Division Association 13-20 August 2023; 1st Recon reunion events are 16-19 August. 


Hotel Reservations.  Reservations may be made online at the Orleans website:  orleanscasino.com or by telephone at:  800 675-3267.  The Reunion Group Reservation Number is:  FMDH23C.  The reunion room rate is in effect until 14 July or when the block is sold out. 


Transportation.  Airport to hotel shuttle service is available for guests at the airport Arrivals level.  In addition, Division Association has contracted with a shuttle service to transport reunion guests from the Las Vegas airport to the Orleans Hotel and return for $20.00 per family.  Shuttle reservations should be made on the reunion registration form.   


Reunion Registration.  Reunion guests should complete and mail the attached Division Association Registration form (attached) as soon as possible but not later than 25 July.   


Reunion Activities. Division Association reunion activities are listed on the attached registration form. Recon Association activities.


The Leatherneck Club.  Thursday, 17 August, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm.  Swap sea stories and enjoy a BBQ  buffet lunch ($30.00 per person) which includes pulled pork, chicken, baked beans, coleslaw and fresh rolls.   


American Shooters Range (adjacent to Leatherneck Club).  American Shooters (Americanshooters.com).  Weapons firing and a pistol marksmanship competition, open to Association members and adult family members.


Shuttle transportation to/from 17 August activities will be provided by 1st Recon Association.


General Membership Meeting.  Orleans Hotel, Friday 18 August 10:00 am -12:00 pm.     


Association Banquet 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.  Orleans Hotel.  Dinner, at $65.00 per person, includes an appetizer, flat Iron steak or chicken marsala entrees and dessert.  Vegan meals are available on request.  Regretably, the Orleans can accommodate only 70 diners.  Reservations will be on a “first come, first served basis”.  


Coordinating Instructions.  


Dave Snider (docsnidley@aol.com )will take orders for 1st Recon memorabilia, such as polo shirts, belt buckles, and challenge coins.  Items will be available for pick-up at the reunion.  Otherwise, these items will be mailed to those members unable to at the reunion.  


As you know, the Association does not require membership dues.  Donations and the live auction are our primary source of funds.   Bring a donation for the live auction.  We need an auctioneer.  If you are willing to try your  hand at being the reunion auctioneer, contact Ron Overton.


The Thursday BBQ lunch is $30.00 per person and the Friday dinner is $65.00 per person.  Reservations and checks should be made out to 1st Recon Battalion Association and mailed to Creg Howland, 43761 Churchill Glen Drive, Chantilly, VA 20152 not later than 10 August 2023. 


Hope to see you at one our up-and-coming reunions maybe this year or in 2024 (God Willing).

Check out our website from time to time for new updates. at: https://1streconbn.org/


I will update the "Taps" section when notified of a fallen brother or other urgent matters.


We do not charge annual dues but raise funds at our annual reunion auction.


Over the years our members have brought their ‘treasures’ and auctioned them off with the funds going to the general fund.


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.


Donations can be sent to the Association Treasurer:


Creg Howland, 43761 Churchill Glen Drive, Chantilly, VA 20152


Make donations payable to the 1st Recon Association.


Please keep your contact INFORMATION Up-To-Date. This allows the Association to contact you occasionally


with urgent information or updates.


Again, welcome to our association. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me by email.


I will make every effort to get in touch with you as soon as possible.


Or, you can reach me by phone. My cell number is (612) 810-4196 and you can call me 24/7.


I am looking forward to seeing you at one of our reunions.


You can send me or post on the 1st Recon Battalion Association Facebook page photos or anything you might want me to post on our website. I am currently working on a large project with over 150 patrol reports and 0ver 400 1st Recon Battalion Marines involved in this story. The story is a work in progress over the several years. If you have a story that you would like me to add send it to me and I'll try to add the Patrol report to it if I can.


This is a work in progress on our website. You can follow along with it over the course of the next several years. It's called Some Give It All, The Jim Southall Story, it will include most of the companies in the battalion over a period between 1967 through 1971. But I do add stories from members outside of this time frame from time-to-time so feel free to send me a story. This is the link to the the web page to the story.


Click Here for the web page: https://1streconbn.org/sgt-jim-southall-story.html


Semper Fi,


Floyd Ruggles


Membership Director & Webmaster

Marly Bryant

Bravo DRP, Charlie Company
Dates with Units: 1979-1983