Gary Paul Bland

Birth: August 18, 1945 Davenport, Iowa (Scott County)
Death: September 22nd, 1965 Tan An Long An, Vietnam

L/Cpl. U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War L/Cpl. Bland was killed by sniper fire on 9-22-1965 while serving as a radio operator in South Vietnam with Co. C of the 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division. LCpl. Bland started his tour of Vietnam in March of 1965.

He is the son of Mr. Harold & Mrs. Neva {Glidden} Bland {d.1962} of Peoria, Illinois, and is a 1963 graduate of Peoria H.S., and was in the Marine Corps on June 11, 1963, and did his training with the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California.

Besides his father, he leaves a step-mother, Mrs. Rita Bland, and two sisters, Mrs. William Altis of Monmouth, Illinois, and Mrs. Richard Vandemark of Aurora, Illinois, and one step-sister, Mrs. Donald Ekvall of Creve Coeur, Illinois.

Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with One Service Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Family links:
Parents:
Harold Bland (1907 - 1981)
Neva J Glidden Bland (1912 - 1962)

Burial:
Woodhull Cemetery
Woodhull, Illinois USA (Henry County)
GPS (lat/lon): 41.18319, -90.32048

LCpl Gary Paul Bland

Woodhull Cemetery
Woodhull, Illinois, USA

Gary Bland was a radio operator for C Company, 1st Recon Bn, 1st Marine Division. Before the Division was sent to Viet Nam in March of 1966, C Company was sent early to assist other units already there. They learned first-hand before the rest of us what worked and what didn't. The ideas they came up with during this time saved many lives when the total Battalion arrived. We of 1st Recon Bn - the "old ones" - will never forget those guys that gave so much in the early days of Nam. Gary, our prayers are with you, you are in our hearts and memories.

A memorial from his Fellow 1st Recon Bn Marine, Randy Kendall tkendall1@aol.com 

17 May 2001

Gary Paul Bland

To all my Marine brothers and sisters that gave there all..You will never be forgotten....GOD BLESS YOU...A job well done Marines

September 22nd, 1965

First Casualty of Vietnam

1st Recon Battalion