1st Recon Battalion Association

1st Recon Battalion Association

Thanks for your service.

Part 14

2022

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

All Companies

Photo Gallery

Bravo Company

Photo Gallery 

The Memory Remains Not All Wounds Are Visible.

"A Brotherhood Forged In Combat"

1st Reconnaissance Battalion Index

2014

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

Sergeant James F. "Jim" Southall

Obituary

Family 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.

I'm just a simple old warrior who served in the uniform of this country's military in War who loves to discuss all aspects of life. It is my firm conviction that if one understands what caused the war, how the war was conducted, and the Reconstruction Years that followed, one will know what this country is about.

Company
July 1968 - July 1969

The Memory Remains Not All Wounds Are Visible.

My personal website

Look at it as your Time Capsule. This website won't stand long after you're gone.

 

Daniel M Turpin

1st Reconnaissance Battalion Index

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
------------------------

Not forgotten honored 

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Historical Photos

COMING FROM TIME TO TIME

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

Passed Away 

DAVID L BACKER

(ALPHA COMPANY JAN 1967 - DEC 1967)

SEARCH VETERANS & PERSONNEL

John,

Thanks for all the information should help and our members locate their Brothers.

A Summer Day In Nam
"A Brotherhood Forged In Combat"

Last night I awoke to the sounds of thunder. I was recalling a small part of a day as if it was yesterday. As I remember, it was the height of the war that day. It seems to be bits and pieces of time that have been locked away for over fifty years. Our team call sign is "Average". 9 Recon Marines with an attitude, charging from the gate of a CH-46 Sea Knight, carrying our weight.

I can say I’m literally carrying my weight or more on my back. As a small Marine around 145 pounds and about 5 feet 7, I could move in and out of tight areas as a point. On my back is a rucksack. A “back pack or the sack” as the team called it. In the rucksack would have been enough C Rations for this mission. I can recall running out from time to time. I recall on one of my missions working with a team of 14 Marines. We went out on a 5 day mission and we were socked in by the monsoon for 10 days or so living off the land eating bugs and small green bananas before we were lifted out of that zone by choppers. But that is another story. On this summer day in my rucksack would have been rain gear, dry socks, my weapon maintenance kit, poncho liner, my camouflage blanket. camouflage paint, first aid items, map and compass, mess kit, gasmask, a canteen or two of water, and my trusty camera that was always by my side and I’m probably forgetting something. As for my weapons now all I can say to “Charlie” is I’m packing. Ten to twenty hand grenades, gas and colored smoke canisters, extra M60 machine gun rounds, two to four clamor mines, my knife and bayonet, 15-20 M16 magazines. Yes this marine was packing on all my missions plus I would have had a ton of C4 plastic explosives with detonators. Thinking back today on this for some apparent reason it seems I like to blow things up. As my wife Linda, who I love dearly, is looking over my shoulder at this time and making a coy remark like I was a young dumb kid. And I reply back as I’m thinking Hoo-ya, but all those explosives were for clearing LZ “landing zone” for the choppers to land on for extractions at the end of our missions and the C4 was for cooking our food. I don’t think she bought in to that. I’m thinking for the record it was a great deterrent for the enemy forces. But as you can see I’m literally carrying my weight.

My steps were quick and light. I’m running point that day for a small team of brothers. They’re reconnaissance Marines out of Bravo Company. We’re on a mission to locate enemy movement and report back; it’s a 5 day mission in enemy controlled territory and my team is on the ground.

Within minutes my eyes were fixed on movement. A small group of 4 VC or NVA with small arms packs and two radios were moving along a river 200 yards or so from me on a winding trail. The enemy moved along the trail within 50 yards or so of the team and moved off down the trail into the bush. To reach higher ground our team would have to cross the river. 1st Lt. Riley "at the time a 2nd Lt." ordered Sgt. Southall "at the time a Cpl" and me to move towards the river to find a river crossing for the team. We moved out towards the river moving through elephant grass at least 6 feet tall as we moved very cautiously and slowly. I recall being at point arms. The grass appeared to become shorter as we approached the river. We moved over 100 yards or so before my eyes picked up movement to the right of our position. We hit the deck! A company sized unit of enemy with Chinese was moving towards our position. Carrying RPGs this company of NVA is packing and looking for a rumble. As this unit moved on the trail and the trail was now winding around me we were out gunned on this day ten to one. I’m thinking back what if one of the team would have to squeeze off a round or two. What if, what if, can drive a man crazy some times and what if can tear your mind apart time and time again. This Company sized unit moved within five feet or so of me at times. My eyes were fixed on them, my hands were steady. I held firmly to my M16. The Cpl is 10 feet or so to my left. The balance of the team Ssgt. Romo, 2nd Lt. Riley, Pfc. Brandvold, Pfc. Coy and Pfc. Plunket are 300 to 400 feet behind me in the thick bush with the radioman Pfc. Harkins and Pfc. Horne on the M60 caliber machine gun. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Cpl. Southall trying to shift from his awkward position. I’m thinking ‘Oh No’ as my life started to flash by me. As I’m thinking and looking back on it now, it would be like the movie “Christmas Story” when Ralphie said," No more turkey, no more turkey sandwiches, no more turkey period". Thinking back now, I can also say I thought no more turkey dinners with my future wife, children, grandchildren, no more turkey period with my family. Things are about to turn worse. I’m a sweating Marine only two years out of high school and it seems like a life time ago. I was as strong as I could be. Nothing ever got to me, until this moment of this day! I’m afraid that things are about to end for me or turn worse for all of my brothers this summer day. The Corporal Jim Southall, whose name I can remember, is going to reposition his leg and the enemy’s all around us. As Cpl. Southall moved his leg I could hear a twig snap. Instantly two of the North Vietnamese turn and look at me from five feet or so away. My eyes were fixed on them. My hands were steady as I gripped my weapon. This moment in time seemed like an eternity to me. Their eyes seemed to be searching for me but their weapon stayed shouldered as they turned back and moved on down the winding trail. Not a shot was fired.

As this Company sized unit of North Vietnamese moved past me in single file, they were packing on this day. One by one they passed by me that day, one by one but time seem like it stopped that summer day. Yes time stopped for me. It seems like yesterday for this proud recon Marine. The enemy moved past me with packs on their backs. I could almost make out the serial numbers on their RPGs as the enemy passed by me with their weapons shouldered, carrying heavy arms and equipment. Yes the enemy passed the team by that day, moved off into the bush and not a shot was fired this time. The Cpl and I resumed our position and moved towards the river to look for a crossing for the team. We located one and returned to our brothers with painted faces. I’m running point toward the river. My steps now are quicker and lighter. Towards the river through the elephant grass we all cross that river on this day. We all moved to higher ground. What a somber place it seems to be. Second Lieutenant Brian Riley US Marine Corps (retired) and our radio operator Pfc. Harkins, called for artillery that day, March 15th, 1969 at about 1500 hrs and the artillery rained down in Elephant Valley. On the other side of the river as my mind wandered back to that twig snapping and those North Vietnamese turning and looking at me, this moment in time seemed like an eternity when their eyes seem to be searching for me. The team call sign "Average" moved out that day in '69. All my brothers with painted faces moved out! Our steps were quick and light and I’m proud to say that not one shot was fired on this glorious summer day in Vietnam. We called for an emergency extraction on the 2nd or 3rd day of that mission. But that is another story for this Marine.

Semper fi,
Floyd Ruggles
1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association,
Membership Director & Webmaster

My Facebook page

"I crossed that river with "Dublin City" a couple weeks after you." Posted by Rick Sikkema

Dang, an outstanding story sir…… much respect from a next generation recon marine….

James Lucas

1st Recon Battalion Association

America’s Scenic Treasures

1st Recon Battalion 2022 

News Flash

Gil & Lucille Perez

2022

Howard "Doug" Wolfe

It is with deep sadness that I report the news of the death of Doug Wolfe. He died peacefully on March 31st, 2022  with his family at his side. He will be greatly missed by his family & friends. 

Part 13  - 2021-2022

Part 15  - 2022

Good Morning Floyd,

Here is a picture from the initial 1st Recon Bn USMC Birthday Cruise in 2010 cosponsored with Vietnam Battlefield Tours. There has been a total of 5 cruises thus far with the 6th and last  scheduled this October.  These cruises were held every other year.  Unfortunately, we missed the 2020/2021 cruise due to Covid.

Amongst our military attendees and their guests  were Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen who had served during the Cold War; Vietnam War; and our present-day conflicts.  These past and present warriors celebrated this unique event in traditional, first class , Marine Corps style which culminated in the time-honored cutting of the birthday cake with sword.  


For each cruise we received money back from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line based on the number of cabins we ’sold’.  Our profits were increased by auctioning off personal items donated by the guests. We were able to give $8000+ to the general fund.


S/f
Dave ‘Doc’ Snider

June 16, 2022 at 1:12 PM, Brian Basham <brianb@mesotheliomahope.com> wrote:
Hello Floyd,
My name is Brian and I work for the advocacy organization, Mesothelioma Hope. I came across 1st Recon Bn Association and noticed your organization does a terrific job in providing information for veterans.
At Mesothelioma Hope, we offer free resources that are reviewed by certified oncologists and provide detailed information about mesothelioma and its impact on veterans. 1 out of 3 mesothelioma patients are veterans so our mission is to raise awareness about this cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
Would you help us spread awareness to veterans by linking our website below, on your page here - New-messages


Have a wonderful day,
Brian Basham - Advocacy Associate
https://www.mesotheliomahope.com/veterans/
1330 Boylston Street, Suite 400
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
(855) 722-2974

VETERANS

DONALD "DONNIE" SHEPPARD
October 21, 1950 ~ August 29, 2022 (age 71)

"Warm wishes to you on Labor Day. Strength and power to all workers." "Today is Sept. 5th, 2022 the day we pay tribute to the high spirits of laborers who work hard every day. Happy Labor Day to one and all."

Today we remember our brother George “Shap” Shapanus.

Shap served with distinction at 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company in the mid 80’s.

He is a loved and respected teammate who will never be forgotten.

Never above you
Never below you
Always by your side

2022

Stand Up America

Ashau Valley 2000

Meet some of our members of our association.

Thinking of my friend today. 3 years ago he went to Heaven.

Meet some of our members of our association.

A long slow death is what he got nightmares , flashbacks, and jungle rot memories of a war once fought on the rivers, in the air, on the trails that took him there.


Remembers each and every time the smell, the hell, the dead, the dying a long slow death that never ends lives down the street, around the bend in the cities, on the prairie dead but never buried.

.

Nightmares , flashbacks , jungle rot a long slow death is what he got .

I was left alone in Wall Drugs

Doc Gary Graves

Photo from the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation page.

I'm just a simple old warrior who served in the uniform of this country's military in War who loves to discuss all aspects of life. It is my firm conviction that if one understands what caused the war, how the war was conducted, and the Reconstruction Years that followed, one will know what this country is about. 

Ken Brown stepson, S/Sgt Joe Silva, SDI 2nd Bn MCRD-SD ..

2022 Reunion Photos & Video Recordings

More Photos Coming Soon!

DELTA COMPANY

OCT. 1969 - SEPT. 1970

Bravo & 1st Force Companies

1966 - 1967

Albert King Dixon

Company Commander

San Francisco
Photographed from Oakland Ca 2009
Eric Schwartz: Photogrpher

The real horror, to me, lies in the fact that there is absolutely no vehicle in American journalism for the kind of “sensitive” and “intellectual” and essentially moral/merciless reporting that we all understand is necessary–not only for the survival of good journalism in this country, but for the dying idea that you can walk up to a newsstand and find something that will tell you what is really happening. ~Hunter S. Thompson
(Book: Fear and Loathing in America https://amzn.to/3Q25szq)

Posted by Jack Recce
November 21, 2021  

Photos posted by Jack Recce  

Thanks for the Photos Jack Recce  

1st Recon Battalion Association

Gil Perez

As of September 15th, 2022 the transfer is now completed. We cut ties with our 2nd website as of today. 1st Recon Bn.com is now part of our 3rd website family going forward. The domain name also has been officially transferred along with the remaining files. Some of our older members will remember our first website built by Sergeant Robert "Bob" Morris “Cayenne 6”, along with his wife Julie. Both of them were devoted to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association and all of his Recon teammates. He served as our 1st Membership Coordinator and Web Master from the earliest days of the Association and always gave freely of his time and talent. Bob worked tirelessly to reunite 1st Recon teammates and bring them together in the Association. Cayenne 6 left a void that will never be filled. We were blessed to have known him. Bob Morris passed away on March 26, 2016 at the age of 66. I was approached shortly after his death by our president Charlie Kershaw in 2016 to replace Bob as the Webmaster. As you all know due to the grumbling by a few members in August of 2016, it just didn't work out for the association in that year. Our website was now on its final legs and the future of our organization was in question. To make a story short I was called in to do an Emergency Extraction in early 2017. I felt like I was back in Da Nang when you get the call late at night to strap on the gear. I found that the website was collapsing and would be totally collapsed within a matter of days. I went to work trying to save what I could. So at that time I decided to make my military website the association's second website. I went to work building a new website for the association at the same time propping up Bob's old website. I maintained the flow of the organization without any disruptions. If I was going to save it and all of Bob Morris work and our records to date, I would have to act fast, so I transferred the entire website in 2017 to the military part of company's website. So if you have spend some time on our website over the years you would know it was running and doing okay. So the time has finally come to cut ties with our 2nd website in late 2022. It was put back into place acting as a back to our main website up and running well. You can Click here to visit that website it's acted as the association backup website today. It worked as your main website for a while in 2017 as the present website was being built. Then it work side-by-side with the new website from 2018 through 2022. Bob's website slowly quit running over time. I finally pulled the plug in 2022.

Part 16, Part 17,Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26 & Part 27

Part 9  - 2020