1st Recon Battalion Association

1st Recon Battalion Association

Thanks for your service.

Part 17

2023

March & Arpil

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

Part 18 - 2023

May - December

All Companies

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

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

To all members if you find a misspelled word somewhere on our website send the page that the word is on and the word and I'll correct the spelling appreciate the help thank you.

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

America’s Scenic Treasures

Article continue towards the bottom of this page.

New Members to the Association of the Natural Warrior

Part 13  - 2021-2022

Part 14  - 2022

Part 15  - 2022

Part 16  - 2023

Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel, Sr. turns 106

Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel, Sr. turned 106 over the weekend. He celebrated his birthday at his home in Lukachukai, Arizona.

Bostic — in Da Nang, Vietnam.

John Murphy and Gump May. John with Willey Peter, Gas, Smoke, and M-26 Frag Grenades. — in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Mike Fallen - top left. Not sure who the porker is on the right, Gump Robert May won't own up to it.

Alpha Company area. Not sure, but think it's the CO, XO, and 1st Sgt. — in Da Nang, Vietnam.

About a year after returning from Vietnam.

Arnold J. Gasper

After cleaning up and coming out of the field after three weeks in 1974. Was heading to barber's for hair cut and shave.

John Murphy — in Da Nang, Vietnam

Just yesterday
Leroy Crawford, Charlie Daniels, Thurman Mullins


That's a great picture of three great guys.

Corpsman Doyle, Boynton, Palmer

Christmas Card to Viet...1970 , sent by lovely round eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brig Gen Simmons, Doc Mike Bengs, Dan Turpin, Jake Switzer up on Recon Radio Relay X Ray ........... RIP Jake "Bravo Co, 1st Recon Bn

Gone but not forgotten
Thinking of you today Nano
SF Doc

FERNANO VILLASANA 11/18/70

Rush Act Tribute

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Charles Wesley Mackey, Sr., 83, passed away on Sunday, March 5th, in Texarkana, Arkansas, after a battle with cancer.  He was born on June 21, 1939, in Diboll, Texas, to Paul William and Elsie Keys Mackey.

Charles served his country in four enlistments.  He joined the United States Navy at 17 and served aboard the USS John Hancock aircraft carrier as a radio and tele-type operator.

One of our lost Vietnam brothers has found us. Doc Sledge was briefly with Charlie Company before coming to Alpha. He was only with us for a couple of months before being wounded July 3, 1969. He was with Team Hireling in Arnie Allen's (Baby Huey) squad. He received a Bronze Star for the incident but was medivaced out and we never saw him again. Welcome home our brother. Semper Fidelis.

Snow finally came and I walked in the snow By Moe Armstrong

Be your own person
Be Mupert

 By Moe Armstrong

Sergeant Robert "Bob" Morris


April 12, 1950 - March 26, 2016

Cayenne 6 Final Extraction

 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.

Raise a glass to Bob Morris. Sunday the 26th of March. That day will mark the seventh anniversary of his passing. He was a hell of a marine and a good friend to all of us. Rest in Peace Brother.

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.

Their were many missions, I was a part of during ‘68 & ‘69’, searching for our brothers in arms.
You were not then and will never, ever be forgotten. 🙏🇺🇸

Mac's Morning Motivation: I got nothing...life behind the scenes..

James Benedict

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

OK we've all hear our war stories. Now I'd like to hear where you went on R&R. On my first R&R I went to Taipei. It was OK. Now our Captain told our Company that we were having a problem with our POW's dying on the way back. So to encourage us to bring one back alive they offered an extra R&R. So my second R&R was to Bannock. Wow what a time! These broads we had wanted to take me & my buddy to the zoo. I'll tell you this, it's like no zoo I ever saw. At first I thought they were gonna take us out to the middle of the jungle and kill us. But we had a great time.

David Sledge

David Sledge

Vietnam veterans with illnesses caused by Agent Orange, continue to march into the Vietnam Wall to join their fallen brothers.

These men and women will not be remembered as fatalities of the Vietnam War. Their names will not be engraved into the Vietnam Wall...yet they are still victims of the Vietnam War.

These veterans have died slow painful deaths BECAUSE of their country and will not be remembered as dying FOR their country.

This is truly a gripping photograph of the Vietnam Memorial in Rochester, New York.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REALLY DIED BECAUSE OF THE VIETNAM WAR? THE ANSWER WOULD BE ASTOUNDING!

If you would...please email this to your local Congressman or Senator. It would send a strong message for the families of Vietnam veterans who lost loved ones due to Agent Orange.

Thank you.

*This Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located in Highland Park, Rochester, New York. The bronze figure was carved by Wayne Williams, installed in 1996. The photograph is by Richard Margolis as part of the Rochester Public Art web site. Prints are available from their web site.

In closing: I am one of those “exposed” Viet Nam Veterans; yet the powers that be have not classified any of my ailments as being caused due to my contamination.

When you were in the “bush”, as we were, all foliage was covered. You couldn’t escape it!!!!!

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

Thank you Larry another great story you captured with your camera. Thank you Brandon Glidden making it possible to have Bill Wedekind's story be told. U.S.M.C. Bill Wedekind thank you for your story what you went through the 80 days you were in Vietnam and about your injuries you went through. You truly are a remarkable man. Considering everything you went through you have a great sense of humor. When you said self-pity can kill you, learn to deal with it and keep going forward. So true. Concentrate on your abilities not your disabilities. Bill you truly a inspirational and a wonderful person. So grateful I can call you my friend and enjoy our talks we have had for so many years. Everyone needs to hear your story. Also people need to see how you make such beautiful pieces with a piece of clay. U.S.M.C. Bill Wedekind thank you for your services. Freedom is not Free and people need to realize this, especially what is going on in the world today. That is why these stories need to be told. Our Veterans have sacrificed and paid the price for Our Freedom. God Bless you Larry and Brandon Glidden and U.S.M.C Bill Wedekind many Blessings to you. You will Never Be Forgotten. You tried your best and wouldn't quit. I salute you. Semper Fi.🇺🇸❤️🙏

Bravo Company - May 25th, 1968

Bill Wedekind

Bill Wedekind

Coming in May 2023

Vietnam Remembered, Through the Eyes of PFC, U.S.M.C. Bill Wedekind, Wounded Warrior, MUST SEE FILM!

Bill Wedekind, Website

Bill Wedekind is the only known blind, bilateral double-hand amputee potter in the world. Born in Manhattan, Kansas in 1949 and the first of five brothers, Bill was inspired to follow the family tradition and join the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967, expecting it to be a life-long career path. On May 25, 1968 his life permanently changed course when he was sent to inspect a defensive perimeter in Vietnam. Bill has never been entirely sure what transpired next other than the fact that he lost both eyes, one ear and two hands. Doctors didn’t expect him to survive the airplane ride home, but he surely did. His Marine spirit kept him fighting to stay alive. One of Bill’s favorite quotes is from Henry Ford who said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right!” It’s how Bill chose to live his life regardless of any and all challenges that confront him.

Many operations followed, two of which were Krukenburg procedures; the first in 1969 and the second in 1973 at Hines VA Hospital in Chicago. Prosthetics were unsuccessful for Bill and he often says Krukenburg was the best decision he ever made. Bill returned from Vietnam a changed man – physically, mentally and spiritually. It was his grandmother, Myrtle Finchon, who suggested pottery as a possible career. She was quite an accomplished potter in her own right and introduced him to the basics of the craft. He studied under Lee Davis in 1970-71 at Kansas State University. Bill greatly enjoyed working with and learning from Yoshi Akito and Angelo Carzio as well.

Bill married in 1969 and had two beautiful children, Scott and Robin. In June of 1989, Bill married his second wife, Diane, a woman he knew and admired from high school days. She had five children from previous relationships and Bill embraced them all cheerfully. “They came pre-packaged and fully assembled,” he often quips!

Bill has accomplished many things one would not expect from a blind, double-hand amputee, not the least of which is earning an advanced degree license as a ham radio operator and building race cars as a hobby. He also fearlessly uses power tools whenever he feels the need to build another shelf to hold his pottery.

In 1976, the Disabled Veterans Association honored Bill as the Arkansas Disabled Vet of the year. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Combat V in 1968.

In 2010, Bill made the decision to relocate to San Antonio, Texas after visiting for a few speaking engagements in the area. “I didn’t meet a single person I didn’t like,” is his response when asked about his decision to move. Pastor Jones at the Leon Valley Baptist Church and their community have since become family for this potter turned motivational speaker.

Bill has given numerous lectures and pottery demonstrations for a wide array of groups, including disabled veterans, elementary and college students, a minister’s group, correctional facility and pottery guild. He believes that if he can accomplish what he has in his own life, then anyone can succeed in achieving their life’s ambitions. It is Bill’s intention and desire to avail himself to the many young men and women returning from the Middle East, troubled teens or anyone else who needs guidance dealing with life’s many challenges.

Bill Wedekind, USMC, Vietnam War, Wounded Warrior, Part 3

SPMAGTF-AE: 1st Recon Battalion live-fire range

Arnold J. Gasper

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

Sergeant Robert Hughes

Sergeant Robert Hughes served as the Dive NCO for First Force Recon Company during 1967 to 1968. Leading dive teams and maintaining the unit's scuba equipment were his primary duties. Called a "gentle giant" by Marines who served with him, Hughes was large and powerful, towering over many of his peers. The "gentle" side of his personality disappeared, however, in the face of innumerable threats as he donned his scuba gear and submerged in the water.
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On one dive mission, Hughes was tasked with locating an underwater tunnel. Searching through the murky dark, Hughes felt his way along a bank with one hand, Kabar ready in the other. He located the tunnel entrance and suddenly, an enemy diver shot out of the hole. As the combatants locked onto each other, Hughes caught a glint of light off the blade of the enemy's dagger. He reached out and grabbed the diver's wrist, while stabbing with his own Kabar. The NVA diver mirrored Hughes, latching onto the Marine's knife hand while trying to drive his own blade home. Submerged and grappling with limited visibility, Hughes fought for an advantage. He wrapped his legs around his enemy and pulled him in close. Spitting out his regulator, Hughes lunged forward and bit into the diver's throat. The diver released his grip and Hughes finished him off with the Kabar.
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Hughes became the subject of several dive mission horror stories. Company leadership at the time reported he had at least 2 confirmed kills under water. Many other Recon divers braved the waters of Vietnam as well. To arm themselves, divers kept their Kabars close. Some Marines even carried privately-purchased revolvers, preferring their lethality in close quarters submerged combat. Stories surfaced of underwater gun battles, knife fights, and other horrors awaiting Marines as they dove.
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With the help of other former Recon veterans, we have confirmed that Sgt Hughes is now deceased. He survived the war, and passed away at the age of 43 in his home town in PA in 1990.
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“There was no one I would rather have as security underwater than Sgt Hughes,” remembered one Marine who served with him. To learn more about Robert Hughes, combat diving, and the Force Recon Marines who endured it, read “First to Fight” here:

First to Fight:
First Force Recon in Operation Hue City.
By Kyle Watts     2/1/2018

Teamates from 3rd Platoon, 1st Force Reconnaissance Company (1967-1969) are looking for a long lost teammate John Carr.

The daughter of brother Bob Buda provides details below:

Several members of First Force Recon (USMC) are looking for a fellow teammate, or his family.

JOHN CARR is his name and he is pictured here, back row-second from left. John joined the team in late 1968 as a replacement for guys lost during prior missions. He was still in the team when my dad left 1969. John took over point from Sam Carver, who was KIA. When my dad got shot and medevac’d out, Carver became team leader and Carr was made point man. I hope this info helps.

Last known rank: Lcpl
Years in Vietnam: 1967-1969
Company: 1st Force Recon Company, 3rd Platoon

Any info you have is greatly appreciated and please feel free to share the heck out of this!

Thurman Mullins

Why taking selfies with the mama cow while you’re tagging a calf may not be a good idea. But it can be an adventure.

Thurman Mullins

National K-9 Veterans Day. Thank you to those who served including our furry friends.

Pretty much dodged the bullet again with only getting 3-4". Pretty though.

Ronald Overton

Teammates from 1st Recon Battalion with Clint Eastwood and crew during the filming of Heartbreak Ridge…

Recon platoon kicks butt!

Heartbreak Ridge

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.

James Benedict

1968 Delta Company

Bose Patmon

Brian Bergin

1968

Camp Reasoner LZ #401 
Captured Czech VZ-58

Cpl Keegan

Daniel J Tibbals

Daniel J Tibbals

Member of 1st Recon Battalion Association since September 5, 2022

This is a heads up, Linda and I will be on spring break from March 15th through March 30th, 2023. We will be traveling with our children and totally disconnected from the internet. This is a chance for me and my family to recharge our batteries. I'll be back and working on the website in April. So sending your stories & photos and I'll post them For the April edition of our Newsletter/Message Board.

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!

To the Gates of Hell


“A Navy Corpsman will go to the gates of hell to help a wounded Marine, even if it cost him his
own life. These men are the embodiment of courage.” Unknown Marine
Doc. One small word that encompasses stories, sacrifice, and a heart bigger than Camp
Reasoner where Robert Parsons was stationed in Danang, Vietnam, from 1967 to 1968. As a
Corpsman assigned to Delta Company First Recon Battalion, Doc Parsons went out on numerous
patrols with his recon brothers.


Even the most battle-hardened Marines respected his contribution to the team’s
effectiveness during perilous times. Doc’s medical satchel across his chest spoke of his calling.
The M-79, shotgun, or M-16 he carried on various missions told the story of his independent
dedication to the cause of freedom.


Although some have called him, ‘Rambo before there was a Rambo,’ Doc never let battle
harden his heart. When the team captured a prisoner on Charlie Ridge, Doc shared his food and
water with the man. And later, as shells exploded around the harbor site, he threw his body over
that of the NVA to protect him.


The up close and personal nature of war came to Doc out in the bush late one freezing
night in the mountains. The cold penetrated his tiger stripes, and his teeth chattered. Thinking it a
good idea, Doc and a corporal in the unit took off their shirts, hung them on a branch, and
huddled together for warmth. The next morning, their shirts had frozen. They were forced to
shove their arms into sleeves starched with crystallized ice.


Many years later, Doc related this story in a crowded, warm restaurant near his home in
Knoxville, Tennessee. In a booming voice, he told the former corporal’s wife, “I slept with him
before you did!”

Robert Lee "Doc" Parsons

January 20, 1946 - January 20, 2021

Delta Company, 67/68

Newsletter

Part 18Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24 & Part 25

Part 9  - 2020