1st Recon Battalion Association

1st Recon Battalion Association

Thanks for your service.

Part 18

2023

May - June

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 19 - 2023

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

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 one 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

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.

David Sledge

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.

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.

**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!

Newsletter

Part 17  - 2023

Part 19 - 2023

StgMaj. USMC (ret.) Troy L. Hensley

Troy Hensley Wingate StgMaj. USMC (ret.) passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at his home after an extended illness. Troy was born on May 11, 1939 in Wingate, Texas to Elward (Andy) and Ometa (Henley) Hensley. He followed in his daddy's footsteps and started work as a cowboy at an early age by learning to break horses. He attended numerous schools but graduated from Grant Union High School in Sacramento, California in 1957. A Marine recruiter offered him a hot meal while he was on the rodeo circuit and a Marine Corps career was born. A large portion of his career was spent at Camp Pendleton (CA) and at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego as a Drill Instructor. In addition to these assignments, he was also stationed in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. 

Additional assignments include Reconnaissance and Force Reconnaissance units, Special Advisory assignments, Brig Warden, Security Forces, and Mountain Warfare Instructor. One of the highlights of his career was his assignment as the Battalion Sergeant Major of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, which is the most highly decorated infantry battalion in the history of the United States Armed Forces. He served two tours in Vietnam with infantry and reconnaissance units and Special Advisory duty in Laos in the 1960's. 

Sergeant Major Hensley held the Bronze Star Medal (with combat "V") with Gold Star for subsequent awards for Heroic Achievements, Purple Heart (with 2 awards), Naval Commendation Medal with Combat "V", Naval Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (8 awards), Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and numerous other decorations and awards. He was also a qualified Suba Diver/Instructor and received the Marine Corps Parachutists Gold Wings. Troy retired from the Marine Corps in 1979 at Camp Pendleton. Troy was very active with the Non Commissioned Officers Association and reached the highest elected rank of Grand Knight which is part of an advisory group of the NCOA. His work with the NCOA in the mid 1980's brought him back to Wingate from California and allowed him to do an extensive amount of public speaking about the NCOA. During this time, he helped start the Annual TET Reunion, which is held every February in Abilene for Vietnam Veterans. What started as a group of 8 guys talking about the good old days turned into an event that brings hundreds of veterans from all over the US to Abilene. Troy is a Past Master of the Wingate Masonic Lodge and past District Deputy Grand Master. After his employment with the NCOA, he helped very special friends, Hollis and Betty Dean, with their catering business and restaurant, The Shed. He was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest brother, Gerald. In 1987, Troy married Vicky (Marshall) Hensley in Wingate. They were married for 35 years.

StgMaj. Troy L. Hensley, USMC (ret.) passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at his home after an extended illness.

In addition to his wife Vicky, he is survived by his daughter, Kameta Boucher of Jacksonville, FL; his daughter Sheila (Chris) Taylor of Abilene, TX; and his son, Troy Hensley Jr., of Chula Vista, CA, 2 granddaughters and 2 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Harold Hensley of Lubbock and sister Eva Lou (Dickie) Hoffman of Graham; cousins Patsy Robertson of Abilene, Steve Henley of North Carolina, Zane Hensley of St. Augustine, FL, numerous nieces and nephews, along with his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Janet and Lenny Schroth of Monaca, PA. He wanted to include some very special people that were like family also, Tim and Heather Morse, and their son Daniel of Canon City, CO and Patrick Morse of Ocala, FL; and Bob and Nancy Ast of Emporia, KS. A very special thank you to Interim Hospice of Abilene. They are truly angels on earth and were there every step of the way. We loved every one of you who had a part in his care and in keeping him comfortable in his last days. A Celebration of his life will be held a Fort Chadbourne, Bronte, TX on March 19th at 2:00 p.m. Donations in his memory can be made to the NCOA Scholarship Fund.

It is with saddness to hear the passing of SgtMj. Hensley. He was a friend and outstanding person. He is now guarding the streets in Heaven.
I'm glad I had the honor of speaking with him durning the reunions.

Speedy,
K-Co, Okinwa, Japan 1961
Manuel Gonzalez (speedy)

Dad thank you for being there for me I'm going to miss you very much it won't be same holiday come again and I will miss you when I call you on birthday and holiday RIP Dad I love you from your daughter Kameta


Kameta Boucher

Linda & Floyd Ruggles at Fort Snelling National Cemetery 2023
Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!

2023

We will be laying a wreath at the Recon memorial in triangle Virginia. On May 27 at 12 noon. The address is 3987 Jefferson Davis Blvd. triangle Virginia hope to see you there open to all we like to have a good attendance this year. Thank you.

Larry Feldman

David Backer

1st Plt Bravo Co, 11-1966 posted on Facebook by Bob L St Clair

Posted by Ken Brown on Facebook

Charlie Co 2nd platoon Bana OP Aug 20th 1969. I’m the one with ink line, under Pops Radley with Maggie’s drawers.
Am looking for anyone who was there Aug 11 try Aug 20 1969. SEMPER FI BROTHERS

Sniping In Vietnam: An Inside Look At USMC Snipers In 1967

1st Recon LZ. 1969

Cobra LZ 401
Spring 1970
Doc Schwartz,

Delta Company
Photographer

1st Recon Battalion USMC,ICTZ,
Da Nang, Vietnam 1968.

Eric Schwartz didn’t change much from ‘69!

Welcome brother Donald Streeter to the group. He just found us. Here's a flick from 1969 at Alpha Company, Camp Reasoner. SF

You meet a lot of people in life but you'll never meet anyone with more responsibility than the guy walking point .

So come and walk the trails and hollows
where your lives weren't owned only borrowed
where for every day lived you sacrificed your tomorrows
way out here in the Valley of Sorrows .

Available on Amazon , Barnes and Noble , Outskirts Press.

Overview

The unknown inheritance of a war in prose, poetry, and photographs.

The Valley of Sorrows

The Que Son Valley was like no other

Took your sons took your brothers

Stole your dreams ruined lives

Made widows out of wives.

For all who walked away they live within it every day

Smell the hedgerows dig the holes

Cross the river that flowed

Still see the blood on their clothes

Hear the mortars and incoming rounds

Watch the choppers hit the ground

Watch as they fly away

Early morning here we stay

Memories that do not fade

The Que Son Valley was an early grave.

The unknown inheritance of a war is made of all the things we saw things we saw, heard, and felt the blood we shed and things we smelt and of all these things the worst by far
are the invisible scars made of the voices , memories of the faces of those we lost in those places and we can but embrace they rest forever in Gods good grace.

Que Son Valley Contractors

I didn't even know this was possible!!!

This is your list of Fallen Brothers of 1st Recon Battalion Association 2023 & 2022 that I know of to date.

Sharing another poem by the Que Son Valley Contractors
They didn't look like heroes , the ones not old enough to shave , with their filthy clothes , worn out boots , tired eyes . These kids , some barely a year out of high school , the ones who left home wanting to be men , became more of a man then some do in a lifetime of living . Heroes , not anything you thought they'd be , and everything you thought they should be , all that was missing were their capes .
They were everywhere .



(1) Joe Spacek was a team member of D-2 Bennington call sign 1st Recon Bn in Chu Lai, and later Da Nang RVN. He participated in over forty long range reconnaissance patrols during his tour of duty as a L/cpl and Cpl. A highly respected team member and Marine.

Joe was born 5/22/1946 and his final extract date was 5/19/2023. He leaves a wife, Colleen and three sons. He spent his last few years in the Casa Grande area of Arizona. A beloved husband, father, and Marine.

Semper Fidelis, RIP


(2) SgtMaj Troy Hensley passed away in January of 2023. He was with Bravo Company. He was at our reunions in Colorado Springs and Louisville.

(3) James Lee "Jim" Wohlman, Bravo Company 68-69, passed away November 30th, 2022

(4) Philip Peters, Bravo company 66-67, passed away November 21st, 2022

(5) Donald “Donnie” Alan Sheppard, Sr, Delta Company, passed away August 29, 2022

(6) Vincent James "Ike" Lacopino Recon 48-51, Ike passed away January 28th, 2022

(7) Arthur Hansard, Delta Deuce 1/67-2/68, Art passed away from cancer, June 15, 2022

(8) Howard "Doug" Wolfe, Bravo Company 3/1968-4/1969 Passed Away 3-31-2022

(9) SULIE P. "Frenchy" BOURQUE, Delta Company - Dec. 66 - Apr. 67. Passed Away 2-8-2022

(10) Oscar Munoz, Alpha Company 1967-1968, Passed away February 2022

(11) John Evans, Alpha Company 1967-1968, Passed Away February 4th, 2022

(12) Gilbert "Gil" Perez, Bravo Company 3/70 - 3/71, Passed Away 1/23/2022

(13) James A. "Jim" Fossos, BRAVO CO. JAN. 66 - NOV. 67 , Passed Away 1/19/2022


Semper Fi

Floyd Ruggles

1st Recon Battalion Association

Membership Director/Webmaster

1st Recon Battalion Association

Joe Spacek, member of D-2 in Chu Lai, and later Da Nang RVN. Born 5/22/1946 his final extract 5/19/2023

I offer my sincere condolences to all members of the DIA community — active and retired —for the loss of Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart. May you derive solace and comfort as your remember his legacy as Director, unflinching patriotism and devotion to military duty.

10 Facts About Tunnel Rat Soldiers During the Vietnam War

The Viet Cong amassed around 250 kilometers of underground tunnels. This network connected villages, cities, and districts. The tunnels also hosted armament workshops, training depots, headquarters, and a variety of other facilities. They helped conduct military operations on behalf of communist forces. Though Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders claim to know these hideouts existed, they overlooked their size and importance. Equally, these countries failed to understand how difficult it would be to detect and neutralize such networks.

Charlie had a telecom today and shared some plans for our upcoming reunion in Las Vegas. It is at the Orleans Casino and Hotel and runs from Wednesday August 16 (Travel) through Saturday the 19th. However, we'll be done Friday night so Saturday can also be a travel day. Please note that the division reunion runs from August 14-20. At this time, we do not know what excursions they might be planning. For this reason, Charlie wants to plan ours now in such a way as to enable our people to just sign up for the minimum. Vegas is very expensive. When division comes out with their excursions, there may be something you're interested in and want to come earlier.
Thursday will be the Leatherneck Lounge and American Shooters gun range across the street. For those Marines, Corpsmen and spouses, here's your chance for some trigger time. They have most everything known to man available to shoot. Friday will be our business meeting during the day and our Dinner and fund raising Auction, Friday evening at the Orleans. Saturday, for those that are interested, the division will have their business meeting and normally their banquet that evening. Their banquet is a dress up affair and is quite impressive if you've never been to one.
Reservations can be made online at orleanscasino.com
or by calling: 800-675-3267 our rate code is FDMH23C.
As we learn more we'll share.
Semper Fi

2023 Reunion update

1st Recon Battalion Association

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

ABOUT US

BY-LAWS

Membership Application

To find someone you served with
Click on the Members link at the top of this page.

PHOTO GALLERY

Travis was a loved and respected teammate who will never be forgotten

Ralph Henry Johnson

Jimmie E Howard

Hill 488

USS Ralph Johnson

History of the POW/MIA Flag

First Lieutenant Jack Lummus Medal of Honor

In the bloodiest of battles in Marine Corps history, 27 Marines and sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor for action on Iwo Jima. No other campaign surpassed that number.

Jack Lummus wasn’t like most of his fellow Marines. He was older, served a brief stint in the Army Air Corps before washing out of flight school, and he was a professional athlete. Born in Ennis, Texas, Lummus was an exceptional high school athlete and received scholarship offers from Baylor and Tulane Universities. The young Texan chose Baylor, and was a standout end on the football team and an All-Southwest Conference center fielder on the baseball team for three years. Lummus was on the path to athletic stardom when he dropped out of Baylor despite being close to graduating.

Lummus’ reason for dropping out was likely that he had enlisted in the Army Air Corps in May 1941. While waiting to be called up for flight school, he played on a minor league baseball team until July of that year. Flight school did not go well for Lummus. On his first solo flight, Lummus performed excellently. He flew the prescribed flight plan and landed flawlessly. Unfortunately for Lummus, a fence got in his way while taxiing the plane—he clipped the fence with a wingtip. It was enough to get him washed out of flight school.

Weighing his options, Lummus attended the New York Giants’ training camp and made the 1941 roster. Wearing number 29, Lummus played nine games with the Giants, who made the championship game that year. The big game was played just two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and only a few weeks after that Lummus once again walked away from a promising athletic career. He joined the Marine Corps in January 1942.

Since he had completed more than two years of a university education, Lummus was sent to Officers Training School at Quantico, Virginia, in October 1942, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December. Although he had enlisted early in 1942, Lummus’ first action was Iwo Jima. As the executive officer, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, Lummus landed in the first wave on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945.

On March 6, Lummus was put in command of E Company’s third rifle platoon. Two days later, the platoon was at the spearhead of an assault on an objective near Kitano Point. Lummus’ athleticism and “win at all costs” attitude instilled courage, and then anger in his men. As Lummus charged forward, assaulting pillboxes on his own, his men watched as he survived several shrapnel hits, only to step on a land mine. Despite horrific damage to his legs, Lummus continued to push his men forward, demanding that they not stop for him.

In his book, Iwo Jima: Legacy of Valor, combat correspondent and author Bill Ross explained the effect that Lummus’ severe wounds had on his men:

“Tears turned to raging fury as Easy Company swept ahead an incredible three hundred yards, overwhelming foxholes and pillboxes and bunkers, bolting across ravines and scrambling up ridges, blasting cave entrances and sniper pits. The spark that ignited the steamroller charge was the horrifying sight of their mortally wounded, indomitable commander and his fathomless courage. Seeing him, the men knew what they had to do.”

Lummus was triaged and evacuated to the Fifth Division hospital, where doctors did all they could to save his life. Despite 18 pints of blood transfusions and their best efforts, the damage to Lummus’ body was too much, even for his athletic frame. Before he died, Lummus said to one of the surgeons, “I guess the New York Giants have lost the services of a damn good end.” A few hours later, Lummus asked for a sip of coffee, after which he laid back, closed his eyes, and smiled as he took his last breath. First Lieutenant Jack Lummus was 29 years old.

First Lieutenant Jack Lummus Medal of Honor

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION FOR FIRST LIEUTENANT JACK LUMMUS

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a Rifle Platoon attached to the 2d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. Resuming his assault tactics with bold decision after fighting without respite for 2 days and nights, 1st Lt. Lummus slowly advanced his platoon against an enemy deeply entrenched in a network of mutually supporting positions. Suddenly halted by a terrific concentration of hostile fire, he unhesitatingly moved forward of his front lines in an effort to neutralize the Japanese position. Although knocked to the ground when an enemy grenade exploded close by, he immediately recovered himself and, again moving forward despite the intensified barrage, quickly located, attacked, and destroyed the occupied emplacement. Instantly taken under fire by the garrison of a supporting pillbox and further assailed by the slashing fury of hostile rifle fire, he fell under the impact of a second enemy grenade but, courageously disregarding painful shoulder wounds, staunchly continued his heroic 1-man assault and charged the second pillbox, annihilating all the occupants. Subsequently returning to his platoon position, he fearlessly traversed his lines under fire, encouraging his men to advance and directing the fire of supporting tanks against other stubbornly holding Japanese emplacements. Held up again by a devastating barrage, he again moved into the open, rushed a third heavily fortified installation and killed the defending troops. Determined to crush all resistance, he led his men indomitably, personally attacking foxholes and spider traps with his carbine and systematically reducing the fanatic opposition until, stepping on a land mine, he sustained fatal wounds. By his outstanding valor, skilled tactics, and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Lummus had inspired his stouthearted marines to continue the relentless drive northward, thereby contributing materially to the success of his regimental mission. His dauntless leadership and unwavering devotion to duty throughout sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.”

Roy "Pepper" Fryman

Pepper is a legendary Force Recon Marine who served in 4th Recon Bn during peacetime and 1st Force Recon Co. as a Team Leader in Vietnam.
Fifty four years ago today, he earned the Navy Cross leading his Force Recon Team.
"While leading a long-range reconnaissance patrol through the southeastern portion of Phu Loc Valley, Thua Thien Province, Sergeant Fryman, hearing enemy troops approaching along the trail leading to the patrol's position, immediately organized and triggered an ambush, firing bursts from his automatic rifle which killed one of the hostile soldiers, while the patrol killed another. During this brief fire fight, an enemy grenade landed in the position occupied by Sergeant Fryman and three companions. He quickly picked up the deadly missile and hurled it back at the enemy, killing another hostile soldier.
Although suffering a slight concussion from the explosion, Sergeant Fryman steadfastly refused medical aid and moved his patrol 100 meters south of the trail where he deployed three-man ambush teams. Subsequently, he and his men succeeded in killing three more enemy troops and wounding two. Following this action, Sergeant Fryman prepared a landing zone for a medical helicopter in order to evacuate the wounded prisoners. He then established a defense perimeter and remained at the scene with the point man to halt the advance of a numerically superior enemy force while the rest of the unit withdrew from the area."
He was Killed In Action on August 24th 1969 in a separate combat action, earning the Silver Star, our Nations third highest award for valor.
His son Per Erik Fryman served in 1st Force Reconnaissance Company in the early 1990’s including during Desert Storm.
Marine Reconnaissance Foundation #reconfoundation #marinereconfoundation #historic #preservation

The original "Bat Signal"..

You're a 19 year old kid.
You are critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam .
Its November 14, 1965 . LZ (landing zone) X-ray.
Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming in.
You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.
You look up to see a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.
He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's
flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.

Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.
And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board.
Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety. And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!!
Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.
He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.
Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Army, died at the age of 81, in Boise, Idaho.
I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing,Medal of Honor Winner Captain Ed Freeman.
Now... YOU pass this along.
Honor this real hero.

"A Brotherhood Forged In Combat"

Phu Bai 1968

Hill 119 - 1970 Delta Company 1st Recon Bn 

My best friend Marine SSGT Wayne Hatton did five tours in Vietnam in First Force Recon. Over five years. Loved it.

Heartbreak Ridge 86' , I did the jump then off to WestPac 86'. Alot of great guys in this photo I served with.
— at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Picture from yesterday of volunteers that helped set it up.

Sargent McKee and the bomb crater in the middle of Hill146

Cpl Joe Koppes shooting the M-79. The booby trap that got me was by these bomb craters This was to the left of the bunker with the 50cal on it, if you are facing Charlie Ridge.

Look familiar to anybody?

Welcome home, Combat Veterans

Sgt Roger Keister, 1969

Repost from some years back but Roger's gone now so I can use his name.
Roger Keister, Warrior Thief
It’s strange how people can present different images at different times. Good wolf – bad wolf, I don’t know. War brings out the best in many . . . and the worst in some. Roger Keister was one of the finest warriors we had AND perhaps the most ‘Catch 22’ style of crook I knew in Vietnam, or anywhere else, for that matter. I say this because earning a Silver Star and robbing whore houses on a money conversion gambit seems to fit the picture.
Roger Keister was a Marine I knew in Vietnam. I met him in 1969. He had gotten out of the bush and had been reassigned to a job in the Headquarters and Service Company, 1stReconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division. I was Admin Chief for Alpha Company and got to know him quite well, because he was constantly looking for people going on R&R or home, to convert money for him.
He was in Headquarters & Service Company because during the summer of 1968 he had been awarded a Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry. I have attached the patrol report and you can read about the engagement on Hill 200 in Swift, Silent, Deadly: Recon Marines in Vietnam by Schneider. There were 16 members in team Flakey Snow and they suffered 5 KIA and 11 WIA.
The Silver Star is the third highest heroic decoration behind only the Medal of Honor and the Crosses (Distinguished Service for the Army and Air Force and Navy for the Navy and Marines). I talked with two Marines that served with him and they said, the Silver Star should have been a Navy Cross and he had other patrols where he could have been decorated. They both said that he was simply an incredible bush Marine. One estimated that with both tours he might have gone on as many as 80 patrols. These are long range reconnaissance patrols, miles behind enemy lines, where you would be dropped off by helicopter at Point A and some days later picked up at Point B. In between you were spying on the enemy without being seen.
He was quite a character in many ways. He had more Reconnaissance training than most and was what’s known as a ‘para-frog’. These were marines that had been to both jump school for parachute training and scuba school. I believe he had also been to language school because he was very conversant with Vietnamese. Perhaps it was just because he’d been in-country for so long. He was on an extension of his second tour. A tour was about twelve (12) months in country and extensions were for six (6).
As for the Silver Star, this high of a decoration serves as sort of a ‘hall pass’ in the military. Not only a guaranteed Honorable Discharge, receiving a Silver Star often results in a ‘what’s your choice of duty, Marine?’, situation, where they’ll find you a job in the rear if that’s what you want. Many wanted out of the bush and some wanted to stay and keep fighting. Keister elected to get out of the bush.
When I met him, he had extended his second tour in Vietnam for an additional six (6) months. For doing this, you were given a Special 30 day leave anywhere in the world. Not only did they pay your transportation costs to your ‘destination’, but it didn’t count against your leave balance. It was a ‘free’ leave. For example, in my case, I put down Mont Tremblant Ski Resort in the Laurentians as my Destination and routed my flight through my home town of Lansing, coming and going. Most guys that extended went home. Not Keister. He took his Special leave roaming around South East Asia. He used his civilian passport because U.S. Military were not allowed, for various reasons, into some of the countries he wanted to visit. Note that this is 1969 in Vietnam and he had his bloody passport with him. He ended up riding the train from Singapore up to Vientiane, Laos and back down to Bangkok. This is the train that has the 0.50 caliber machine guns on the roof. He talked about how in Vientiane, Laos, it cost him $1.00 U.S. a day for room, board and girlfriend. Talk about a strong dollar.
And that brings us to the subject of money. Money was a serious issue in Vietnam. The Vietnamese had Dong (Piastres) for their currency. We had Dollars. The official exchange rate was 1 to 1 while the black-market rate was around 7 to 1. “Crazy bell ringer was right. There’s money to be made in these parts.”
In order discourage the black-market, the government used Military Payment Certificates (MPC) as our working currency. This is what’s known as Script. We called it ‘funny money’. We were paid either in MPC or by a check that we could mail home. No dollars. The only time we could get dollars was if we were going on R&R or rotating back to the states. The Vietnamese were not supposed to have MPC and to discourage this, every so often, the government would have a surprise currency swap. Everyone would line up and trade their old script for new and the Vietnamese were left with worthless paper. I copied this photo off the internet.
That’s how I got to know Keister. He wanted to know who was going on R&R so that he could approach them about converting some MPC into Dollars for him. The amount you could convert was completely open ended and not really monitored. For R&R it ranged anywhere from $500 to as much as $1000. If you were going home it could be a lot more. No one knew or cared how much you converted. Well, Keister would pay you 20% to convert extra MPC into Dollars. “Hey buddy, I won some money playing poker and want to send it home. I’ll make it worth your while.” That means if you converted an extra $200 MPC, you only have to give him back $160 in Dollars. You just made $40. And folks, he was paying guys all over the battalion to his convert his excess MPC into Dollars.
You see he had a problem with too much MPC because he was robbing whore houses all over the greater Da Nang area. His modus operandi was quite interesting. He would go one week with $100 in Greenback Dollars and offer it to Momma San (i.e. Madam) in exchange for $400 in MPC. Note that this was very appealing as they were buying dollars at 4 to 1 conversion rate instead of 7 to 1. You see Momma San wasn’t even supposed to possess MPC and couldn’t convert it to anything real (e.g. Piastres, U.S. Dollars, or gold). And anything was better than 0 to 1. She had all the MPC because that’s what the servicemen used to pay for “services rendered.” Well, after this initial transaction, he would tell her that he was going to come back the following week with $500 in Dollars if she could gather up $2000 in MPC. Great. It’s a date. The trap was set. The next week, he’d arrive with waiting jeep, show Momma San the cash, put her cash with his and pop a CS grenade (tear gas) and run like hell to the waiting jeep. He did this a LOT and he was getting all this MPC that he needed to convert in order to mail home. Mom might ask questions, so he was mailing it directly to a bank and carried his bankbook with him. He was pushing $25K when he showed it to me. This was very believable, mainly because he was paying off EVERYBODY in the battalion to convert MPC to Dollars.
We were playing poker one night in the Supply hootch in 1969 when he shared his big idea. He was planning to hold up an R&R flight to Bangkok, parachute out with the cash as they were approaching the airport, and come back overland to Vietnam. Yeah, right. Oh, but he had it all worked out. He would apply for a real In-Country R&R and have fake R&R orders to Bangkok for the same period. Fake ID was not a problem nor were the orders (if you knew who to ask and had money to pay) and back then airport security was pretty much nonexistent. On his R&R flight to Bangkok, he was going to pack a parachute and a .45 caliber pistol and rob the passengers (servicemen going on R&R) at gun point. Everyone would be carrying cash and we’re talking a lot of money. The average soldier would have at least $500 and this is a 707 that would seat about 200. That’s about $100,000. And as he put it, “the first guy who hesitates, you shoot him in the leg. It won’t kill him and hell, you can’t shoot a 707 down with a .45.” With money collected and as they were approaching Bangkok over the water, he planned to parachute out and make it back overland to Vietnam before he was due back from his real In-country R&R. Now with most people, you would laugh this off as batshit crazy or a silly pipe dream. Excuse me, but this was a hard corps Marine Recon Sergeant sporting a Silver Star who has spent the past several months robbing whore houses and recently spent a month traveling the rails and back roads of south east Asia for grins. None of us were laughing.
He never had the chance to carry out his plan because shortly after he shared it with us, he went jogging and was shot in the leg by a ‘stray round’. He was on the road between Camp Reasoner and the Freedom Hill PX Complex. It’s about a mile and a half and at this time in 1969 was a relatively secure area during the day. Hell, we had to run it, in formation, chanting road songs like idiots, three times a week, as did a lot of Marines. [‘I don’t know but I’ve been told. Alpha Recon’s mighty bold”]. This was not an area where there were a lot of ‘stray rounds’ or enemy activity.
I never saw him after that as he was sent home due to his wound. Everyone just assumed it was the South Vietnamese brass that had him shot. You see the Republic of South Vietnam (RVN) Generals controlled all the vice and that included the whore houses. They were not happy with him robbing them and he had admitted that that he’d been threatened on the streets of Da Nang.
I pretty much forgot about him until late in 1971 when I saw on the news how this guy named D. B. Cooper hijacked a commercial airliner and parachuted out over the pacific northwest with the cash. I thought to myself, “Hell, I know that guy”. And to this day, I have never had a doubt. None. The man I knew had the training and expertise required, had more than enough chops, and perhaps most importantly, he had the idea before anyone else.
I learned that he passed away several years back so I feel ok sharing his name. Semper Fidelis and RIP
S/Sgt. R. V. Overton, Admin Chief, CoA, 1stReconBn, 1stMarDiv, Mar 1968 – Nov 1969
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/40524

Sgt Roger Keister, 1969

Roger Phillip Keister

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Corporal
Battalion: 1st Reconnaissance Battalion
Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:
 

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Roger Phillip Keister (MCSN: 2180551), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Team Leader with Company E, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 1 August 1968, Corporal Keister was in command of a sixteen man reconnaissance team manning an observation post on Hill 200 southwest of DaNang when his unit suddenly came under heavy attack by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force utilizing anti-tank rockets, hand grenades, bangalore torpedoes and small arms. During the initial moments of the attack, Corporal Keister was hurled fifteen meters down the side of the hill by the explosion of a satchel charge which destroyed his bunker. Quickly regaining his feet, he returned to the top of the hill and, despite being wounded several times, continued to disregard his own safety and move from one position to another, shouting words of encouragement to his men an directing their fire at North Vietnamese soldiers inside the perimeter. Realizing that the position was rapidly becoming untenable, he ordered his men to move down the southern slope of the hill and fearlessly exposed himself to intense fire as he moved about the hazardous area ensuring that all of the Marines were withdrawing. When a seriously wounded man became entangled in the protective wire, Corporal Keister ordered the remaining Marines out of the perimeter while he selflessly remained with the casualty. Subsequently observing the enemy force commencing a withdrawal, he unhesitatingly rushed back up the hill and killed three hostile soldiers with his rifle. Then, rallying his team, he assisted in treating the wounded until a reaction force arrived later that morning. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal Keister upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

by Ronald Overton

KIA  -  Thursday, August 1, 1968
GLEN R HICKS, Sgt, Age 20, Oklahoma City, OK
JAMES H JONES, LCpl, Age 21, Beltsville, MD
GERALD L POPPA, Sgt, Age 23, Salinas, CA
SCOTT G SMITH, Pfc, Age 21, Berkeley, MO
THEODORE J WHITLOCK, Pfc, Age 19, North Las Vegas, NV

Panel 50W of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Ten Added to Vietnam Memorial

FIRST PANEL OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL UNVEILED ON JULY 21, 1982

Panels on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

The virtual Wall of Faces

1st Recon Battalion

KIA TRIBUTE

10 Nov 2019 - Marine Recon reunion of Viet Nam vets at the home of John Hare in Columbia, SC. Left to right: MSgt. Larry Keen, Corpsman Larry McLynn, MSgt. John Hare, Sgt. Larry Gifford. RIP, John.

Sadly my last pic with the infamous John Hare, 2021
RIP Brother…Semper Fi Rabbi

I didn't know he passed. I just thought travel was too difficult for him to have attended the last couple of reunion

He just passed...

RIP , John

A legend with Terry Moore. Our company Sgt. At 1st Force and Charley 1st Recon. He is missed by many.

Missing Terry also. They were regular at our TopSail, NC gathering

Rest in Peace John. I last saw him at the Philidelphia reunion. I served with John at 2nd Force Recon following Vietnam. In Philidelphia, John was with Larry Keen, who had also been at 2nd Force. They offered to drive my son and I to a friend's home in Virginia. Great Marines.

Posting on Facebook

Stephen H Luebbert "Steve", 1st Force, 1st Recon Battalion & 3rd Recon Battalion

June 22nd, 1976 through June 23rd, 1980  Steve is 1st Force Association's Webmaster.

Message: Applied for membership in the 1st Recon Bn Association years ago but some mix-up caused him not to become a member. I apologize for that Steve hopefully we can figure out what went wrong and fix it.  I would like to send you an invitation to our reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada this year hopefully we'll see you this year.  Membership application approved immediately on June 7th, 2023   

"Steve, Thanks for helping us grow as an organization."  Welcome aboard Steve...

Part 9  - 2020