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(Updated Nov 1999)
Second Platoon - The
Beginning
(1965-1966)
These pictures and commentary are provided by Tom Renard (Cpl) who was among the first of our Recon brothers to arrive in Vietnam. As mentioned in Larry Vetter's book, "Never without Heroes", there was a platoon from 1st Recon that left Camp Pendleton on 8-1-65 which was a combination of Companies A and B (Charlie Company was already in ChuLai). Tom doesn't recall anyone with less than 2 years in the Marine Corps as part of the 24 man platoon. This group became Alpha Co., 2nd Platoon, 3d Recon upon arriving at the newly named Camp Reasoner.
Index: (please click on the sections below, or you can scroll your hearts out!)
Camp Reasoner
The "backyard" at Camp Reasoner with small ammo bunker and lookout post (3d Recon LZ just below). Tom admits that he (just one week after getting his Corporal stripes) and another Marine were caught by "Gunny" Buhl dozing off - it never happened again! In those days, when the teams came off patrol, they stood watch and had classes regularly.
This is the LZ at Reasoner. We don't have all the names of the platoon; but, standing far left without a pack (back to camera) is Sgt. Ensign. Pfc Lothian and Sgt. Boyda.
At this time in late 1965, Recon was running full platoons. Once on the ground, they would split into squads, patrol a sector and then meet up again before the harborsite.
This is Cpl. Tom Renard with L/Cpl. Charlie Slay. Charlie was one of
the best 02500's in the Platoon.
China Beach (rubber raft training)
Lt. Wyatt. He was lost to the platoon (wounded) during Operation TautBow when the platoon was running point for the "Grunts". The platoon had 5 men wounded. Lt. Wyatt was never seen again until the Las Vegas Recon Reunion in 1989.
Sgt. Boyda took over the platoon in February.
Sitting on the rubber raft during a break in training were (right to left) GM Green (Bronze Star during TautBow), Charlie Slay, "Doc"Allan, Sgt. Boyda and Bill Thompson. The rest are unknowns at this time.
Rubber Raft training (all unknown). If you recognize yourself, or anyone, please let us know.
From left to right, "Gunny" Buhl, Cpl. Young, Cpl. Vinnemeyer (spelling?), (unknown), Lt. Wyatt and Captain Bobby Hunter.
"Gunny" Buhl was introducing a local Vietnamese boy to the "joy" of American rations.
Liberty in Danang (the only one for the platoon)
Cpl. Renard in "hand-to-hand" combat for a chocolate bar!
After this day, there were no more "liberties" given out to the platoon.
What'd you do, Tom?
Back to Top
Platoon on Patrol
Corporal Bill Thompson somewhere in Charlie Ridge Area. He was "standing"
watch while the others filled their canteens.
Cpl. Ron Cheek and Pfc. Larry Richards (took their packs off for a well deserved lunch break). Larry Richards returned for a 2nd tour rather than his brother. Richards was with "B" Company during the siege at Khe Sahn.
Left to right, Cpl. Young, an unknown, and Sgt. Boyda taking a break on a
densely covered VC trail. During this time in the war, most enemy troops
were Vietcong with the NVA just beginning to push down into the South.
"Up a tree again!"
Sgt. Boyda up a tree trying to get oriented in the thick canopied bush.
There wasn't any 7-11's or gas stations where we could ask for directions.
Wouldn't have asked anyway, don't you know.
Lance Corporal Green and Cpl. Renard on Operation TautBow.
This is also mentioned in Larry Vetter's book, "Never without Heroes".
Near Camp Reasoner.
This picture was taken of a captured Vietcong crossing the team's recon area. The VC had been captured and turned over to the "grunts".
This is near the area where Lt. Reasoner had been killed earlier.
During TautBow at the harborsite. Colonel VanCleeve was on this one where Recon units would set up a harborsite in the middle to the grunt company, along with the CP. The Recon platoons took turns running point for the 14 days in the bush.
Hidden behind the tree was Sgt. Ensign, and unknown under the tarp; and, the pointman, Cpl. Thompson carrying a 12.gauge shotgun.
Sgt. Ensign was wounded by a grenade a day or two after this picture was
taken and never ran another patrol with the platoon.
Part of the convoy
leaving Camp Reasoner
(DaNang) on March 27th, 1966 on the way to PhuBai.
George Neville (and others) moved into their hooch a couple of days later at Camp Reasoner, rebuilding 2nd Platoon to become "Hoover's Hunters".
(3d Recon moved to Quang-Tri in 1968).
(Cpl. Tom Renard and L/Cpl. George M. Green)
Nearly every patrol after this found themselves in hot water. The platoon became 4th platoon of "B" Company (also consisting of 3rd Force). The "Group Bravo" and smaller recon teams were sent further out beginning the "Stingray" missions. This changed the recon mission from the large, heavily armed platoons to the small and mobile 5-6 man teams that became the "norm" from 1967 to 1970.
The following pictures were taken during June or July, 1966 West of Phubai
around the beginning of "Operation Hastings". The worried expressions
on the next picture tell it all! The team was about to board choppers
for the next mission when they got the word that the scheduled patrol route
was cancelled; and they would be returning to the same LZ where they were
almost wiped out 2 day prior.
(In the back are L/Cpl. Dennis Stringer and Pfc. Gary (Babyface) Olson.
Renard in front)
"We're going back where?"
Pfc. Powless had gotten carried away with his camo-stick just before the
news was given that the team was to return to the area. The "fun" and
jokes soon stopped upon getting the new patrol assignment.
PATROL NOTE: They had been dropped in at 0600 hours and immediately "hit the shit". The Recon CP at PhuBai had been warned not to insert its teams into the area because "truckloads" of NVA had been spotted by B-52 infra-red around midnight that night. It was too late and the teams were inserted before the word came down the channels.
Under an overcast sky, the team immediately received small arms fire and was on the run for almost 12 hours trying to evade the larger and superior force. At 1740, the team finally located an LZ and held it until 1800hrs when the clouds lifted and air support came on station. Fortunately, the team was extracted (under heavy fire) with the NVA on-line and heading toward their direction.
Upon landing at the PhuBai LZ, Captain Owens met the team and "hugged each
one of us." Up until that time, the team hadn't fully realized how
close they came. The company of grunts, who were mounting up to go
in and try to retrieve the team (or "what was left of our sorry asses"),
was as happy to see the team as anyone.
Memorial
Tom Renard asked to end this section with a picture of the Vietnam Memorial
at Neilsville, WI appropriately named "The High Ground". This picture
was taken in June 1999 and left to right are Bill Thompson, Dennis Stringer,
Larry Richards and Tom Renard. Chimes for each fallen serviceman (name
and date of death) swing from the upside-down M-16.
Thank you again, Tom. Not only for your pictures and memories, but
also for your service to Alpha Company and 3rd Recon.
If you would care to add your comments or other pictures to this history,
please email Bill Bailey at
Gizmo929@aol.com