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Updated December 12th, 1999
Recon! Alpha Company,
3d Recon Bn,
RVN
Recollections
of Recon Marines in Vietnam (1965-1969)
-
These are some of the pictures and comments of our Recon Brothers of Alpha
Company. Although this page was begun in 1993 as a personal effort, I have
received a great response from the bush and this (and other pages) are being
expanded constantly.
This was begun as my way of trying to portray the most professional, young Recon Marines I had the great pleasure to serve as a Platoon Commander. More pictures and stories are coming in from the field and will be updated on an ongoing basis. I hope that this page finds its way to those who served their country and Corps; and, their loved ones who may have been left behind. Semper Fi to all.- William C. "Big B" Bailey, former Captain, U.S.M.C.
- Alpha Company,Quang-Tri (updated 12/99)
- Alpha Company Recon Team Pictures
- 1st Platoon (updated 11/99)
- 2nd Platoon (updated 11/99)
- 3rd Platoon
- Personal Pictures
- Other Recon Pictures
- Biographical Information
"Meanest Mothers In The Valley"
As with everything in Vietnam, they retaliated at times bringing us out of our hootches sputtering, bawling and gasping for air. I think it was a tie! (Click on the picture to see a Company Picture).
As in any advanced civilization, we were provided a means for good healthcare and a religious foundation. The building on the left was our hospital and the building on the right was the church. The hospital was always "more popular" with our Marines than the church. The emergency room was usually busy while the pews were normally vacant. Go figure!
Alpha Company Pictures 1967 (provided by Jerry Teal and Don Schwinn)
Click
Here for Pictures and Comments.
The last 4th of July for Alpha Company in Vietnam (provided by "Doc"
Mumaugh) Click
Here for 4th of July, 1969 Company Celebration
Recon Team Pictures
The pictures shown here are some of the best quality I have recieved. Some were already in my personal posession and others have come from our comrades (such as Jim Hunter). You'll notice that many of the "bush" picture were taken on just a couple of patrols during (or soon after the Monsoon Season). Most of the patrols run before and after that time were too "hairy" to think about taking pictures.
I wish that I had everyone's names to place with the pictures. We used nicknames and ranks in order to try to depersonalize losing each other. It didn't work! Every loss hurt and remains today. Since I can't put a name to everyone, I have only guessed at a fewhoping that no one will be offended. If you would care to put a name to a face, please let me know.
3rd Platoon
"Break Time!"
On patrol break in the "Backyard". It had been a quiet and uneventful patrol. No signs or activity. In fact, we didn't break too much of a sweat on this one. That is Charlie Davis in the forground.
The DMZ had been quiet for several days. We soon discovered that this would change drastically as "Charlie" was only regrouping for an assault on C-2 and other fire support bases across the DMZ.
Quick Picture before the action
We had spotted "Charlie"
moving about 300 meters from our position and had stayed hunkered down in
the Elephant Grass until he moved further away.
Once we felt it was safe, we called for an AO to check out the area. He,
too, spotted them before they took cover into the thick brush and called
in an Air Strike.
This is Charlie Davis and Willie Crapser flashing the "Victory Sign". It
was the Victory Sign long before it became the "Peace Sign"!
We cussed the Elephant Grass on a regular basis. It sliced our hands and faces, was noisy, and blocked all view so we were running blind; and, left a deadly trail behind us as it crushed under our boots. Fortunately, Charlie faced the same problem making it easier to find his trails. Here, it provided needed cover when we took a break. It was like everything else in Vietnam, beautiful from a distance but more deadly the closer you got. We learned to accept the good with the bad.
My Radioman took this picture of me pointing to the Artillery Barrage we called in on "Hippies in the Open!" We had caught two large groups of NVA moving in the hills in the distance. After calling in exact coordinates, we called in a "Fire for effect" hitting the mark the first time (you can see two separate areas of smoke rising in the distance).Soon after this, we turned the mission over to an AO and "Dee-dee'd" out of the area. Good job!
Lt. "Big B" Bailey
This is me taking a break. There's that Elephant Grass again! I had taken my bush gloves off to try to dry my hands. This time of year, everything stayed wet! We had already been out for three days looking for targets of opportunity. Charlie was smarter than we were this time. He stayed hidden in his tunnels playing cards and reading. Mom was right! Marine's are too bull-headed to stay out of the rain.
This is a team picture taken in front of their hootch. We (yes I said "we") had just completed Sandbag duty filling, replacing and stacking new Sandbags after the Monsoon Season. That's me (Lt. Bailey) on the far upper left. If we look a little tired, you're right!Sandbags not only helped keep the high water away from our living quarters, but helped to cut down on shrapnel ruining our belongings during mortar attacks.
Click here to see Alpha Company Picture
The Big Bad Wolf huffed and he puffed trying to blow our house in.....so we called in Air Support and killed him! We popped up for a quick picture after airsupport had come on station. We're smiling 'cause "Charlie" was on the run again. We had a rough night with heavy movement (sounded like a Platoon or larger) trying to find us. Just before daybreak, we pulled an AO on station and he called in Puff-the-Magic Dragon and saturated the area. It was quite a sight. "Here, Puff this!"
We were assigned to
run point for a daylight ground assault on the Rockpile. I had taken three
Recon Teams and met up with the Grunts to coordinate our patrol (that's me
on the left and my radioman next to me). My team took point with a flanker
team leading each echelon. I had explained that we weren't going to be very
"Swift, silent or possibly deadly" as the "bad guys would see us coming a
mile (or more) off. Who could argue? I was right.
This shot was taken after we were pulled off point. After an uneventful approach, mortar rounds rained down from positions on the Rock. Marine Ontos were brought up to take out the Mortars. Recon had again accomplished one of its missions: Being the bait for a Grunt operation. Thanks!
Corporal John Gowling
This young Marine was one of a few excellent Point Men in my Platoon and was my Diving Partner during Scuba School. He was promoted to Sgt. soon after this picture was taken.
This was one of our fantastic Corpsman assigned to my platoon. Our young Navy Corpsman didn't originally signup to become part of the Marine ground units. Especially Recon!
We discovered these men were as aggressive and just as brave (or stupid) as we were. My life-long gratitude goes out to this representative of an excellent group of young men. This Corpsman stayed very close to me in the field. I wish I knew where he is now. So far, his name seemed to have been Dick Whittington or Whittinghill? We knew him by "Doc" as all the Corpsmen were called.
My First Loss (Corporal Hicks)
This Marine was my
first loss in combat. I remember him as being a vital and intelligent
young man with a real zest for his friends and life. He died on one of our
patrols while I was with another team.
He was the first of many I had to identify at the hospital; and, the first
"letter home" I had to write. They never got easier.
Other Personal Pictures
This section has and will contain other personal pictures that deserve special recognition.
David , a Charlie Company Platoon Leader, was my best friend in Vietnam. We had met while in Scuba School (I may include pictures later) and became close friends.
He, Robert Jenkins (who was awarded the Medal of Honor) and Peter DeWilde were all killed at Fire Support Base Argonne. I volunteered to take two teams into the area two weeks later. Although we were shot down on insertion, losing the pilot and copilot, we achieved some revenge (which was why I volenteered) in that we accounted for over twenty confirmed direct kills by my team and myself before being extracted from Hill 819. We all lost good men in Dave and his team (see the section dedicated to his team in the Charlie Company Webpage).
Note: See the comments below for more informtion about FSB Argonne. It seems that "the brains" in Saigon and I Corps either didn't believe our recon reports or wouldn't believe them without losing more Marines!
FSB Argonne
FSB Argonne (also known as Hill 1308) was located approximately 2km east of the Laotian border, 13km south of the southern edge of the DMZ, 3km Southwest of Dong Sa Mui (Hill 1550) and 15km due West of FSB Nevill. It was used for observation into Laos and portions of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
On December 2nd '68, two Alpha Company Marines (Dennis Mickelson and Gerald McGinley) were killed on the hill. On the 5th of March 1969, Ferguson, Jenkins and DeWilde of Charlie Company were killed while trying to setup a listening post here (Jenkins was awarded the Medal of Honor). On March 20th, my team was inserted onto a hill (sometimes known as 821 or 819 depending on who you talked to or what map you were reading) located just to the west of FSB Argonne as an advance team to clear the LZ for a Marine assault (see Patrol Stories for more information). On March 21st, Lieutenent Colonel George Sargent Jr. (Commanding Officer of the 1st/4th Marines) was killed by mortar fire on Argonne. On March 29th, while trying to reopen the base, a helicopter carrying a 3d Recon advance team was shot down on the LZ with 6KIA, 11 WIA from that crash and the assaults by Marines trying to give assistance. On the 2nd day, 8 more KIA and 23 WIA were suffered by elements taking the hill.
Recon reports to "the Brass" were consistant: "The Ashau Valley belonged to 'Charlie'." For the next few months, continued assaults into the Ashau were attempted by the Marines and units of "The Big Red One" of the Army (the movie "Hamburger Hill" was made to depict one of the assaults in May, 1969). We lost too many Marines and Soldiers for questionable value (personal opinion).
Lt. Ken Buechler, Sgt. Ken Gayer and Freddy Chavez
I don't have pictures of my friend,Lt. Buechler; nor Sgt. Gayer nor Chavez. They were other good men that were lost to this war. They were killed while taking a vehicle convoy out to pickup a Recon Team. According to Andy Woll and Jim Hunter, who were riding in a 10X behind the jeep when it ran over a landmine, it flew over ten feet into the air and over twenty feet from the road before it crashed into the dirt. The chase team (with Hunter and Woll) setup a hasty perimeter and tried to offer aid. Finally being able to get them to 3d Med, they were told that Chavez (the driver) and Sergeant Ken Gayer (who only had ten days left before he would go home to see his wife and thier new baby) were killed immediately. Woll said he and Sgt. Gayer had flipped a coin for a ride in the jeep. Sgt. Gayer won the toss but lost his life. Lt. Buechler didn't die that day; however, he sustained serious brain damage from the blast. I saw him once more in the States (1970) where he was waiting for a medical discharge. I later found out that he died on July 18th, 1975. Our deepest and continued sorrow for Sgt. Gayer's wife and child; and, Chavez and Ken Buechler's families.
I was fortunate enough to go to Sydney Australia for R&R. This was taken at DaNang Airbase just before leaving country. Seems funny to me now, that I took no pictures while on leave. That's probably because I was stayed too drunk to focus anyway.The "Aussie's" were great and us Marines could no no wrong in their eyes. Had a great time (I think) but it felt good to get back to my men.
Second Platoon
2nd Platoon has landed at the LZ!
Added Nov. 1999= Second Platoon 1965-66 (thank you to Tom Renard) :
NOTE: We're still looking for pictures, etc. for 1967-68!!
Click the picture to get to Jim Hunter's Second Platoon page (1968-69)
Let's get more pictures and stories about your exploits (including R&R or other gems). Let's hear from you, Second Platoon!
1st
Platoon
(updated
11/99)
Click
Here for Platoon Info
1967-
provided by Jerry Teal
Click Here for 1-A-1 1968- provided by Norman Fegan
Biographical Information
Although this Webpage is not about me,
I feel it's important to know something about the person that has put this
information together.
I joined the Marines in 1965 at the age of 20. After graduating from
MCRD San Diego as a PFC, I was a Military Policeman at Fallbrook Naval Weapons
Station (outside of Pendleton) attaining the rank of E-5. While at Fallbrook,
I graduated from the "Operations against Guerrilla Units" and "Recon' Marine"
courses. I also began a long interest in Sport Jumping at Elsinore,
California.
In January 1968 I graduated from OCS as a 2d Lieutenant and subsequently was sent for training at Escape and Survival School and Artillery School. I landed in Vietnam on my birthday, October 9th, 1968 and took over the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 3d Recon.
In 1968 and 1969 I led (or accompanied) over thirty-five long-range recon patrols throughout I-Corps to include the DMZ, Ashau Valley and other classified missions. While with Recon, I graduated from Naval Diving School at Subic Bay, Philippines (other links to those pages will be found at the bottom of the page); and, was awarded the Bronze Star with "Combat V", Cross of Gallantry with "Combat V" and Purple Heart.
In April, 1969 I was assigned as an Air Observer Recon Specialist with VMO-6/Mag 39 where I provided air support for Recon and other ground operations from the O-1 Bird Dog and OV-10 aircraft. After over 500 air combat hours in six months, I was awarded the Naval Commendation Medal with "V" and 24 Flight/Strike Air Medals.
Returning to the States in 1970, I was the Executive Officer of 1stRecon Company at Camp Lejeune. Soon after, I was assigned to S-2 in Guantanamo, Cuba where I remained until I was discharged in 1972 as a Captain.
Other Recon Webpages
Swift, Silent and Deadly| Main Page
|Wall of Rememberance| Dedicated to those who did not come home
|Scuba School| Subic Bay
|Images of Vietnam (Page 1)| Personal pictures and comments
