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| THE SOUND OF GUNS (Part 2) |
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ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE
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| Caution! Should be considered armed & dangerous. |
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| India 3/5, 3rd Platoon (click pictures to enlarge) |
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| Greg Francesco, B Co. 1st Recon Bn |
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| Bill Crawford (left) and Greg Francesco |
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| All of Mike Golbeck Company, early 1966, on Okinawa |
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| 1st Platoon, April 1966 |
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| Landing Zone 401 Da Nang Vietnam |
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| Division Hill, Da Nang |
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| First Division Museum at Cantigny |
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| 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Association |
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The Division: The Building Block of the US Army
The US Army is composed of various-sized units arranged in a hierarchical structure from the smallest to the largest in size and responsibility. A division is the smallest unit in the US Army capable of sustained, independent combat operations.
The Army division is structured to provide leadership, organization and logistics to smaller dependent combat and support units, such as brigades, regiments and battalions in descending order. Division headquarters carries out its missions by leading its subordinate units to defeat enemy forces, while supporting and managing those units to prepare them for future action.
The US Army has used temporary divisions since the Civil War. World War I made it clear that a more structured and permanent organization was needed. The US Army chose the division as the basic organization of the American Expeditionary Forces. In 1917, the first divisional unit created by the US Army for combat in Europe was the 1st Division.
Since 1917 the division has been the building block of the US Army. Over the years, it has changed in structure and has fluctuated between 10,000 and 28,000 soldiers. The division has survived over the years because of its success in adapting to changing circumstances, and by being the crucial organizational and command interface between smaller combat units and higher levels of command. The 1st Infantry Division has led the way in the success of the division as an essential unit of the US Army. Starting in 1939, the Army fielded types of divisions: infantry, armor, cavalry and airborne. The 1st Division—today’s 1st Infantry Division—is the Army’s first and oldest division, having been on continuous active duty since June 8, 1917.
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| History, Lineage and Honors, 1st Battalion (Mechanized) 50th Infantry |
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| A Vietnam Picture Tour |
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| Seven Guardian Angel |
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| “It Don’t Mean Nuthin’' |
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| Feral Stalking Night |
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| Noble Warriors |
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| Sitting alone on heated tarmac with brothers A greenie awaits his first “Eagle Flight,” Helicopters to carry combat infantrymen To battles beyond sight... |
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| Veterans of Foreign Wars |
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| Reunion |
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| Season In The Sun |
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| Just Antother Day! |
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| The Boy Next Door... |
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| His Empty Eyes |
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| Ode to the Medic |
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| Click these choppers to visit A Vietnam War Combat Action Poetry directory with many more battle pictures. |
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Clueless
by Gary Jacobson
A year in Nam is a year in hell,
All things conspiring to make life swell.
At any given moment, Charley will engage,
With a home field advantage,
For in the Nam, weather is a weapon,
Charley often calls upon
Monsoons flood, mud and blood,
Making you dodge the bullet
With your name on it
Forever drenched to the skin
In the clammy night freezing,
Forever struggling,
Forever sweating,
Forever fearing,
Life’s values forevermore queering,
Forever fighting to regain control,
Spirits wildly careening.
Yet pundits back home say,
In a most scholarly, objective way.
"I've looked at your life in Nam selectively,
Its duration assessed quantitatively,
And it seems quite plain to me,
You see,
You win some,
And you lose some...
You must not dwell on it.
I completely understand it,
The fears relapsing through the years.
I know when you came home,
You didn't hear many cheers.
I know we weren't there for you then.
And for that I apologise
I truly sympathize...
But just let go of it.
Holding onto memories won’t do any good a bit.
It’s such a simple thing to do,
Turn your mind to something new."
But how can you let go,
When you’ve walked through the valley shadowed?
When beside still waters of death you've strolled,
Nam's blood forever scarring the soul,
Wreaking a deadly, daily toll.
How can some people be so “clueless,”
So mindless,
So utterly droll?
Don't they really know?
Makes me wish they had been the ones
To Vietnam had to go!
Who can ever know,
They might not have lost their lives there,
Just their sanity...
Their friends...
Their innocence...
Their values...
Their love for fellow man...
Their trust in government...
Their trust in authority...
Their faith...
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| Men of the 3rd platoon, Company C, First Recon |
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Mr. & Mrs. Tony Vale
Houston, Texas
December 17, 1965 |
3rd Platoon Company C
1st Reconnaissance Bn
Dear Men of CoC
Just a few lines to let you know that we received your sympathy card with the picture of you men in the company. You cannot imagine the comfort it gives us to know that regardless of your own worries, troubles and problems (which we know you have plenty) you have taken time to drop us a card. We are going to try to enlarge the picture if possible.
We want you men to know that we appreciate your feelings toward our son Tony and we feel that you boys are closer than probably most companies. We want to thank you for the masses you have attended in his behalf. Nothing can erase the hurt in our hearts over our loss but your gestures really help ease the Pain. So let's think that Tony's going is just one of your representatives and that he probably is rasining all kinds of Sand with the good Lord about taking care of the rest of his company. Men we have faith that the rest of you will make it out all right with God's help and we are going to pray for all of you. We want for each of you men to feel free to write us a line any time you do not have anything to do which I know it's very seldom but just so you keep busy looking out for each other is a lot of comfort.
If any of you wish when you come to the vicinity of Houston be sure and call on us but in the meantime we will keep praying for you.
May God Bless You
Sincerely your friends
Mr. & Mrs. Tony Vale & Family |
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A Note from The Virtual WallIn November 1965 C Company, 1st Recon Bn, had already deployed to Vietnam and was attached to the 3rd Recon Bn. The 3rd Recon Command Chronology for the month contains the C/1st Recon post-patrol report. In part, it reads as follows:
"Mission: Conduct a motor convoy to coord BS503036 then patrol by foot west to extract team SPARTAN and insert team COVETOUS.
"At 270850H, the company moved out ... to coord BS593936 and dismounted. ... The company started to cross the open space at coord BS580938. The point received sniper fire from houses ... the company deployed, at that time the company received fire ... the 2nd platoon with Lt WILLIAMS moved to the north to coord BS583939 into the cain [sic] fields then turned west and then north. ... Eight houses were cleared... At approx 0945H the 2nd platoon rejoined the company at coord BS578938. The company moved out and one sniper fired one round from coord BS574937 hitting PFC VALE ... PFC VALE was hit in the chest and died..."
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| Macias & Kohler |
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| RECON CALLING CARD |
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| ROY AND SWEENEY |
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| CH46 SEARCHING FOR THE TEAM |
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| BACK ROW: ALBERT PADILLA, ED OVERBEY, VASQUEZ, ECKENRODE, DUNNINGTON |
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| WAR CLOUD TEAM |
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“IT DON’T MEAN NOTHIN”
“IT DOESNT MEAN A THING”
Click Here
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| Long Trail A'Winding |
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| Overhead shot of AnHoa |
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| Chris Belmont standing near the air strip at An Hoa, September '69. |
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| Newspaper clipping of the Sgt Sullivan's Bronze Star (on Operation Swift), out of the Jacksonville Journal in Jacksonville, Florida. |
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| Christmas 1966, left to right: Romball, Jim Danner, Gary Bolen, Carl Matlock and Bill Craig. |
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| Gary Bolen says he had nothing to do with the drinking, he just stepped in to have his picture taken. |
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| Operation NATHAN HALE |
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| This is an aerial of Camp Hansen, that is part of Camp Smedley Butler in Okinawa. I imagine almost everyone in the 1st MarDiv came through here before and after Vietnam. CasCo is circled on the map. |
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| Copy of Sea Tiger from late 68 telling about Operation Taylor Common |
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| Mike Company |
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| 1966-1971, RVN |
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| 3rd Bn. 5th Marines FMF Corpsmen, 1967 |
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| Ronald (Doc) Parlee (Website) |
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| The Vietnam Blues |
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| Click on the medal, to read each of the 245 Medal of Honor citations issued during the Vietnam War, and the Medal of Honor citations issued during the Iraqi Conflict. |
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| UNITED WE STAND |
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| Home page - 1st Recon Bn.com |
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| LCPL. ROBIN LEE ARNOLD |
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| PFC Rick Maddy USMC |
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| Frank Jurney, M/3/5 |
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| We can see the purple mountain majesty, From our wall, See huddling masses yearning to be free, From our wall. We see a nation built on honesty, Fought for with our blood of integrity. |
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| With our every breath, and deep respect, We stand proud as Combat Wives... |
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| These individual Memorial pages contain pictures and remembrances from loved ones of Marines and FMF Corpsmen Killed/Missing In Action during the Vietnam War. |
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| Got a story, poem or remembrance you would like to share? |
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| "Operation UTAH" in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam. |
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To all Visitors thanks for stopping by.
This site has been developed not just to sale Antiques and Collectibles (of course it does some of that) rather it is to provide information about Antiques, Collectibles, artwork, art pottery, furniture types, furniture styles, jewelry, militaria from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War yes this site is all about information and history that is not readily available elsewhere on the Internet.
We think West St Paul Antiques is one of the best Antique Mall in the State of Minnesota. We have been working hard to create that for the last 12 years. You can say we our an expert on Antiques & Collectibles and yes you can also call me or my dealers historian. As we read and study, about history and antiques. We will share that with you and all the visitors to our site. Our Antique Mall is in West St Paul, Minnesota stop by and visit some time. You are all way welcome to visit us on the web. This is a new website for us at West St Paul Antiques. As you browse this site enjoy the site. Please feel free to email me direct at floydruggles@weststpaulantiques.com if you have any questions or feedback about this site. Please sign our guest book and check out our Poetry Coffee Cup Cafe, or the Out and About Gallery. The Reference Library an all 5 Museums are open 24/7 to you on this website. Stop by one of the 1st Recon Battalion pages. You can read about my experiences in the Vietnam. Oh, by the way also check out all our Antiques, Collectibles, artwork, art pottery, clocks, mall specials, furniture types and styles, jewelry and militaria item for sale on this site and in our Antique Mall as you can see by going to Antique Mall Tour. This site will be totally commercial free and no fees to pay this site is totally free. I'll be working on this site over time bear with me it should be finished by the end of 2010. With over 300 pages at that time and 500 pages by the end of this year. Click here to go to our web Site Map and Categories .
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Click a NEW link
To browse our Home page, Look over our Museums, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion pages, Out and About Gallery, Poetry Coffee Cup Cafe, About Us, Christmas Index, Antique Mall Tour, Antiques & Collectibles, Furniture, Jewelry, Art Pottery, Artwork, Militaria, Contact Us, Hours and Directions, Our Blogs
Who Was Really the First President of the United States,
The Day Eagle Cried, Financial Tip of the Year
Remembering The 50's & 60's Music Index
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Go to the top of each page of our website for the menu bar of categories. You will see a drop down menu appear for each category. Click a link to browse or click our
Site Map and Categories to find your link.
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Categories within this 1st Reconnaissance Battalion website.
1st Recon Bn.com Home page, My Missions in Nam (Coming soon), Photos of 1st Recon Battalion in Nam, Recon Missions the units Patrol Reports 1968-1969 (coming soon), A Summer Day in Nam - My Story (Coming soon), Recon 1 The War, Recon 2 Tet Offensive in Nam 1968, Tet Offensive in Nam 1969 (Coming soon), Recon 3 Vietnam War Timeline, Recon 4 President Richard M. Nixon's Report on Vietnam, Recon 5 1950's US send troops to Vietnam, Recon 6 The French Foreign Legion in Vietnam, Recon 7 Hill 200 my story with photos (Coming soon), Recon 8 - Maps & Artifacts - The Time Capsule (Coming soon), Recon 9 1st Recon Battalion Units photos, Recon 10 Sounds from Nam (Coming soon), Recon 11 Reunion Photos, Recon 12 Helicopters in Nam, Recon 13 1st Recon Bn. Awards & Decorations, Recon 14 Navy & Marine Corps Awards and Decorations, Recon 15 Marine Corps Awards & Decorations, Recon 16 Personal Awards & Decorations, Recon 17 Information on Unit Awards, Recon 18 The Memory Remains Not All Wounds Are Visible, Recon 19 Purple Heart (Coming soon) & Recon 20 Vietnam Footage & Memorials, Vietnam Memorials & Monuments part 2 No Man Left Behind part 1, No Man Left Behind part 2, No Man Left Behind part 3 (Coming soon) ,1st Recon Bn.com Photo Gallery , 1st Recon Bn. Association Messages, 1st Marine Division Association Messages, Battles of the Vietnam War, Hamburger Hill, Vietnam 1968, Vietnam 1969, Vietnam Today, The Day The Eagle Cried, My Message Board.
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Index
Categories within 1st Recon Bn
Click the index for the Index page. |
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| The Sound of Guns (Part 1) |
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| Email me with your feedback on how I can Improve this website. |
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