ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Jim Richards
Ken Benchwitz
Phil Peters
Bill Laber
CHAPLAIN
David Backer
RECON BATTALION UNIT DIRECTOR
Charles Howdyshell
IN MEMORIAM
Final Extracts
Raymond A Duncan Jr
New Bloomfield Pa
Jan 6 1948
Dec 10 2008
Bernard Szumigala
Erie Pa
Aug 27 1943
Aug 31 2009
Sniper Attack
Recon Marine Who Survived Sniper Attack
Earns Purple Heart
Story by Gunnery Sgt. William Price
Sgt. David Fresenius was lying on a rooftop in Helmand
province’s Trek Nawa
on the morning of June 21. His machine gunner and radio
operator, Cpl. Greg
Harris, was by his side, providing over-watch security
for their unit, 3rd Platoon,
Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.
Everything was quiet until approximately 9 a.m., when
all hell broke loose.
Suddenly, the village erupted with enemy small arms fire.
For Fresenius,
a 22 year-old native of Westminster, Calif., the situation
was about to get a lot worse. Approximately three minutes
into the engagement, he saw rounds coming from a canal
and brush about 300 meters from his right.
What Fresenius didn’t realize was that while he
had been acquiring his target, a Taliban sniper had gotten
Fresenius in his sights. The enemy sniper squeezed out
a bullet. A 7.62 mm round hit Fresenius square in the
back. “It felt like I had been hit with a sledgehammer,”
Fresenius recalls.
Despite seeing his assistant team leader hit, Harris,
from Apple Valley, Calif., thought, “Keep firing,”
to disrupt further enemy fire. After emptying his load,
Harris finished his rounds, and rushed to Fresenius' aid.
Fresenius, writhing in pain, was pulled by his legs to
safety. As Harris yelled for the corpsman, Petty Officer
2nd Class Dan Brown, also known as "Doc," came
running. Harris and Brown got Fresenius inside by climbing
down a ladder on the backside of the beseiged building.
That’s when Doc Brown went to work.
With bullets still impacting just three to four feet
over his head, Brown, from Colorado Springs, Colo., tended
to the wounded Marine. “I immediately stripped his
gear off, to examine the wound. I saw he had been hit
on the top of his spine, but thankfully, the round had
NOT impacted the skin.”
How was this possible? The round had shattered the top
of Fresenius’ protective Sapi plate. The impact
left a welt the size of a baseball on the middle of his
back, but did not penetrate his skin! The Marine was shaken,
but appeared to be otherwise okay.
“Once I realized I was okay, my only thoughts were
to get back to the fight – to get back to my men,”
Fresenius said.
He returned to his position and proceeded to continue
engaging the enemy with his M40-A3 sniper rifle. Harris
continued spotting for him for the next hour, exploiting
all enemy positions.
The engagement ended when air support, two AH-1 Cobras,
arrived. The aerial gunships and 3rd platoon killed several
enemy insurgents and forced the rest to flee.
On Sept. 23, in front of his entire battalion, Sgt. David
Fresenius, an assistant team leader with 3rd Platoon,
Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, is awarded
the Purple Heart by Brig. Gen. Joseph Osterman, 1st Marine
Division (Forward) commanding general, aboard Camp Leatherneck,
Sept. 23.
Fresenius, who enlisted in the Marines in June 2006, right
after graduating
from Mount Ridge High School, in Phoenix, Arizona said
he was proud to be
following in the footsteps of his father, a 0311 Marine
infantryman.
Nam Trip
Doc Dave Snider and Dennis Swick, Delta 69/70,
are working with Tex Stitler, president of Vietnam Battlefield
Tours on a Recon focused tour back to Vietnam in April
next year. Below you will see a proposed itinerary that
is a working document and not the finished product.
The itinerary is very aggressive. Normally, the tours
include some of the more cultural sites that reduces the
time in the rural areas. Dennis and I have stressed the
need to visit as many places that we ran patrols in as
possible. You will notice "free days". This
is not down time, but opportunities to schedule other
locations, including "personal" locations that
participants have a particular need to visit. As an example,
in 2006 my wife and I went on a VBT tour and was fortunate
to have a copy of a patrol report in the Arizona where
myself and three others of Vesper Bells were wounded.
I had the coordinates where we were extracted which was
also where the RPG's did their thing. It was a satisfying
experience, what was a free fire zone had children playing
outside their concrete block homes.
You will notice on the itinerary a trip up the river
past Dong Den, if I recall this river split Elephant Valley
from the Garden Eden. We will also visit Hills 119 and
200. Dennis lost a brother in an area near 119 and wants
to walk around the area. This is gonna happen. For those
who would like to stand on hallowed ground, you can do
so at Khe Sahn or do a little climbing on 881S or 681A.
If there is anyone that wants to go, but might need a
little help.........contact Tex thru the VBT web site.
Finally, if you know of any grunts, air types, etc we
welcome them to return with us. Already, we have a couple
coming. I have a former Sgt who was discharged prior to
VN who wants to visit where many of his close friends
fought.
SF
Doc
RECON WORKING ITINERARY 2011
April 10-24, 2011
Day 1& 2 Apr 10/11 LAX to Hanoi
Day 3 Apr 12 Saigon to Qui Nhon Vietnam Airlines-VN 2913
@ 1345
Day 4 Apr 13 Qui Nhon Free Day
Day 5 Apr 14 Qui Nhon to Quang Ngai (Duc Pho, Nui Cau,
Mo Duc, Team Duckbill)
Day 6 Apr 15 Quang Ngai to Hoi An (Chu Lai, Howards Hill
488)
Day 7 Apr 16 Hoi An (Que Sons, An Hoa, Liberty Bridge,
My Son and Hill 119)
Day 8 Apr 17 Hoi An Free Day (Team Spillway-991483 on
6640IV)
Day 9 Apr 18 DaNang (Reasoner, Arizona, Hill 200, Charlie
Ridge, Thuong Duc)
Day 10 Apr 19 DaNang (Nam o River, Dong Den, Ba Na, Elephant
& Happy Valley)
We could take an optional boat ride to rivers end past
Dong Den. Day 11 Apr 20 Hue (Hai Van, Phu Loc, Bach Ma,
Phu Bai, Hue)
Interested participants depart for Dong Ha, Con Thien,
Gio Linh, Camp Carroll, Cam Lo, Rock Pile, Razorback,
Khe Sanh and Lao Bao. 881S and 861A are options. Overnight
in Lao Bao (Laos border crossing).
Day 13 Apr 22 Hue/Lao Bao Free Day* Return to Hue DaKrong/Ho
Chi Minh Trail
(thru the Ashau Valley)
Day 14 Apr 23 Hue/Hanoi (JPAC, Marine House-Embassy Guard),
Water Puppet Show)
Day 15 Apr 24 Hanoi/USA
*Free Day in Hue. We can split the tour for those who
may not want to go north to the DMZ areas. If 881S is
an option with 4 X 4’s this would be an added cost.
861A is also an option but probably a hump. We would use
Lao Bao as the jump off for any climbing.
Message from the President
Message
from the President
My thanks to the many Association
members who worked to ensure the success of
our 2010 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Reunion
in San Antonio,Texas. Some fifty members,
with family and friends, participated in the
August 25-29 reunion.
For many, our Texas barbeque luncheon, at
VFW Post 76 on Friday, 27 August, was the
highlight of the reunion. Guest of Honor Richard
Botkin, a reconnaissance Marine and author
of Ride the Thunder, an account of the Vietnamese
Marines and their American Marine Advisors,
spoke from the heart about the portrayal of
the Vietnam War in the media. A special thanks
to Curtis Gruetzmacher for arranging the luncheon
and to “Howdy” and Rhonda Howdyshell
for their work on our silent auction and raffle.
Finally, a big thank you to Oscar and Gina
Aldana for hosting Association members and
their families at their home for dinner.
Congratulations to our newly elected leaders
Gary Maxam, Association Vice President, and
Bill “Lurch” Laber, Associate
Director, and Curtis Gruetzmacher re-electedas
our Secretary/Treasurer. Our thanks and appreciation
for the dedication and work of Kent Dickson
and Tom Hyder, who leave the Board of Directors
on completion of their terms of office.
The Marines and Corpsmen of 1st Recon Battalion
remain in harms way, keep them in your thoughts
and prayers.
God bless America! God bless the United States
Marine Corps! God bless 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion!
Semper fidelis,
Charlie Kershaw
2010 Reunion Group Flick 29 Aug. 2010
Marine Corps Museum
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines-past, present and future.. The Museum and surrounding grounds are adjacent to Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. The museum's design soars above the horizon and captures the image of Iwo Jima's flag raisers. The world class museum's interactive exhibits display irreplaceable historical artifacts and immerses visitors in the sights and sounds of Marines in action.
1ST RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL
By
the end of 2010, the 1st Recon Battalion
Association memorial
will be placed in the Semper Fidelis
Memorial Garden of the National
Museum of the Marine Corps. The memorial
will honor the Marines
and Corpsmen, serving with the 1st
Reconnaissance Battalion, who
gave their lives in service to their
Corps and country during the Korean
War, Vietnam War and Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion
Memorial, approved by the Marine
Corps Heritage Foundation, is a
black granite monument standing
101
inches high and 36 inches wide,
mounted on a 48 inch x 20 inch base.
The two hundred sixty-two Recon
Marines and Corpsmen who lost their
lives in combat with the 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion are identified by
their rank, name, age at death and
home state inscribed on the face
of the
monument.
The 1st Marine Division Association’s
2011 reunion will be held in northern
Virginia during the week of 15-20
August 2011. 1st Recon Battalion
Association’s annual reunion
will held in concert with the 1st
Marine Division Association Reunion.
However, we plan to conduct a 1st
Recon memorial dedication ceremony
on-site at the Semper Fidelis Memorial
Park, Quantico, Virginia. Our dedication
ceremony is tentatively planned
for Friday afternoon, 19 August
2011; a reception will be held following
the dedication ceremony. Planning
for this event is ongoing. Detailed
information, including ceremony
and reception date and time, transportation
and, for those requiring it, lodging
will be provided in our spring 2011
Patrol Report and on the Association
web site.
Marines and Corpsman who served
with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion,
family members of our KIAs and friends
are cordially invited to attend
the memorial ceremony and reception.
Our thanks and gratitude to the
one hundred five 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion Association members and
friends who generously donated to
the Memorial Fund, transforming
our dream into a reality.
THE MEMORIAL
1ST RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION
ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL
COMMEMORATIVE BRICKS
COMMEMORATIVE BRICKS will line the winding
pathways in the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park. 1st
Reconnaissance
Battalion Association members, family and friends
are invited to donate a
commemorative brick, to be placed along the pathways
around our memorial,
to honor or remember a reconnaissance Marine or
Corpsman, living or deceased.
The Association will coordinate with the Heritage
Foundation, the collection of donations and inscriptions
for 1st Recon commemorative bricks. Commemorative
bricks may be ordered through the 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion Association with a donation of $210.00;
your engraved brick will forever attest to the honor,
courage, and commitment of your Reconnaissance Marine
or Corpsman.
Brick Engraving Guidelines.
Each brick can contain a total of up to three
lines. Each line is 20 characters in length; a
character includes all letters, punctuations and
spaces. Each line must end with a complete word
or name (words and names will not be hyphenated
or continued on the next line). You may purchase
as many bricks as you like. Examples of commemorative
brick inscriptions are provided for your information.
Order your Commemorative Brick not later than 15
January 2011 and submit your contact information
(name, mailing address, phone number(s), and email
address) along with a check or money order and your
brick inscription to the 1st Recon Battalion Association
at the address below. The Heritage Foundation will
provide a proof copy of each brick inscription before
it is engraved. Ensure you send your contact information
in case there are questions about your inscription.
Thank you for your support of the 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion Memorial and Commemorative Bricks.
Commemorative
Brick check or money order donations should be
made to: 1st Recon Battalion Association. Send
your contact information with your donation and
brick inscription to: 1st Recon Battalion Association,
c/o C. Kershaw, 2527 Unicornio Street, Carlsbad,
CA 92009. Email or call Charlie Kershaw with brick
questions at: 760 402-8638 orc2k2@earthlink.net.
SITREP
1st Reconnaissance Battalion, less elements supporting
MEU (SOC) deployments, is again deployed deploys
to 1st Recon Battalion is composed of A, B, C Companies
and 1st Force Company (formerly D Company) and Headquarters
and Service Company.
Raider Report, the battalion’s newsletter,
is available on line at 1st Recon Battalion’s
official website:http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/DIV/1ReconBn/target="_blank
. The Raider Report is also posted at our Recon
Rendezvous web site: http://www.1streconbnassociation.org/Rendezvous/Raider
Report. 1st Recon Battalion’s website is
comprehensive and very informative. To learn more
about the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, visit
their website.
2011 Div. Reunion
Babcock, John 1st Recon Co. 53/54
Beahm, David Alpha 80/81 & 82/83
Bursey. lyn Delta 90/94
Cantarero, Eddie Alpha 88/91
Clark, Jeremiah H&S 08/10
Conroy, William Alpha 57/59
Cotton, Patrick H&S 73/74
Creech, Michael Charlie 68/69
Curtis, Chuck Charlie 59
Daymut, Stephen Bravo 87/91
Doyle, Richard Charlie 66
Elizondo, Rene Bravo, 3rd SRIG Det.
Force Recon Co. 89/93
Griffin, Buck Bravo 84/88
Harp, Geoffrey Alpha 67/68
Hernandez, Alejandro Charlie LA
Herrington, Harold S 111 Delta 67/68
Hughs, Richard H&S Motor T 84/85
Jesseman, Gregory Alpha 77/78
Kollmorgan, Antohny H&S 2000/04
Laverty, Sean Bravo 86/90
Leland, Don (Peepy) Charlie 67/68
Majewski Robert Bravo 67/67
McGraw, Mark B & D 88/91
Musick, Mike Bravo 03/06
Munoz, Oscar Alpha 67/68
Ralston Seth Bravo 99/02
Sanders, Steve Delta 69/70
Sepulvado, David Alpha 66 RVN
Swiger, David 1st Force & H&S
72/73
Watson, Damon Charlie 80/81
Witkin, Ralph H&S 69/70
1st Recon Gear
For all your 1st Recon gear visit John Dalton's site at
Dalton Sportswear John served with Charlie Co. 77/80.
Oceanside Fund Raiser
Our non-profit is currently working on a local fundraiser
for October 30, 2010. It will be at Rubio's in Oceanside
to raise money for the local AFJROTC who perform memorial
services out at Riverside National Cemetery. It would
be great to see any hungry local brothers there (Rubio's
is donating 20% of each sale)!! We hope if it is successful
we can donate a portion of the money to the 1st Recon
BN association for future reunions or where ever they
see the money needed most. Our non-profit is also working
on a Government Grant Proposal to further assist Veterans
who have suffered TBI's and PTSD that have fallen wayside.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines-past, present and future.. The Museum and surrounding grounds are adjacent to Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. The museum's design soars above the horizon and captures the image of Iwo Jima's flag raisers. The world class museum's interactive exhibits display irreplaceable historical artifacts and immerses visitors in the sights and sounds of Marines in action. 
