ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Jim Richards
Denis Baker
Phil Peters
Tom Hyder
CHAPLAIN
Ray Tibbets David Backer
RECON BATTALION UNIT DIRECTOR
Rodney Poston
Lost Comrades
The Association has lost contact with the following members:
Ron E. Colombani, Robert B. Cullen, Rob L. Dunagan, David J. Fowler, Rollen R. Gersch, David S. Harris, Buddy N. Haskell, Joseph J. Keegan, Roger P. Keister, Gerald C. Kirk, Reynaldo Lavelle, Michael LoGiudice, Denis J. Owens, Roger S. Rentscheler, Hobart Schlagel, David Van Hooser, Wilfredo Velez, William M. Young.
Members are requested to inform the Association when they have a change of address. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of these members, contact Bob Morris, our Membership Coordinator, at Cayene6@peoplepc.com and provide a current email/mailing address and telephone number.
Message from the President
As we prepare
for our coming reunion, let us not forget
that our Corps is engaged in combat around
the globe. Although 1st Reconnaissance Battalion
has returned to Camp Pendleton CA, it is
training and preparing for its fifth deployment
to Iraq, while elements of the battalion
are on Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special
Operations Capable) deployments. 1st Recon
Battalion’s high operations tempo
demands great courage, commitment, endurance,
and patience of our Marines, Corpsmen and
their families. Let us never forget that
freedom is not free.
The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association’s
annual reunion will be held in conjunction
with the 1st Marine Division Association
reunion in Nashville, Tennessee, August
28-31. Sergeant Major Justin LeHew, the
1st Recon Battalion Sergeant Major, is our
reunion Guest of Honor. The 2008 reunion
is dedicated to those reconnaissance marines
and corpsmen who were “in harms way”
while serving in the Republic of Vietnam
in 1968.
Join us in Nashville, commemorate the 40th
anniversary of 1st Recon’s Vietnam
service and make this reunion one to remember!
God bless America! God bless the United
States Marine Corps!
Semper fidelis,
Charlie Kershaw
2008 Reunion Essential Elements of
Information
Reunion Registration:
1st MARDIV Association, 26-31 August 2008, at the
Gaylord Opryland Hotel Nashville, Tennessee.
A pre-registration form is included with the
Patrol Report. Members and guests of the 1st
Recon Battalion Association may register at
our hospitality suite or by emailing Charlie
Kershaw, indicating that you plan to attend
the Nashville reunion (c2k2@earthlink.net).
Lodging: The Gaylord Opryland Hotel is
the official 1st Marine Division Association
and 1st Recon Bn Association reunion site.
Gaylord Opryland Hotel accommodations for
Association members are available at $99.00
(Traditional Room) or $139.00 (Premium Room)
+ tax and a $10.00 resort fee; parking adds
$10.00 per day to the room rate. Hotel reservations
may be made by calling (866) 972-6779.
1st Recon Bn Assn CP/Harbor Site: Visit
with 1st Recon Battalion Association teammates
28-31 August in our CP /hospitality suite
at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel
KEY EVENTS
Nashville: The 1st Marine Division Association
offers members attending the reunion a full
schedule of tours and special events at
Nashville historical sites and landmarks.
Nashville reunion events include a cruise
on the paddlewheel steamboat General Andrew
Jackson, visits to the Grand Ole Opry, the
Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Jack
Daniels Distillery. Consult the “Old
Breed News” for details or check the
web site: 1stmarinedivision association.org.
A reunion pre-registration form is included
with the Patrol Report.
1stRecon Bn Association Luncheon: The Nashville
Palace Restaurant is the site of our reunion
luncheon Friday, August 29th, 1:00-4:00
pm. The BBQ buffet will cost $30.00 per
person. Sergeant Major Justin LeHew, USMC,
a Navy Cross winner in Fallujah and the
1st Reconnaissance Battalion Sergeant Major,
is our reunion Guest of Honor. RSVP for
the luncheon by Sunday 24 August; checks
or money orders should be made out to “1st
Recon Battalion Association”; mail
your reservation and check to: Charlie Kershaw,
2527 Unicornio Street, Carlsbad, CA 92009.
1st Recon Bn Association Annual Membership
Meeting/Election of Officers: Saturday,
30 August, 1300 -1500. Members attending
the Annual Membership Meeting will elect
four Association Officers: the President,
Membership Coordinator, Historian (unfilled
last year), Sergeant at Arms and one Associate
Director. Our Association needs men willing
and able to accept the responsibility of
Association leadership and give their time
and talent. Will you accept that challenge?
1st Mar Div Association Banquet and Grand
Ball. The Division Association banquet and
grand ball is at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel
, 1830-2300, Saturday 30 August at $75.00
per person. 1st Recon Battalion Association
will have one or more tables. A banquet
reservation form is included in the Patrol
Report.
FUTURE REUNIONS
2009
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
1st RECON BATTALION ASSOCIATION AUCTION
and RAFFLE
The Association’s operating revenue
comes from donations and reunion activities
such as our raffle and silent auction.
Association members and friends are asked
to donate items for our silent auction
and reunion raffle. Proceeds from the
silent auction go to the 1st Recon Battalion
Association General Fund, while raffle
proceeds will be divided between the 1st
Marine Division Association Scholarship
Fund and our General Fund. Past raffle/auction
items have included reunion lodging, Marine
Corps uniform accessories, memorabilia,
K-Bars, books, military art, gift certificates,
and travel. Help our Association, bring
an auction or raffle item! Charles “Howdy”
Howdyshell has volunteered to coordinate
the raffle and auction. If you have something
for the auction or raffle, contact Howdy
at: rlmceh@ntelos.net .
ASSOCIATION
MEMORIAL FUND
The National
Museum of the Marine Corps, in Quantico
Virginia, provides a unique opportunity
“ to honor those Marines who
preceded us…to confirm our heritage…to
share with our nation, and with each
other, the riches of our experiences…
and to leave a lasting and glorious
legacy for the future.”
The 1st Recon Battalion memorial will
honor the Marines and Corpsmen who
gave their lives in service to their
country while serving with the battalion
in the Korean Conflict, Vietnam War
and the ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom.
If you haven’t contributed, you may still do so! Contributions may be made by check or money order
payable to:
1st RECON BATTALION ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL FUND
Mail contributions to: Charles Kershaw 2527 Unicornio Street Carlsbad, CA 92009
THE MEMORIAL
The memorial will be a black granite slab standing
101” high and 36” wide, mounted on a 48” x 20”
base. The rank, name, age at death and home state
of each KIA will be engraved on the monument in
¾” letters.
A memorial ceremony is planned when the
monument is placed on site. Members will be
informed of the day and time of the dedication.
ASSOCIATION HONOR ROLL
Our thanks and gratitude to the
following who donated so generously to the
Memorial Fund:
H.P. Alewine, P. Alexander, Craig Amo, James
H. Anderson, David Apgar, Doc Aron, Fred
Arthur, Eddie Ash, John Bailey, Robert Baird,
Steven L. Baker, James J. Barta, Mark Bayuk,
John Beard, Jack Below, David Boudreaux,
Art Brooks, Robert “Doc” Buehl,
Daniel Caporale, Jim Carroll, Jimmy M. Chandler,
Alex Colvin, Hal Cordova, Kenneth Cotterman,
John M. Derenick, Danny Deasane, Kent Dickson,
William Doherty, Mark E. Doss, Phillip Downey,
Jim Edwards, Carry Efaw, Alan Elfinger,
Eanos T. Evans, Larry Farrell, Bud Fowler,
Lother Lee Freeman, James A. Fossos, Gene
S. Giles, David A Goodfield, William B Goodwin,
Pat & Victoria Grady, Jack Grace, Mrs.
Ronald Graebel, Donald Greenlaw, Curtis
& Luana Greutzmacher, Gritz Towers,
John Grandusky, Hilliard Hairston, George
W. Haney, John F. Hare, Wayne Hatton, James
A Howard, William Howard, Charles E. Howdyshell,
Robert Hungate, Vic Huone, Sgt Maj Jack
Jaunal, Larry Keen, Charles W. Kershaw,
Loren Laird, Eugene Lashley, Jim Lubbock
III, Carrol McBride, William McCloskey,
David M. McGraw, Peter R. Merry, Lenny Miller,
Kenneth R. Monnell, Robert Morris &
Julie Mooney, James A. Mosel, Thurman “Doc”
Mullins, John Myers, James R. Oleary, Paul
F. Olenski, Charles Olson, Jim Page, R.A
Partee, Leonel R. Perez, David Peters, Phil
Peters, Frank Portportage, Phillip D. Rogers,
Gary Rosencrans, James H. Rowe, W. Edgar
Rowland, Richard Schadl, Tom Schroder, Jerry
Spolter, Daniel Sweeney, Edward H. Tacchi,
Bernard E. Trainor, Daniel M. Turpin, Robert
C. Vermurlen, Jerry Webb, Steven Whitney,
Jim & Sharon Wilker, Danny P. Williams,
Audrey Winkelman, John Witmer and Wayne
Zetzman.
SITREP
1st Reconnaissance Battalion, less elements
supporting MEU (SOC) deployments, are once again
at Camp Pendleton. 1st Recon is composed of Alpha,
Bravo, Charlie, and Delta Companies 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/
. The Raider Report is posted at our Recon Rendezvous
web site: http://www.1streconbnassociation.org/Rendezvous/Raider
Report. 1st Recon Battalion’s website
is comprehensive and very informative. The Raider
Report is an excellent newsletter filled with
information about the battalion. To learn more
about the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, go to
their website!
2007 Team Leader of the Year
Staff Sergeant Robert R. Brukardt
Staff Sergeant Robert R. Brukardt performance
as a Team Leader has been remarkable throughout
his time in 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. A
quiet professional, he is an excellent trainer
and mentor of marines. SSgt Brukardt is strong
and experienced reconnaissance team leader,
who led by example through three deployments
to Iraq.
His professional education includes graduation
from the Sergeants Course, Special Forces Military
Freefall Parachute Course, the Reconnaissance
and Surveillance Leaders Course, Dive Supervisor
and the Staff Non-Commissioned Officers Academy.
During the 2007 Iraq deployment, Staff Sergeant
Brukardt’s Team participated in sixteen
separate operations, including eighty-six combat
patrols, twenty-nine clandestine sites and nine
raids. He and his team were responsible for
discovering numerous weapons caches and engaging
Staff Sergeant Brukardt is currently assigned
as an Instructor at the US Army Ranger School.
Staff Sergeant Robert R. Brukardt, a trainer,
mentor, warrior, and, above all, a leader, will
receive a Team Leader of the Year plaque donated
by Donna Graebel in memory of 1st Recon Battalion
Association charter member and Vice President
Ron Graebel and a combat knife provided by Michael
Fuller, TOPS Knives.
IN MEMORIAM
Warriors mourned by their comrades in arms
Major Earl Darlington, USMC (Ret)
K Co, 1st Bn 4th Mar and A Company, 1st Recon
Battalion
Republic of Viet Nam 1967
Gary Wentworth
A Company, 1st Recon Battalion
Republic of Viet Nam 1969
Bravo 3rd Plt. team 3 2008
Left to right: Cpl Erman, Dwight
Anderson, Zach Jerman, Brandon Berry, and Tyler Crane.
Tyler Crane
Generation Kill
Generation Kill: A 7 part HBO mini-series about 1st
Recon during Iraqi Freedom airs July 13. Check your local listing
for times.
