Alpha
Company
3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion
United
States Marine Corps
Vietnam 1965-1969
Company Flag Vietnam
Updated 21 October 2018
Alpha
Company 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion has a very long and honored legacy. Its
roots lie with the formation of Company E Scouts, 3rd Tank Battalion, on 16
September1942 as part of the newly created 3rd Marine Division. During W.W.II
early 3rd Reconnaissance Marines distinguished themselves at Bougainville,
Solomon Islands, Guam, and Iwo Jima. This gallery will honor those Recon
Marines from Alpha Company that carried on the traditions of our Founding
Fathers during the Vietnam War.
The
entire company was deployed in Vietnam from 7 May 1965 until 7 October 1969
however many smaller deployments from the company were in country and offshore
as early as 1961. During 1964 Alpha Company was assigned airstrip perimeter
duty at Danang during a time of the rapid buildup of U.S. Military Forces in
Southeast Asia. Alpha Company was deployed in the areas of Chu Lai, Danang, Phu
Bai, Dong Ha, Khe Sanh, and
Quang Tri.
During
the Vietnam War Alpha Company Marines were awarded one Medal of Honor, five
Navy Cross's, twenty Silver Stars, scores of Bronze Stars, and an unknown
number of Purple Hearts that surely total several hundred. Approximately 650
Marines served in Alpha between 1965 and 1969 with 55 Gallant Marines Killed In
Action.
Over
time this gallery will record our legacy with documents, photographs, personal
memories of patrols and operations by those who served, and remembrances in an
effort to preserve our history.
Alpha Recon Association
“Serving Our Marines Since 1989”
If you served with Alpha Company 3rd Recon Battalion during the Vietnam
War and you have not heard from us, or if you have not received a mailing in
years, we probably lost you somewhere along the way with a bad address. In any
event please contact us. Our purpose is to locate everyone who serve and to
reunite those that spent the defining times of their lives together.
Alpha Recon Association Is Granted Tax
Exempt Status
IRS 501 C (19) War Veterans
Organization
All contributions to the association
are fully tax deductible.
We are very appreciative of
donations. If you would like to make a donation, information on how to
contribute is listed in our Company Office Page listed below. Thank you
in advance.
San
Antonio Reunion Report 2018
President Ray P. Raymond Message
A little housekeeping - please keep in touch with any changes of address,
email and phone. I am requesting if your address etc. has changed in the last
two years please let us know. We do not want to lose track of you with a bad
address return. I can be reached at george neville.
We
have an email distribution list for occasional notices. We do not share this
information with anyone other then our members. If you would like to be
included in this listing send us your email address. For security purposes recipients are blind
copied (bcc).
Resolution for Granting Financial Assistance see Company Office for
details.
Certificate of Commendation
for Recon Marines Just recently the Commandant of the Marine Corps General Joseph
F Dunford Jr. signed off on a Certificate of Commendation to all reconnaissance
units for service in Vietnam. There is no ribbon for this but looks very nice
in a frame.
JTFFA Search Report: Ronald Lee Longanecker
08 July 1966
American Beauty Patrol & Jimmy Stewart Info
Fidelis Certa Merces
(This Latin Phrase Appears On USMC WW2 Honorable Discharge
Certificates)
"To The Faithful There
Is Just Reward"
This Web Site is
maintained by the Alpha Recon Association, a combat Viet-Nam Veterans group
that served in Alpha Company 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, USMC 1965-69.
We hope you enjoy your visit - check back often