I served proudly with First RECON Battalion – First Marine Division during the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam. I was an young NCO Scout Sniper with RECON Team Rio Grande, Echo Company. We spent time on Hill 200 defending this radio relay station and setting up for patrols into the active valleys below.
One of our toughest missions was locating and destroying incoming mortar and NVA artillery positions surrounding Marine Corps Base Khe Sanh. RECON Marines were Wanted Dead or Alive as the yellow NVA poster reads.
The attached photos depict just a brief moment in a young RECON Marine’s Life…
RECON Hill 200
No 1st Recon units were at or near Khe Sanh… Bravo Co. 3rd Recon Bn was working the Khe Sanh area when the battle for Khe Sanh began and remained there until it ended.
I was CO of Charlie Company 3rd Recon Bn, 3rd MarDiv. and my company worked out of Dong Ha.
I might add that the 3rd Recon Bn. did have any Scout Snipers.
Nice picture.
Hey there Cap. It has been over fifty years. I was the patrol leader for “Busstop” when you were the CO at Dong Ha. Just stumbled on this site 2/1/23. I don’t remember any scout snipers assigned to Charlie Co. When ever we went out with them they came from Battalion. Took Mawinney (sp) out to the backyard in February.
Just a shout out to true Recon Marines, BAD MF’ERS! Nothing but RESPECT! Observed them training constantly on 2 West Pacs! OOORAH!