Alpha Company
3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
United States Marine Corps
Vietnam 1965-1969
Company Flag Used In Vietnam
Updated 05.15.12
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, nineteen Silver Stars, scores of Bronze Stars, and a 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 served and to reunite those that spent the defining times of their lives together.
Current News
Operation Reno #2 After Action Report Coming Soon
Next Reunion “New Orleans” November 2013
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Updated 05.14.12
Reunion 2010 After Action Report
The Return of “Team Breaker” 2005
JTFFA Search Report : Ronald Lee Longanecker MIA 08July 1966
Those That Served 11.09.11
Historical Pages updated 11.28.11
Fidelis Certa Merces
(This Latin Phrase appears on WWll USMC 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.
