Alpha
Company
3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion
United
States Marine Corps
Vietnam 1965-1969
Flag From The Company Office In
Vietnam
Updated 14 December 2023
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”
Mess
Hall Sign Camp Reasoner
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.
Those That Served Updated
10 Dec 2022
Update on Return of Team Striker
Paul Tobin’s MCL Magazine Article
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 here george neville.
We
have an email distribution list for occasional notices. We do not share this
information with anyone. 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 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
“Call a Recon Brother Once A Month”
Fidelis Certa Merces
(This Latin Phrase Appears on the USMC WW II Honorable Discharge
Certificates)
"To The Faithful There
Is Just Reward"
This
Web Site is maintained by the Alpha Recon Association RVN, 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