Guns UpWELCOME ABOARD

Alpha Company, The Basic School Class of 1-68 mustered mid year 1967, and graduated at the end of the year, with 219 Lieutenants receiving their assigned military occupational specialties (MOS) and orders to duty.  Many went for further specialized training beyond that provided in The Basic Infantry Officers curriculum: air, artillery, engineering, air defense, logistics, tanks, motor transport, communications, to name some.  Those who were assigned to the infantry MOS universally went either directly to Vietnam or to recon training and then Vietnam.  It was worlds away.

Friend Down(April 2015) Forty nine members of the class have fallen.  Fifteen perished at their posts in combat in Vietnam; three died in flight accidents and thirty one died after returning home- many with shortened lives from the injuries suffered in Vietnam.  The majority of the class received Purple Heart Medals for their wounds.  Virtually all suffered numerous “inches from death” experiences, injuries and emotional scars.  It is honest to say that all were changed, and many became strangers to even their families. Being Officers Of Marines and leading Marines in combat is a serious undertaking.  There is no higher calling.

Chopper DownIn April of 2015, many of the members of this class came together in Fredericksburg, VA to renew friendships and share experiences.  Most have not had contact with each other since TBS graduation.  That is the way the military worked then- you went to war with Marines you had never met, and came home alone.  It is stunning that every single member of the class has been positively located and all but one contacted after these years.  For many, the joined fellowship of Marines with shared experiences will close a nagging open wound.  For all, the joining of like minded, hard, proud Marines will be a blast.

AS INFORMATION

We are saddened by the recent loss of these classmates.
Click on Name to learn more.

Francis Eric Lewis (Eric)
09 Sep 1944 – 24 Dec 2022

Edward J. Wietecha
13 July 1945 – 14 Sept 2022

Kenneth L. Shackelford
17 April 1945 – 9 May 2022

Bernard F. Bradstreet
17 Feb 1945 – 02 Jan 2022

David M. Gee
21 Jun 1941 – 02 Jul 2021

George L. McGaughey
29 Oct 1945 to 28 Feb 2021

Thomas M. McEntire
04 Dec 1945 – 6 Nov 2017

Paul R. Daigle
18 Jan 1945 – 6 Nov 2017

William R. Black Jr.
30 Sep 1945 – 18 Mar 2017

Dennis C. Rydstrom
27 Feb 1943 – 18 Oct 2016

John T. Clark, Jr.
26 May 1945 – 19 May 2016

Michael Kitchens Morrow
2 April 1945 – 6 April 2016

Andrew J. Ley
18 Aug 1945 – 20 Oct 2020

David M. Hauntz
10 Oct 1944 – 04 Sep 2020

Frances Bierne Lovely
05 Jan 1946 – 07 June 2020

John M. Hudock, Jr.
23 Jan 1946 – 15 Dec 2019

Michael P. DeLong
14 Mar 1945 – 27 July 2018

James L. Foresman
24 Aug 1945 – 7 Jun 2018

What's New?

See what you've missed . . .

HERE>>