01-March 1961 – 28 March 1973
(Public Law 88-257)

The Marines in TBS 1-68 are always interested in locating and communicating with Marines from other Basic School Classes. To facilitate that effort, we are listing here all Classes, websites, reunions, and pertinent news that we come across.

If you have information that would be appropriate here, please send it to us and we will gladly post it here.

Divisions & Units

  • Vietnam Era Division and Unit Websites

    5th Marines: www.5thmarinesvietnammemorial.org
    1st Bn, 1st Marines: http://www.1stbn1stmarines.com/
    1st Bn, 4th Marines: http://1stbn4thmarines.com/
    1st Bn, 9th Marines: http://1stbn4thmarines.com/
    2nd BN, 9th Marines: http://www.2ndbattalion9thmarines.org/
    7th Engineer BN: http://www.usmc.org/7th/
    Were you a helicopter pilot?  http://www.popasmoke.com

    Were you a tanker?  http://usmcvta.org Organization for Vietnam era Marine Tankers and those in support of tanks. We also welcome ONTOS officers and crewmen.

    MACG-18, MASS-3 Our first ever 50 year reunion for Marines who served with MASS-3 (Marine Air Support Squadron – 3 will be held 17-19 July 2018.  Info at: http://mass-3.blogspot.com

    Command Chronologies: http://www.archives.gov/research/military/marine-corps/command-chronology.html
    The Battle of Dai Do aka the Battle of Dong Ha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-ZI1BGr3Mw

    http://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/1090973/reunion-web-page/
    R 221855Z FEB 17
    ALMAR 006/17
    MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
    SUBJ/REUNION WEB PAGE//
    GENTEXT/REMARKS/
    1.  This ALMAR announces publication of a web page that will assist Marines and veteran Marines in organizing unit reunions.
    2.  Sergeant Major Green and I understand that we are stronger together.  In our 2016 Marine Corps Birthday message, we spoke of our warrior culture.  We learn, share, mourn, celebrate, and protect each other by coming together and telling stories.  Reunions, and the connections strengthened by them, offer an environment in which we are reminded of who we are.
    3.  I ask all Marines to get connected.  Find your fellow Marines.  Reach out, catch up, and when needed, help others.  One way to enhance our bonds is through hosting or participating in reunions.  While hosting a reunion may be a complicated undertaking, I know Marines are up to that task.
    4.  In this spirit and to show just some of the considerations required to conduct a reunion, as well as to highlight past reunions and announce those to come, the Marine Corps has launched a “Year of the Reunion” web page that can be accessed through www.marines.mil.  Although the page is not all inclusive, it does provide a playbook “template” that can help organize logistics and planning considerations.  Collaborating with others who have conducted reunions may help avoid planning and execution pitfalls, as well as guide you through the process of organizing a successful event.
    5.  Following any reunion, we ask that you share your experiences and insights.  Use the reunion web page to post photos, testimonials, and your after-action reports.  As SgtMaj Green said in our Birthday message, this is about individuals coming together to be a part of something greater than one’s self.
    6.  Enjoy your reunions and Semper Fidelis.
    Robert B. Neller, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps.//
    https://search.usa.gov/search?affiliate=mdm&query=year%20of%20the%20reunion

    ...

1962

  • Class 5-62: Hotel and India Companies

    TBS Class 5-62, Hotel and India Companies
    Website: ????
    Facebook: ????
    General: Class 5-62 had 418 USMC officers. Class also included 7 officers from Haiti in H Company and 6 2Lts from the Vietnamese Marine Corps in I Company. Most of the 418 USMC officers were from OCS (33rd OCC). There were also numerous NROTC and PLC sourced officers, and a large group of lawyers. The Marine Corps back filled the TBS Class 5-62 with June 6 and June 7, 1962 college graduates/commissioned officers. The Class also included several officer-graduates of the then current enlisted commissioning programs and several who served tours as enlisted prior to college. Accordingly, there was a large percentage of career officers in the Class. Of the 418 USMC officers, I have information on 299 living Marines. 100 are deceased, and my searches have not produced any information on 19 others. We still have contact with the Haitian officers; I assume that the Vietnamese Marines are all deceased. Of the 100 known/verified deceased, 7 were KIA in RVN and are on the Wall, and at least 4 others died on active duty. The Class has been materially impacted by Agent Orange related diseases and combat related injuries. Classes of Instruction began May 28, 1962 and the Class graduated November 22, 1962. Prominent officers in Class 5-62 were General Richard D. Hearney, USMC Ret. ACMC Francis J. (“Bing”) West, author and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the Reagan Administration and Col Robin Beard, USMCR (Ret), H Company, US Congressional Representative TN 6th Congressional District 1973-1983.

    Reunions: 1st reunion 2004 with 7 more following.
    The last two reunions, 7th and 8th, was held Sept 29-Oct 02 2016 in Nashville, TN and Oct 2018 in Quantico, VA
    Future Reunions:  ??
    Class POCs:
    Harvey W. Ross: (269) 782-3601, harveross67@gmail.com
    2016 Reunion coordinator: Denis W. Retoske: (714) 287-0706, dwrlawyer@gmail.com, tbsclass562@gmail.com

    ...

1965

  • Class 1-65: Alpha Company

    No information is available for this class/company.

    ...
  • Class 2-65: Bravo? and Charlie Companies

    TBS Class 2-65, Bravo and Charlie Companies (xx Aug 1964 – xx Feb 1965)
    BRAVO Company
    Website: http://tbs2-65reunion.com/
    Facebook:
    Other: http://farmtown3.rssing.com/browser.php?indx=1793814&item=10752
    General:
    Reunions: 1st reunion 1991, xxxx, May 2014 Quantico
    Future Reunions: 11-14 Feb 2019 New Orleans
    Class POC: jimgordon9@gmail.com

    CHARLIE Company
    We were Charlie Company Of 2-65.  We have held several reunions and will be ending another in New Orleans in two weeks, 11 – 14 Feb.  We had 233 in our class.   We lost 11 Lts. and two of our instructor/Plt. Cmdrs. in Vietnam.  We erected a monument to these men as well as two pilots lost while on active duty, but not in Vietnam.  We also erected a plaque at the NMMC.  I was able to locate 149 of our group in 2012 & over 40 were deceased at the time.  We have lost seven more since our last reunion at the Marine’s Memorial Club in 2016.
    One of our class members, Franklin Cox, is the author of “Lullibies for Lieutenants”, about his experiences as a FO with 12th. Marines and other of our classmates.  Phillip Caputo’s book, “Rumor Of War” also contains the names of some of our classmates.
    Harry Dellinger <handbdellinger@msn.com>

    ...
  • Class 3-65: ? Company

    No  information available for this class/company.

    ...
  • Class 4-65: Echo Company

    No information is available for this class/company.

    ...
  • Class ?-65: Foxtrot — either part of 4-65 or 5-65

    No information is available for Foxtrot Company.

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  • Class 5-65: Golf Company

    It is possible this was a multi-company Class. So far, the only known Company is Golf.

    TBS 5-65 Golf Company: graduated 25 Nov 1965
    Website: http://tbs5-65reunion.weebly.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbs565
    Primary feeder: OCS/OCC 27 May 1965
    Previous Reunions:
    Quantico, VA, 14-17 Aug 2003.
    xxx 2005
    Quantico, VA, August 13-15 2015.
    Jacksonville, NC, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2016.
    POCs:
    Charles Swindell, (919) 848- 0410
    Carl Kusky <cskjr2001@yahoo.com>

    ...

1966


1967


1968

  • Class 1-68: Alpha Company

    TBS Class 1-68, Alpha Company (TBS 3 July – 22 Nov 1967)
    Website: https://tbs1-68usmc.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1599725076926302/
    General: Class 1-68 had one Company (Alpha) with 219 graduates. Most officers in this Class have a commissioning date of 7-Jun-1967. Prominent officers in Class 1-67/Alpha Company were: 

    General Michael Williams, served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps until his retirement from active duty in November 2002 with 36 years of service.

    Lieutenant General Michael DeLong served as Deputy Commander, United States Central Command, second-in-command to General Tommy Franks during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Lieutenant General DeLong retired in 2003 with over 36 years of service.

    Major General Thomas L. Wilkerson served as Commander, Marine Forces Reserve – the largest command in the Marine Corps, with more than 100,000 Marines at 200 sites around the United States – until his retirement in 1998 with over 31 years of service.

    Reunions: 1st reunion April 2015, Fredericksburg, VA.
    Future Reunions: 2nd Reunion scheduled for 3-5 March 2017, San Diego, CA.
    Class POCs:
    Bob Koury- #1, rckoury@mac.com
    Jim Williams-2017 reunion,  jimgwilliams@msn.com
    Dave Peters-web, dwmp1230@gmail.com

    ...
  • Class 2-68: Bravo Company.

    TBS 2-68 Bravo Company.
    From: MICHAEL CATHEY <colmcathey@gmail.com> TBS Class 2-68 Bravo graduated in January 1969 and is organizing a reunion at a date to be announced later. Contact Michael Cathey at colmcathey@gmail.com

    ...
  • Class 3-68: Charlie Company.

    TBS Class 3-68, Charlie Company (TBS SEP 1967 – JAN 1968)

    Website:   https://tbs1-68usmc.com/vietnam-era-tbs-classes-websites-reunions/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1599725076926302/

    General: Class 3-68 Charlie Company had 210 graduates; 8 members of our Class were KIA RVN; and, 20 are deceased.
    Charlie Company, The Basic School Class of 3-68 mustered SEPTEMBER 1967 and graduated at the end JANUARY 1968 in the middle of the ’68 Tet offensive.   Our graduated officers received 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.  Many of those who were assigned to the infantry MOS went either directly to Vietnam or to recon or language training and then to Vietnam.

    Eight (8) members of the class died in Vietnam and many received Purple Hearts.  In the intervening years over 20 of the rest of the class have passed away, having served their country honorably in a difficult time.

    In 1990 Second platoon had a reunion in Wash. DC honoring their beloved Staff Platoon Commander, Col Jon Rider.

     Future Class Reunion: TBS 3-68 Company Reunion scheduled for 19-22 September 2019, Quantico, VA.
    Class POCs:
    Norm Hapke – #1, nhapke@cox.net

    Jerry Martin, jerrymartin68@aol.com

    Jerry Saggers, jsaggers@gmail.com

    Tim Szabo, timszabo2c@gmail.com

    ...
  • Class 4-68: Delta Company.

    Delta Company.
    No information available for this Company.

    ...
  • Class 5-68: Echo Company

    TBS Class 5-68, Echo Company (Start Date: November, 1967– Graduation Date : May, 1968)
    Class Website:  tbs5-68@yahoogroups.com (email?)
    Article Website: http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?67617-Above-It-All
    Web: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/tbs5-68/info?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=dir&slk=59
    General information: There were 241 graduates in The Basic School Class 5-68, (Echo Company). Most Officers in this Company have a Commissioning date of 01Nov1967.   Eight of our classmates died during the Vietnam War. Prominent officers in Class 5-68 are: Lt.Gen Edward Hanlon, Jr., MajGen. Geoff Higginbotham, BrigGen. Edwin Kelley, Jr., BrigGen. David Hague…47 of the graduates were Infantry Officers (0302), 53 were Artillery Officers (0802), 25 graduates became  Naval Aviators (7502), 22 graduates were Supply Officers (3002), 12 graduates were JAG Officers (4402), the remaining 80+ graduates were Engineering Officers (1302), Communications Officers (2502), Motor Transport Officers (3502), Tank Officers (1802) , Air Traffic Control Officers (6702),
    Prior Reunions: 40th Reunion in Washington, D.C. May 2008, 45th Reunion in Washington, D.C. May, 2013
    Future Reunions: Golden 50th, 12-16 July 2018 in San Diego 
    Class POC’s: Quinton Worthams, 323-356-1636, Quintoncal@aol.com;  Larry Eastland, 310-220-4280, larryeastland@gmail.com; Louis Hellerman,, Paigemaze@aol.com
    Bill Ryan, 504-452-7474, wryan@trimarkconstructors.com

    ...
  • Class 6-68: Foxtrot Company

    TBS Class 6-68, Foxtrot Company (TBS  07-Dec-1967 — 01-May-1968)

    General: Class 6-68 had one Company (Foxtrot) with 265 graduates. Most Officers in this Company have a Commissioning date of 01-Nov-1967.  113 Classmates have not yet been found. Eleven (11) of our classmates gave their lives for our nation during the Vietnam War.
    Website: www.tbs6-68.com (no longer valid)
    Reunions: 2011 Chicago (our first), 2012 Reno/Lake Tahoe, 2013 DC/Quantico, 2014 San Diego, 2015 New Orleans, 2016 San Francisco.
    Future Reunions: October 2017, Quantico/DC (upcoming -our 50th from OCS);
    2018 – Cruise?
    Published authors: Dan Guenther:  China Wind, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Dodge City Blues; Les Levy: Vietnam Sunrise; (??) Rice-paddy Lieutenants
    Class POCs: Bob Lorish <rlorish@gmail.com> and Dan Guenther <GuentherD1@aol.com>

     

    ...
  • Class 7-68: Golf Company

    TBS Class 7-68, Golf Company, (10-Jan-68 to 29-May -68)

    General: Class 7-68 appears to have one Company, Golf; The 47th OCS candidates were commissioned 2nd Lieutenants on 1-Jan-68. Companies E & F, of the 47th comprised the majority of  TBS Golf 7-68.   Some members of the 47th OCS were not able to proceed directly to Golf 7-68. Likewise, Golf 7-68 picked up some members who were not part of Companies E & F.

    Website: http://www.oocities.org/golf768reunion/index.html (expired website)
    Another expired website: http://www.tbsgolf768.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tbs768golf/  (not current)
    Reunions: 2003 Quantico, 2005 San Diego, 2007 Annapolis, 35th – 2009 San Fran.
    Future Reunions:   MAY 10-13, 2018, WASHINGTON, DC
    Class POC: Paul S. Wilburger (Mechanicsburg PA), pwilburger@gmail.com  Home: 717-697-4501; Cell: 845-532-8917

    ...
  • Class 8-68: Hotel Company

    TBS Class 8-68, Hotel Company (were there other companies such as India and Juliet in 8-68 ??)
    General: Class 8-68 had at least one Company (Hotel) with 238 (incl 20 foreign military officers) graduates; 06 Feb 1968 – 03 Jul 1968; Most Officers in this Company have a Commissioning date of 1-Jan-1968. Eleven (11) of our classmates gave their lives for our nation during the Vietnam War. Prominent officers in Class 8-68 Hotel Company were Lewis Puller Jr (WIA), Ron McClean (Jimmy Stewarts stepson – KIA), MGEN Randle West, David Skaggs (US Congressman from Colorado).
    Websites: http://usmc.allencc.edu/ – to be phased out ; www.tbs868.com – new website.
    Hotel article: http://militaryreunionplanners.com/SR/index.php?folder=Hotel868
    Facebook: none
    Reunions: Jun 2005 Quantico, Jun 2006 Quantico, Jun 2008 Quantico, Jun 2013 Quantico, Oct 2015 San Diego
    Future Reunions: Hotel 8-68, 50th Reunion, June 6–June 10, 2018, Quantico, VA. THIS WILL BE OUR 50TH REUNION AND WE WILL BE DEDICATING A PLAQUE FOR THOSE WE LOST IN RVN IN SEMPER FI PARK.
    Class POCs:
    Terrence Arndt  < tdarndt@gmail.com > , Home: 314-434-6908 Cell: 314-308-5002
    Webmaster: Mike Gerhold  < cmgerhold@gmail.com >

    ...
  • Class 9-68: Kilo Company

    TBS Class 9-68 Kilo Company; TBS 11 March – 7 Aug 1968.

    General: TBS Class 9-68 was a single Company Class. Kilo Company graduated 244 officers. Most Officers in this Company have a Commissioning date of 1-Jan-1968.  Six of our classmates gave their lives for our nation during the Vietnam War. Prominent officers in Class 9-68 Kilo Company were XXX

    Website: http://www.tbs968.org
    Were you a helicopter pilot?  http://www.popasmoke.com
    Were you a Tanker? http://usmcvta.org  is an organization for Vietnam era Marine Tankers and those in support of tanks. We also welcome ONTOS officers and crewmen.
    Prior Reunions: no known prior reunions
    Future Reunions:  A 50th year reunion will be held Sept. 19 to 22, 2018 at Holiday Inn Triangle, VA
    Class POCs Kilo Company:
    Roger Moscater <moscater@optonline.net> (203) 814-7040
    Allyn Hinton <    marinepatches@aol.com>  (636) 441-5623

    ...
  • Class 10-68: Lima Company
    ...
  • Class 11-68: Mike Company

    22 June 2018: Basic class 11-68 should be coming up on 50 years this November.  Anyone interested in setting up a reunion can contact me at: Thom Meaker <twmeaker@aol.com>

    ...
  • Class 12-68: November and Oscar Companies

    TBS Class 12-68, November Company
    TBS: 18 June to 13 November 1968
    Website: https://novco1968tbs.com
    General: Class 12-68 / November Company had 197 graduates. Most members of the Company have a commissioning date of 5-Jun-68. Other represented commissioning dates are 1-Apr-1968.
    Reunions: 4-7 June 2015 Quantico, VA
    Future Reunions: 50th Reunion in planning – Nov 2018/Quantico.
    Class POCs:
    – Head Honcho Maj Gen Jack A. Davis (1st Platoon) (jadavisusmc@gmail.com): for dispute resolution (828-817-1013).
    – Treasurer James DuBose (1st Platoon) (jamesdubose@gmail.com): for reunion fund information (770-331-2546).
    – Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Ed Browder (1st Platoon) (ed.browder@yahoo.com): for staff assistance (540-230-4203).
    – Ass’t Chief Cook and Bottle Washer Danny Hovanesian (2nd Platoon) (danh.atty@comcast.net): for most anything (617-448-8206).
    – Chief Marine Locator Extraordinaire Grant Smith (gws76571@gmail.com): for help with search techniques for finding lost brothers (254-681-4189).
    – Webmaster Tom Browder (tom.browder@gmail.com): for corrections or suggested improvements to this site (850-830-8078).
    – West Coast mini-reunions: Chris Ryan, (310) 713-3738

    TBS Class 12-68, Oscar Company
    TBS: 18 June 1968 to 13 November
    No additional information is available for TBS Class 12-68 / Oscar Company
    Mike McCarty – Oscar Company: http://aoundthescuttlebutt.blogspot.com/

    ...

1969


1970

  • Class 1-70: Alpha Company

    TBS 1-70 Alpha Company

    Information as of 11 Oct 2018:
    Reunions: 50th year reunion 17-20 October 2019 – Embassy Suites in San Diego.
    Contact: Dan Naremore <tantz@bellsouth.net>
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheBasicSchool/photos/?tab=album&album_id=524969334319523
    No other TBS Class information available.

    ...
  • Class 2-70: Bravo Company

    Bravo Company.

    22 Aug 1969 – 21 Jan 1970
    TBS 2-70 Mini-Class Reunion on 22-25 May 2014
    Reunion in San Diego 2016
    Reunion on November 1-4, 2018 Arlington, VA
    Only other information known is this member only website:
    http://www.tbs270.org/
    POC:  Col Asher Spittler  <asherspi@aol.com>

    ...
  • Class 3-70: Charlie Company

    TBS 3-70 Charlie Company:
    General information: There were 240 graduates in The Basic School Class 3-70, (Charlie Company). Most Officers in this Company were commissioned during August 1969.   Two of our classmates were killed in action in the Vietnam War, and 4 were killed in air accidents while still in the service.  Prominent officers in Class 3-70 are:  Lt.Gen Henry (“Peter”) Osmon., Lt Gen. Michael  A. Hough, and Assistant Secretary of State , Paul  Vincent Kelly.  As of 2020, all 240 classmates have been accounted for, with 200 still alive and 40 deceased.  Besides the 2 retired Lt generals, the class had 17 colonels, 19 Lt colonels, 6 majors, 4 captains, 1 first lieutenant, and 1 Naval Commander  (Chaplin) who also retired from military service.
    A mini reunion was held April 2017 in Quantico, VA, and a 50-year reunion was held in San Diego  February 09-14, 2020.
    Reunion planning in progress – A future reunion (place not selected yet) is planed for 2022.
    POCs:
    Paul Perra,  pperra@icloud.com, (978) 381-4746
    Kevin McCann <captain947@aol.com>
    Dave Moynihan <dcmoynihan@gmail.com>

    ...
  • Class 4-70: Delta Company

    No Information available

     

    ...
  • Class 5-70: Echo Company

    Echo company.  215 members mostly from 61st OCC.  CO was Major R. W. Mitchell.  XO was Captain Russ Sutton who retired as a one star.

    We were commissioned on 7 Nov 69 and I started TBS shortly after.  We graduated from TBS on 8 April 70.   Pretty much everyone went to either Lejeune or Pendleton.  By then the draw-down of USMC forces was almost over (first 9th Marines and then the rest of 3rd MarDiv went to Okinawa while we were still in OCS).  A very few from our class went in country after a short stint at Pendleton.  Right after TSB about a dozen of us went to a short (6 week) Vietnamese language course they offered in those days near the WM OCS main side. We had one unusual classmate who was a West Point graduate who was permitted to be commissioned in the Corps because his father was a career Marine officer.  He was killed in a plane crash at Ft. Sill in 1975.

    ...
  • Class 6-70: Foxtrot Company

    Fox Company, 6-70.  TBS dates: 9 December 1969 – 06 May 1970.
    Upcoming reunion, Quantico,  Thur 21 Oct – Sun 24 Oct 2021

    (REVISION 1 DTD: 21 MAR 20) WAS 30 April – 03 May 2020.  Rescheduled due to Covid-19 risks.

    (REVISION 2 DTD: 04 JUL 20) WAS 22-25 Oct 2020. Rescheduled due to Covid-19 risks

    (REVISION 3 DTD: 14 DEC 20) WAS 10-13 Jun 2021. Rescheduled due to Covid-19 risks

    ##### Rescheduled reunion Dates: Thur 21 Oct – Sun 24 Oct 2021.  Stay tuned. #####

    The reunion will be held at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House Hotel, Fredericksburg, VA. We have contact information for most of the class. The class had 209 members and we have contact information for over 200 members. We are continuing to reach out to class members regarding the reunion.

    Primary Contact:
    Col (Ret) Mitch Youngs, mitchyoungs@verizon.net
    Alternate:  CWO-4 (Ret) Vic Young OldGyrene@outlook.com

    ...

1971


1972


1973

  • Class 4-73 Delta Company

    Class 4-73: Delta Company

    TBS Dates: 11/29/72 – 6/7/73

    General: 187 officers, mostly from OCS; CO- Capt. Douglas C. MacCaskill, XO – Capt. David L. Latham

    Website: none

    Past Reunions: none

    Future Reunions: 50th will be our first reunion possibly sometime in 2023 to commemorate our 50th.

    Primary Contacts:

    Bob Donahue: jp350haven@comcast.net

    Bill Anderson: binche57@yahoo.com

    Mike Jones: mikerjones911@gmail.com

    ...