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RECONDO!!


Desertrat
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101st Airborne Division "Recondo" instructors and students, c. 1959. Note the instructor on the left wearing the white t-shirt with the 101st Recondo design also looks to have the patch shown earlier on his hat.

(source: Time Life Archive, Google Images)

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  • 8 months later...
  • 2 years later...

Here's a 5th Infantry Division Recondo that I recently picked up.

 

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Here is a picture along with a cropped close-up of the 5th Infantry Division Recondo patch being worn by members of the 69th Infantry Brigade. The 69th was a Kansas National Guard unit called to active duty in 1968 to round out the 5th at Fort Carson, CO while its 1st Brigade was in Vietnam. The picture came from the 69th 1968 yearbook.

 

 

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I posted the following pics on another topic in this forum http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/107638-recondo-pocket-patches/ but thought they were worth re-posting here.

 

Metal or plastic 8th Infantry Division Recondo badge being worn on Class A uniform of 2/68th Armor soldier - late 70's or early 80's

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He's also wearing a NAVY PUC as his only ribbon!

Yes, this was discussed in the other topic as well. The 773d Amphibian Tractor Battalion, one of the units whose lineage was ultimately incorporated into the 68th Armored Regiment, was entitled to the Navy PUC for action on Saipan and Tinian in WWII http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/ar/068ar.htm

 

Also, due to the lack of any personal ribbons, the speculation was that this photo was taken sometime between 1974 (end of the Vietnam eligibility era for the National Defense Service Medal) and 1981 (creation of the Army Service Ribbon).

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  • 1 year later...

101st Airborne Recondo Certificate to Sgt. John R. Baker and identified as Recondo Number 3. The signature appears to be that of MG Harry H. Critz who commanded the 101st from February 1963 to March 1964. Although it is undated, if this certificate identifies a graduate of the first course class, it suggests the course came along much later than when MG William C. Westmoreland commanded the division from April 1958 to June 1960. Or could it be the certificates were not not issued until much later?

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This certificate from 1978 suggests one or more of the brigades of the 82nd Airborne Division conducted their own Recondo Course although it grants the recipient the right to wear "the coveted 82nd Airborne Division Recondo Patch".

 

Did the 2nd Brigade operate the Recondo Course for the entire division, or is it possible each brigade conducted its own course?

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Certificate issued for completion of the MACV Recondo School conducted by the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam

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To answer my own question in the previous post, here is a 101st Recondo certificate signed by Gen. Westmoreland.

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I like the 24th I.D. patch.Never seen that one before.Very nice.

I agree, that is the "jewel in the rough". Would like to explore that item in more detail.

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He's also wearing a NAVY PUC as his only ribbon!

68th was awarded Navy PUC during WW I I.

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A couple of certificates, the first for completion of the the 2nd Infantry Division's Advanced Combat Training Academy and the second awarding the Imjin Scouts badge. The first is signed by the first Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient, Roger H. C. Donlon, who was commandant of the academy.

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TrenchfootJoe66

Nice ACTA certificate ! I collect Imjin Scout stuff, if you ever want to get rid of it let me know. I have a signed copy of Donlon's book Id be willing to trade

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