| Brothers, I hope this does not hamper your holidays. Fredric Canfield, 3rd Recon, Bravo, 1969, died during treatment of brain cancer 10 July 2001. His wife says it was quick and he didn't suffer a lot of pain. He and I were close friends and have maintained comm over the years. We were looking forward to seeing each other at the reunion. HAND
SALUTE!
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On Memorial Day 2001, as a result of a long investigation and follow-up to correct an oversight of the paperwork during the war, Bob Lake was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained during the American Beauty Patrol of 8-9 June 1969. There is one man who deserves all the credit for making this happen and that man is Jeff Grosscup, 1st Lt. USMC Ret. The award ceremony took place during the traditional Memorial Day Services at the Lake View Cemetery in Aitkin, Minnesota. A local newspaper ran a story on 23 May 2001 which details the background on this and it can be found at : It
was a very Memorable Day! |
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| Brothers,
Last 30 June marked the 34th anniversary of the Team Striker crash. I would ask that you all take a moment with me and remember the brothers that we lost, and those that died later. They were my teammates, friends, and brothers. Good marines, young, like the rest of us, but willing to do "whatever it takes" to get the mission accomplished. They gave their lives for their country and their corps, just doing their job. As we would have done. I survived that day-for that I am eternally grateful!! I believe I have been given a mission and a purpose to fulfill. The mission-to make every effort possible to get my brothers back home and buried in the land they fought and died for, and to pass on the story of Team Striker to those who follow, so they will never be forgotten. The purpose-to "carry on" in life as they would, as we would as a team. They are with me in every thing I do, every where I go, every thought I have. When I'm in my plane, they are there; when I'm in my boat they're in there too. And most of all, they are always on my mind. I '"carry on" for them, as I know they would for me were things reversed. Those of us who made it home alive, no matter how bent and broken, can be grateful every day for the chance to live a full life-how close we all came to being on of those remembered. Our lost brothers would gladly trade us for our very worst day, no matter how bad it was.... Our personal problems are so petty and small, compared to our brothers sacrifice. MERLIN ALLEN DENNIS PERRY GLEN RUNNELS JOHN KILLEN MICHAEL JUDD "CAS" and CAPT JOHN HOUSE Junior
and I salute you, honor you, and remember you-we will bring you home!
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| Mike
Barnerd -
Most of us have already been made aware of the passing of Mike “Barnyard”
Barnerd, one of the most loved of the 3rd Recon Bn Association. To many,
Mike was one of the legends of the association. Even those of use who
didn’t know him personally, most of us knew and heard of him.
The executor of his estate, one of his dear friends for the last 25 years, Steve Blow, informed Fred Ostrom that Mike had drowned while swimming off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii on April 5, 2001. Mike was critically injured while serving in 3rd Recon in Vietnam. He was wounded only a few days before he was due to rotate back to the States. He spent 27 years working for the VA as a Benefits Counselor, always helping veterans. Mike was diagnosed with throat cancer around May of last year. He turned down conventional treatment, preferring to put the rest of his life in the hands of the Lord. Mike attended the 2000 New Orleans reunion and shared a room with Fred Ostrom. Fred said it was his honor to have Barnyard as a roommate. In thinking back over that special time, Fred said that he remembers thinking that it would be the last opportunity to be with this “special Marine.” Fred now looks back with sadness that it turned out he was right. In thinking back over his memories of Mike, Fred reflected that it was his belief that, “whoever met this happy-go-lucky free spirit” would be a better person for having know him. Fred continued by saying, “I, for one, will miss him terribly, and our reunions will not be the same without him there. He was, and will continue to be, a treasure of this association. Go gently into the night. Semper Fi, Marine.” Amen, Fred, amen.
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| Arlington
National Cemetery
I was watching a show on the History channel tonight and was wondering if anyone from 3rd Recon is buried there? Would any of the membership have any knowledge of this? It would be nice to know so when any of us visits, we could pay are respects. Last time I was there I noticed unit markers along some of the sidewalks, maybe we could put one there for 3rd Recon. Semper Fi Ron Brown |
