India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment
Proud Members of the Living History Association
3rd Force Recon LRRP 1968-1970
Attached to the 26th Marine Regiment
Photo found on Google
Though technically part of 3rd Force Recon, this small unit of Long Range Recon never worked with anyone else from 3rd Force Recon BTN. Instead they were attached to the 26th Marine Regiment under direct command of Colonel Van D. Bell. These men were specially trained to work behind enemy lines disrupting logistics. They were trained in advanced hand to hand combat as well as being combat scuba and jump qualified.
Arriving in January of 1968, their first mission took them to the combat base of Khe Sanh on the night of January 20th. The next day the siege of Khe Sanh began and this small unit of Marines were trapped on Hill 881 South fighting along side Marines from India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines. They fought at Khe Sanh for 17 days before they were finally able to be evacuated back to their home base of Da Nang.
After Khe Sanh these Marines went on various missions in accordance with their training making several insertions into Laos and Cambodia (before the United States was officially sending troops there) and making seven parachute jumps into North Vietnam.
There were 30 Marines, working in two teams of 15. The highest-ranking man was Sergeant Leo Tucker, who was also their Alpha Sniper, the next highest man was a Corporal, the rest were Lance Corporals. Rarely did all 30 Marines go out at the same time. Typically each team of 15 worked in rotation, however all 30 went into the A Shau Valley in An Hoa for a 30 day mission. It was one of their most challenging, but they never lost a man.
In January of 1970 they prepared to go out in a 28 man team (two of the Marines were in sick bay). They arrived at a US Army artillery firebase called "Delta" and were hit the next day with a major NVA and Viet Cong attack. Sgt. Tucker was wounded and fought to defend the medevac area with a wounded leg, in the meantime the 27 other Marines in this unit were cut off, surrounded and killed while in a 360 around the yardarm defending the American Colors. Sergeant Tucker is one of three survivors of this unit. The three survivors were sent home after that.
Honors won by this unit from 1968-1970
3rd Force Recon LRRP 1968-1970
(Reenacted)
The 3rd Force Recon LRRP unit (Reenacted) is headed by Vietnam Veteran and original commander, Sergeant Leo Tucker. With his eyewitness accounts of his time in Vietnam, along with a in depth display of the equipment and weapons utilized by this specialized unit the men of 3rd Force Recon, take great pride in educating the public on the job of this unit and some of what other Special Operations Groups did during the Vietnam War. They also explain what the Viet Cong were doing to counter their operations.
Founded in 2007, 3rd Force Recon takes part in a number of public display living history events, where the public can get hands on education with what life was like for these select few. Like the men of India Company, 3/26, the men of 3rd Force Recon pride themselves on upholding the highest standards of military bearing and professionalism and take their roles seriously as they know they are representing the memory of men who gave the greatest sacrifice for this country.
Third Force Recon has also had the honor of working as volunteers at the Mobile Vietnam Wall, when it came to Wilmington, VT in 2013. They provided 24 hour security on the wall as well as volunteered helping visitors find loved ones, family and friends on the Wall.
3rd Force Recon has not taken part in any tactical events as of yet, but it has been discussed and the men of 3rd Force Recon will be welcome to take part in these events once there are enough of them to allow them to operate effectively at the jobs that this unit would have been doing.
If you are interested in joining, please see our Recruitment Page, and our Contact Page. Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have!
Photo Taken 2007 by Tim Donovan