Who WE are
We are men who served in Echo Company, 1st Battalion 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) during the unit's formation and development in 1968 and early1969.
Our Purpose
Early Echo Recon history
In 1968, the U.S. Army made the decision to add a fifth infantry company, designated as Echo Company, to support each infantry battalion. The new Echo Company was created as a special-duty unit made up of a Reconnaissance Platoon, a Mortar Platoon, and a Radar Platoon. In the 1st of the 5th Battalion, Echo Company became operational in June 1968. Of the three new platoons, however, only the Recon Platoon turned out to be truly operational. The Radar Platoon never became operational at all, and the Mortar Platoon was only partially manned and operated as a base defense unit for just a few months, from late summer through early winter of 1968.
The Recon Platoon's mission was to perform three main duties:
1) conduct daytime reconnaissance and sweeps through suspected enemy areas to provide valuable information about the enemy for the battalion, and, at times, to engage smaller enemy units that were encountered;
2) conduct night-time reconnaissance and squad size combat ambushes;
3) serve as a ready-reaction unit when one of the line companies needed reinforcements.
This new strategy of using a small reconnaissance unit for recon sweeps, ambushes, and as a ready-reaction force turned out to be a major success. The Recon Platoon traveled light, quietly, and was capable of covering long distances quickly, often traveling 12-15 kilometers a day versus the 1-3 kilometers a day by the line units. Quite often, the platoon was inserted into, and extracted from, enemy territory by Huey helicopters, adding to its abilities to act quickly and effectively within enemy territory.
During the summer of 1968, Echo Company operated in I Corp, near the DMZ. In November of 1968, the unit, along with the entire 1st Cavalry Division, moved south to III Corp. In III Corp, Echo Company initially operated out of Katum - a Special Forces camp in Tay Ninh Province, very near the Cambodian Border (see photo below).
Katum Special Forces Base Camp
(We can offer no unit information after mid 1969)
Recent Echo Recon 1968-1969 Activities
First Reunion
Our first-ever reunion was held in Washington, DC over the weekend of August 22-24, 2008.
Six men (along with four wives) from various parts of the country came together for the first time in 40 years.
The attendees (from left to right in far right photo) are:
Ray (and Delores) Satterfield, South Carolina
Hugh (and Beth) Warner, Minnesota
Jeff (and Nadia) Duvall, Virginia
Donald (and Delores) Wilson, Kentucky
Larry Allin, Missouri
Howard Patrick, Pennsylvania
Anxiety was felt by all prior to the reunion, laughter and tears were rampant throughout the weekend, and a renewed bond of camaraderie and brotherhood was the end result. It was a very good reunion!
See the 2008 reunion photos Click here to see photos
Upcoming Activities
Next Echo Recon 1/5 1968-69 Reunion:
Late Summer 2009 • MYRTLE BEACH, NC
Costs will be very affordable and accommodations high quality. Watch this site for more information.
Planners for the next reunion are Delores and Ray Satterfield, email: SATTERFIELD@nctv.com
Echo Recon Photos in Vietnam: 1968-1969
Poetry, Stories & Interesting Links
Read a article about Echo Recon 1-5 from 1968
Read another article about Echo Recon 1-5 from 1968
Safe Conduct Flyer for Enemy Soliders Vietnam 1968
Wounded Echo Recon Soldier, Jeff Duvall, Calls Home from Hospital
Echo Recon 1968-69 Military.com site
Another Echo Recon Site (1969-1970 vets)
(Send us your poems, stories or links)
Fallen Warriors, Echo Recon 1968-69
For more information or to talk with someone about the Echo Recon site or reunions, please call Jeff Duvall 703-229-3304
or email at Manager@Echo Recon1-5.com
Guest Book
To View or Sign our Guest Book, please click here.
Visitors Since 09/2008
