Today We Remember

Team STRIKER

Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion.
United States Marine Corps

Today we stand beside Striker surviving patrol members Jeff Savelkoul and Mariano Guy in Remembrance

Killed In Action 30 June 1967

Cpl. Merlin R. Allen, Bayfield WI, 22E 86
HM3 Michael B. Judd, Cleveland, OH 22E 88
LCpl John D. Killen III, Des Moines IA 22E 88
Cpl. Glynn L. Runnels, Birmingham, AL 22E 90
HMM 265 Pilot Captain John Alexander House II, Pelham, NY 22E 87

Died Of Wounds 02 July 1967

LCpl Dennis M. Perry, Perry, GA 22E 112

Member of Striker Patol that survived and was Killed In Action 12 August 1967

Sgt. Eugene Castaneda, Honokaa, HI 24E 102

The following is taken from the 3rd Recon Command Chronologies on file at the Marine Corps Historical Center, Washington, DC.

Note: This is the entire Official Record of this event

301630H June. (YD997963) During attempted insertion of patrol in the vicinity helo started taking SA, AW, AA fire from the general area. Helo was hit and crashed and burned. Results of this were (4) friendly WIA's and (4) friendly KIA's from the recon team. The survivors moved to high ground and could hear firing directed at the gunships and fixed wing as they made strafing runs in the area. The survivors fired pen flares to mark the location and were extracted by sling. Prior to extraction team leader checked area of destroyed helo for weapons and equipment. All weapons were believed destroyed with the helo.(see supporting document #19)

During a search of the records at the Historical Center the following statement was found, misfiled and buried in the records.

301630H (YD997963) During attempted insertion of patrol in the vicinity helo started taking SA, AW, AA fire from the general area. Helo took a hit in the fuel tank causing the helo to crash and burn. Results of this were 4 friendly WIA and 4 friendly KIA's from the recon team. The survivors moved to high ground directed at the gunships and fixed wings as they made strafing runs in the area. The survivors fired pen flares to mark their location and were extracted by sling. Prior to extraction team leader checked area of destroyed helo for weapons and their equipment. All weapons were believed destroyed with the helo. Patrol did observe assorted SA ammo scattered throughout the area. From the amount of flack in the air at the time patrol leader feels their was at least (3) AA weapons in the area.

Castaneda
Sgt. Co A

This area was never searched by any US Ground Unit and the bodies of Allen, Judd, Killen, Runnels and House were not recovered. They are classified as Killed in Action/Bodies Not Recovered. A search of this site has not been made by JTFFA.

The Survivors of this patrol both recon and crewmen of HMM 265 were never recognized for their heroic actions after the Shootdown. They have been recognized by their peers.

For a complete account of this patrol and events that led up to it and after see "Never Without Heroes" written by Lawrence Vetter

George Neville
3rd Recon Assn.,RVN
http://grunt.space.swri.edu/3recon.htm"