1st
Composite Radio CompanyUnited States Marine Corps
Fleet Marine Force Pacific
1959 - 1964
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1st
Composite Radio Company United States Marine Corps Fleet Marine Force Pacific 1959 - 1964 |
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Scott Powell (Additional Photographs) Greetings,
I am one of the original members of
the "modern" 1st Radio Co , later known as 1st Composite Radio co.
and then later 1st Composite Radio Bn. About 25 or so members of
my Radio Telegraph Operators Course MOS 2533, were assigned directly
out of the school at MCRD San Diego and shipped to Camp Smith Hawaii
where 1st Radio was forming up. At that time, there were only 40 or
so officers and NCOs'. We stayed there about a month or so and then
went to our new barracks at Kaneohe. As time evolved, the company
kept growing and eventually got to over 200 members. I was a member
of 1st Radio from May 1959 to May 1962 when I rotated back to the
states (Treasure Island) for discharge. When I first went to
Hawaii, it was still a territory, gaining statehood in August of
1959. During my three years at 1st Radio, I obtained the
additional MOS of 2571. I have some pictures that I will
eventually scan and get to the site, plus some more names of the
original members.
Former Commandant Al Gray was a Captain
when I went to 1st Radio and if I remember, his job was operations
officer. I am a retired Telecommunications Officer with the Central
Intelligence Agency (30 year career) and when I was on an assignment
to the Washington, D.C. area in 1988, there was an article in Time
or Newsweek about the "hard-charging Commandant of the Marine
Corps". I wrote Hqs, Marine Corps a short note addressed to General
Gray with the comments that I served with him in Hawaii, didn't
expect him to remember me, etc. He came right back with a
handwritten note, followed by a phone call from his flunky. He
invited me and another former co-worker who was a 1st Radio Bn
member during the Viet Nam days and also served with Al Gray to have
lunch with him down at HQS Marine corps in his private dining room.
Quite a thrill. He remembered all the names and we had a great
meeting.
As you are probably aware, elements of
1st Radio co. were among the first Marines with boots on the ground
in Viet Nam before most people had even heard of Vietnam. A
platoon was shipped over in January 1962 from Kaneohe and I remember
it vividly as they had the whole company pack up to ship out but
only some elements went. At the time, I was a short timer and
probably wouldn't have gone anyway.
P.S. I am still in regular email
contact with Sgt. Major Jack Jaunal, who was my platoon Sgt. in
Hawaii. He went on to be Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps, Atlantic
which is way up there in the enlisted rank. Jack lives up in
Federal Way, Washington.
Scott T. Powell
former CPL E-4
Gloria and Scott |
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