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During my 22 years of service in the Marine Corps I had many unique opportunities. As a Motor Transport Marine I served in every unit type there was (Infantry, Artillery, Service Support, Air Wing, and Special Operations). One opportunity given was while I served as a Fire Support Coordinator & Transportation Chief with 1st ANGLICO and deployed with 13th MEU (SOC), in which I attended Airborne, Pathfinder, and HRST Master course. Throughout the years I used my skills sets in many operational environments, but I have met very few Marines that attended and graduated from Pathfinder School, and would like to know how many of other USMC Pathfinders are out there. Does anyone have an idea?
Pathfinder School
MARSOC
Recon
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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GySgt John O'Donnell
Other than myself I only know/heard of 3 others. That's why I'm hoping for some insight. Even Google has little to no information.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
A came across the patch a couple years back, and I saw it again on Sgt Grit. As Marines, we can't wear the Pathfinder torch device in uniform. The patch is what got me thinking about how many of us there are out there. My thought is that if a patch was made the should be at least a creditable number out there, but I can't find any information. In all my years of service I only met 2 others.
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Cpl Gabriel F.
Outstanding information Marine. Recall seeing the parch in the distance past somewhere.
Semper Fidelis.
Semper Fidelis.
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SGT. O'Donnell,
I am one of the original East Coast (Camp Giger, NC) U.S. Marine, 2nd Force Recon Company, Pathfinder (1958) Platoon, Team #42. Under Capt. P.X. Kelly (now General Paul X. Kelly) To my knowledge, only ten of us that graduated from Army Pathfinder School are still alive.
My E-mail address: [login to see]
Lt. Col. Harting, B.F. (r)
I am one of the original East Coast (Camp Giger, NC) U.S. Marine, 2nd Force Recon Company, Pathfinder (1958) Platoon, Team #42. Under Capt. P.X. Kelly (now General Paul X. Kelly) To my knowledge, only ten of us that graduated from Army Pathfinder School are still alive.
My E-mail address: [login to see]
Lt. Col. Harting, B.F. (r)
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Cpl Gabriel F.
Place was just about like you left it Marine. Outstanding information. Semper Fidelis
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SSG Conley Phipps
Gunny Sgt. O'Donnell, A close friend of ours just passed away, on 20 March 2019, Patrick A. Weed. He was USMC Pathfinder, Airborne, Recon. Served in Viet Nam in the early days 1961. Reading postings and timelines I thought your paths may have crossed along the way. He was always a credit to the USMC traditions and The United States of America. Sadly miss his wit and humor.
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Hello, Gunny. I was a plain old grunt platoon leader, just out of Quantico --- yep, green as grass. My Co Commander got orders to put a 6 man team + a dog together, train, and jump into the south part of Siberia just north of Magadan, enter a gulag there, and rescue two Marines. We took a dog with us. Got the Marines. Headed for the sub. Corpsman was killed, but did the job. Last time I ever had the nerve to jump.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
Brother, it because of men like you that lit the torch that allowed me to serve 22 years in the modern era. Thank you for lighting the way!!! Semper Fi!
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Gunny, when I was in the Corps, I never even heard of such a Unit or Training? The only Pathfinder I knew was walking Point in Nam!
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GySgt John O'Donnell
The mission of a Pathfinder is to provide advanced dismounted navigation, establish and operate a day/night helicopter landing zones, establish and operates a day/night Air Force CARP, Army GMRS & VIRS Drop Zones, conducts sling load operations, provides air traffic control and navigational assistance to Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing Aircraft.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Gunny, we were trained to do a lot of this while we were in Nam. I cannot tell you how many LZs that we picked out an cleared using C4. We were Combat Marines and we had to do it all. SF!
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GySgt John O'Donnell
Because of Marines like you, and the legacy you built, is why I spent so long in the Corps. I learned early on (from Vets like you) that you have to be adaptable, flexible and take care of your brothers on the left and the right. Though I had a lot of unique opportunities, each opportunity became a tool in my tool belt for taking care of my Marines in combat and on the homefront. Thank you for laying the foundation!
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
Thanks Gunny and if you get a chance, check out my book, UNIFORMS, http://www.uniformsthebook.com, it's a real good read and it is about what it was like being a Marine in the late 60's and early 70's. "From Parochial School to the VC-infested jungles of Vietnam, (69-70), UNIFORMS recounts my experiences."
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In MARSOC and Recon we have a very small handful. I had the "pleasure" of graduating also. I am more upset that we cannot wear the badge then I was at how hard the school was.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
Your not kidding brother. I have told many that it was the hardest school I attended in my career because you are on brain overload. I sewed my touch on my riggers belt initially and later under the pocket flap once we went to MCMAP belts. It's good to know there more Marine Pathfinders carry the torch. Semper Fi brother!!!
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SSgt (Join to see)
Come on Glen it wasn't that hard. I'm jk it was pretty tough but I had a harder time with JM.
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In the Marine Corps we do have the requirement of being a Jumpmaster and a Pathfinder to run a DZ on your own. We also have a separate school called DZSTL for those Jumpmasters that can't attend Pathfinder School. That said, there where a times where proficiency of coordination was needed and I handled the DZ operations while a Jumpmaster stood next to me twirling his thumbs. More often than not though, I used my skill set to run LZs with multiple aircraft and sling load requirements.
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In my Pathfinder Class (1997 I believe), I do not recall any Marines. For us in the Army, a person must be both Jumpmaster and Pathfinder qualified in order to run the Parachute Drop Zones (DZ). I'm sure the Marines had to have had their own type of (Pathfinder) training in order to operate/run DZs. Good Luck in finding them. Good Topic.
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GySgt John O'Donnell
In the Marine Corps we do have the requirement of being a Jumpmaster and a Pathfinder to run a DZ on your own. We also have a separate school called DZSTL for those Jumpmasters that can't attend Pathfinder School. That said, there where a times where proficiency of coordination was needed and I handled the DZ operations while a Jumpmaster stood next to me twirling his thumbs. More often than not though, I used my skill set to run LZs with multiple aircraft and sling load requirements.
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Gunny, A close friend of ours just passed away, Patrick A. Weed. He was a USMC Pathfinder, Airborne and Recon graduate and served in Viet Nam during the very early days, 1961. Sounds as if your paths may have crossed. Please let me know. Conley Phipps US Army 1965 Staff Sgt. E-6
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Brother, the legacy of your service lived on in me and a few others. Thank you for “carrying the torch” for us to follow. Semper Fi!!!
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