Black Force Recon Marine, battlefield commission, Vietnam War hero ... snubbed for the Medal of...

MARINE CORPS FORCE RECON READ OF THE DAY

Black Force Recon Marine, battlefield commission, Vietnam War hero ... snubbed for the Medal of Honor?
By Todd South
Oct 8, 2020
Retired Maj. James Capers Jr. smiles after a plaque was unveiled in his honor in his hometown of Bishopville, South Carolina, at the town’s Memorial Park, Aug. 29, 2020. Capers is the first black Marine to command a reconnaissance company. (Staff Sgt. Erik Estrada/Marine Corps)

At the end of March 1967, Marine 2nd Lt. Jim Capers stepped off on what was to be a four-day foot patrol into the jungles near Phú Lộc, Vietnam.

He snaked through that jungle terrain, sporting a recent battlefield commission as a second lieutenant, leading just nine 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company Marines and a dog named King.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) SrA John Monette SFC (Join to see) SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Douglas Chrysler A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace SGT Mark Anderson CPL LaForest Gray SGT Steve McFarland