Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
25:06 | As Operation Iraqi Freedom unfolded, the mission of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion was to draw out Saddam's forces and engage them while larger bodies of troops moved on Baghdad. With one Recon platoon, a journalist was embedded who turned their story into a series of articles, a book and an award winning Hollywood production named Generation Kill. Part 2 of 3. (Caution: strong language)
His father and his stepfather were both Vietnam Marines and, following a rough childhood, Rudy Reyes followed in their footsteps. He excelled at boot camp and the School of Infantry because he arrived in top physical shape and he had a determined attitude. He was not going to be dominated in any way.
Rudy Reyes was so impressed with his DI's that he would go back and visit them after achieving another milestone. He was the top boot in boot camp which meant that they were twice as hard on him. Despite the excellence and honors, his first assignment was not a great one. Then, Recon came calling. (Caution: strong language)
Recon Marines work in small teams and when Rudy Reyes arrived, he met Shawn Patrick, his new team leader. They were aboard ship when 9/11 occurred and pulled anchor that night and headed to Pakistan, then Afghanistan. They were bloodied in some of the first fighting in the Global War on Terror. As if that wasn't enough, they were soon seeing action in Iraq.
There were no boom boxes allowed on the Humvees so Rudy Reyes and the other Recon Marines sang pop and country songs themselves. Every inch of the vehicle was packed with supplies and weapons but he had a stash of coffee and candy. The candy led to a memorable incident involving a small Iraqi boy. (Caution: strong language)
The men in this platoon would be forever memorialized because of what started as a journalist embedded with them. Evan Wright first wrote a series of articles which became a book and then an HBO miniseries, Generation Kill. Rudy Reyes thought the man was out of shape and a liability but went on to be a military advisor and then played himself in the show. (Caution: strong language)
It put some hard bark on him. When Rudy Reyes came back to Iraq, the intense fighting in Fallujah and Ramadi changed him and hardened his outlook. After an ambush cost one of the men both his arms, he began taking the most dangerous clandestine missions.
After playing himself in the miniseries based on his platoon's exploits in Iraq, Rudy Reyes seemingly had a successful life with a new career as an actor. Between that and more counter-terrorism missions, he was very busy but his personal life imploded. His family broke up, drugs entered his life and he struggled with depression. But then his life lit up again due to a chance trip to the ocean.
Asked to name a leader who had an influence in his life, Rudy Reyes has a quick response, his Recon team leader Shawn Patrick. When Rudy arrived as a new member of 1st Recon Battalion, Shawn took him under his wing and prepared him for leadership. They were able to enjoy a unit reunion, thanks to the efforts of the Warrior Reunion Foundation.
It takes a lot of heart to become a Marine but it takes even more to become a Reconnaissance Marine. To endure the rigorous physical and mental challenges means you are one of the elite. This group of Recon Marines shares their personal stories of joining the Corps and how they came to Recon during a pivotal time in history. Part 1 of 3. (Caution: strong language)
They thought it was over. In 2003 the men of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion stormed into Iraq during the initial assault. They returned home triumphant, mission accomplished. But then the word came that there would be an emergency redeployment. Saddam may be gone but the job was not finished and they were going to Fallujah. Part 3 of 3. (Caution: strong language)
