Lt Frank S. Reasoner USMC

In the summer of 1958, the class of 1962 entered West Point as New Cadets. It did not take long for the members of the 5^th New Cadet Company to realize that there was a very unusual classmate in their midst. To begin with, Frank Reasoner had entered West Point from Bainbridge, the preparatory school for the US Naval Academy. Moreover, he was a Marine, who prior to arriving at West Point, had served 38 months in the Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant. Along the way, he had been a drill instructor, a member of the unit detailed to guard the Navy goat at Annapolis, and was a Marine Corps boxing champion. Frank told us that he chose to attend the United States Military Academy, instead of the Naval Academy, because he thought that the training at West Point would better prepare him for a career in the Marine Corps.

One of my first Beast Barracks memories was the time that Frank came into our room talking about his latest run in with a member of the Beast detail. When asked “where are you going Mister?” by the upper classman, Frank had responded that he was going “up the ladder”. Upon hearing this New Cadet use the Navy ship board term for the stair steps, someone from the Beast detail had reacted predictably. Frank, of course, had found the incident quite amusing. Then there was the time that Frank tried to convince some of us that members of the Beast detail would be coming around at night to lock us inside our wall lockers. That must have been one of Frank’s experiences from Marine boot camp. Later on, when after the first few weeks of Beast Barracks, we were all anticipating that first trip to the “boodlers”, Frank was over heard talking about something called “pogey bait”. Of course, as we all know, Frank would power his way through Beast Barracks with ease and would be named outstanding New Cadet. Who can forget the picture in our Howitzer of Frank with the “King of the Beasts”, Pete Dawkins?  

During the first semester of plebe year, Frank was part of a four man room in Company C2 with Dave Garvin, Tom Mennie and me. Over these first few months, there were all of the usual physical, academic, and military challenges in just being a Plebe. One memorable instant from that first semester was the time that I leaped from the top bunk and landed on top of the shoes that Frank had immaculately shined the night before. Frank, always cool under fire, just stood there and calmly declared that I had “wrecked his shoes”. In hind sight, I got off easy on that one. Prior to the beginning of the second semester, Frank was moved into a room with Jim Lau. They were to room together for the next three and a half years. Jim made sure that Frank made it through plebe math, and Frank sold Jim on selecting the Marine Corp. Of course, as Company mates, who stood close to the same height and weight, Frank and I were paired in plebe boxing on more than one occasion. I don’t have to tell you how that turned out. We all know that Frank was the Brigade Boxing Champion for four straight years in four different weight classes.

It was during Yearling summer at Camp Buckner that I may have had a premonition of things to come. Once again, Frank and I were thrown together in the same Company. As such, we were matched up for exercises on more than one occasion. I’ll never forget one particular exercise where I was assigned to a three man team that included Frank and Buzz Kriesel.  I can still picture Frank charging up that hill somewhere in the Buckner training area.  I have often thought back to that day and am certain that Frank was in that same “all out” mode when he gave his life in Viet Nam in an attempt to save his radio operator.

After all of these years, it some times becomes difficult to separate fact from legend, but it seemed like Frank would get into a scuffle with a “Middie” at some point during the weekend of every Army/Navy game. Frank often spoke of how he hated having to guard that “smelly goat”. I guess that he never really got over it.

There was another side of Frank which some of us may not have seen. I had been confined to the hospital for a couple of days after getting banged up on the fields of friendly strife.  Late one afternoon, I looked up to see Frank walking into the room with his arms full of magazines.  It was definitely a welcome sight at the time, and something that I have never forgotten. As I think back to that day, I now realize that this was quite simply that caring side of Frank, someone who cared for his classmates, just as he did his fellow Marine.

Interestingly, our ’62 class hero had a hero of his own. From time to time, Frank could be over heard speaking, almost reverently, about “Chesty Puller”. He was of course referring to the legendary Marine of World War II fame, General Lewis B. Puller. We all should have known that, when Frank returned to the uniform of a United States Marine, he would do his best to live up to General Chesty Puller’s standards.

Stu Sherard was another C2 classmate fortunate to have shared a room with Frank Reasoner. Stu was in the three man room with Frank and Jim Lau. Stu recalled Frank’s reaction during General MacArthur’s Duty, Honor Country speech in May of 1962. Stu described seeing that our hard core Marine had tears in his eyes several times during the speech.  Stu also remembered that Frank was “turned out” more than once, but that he was never found or turned back.  Frank had such high military aptitude that we always knew we were safe if we could stay ahead of him academically.  Stu remembers that Frank seemed to be always trying to make weight for some activity, either boxing or 150 football, wearing a rubber suit to bed to sweat off the pounds. Frank was a tough guy, but always fair and honest. What you saw with Frank was what you got. In Stu’s words, “Frank was a true hero”.

Our classmate, LTG Jim Ellis sent me the following: “From Nov '78 to July '79 I worked on a DOD study with USMC Lt. Col. Paddy Collins (nephew of the famous Michael Collins of the Irish Revolution). Paddy commanded 4 Marine Infantry battalions in his time--one in Vietnam as a Major--and was one of the most decorated Marines of his day. Paddy was in Frank's unit when Frank was killed. Paddy told me that Frank was the bravest man he had ever known. The MOH and other honors (Quantico building and Navy ship naming) were well deserved in Paddy's mind.”     

Frank would occasionally talk about Kellogg, Idaho. Some times he would mention a place near by called Couer d’Alene. My French being some what limited, I wasn’t real sure what he was talking about. Now though, I can see on the map that, if I take Interstate 90 across Montana, and then across the northern tip of Idaho, I will pass through both Kellogg and Couer d’Alene along the way. I hope to do that some day. I would like to see the place where life began for this American Hero, who I am proud to say, was also my classmate, company mate and friend.   

After starting out with Frank in Beast Barracks and spending the next four years together in Company C-2, it seemed a bit ironic that we would sit side by side on Graduation Day. Yes, Frank finished one place ahead of me in our class standing.

I was assigned to the Pentagon from 1979-1982. Every couple of months, I would drop by the Hall of Heroes, I guess, just to make sure that Frank Reasoner’s name was still on that wall. Of course, it was always there.

Samuel L. Steele (Sammy)             24303   1962 Company C-2

First Lieutenant Frank S. Reasoner, former enlisted Marine and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, was the second Marine recipient of the Nations highest honor, the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in July 1965. The Medal was presented to his widow, Mrs. Sally Reasoner, 31 January 1967, by Navy Secretary Paul H. Nitze, in ceremonies held at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Frank Stanley Reasoner was born in Spokane, Washington, 16 September 1937, and moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James C. Curry, to Kellogg, Idaho, in 1948. Graduating from Kellogg High School in June 1955, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps three months before his 18th birthday.

Promoted to private first class after recruit training at the San Diego Recruit Depot in August, he went on to advanced infantry training at Camp Pendleton, California. He was designated an Airborne Radio Operator in 1956 upon completing Airman School, Naval Air Technical Training Center, Jacksonville, Florida, and the Communication Electronics School at San Diego. He was next assigned to Marine Wing Service Group 37, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, El Toro, California, and while there was promoted to corporal.

He was transferred to the Naval Academy Preparatory School, Bainbridge, Maryland, in 1957, then served as a guard at Marine Barracks, Annapolis, Maryland. He was promoted to sergeant in January 1958, prior to receiving Congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, sponsored by Senator Henry C. Dvorshak of Idaho.

Successfully completing the Academys entrance examinations in June 1958, Sergeant Reasoner was transferred to the inactive Marine Corps Reserve and enrolled as a cadet. While at the Military Academy, he lettered in baseball and wrestling winning an unprecedented four straight Brigade boxing championships in four different weight classes. Upon graduation, 6 June 1962, he was awarded a BS degree and returned to the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to first lieutenant in December of the following year.

Lieutenant Reasoner completed Officers Basic School at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, in January 1963, then embarked for a three-year tour of duty with the Fleet Marine Force in the Pacific area

During his entire overseas tour, he served with the 3d Reconnaissance Battalion. Assigned initially to the 1st Marine Brigade, at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he served with Company B, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marines, and moved with his organization to Vietnam in April 1965. On 20 June 1965, he was designated Commanding Officer, Company A, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division, the unit he was with when he was mortally wounded.

A Marine Corps camp in Vietnam was named Camp Reasoner and dedicated to his memory. The hand-lettered sign near the gates of Camp Reasoner read: First Lieutenant Reasoner sacrificed his life to save one of his wounded Marines. Greater Love Hath No Man.

At the time of his death, Lieutenant Reasoner was survived by his wife, Sally, and son, Michael Lawrence of Kingston, Idaho; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James C. Curry, of Kellogg, Idaho; one brother and two sisters.

CITATION:

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, 12 July 1965. Entered service at: Kellogg, Idaho. Born: 16 September 1937, Spokane, Wash. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. The reconnaissance patrol led by 1st Lt. Reasoner had deeply penetrated heavily controlled enemy territory when it came under extremely heavy fire from an estimated 50 to 100 Viet Cong insurgents. Accompanying the advance party and the point that consisted of 5 men, he immediately deployed his men for an assault after the Viet Cong had opened fire from numerous concealed positions. Boldly shouting encouragement, and virtually isolated from the main body, he organized a base of fire for an assault on the enemy positions. The slashing fury of the Viet Cong machinegun and automatic weapons fire made it impossible for the main body to move forward. Repeatedly exposing himself to the devastating attack he skillfully provided covering fire, killing at least 2 Viet Cong and effectively silencing an automatic weapons position in a valiant attempt to effect evacuation of a wounded man. As casualties began to mount his radio operator was wounded and 1st Lt. Reasoner immediately moved to his side and tended his wounds. When the radio operator was hit a second time while attempting to reach a covered position, 1st Lt. Reasoner courageously running to his aid through the grazing machinegun fire fell mortally wounded. His indomitable fighting spirit, valiant leadership and unflinching devotion to duty provided the inspiration that was to enable the patrol to complete its mission without further casualties. In the face of almost certain death he gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. His actions upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.