Bo and I did some time in the teams and not a finer Navy man has served this country. His humor will harm you with laughter and this old Frogman loves him like a brother. Hershel here Bo.
Only 16 minutes into video, but wanted to add that Doc Burwell twice held the record for deepest dive. He was not only a Combatant Diver, but a Master Saturation Diver. His last record of 1,800-ish feet (which broke his previous dive) was not broken until the mid-2000s when another USN diver broke the 2,000 feet mark. Also, after his time at 3rd Force another Corpsman would come aboard, Bruce H. Morton. He became a TL of his own Recon team in VN. The only HM (Corpsman) to do so at that time. After his enlistment, he received his commission as a USMC 2Lt. He returned to Infantry and later was Plt Commander at 1st Force Recon. Semper Fi
This Navy Seal has such a great memory. One of the best interviews I've seen. So many quotable lines; to paraphrase, "I carried grenades instead of food. I can eat when I get back." Big thanks!
Bo Burwell served two tours with Marine Force Recon as a corpsman in Vietnam. He became a Navy SEAL in 1968 and served two more tours in Vietnam with SEAL team two. He also says here in this video he graduated from UDT school before serving with Force Recon. He also served on UDT team 21. pretty awesome Lest we Forget Jake Brown-US Army Infantry
What a wonderful Patriot & man. They don't make many like him, a real treasure to humanity. Worth every minute to watch this! I did two tours in Vietnam but never had to endure what this man has.
He is the complete package, thank the Lord he wasn’t seriously wounded or killed, because he contributed so much to our Service , most especially the Navy. Thank you sir for all have done, BZ!
my dad was in 2nd Platoon, "C" company, 3rd Recon Battalion and was saved by a Navy Corpsman. He lived 49 years "extra" due to the Navy Corpsman's actions near Chu Li
Semper fi. I was a fac with a company 1/9 marines the walking dead in Vietnam. Went on 3 recon inserts as a replacement radio operator. Force recon were badasses and corpsmen a special breed.
BO, WATCHED THIS ONCE AGAIN. JUST SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, EACH TIME, I hear something I missed. IVE SEEN WHERE SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER HAVE WATCHED.❤️🙏🏻❤️
I thank God for for every Navy Corpsman/Doc I ever served with!!!! Mr. Lowell Burwell, is the EPITOME of military professionalism and Heroism. Recon and Navy Seals, WOW, a real RAMBO! I retired a Marine Master Sergeant/E-8 23 1/2 years, 2001 I retired Ooh Rah!!
I was with L 3/4 in July 1966 when 3dForceRecon spotted the build up of the 324thB Division of the NVA Army that resulted in the launching of Operation Hastings, July 15, 1966....They were a great team for sure. hats off...Semper Fi
On a B.L.T. SEPT.66 . We had battalion recon working for us . They did scary shit for us, after there numbers were reduced we did our own scary shit. If the officers and n.c.o.'s are the braines of the corps. The e-3 are the heart.
@@kdolo100 well I didnt fight these guys in a war but I did work alongside a bunch of them in the gas and oil industry and I can verify they are little biddy people but are tough and work thier ass off
Why are you even comparing this guy to musicians and athletes? I dont think many people would even consider calling a musician or sport athlete a hero. Well there were musicians and athletes that served in Vietnam and other wars so some might be actual heroes. They most likely don't come anywhere near this guy though. It's rare to find a hero of this caliber.
Steven Thompson depends on what u consider the definition of losing a war. U.S. kill ratio favored the U.S. by a massive margin. Granted, dense jungle makes it hard to find the dead enemy soldiers after a battle or bombing attack. Plus, VC & North Vietnamese army were known to grab their dead after a battle to make sure U.S. cldnt tell for sure how many theyd killed. Then u look at the U.S. and allies controlled the air. Every time U.S. consistently bombed the north for long periods of time. North wanted to meet to talk about a peace treaty. Then their biggest offensive attacks “Tet Offensive” was a total slaughter. The north lost over 50,000 in Wei city alone compared 2,500 marines. Althgh, media showed what a real war looked like without military censorship for 1st time in history. U.S. public opinion on the war became hostile towards a war started out of fear communism wld spread like a plague. Wasnt worth it to the public and Lyndon Johnson decided hed control everything and any decent sized offensive operation had to b approved by the President. Who isnt a General and politics decided how U.S. fought a war that they were winning but knew itd take decades of fighting cause they’d never totally give up. Since, they knew public didnt want us to fight a war for someone else that a lot of times didnt seem to want to fight for themselves. So military didnt lose that war at all. They won every part of that war. Not right to say that those men lost a war they didnt lose. North was counting on dragging it out till public got tired of it. Then they tried teaching south to fight for themselves but south was so corrupt and frankly most of which didnt seem to want to fight. So U.S. left, they didn’t surrender. Then u say we havent won a war since? Whatever ur on, can i have some? Haha yes, were never told everything thats going on and in a lot of cases. Not told real reasons for a war. All throughout history. Wars r started by rich and fought by the poor. Before the poor fought for royals and now they fight for religious fanatics & rich people that r basically like the nobles and royals from centuries past. Seriously wld think human race wld stop settling disagreements by wars by now but it still keeps happening. So if ur saying U.S. lost Vietnam and every war since, due to anyone fighting a war loses because theyve participated in a war and any loss of life makes anyone involved a loser. Then i see ur point, if ur not saying it like that. Then u have no idea what ur talking about.
I have looked up to this guy since I was a kid. He doesn't tell many stories but when he does everyone listens. He married my cousin a he is a class act.
While in Okinawa my StaffSergeant was Force Recon and had done his 5 years since they are only allowed to do five years at Force due to the severity of the missions etc, and he was the coolest motherfucker one could meet.
While serving with Fox Co 2/5 we were in Okinawa for training and we got a Staff Sergeant straight from Force Recon and this Marine was cool as ice, chilled, relaxed, let us do wild shit a typical grunt does, fighting each other etc, and he never talked about his intense training while he served his five years at Force Recon since most is classified...
What 3 idiots would put a a thumbs down. This man is a dying breed to today's standards. At least for the most part. What a dedicated American hero. That's what I think! I wish I could shake this mans hand and thank him personally. We need this generation to be like him! God bless this man and his wonderful heart he has for his fellow Americans
marcnews75 - Whether protesters are against war or not, they are dirt if they don't respect veterans whom honorably served their country. Protesting is fine. You likely agree.
I was a police officer in the early part of this century with a sergeant Ronald Carr. He was a recon Marine there during this time and he told stories that would make your soul shutter!
Bo and Mike Thornton also a Navy Seal awarded the CMH are just a different breed they are alot alike it's never me or I with these two. They don't make em like this anymore.
THIS MAN is why I am sooooo PROUD to live in the USA !!......Men like this man are true American HERO'S !!.......Thank You SIR for ALL you've done and sacrificed for our great country.......WELCOME HOME SIR.......JOB WELL DONE !!
Just watched a documentary called "A Bond Unbroken" that Mr. Burwell was part of.......very good watch, i suggest to all if you get the chance to see it, you'll be glad you did.
@41:20 Maybe the VC thought no one would be foolish enough to sleep at the bottom of a valley river when it was going to rain! Thank you for your service!
Refreshing to hear about a bunch of guys that weren’t drafted and made to go, but signed up of their own accord because of their love for our country. It’s people like these that make a country great. Not the politicians of today lost in comfortable lives with pretend issues to obtain some sort of re-election or more money. It’s the people that make a country great. On the flip side of that coin, at this time in history, there were a lot of people that had the courage to question the government and what was happening and why. Very strange time in our history and there were heroes on both sides of the coin I’m sure. I guess sometimes I have to remember that my mindset is to enlist and serve, however there is always more to the story.
I was a young child when this conflict was going on , first and foremost THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ! I watched all 3 of these interviews ,Nick Estavillo ,Larry Keen and this one with Mr,Burwell .I also have the book "Green Ghosts"that has the names of my own personal acquaintances in the book . The research has been a type of obsession with me for many years as i have a family member who was there WIA with the 3rd recon multiple times, and a mentor/coworker that passed away recently from leukemia due to agent orange. Thank You.
The best nights sleep I ever had was during a thunderstom on Vieques during our work up training missions in 1994 Operation Restore/Uphold Democracy with USS Wasp & USS Nashville. There is definately something unique about the way the island feels.
Un-cut is the most fair interview to conduct. Reality never ever cuts! Our Recondo School training during the peacetime era of post Vietnam, has always drawn concerns on how it may have unfolded had the war stayed hot over there. Many sectors of "Bo's" experiences, has brought to confirming closure, many of those what if's. 32:15 SALUTE = Size, Activity, Location, Uniform, Time, & Equipment of the enemy. 1:03:35 Interesting mystery about RTO communicators. 1:33:37 Brought strong to mind just where one's sacrifices reside... "None are closer to the very author of sacrifice Himself... Than those who bare themselves into danger, In order to perform it, for the very sake of others. This is a 'heavenly gesture' of which, none can erase nor steal." -former recondo sgt. "rock" 82nd abn. 1/504 inf. 71-74 8917
There,s a reason why men like this don,t run for President,they have much more important things to do,his humility is unparralelled,speaks of heroics,and graduating from medical school,like a farmer would talk about his farm,a good man!
I met Bo in Dong Ha in late 1966 (or early '67?) while I was with C Co. 3rd Recon Battalion. A platoon from Force was in the same old French barracks in Dong Ha as was C & D companies. He told me a few stories about his adventures with Force. He looks a little different now (so do I.)
The breakup at 1320 changed the depth of his conversation. I could track his every word and thought until then, I do not know what occurred or you asked him to do at that moment, but it ruined his flow. I was enjoying hearing his entire story, the whole story, until you broke it up...P.S. I appreciated every word, I sincerely adored it, All of it, but he was writing a book in the beginning until that stated time.
Amazing dialogue of a man who did everything that was asked of him, and a considerable amount more, typical of the men and women of their generation, and all without complaints and whining, hats of to him and his generation. Unlike the current crop of self important, over privileged, SJWs they had a great belief and pride in the service, country and comrades and put everything before themselves. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴
Your very right and they also worked hard as hell for what they had and never went around with thier hands out feeling that everone owes them something
His story about driving to clear explosives reminds me of this underwater welder I met that worked on a million$ government contract to remove a live nuke that was sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. It took him about a week. Couple days to take a boat to the spot, a day to dive to look at the nuke and plan the job out, couple days of welding and securing it to a lift and pulling it out, and a few days to get back home. He owned the company that got the contract and did the job himself on a government ship with the help of some sailors from the navy so he made a million dollars in just a few days. Not many people would have the skillset to work on a nuke at the bottom of the ocean.
DAVID MORAGNE 6:17 PM (32 minutes ago) to TH-cam Hi Joey, The video you watched/this video, is the interview with Lou Kern. Lou is in the room, directing the piece, I am asking the questions/conducting the interview, and Eric is filming/operating the camera. This is the raw footage for a piece we initially intended to add supporting "B" roll to, and make shorter, then to be included into an ongoing series about 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company. If you have other questions, feel free to ask. Thanks, David 510/285-9072
The park towards the end where he was describing the incredibly difficult terrain where they needed a helo evac wasn’t the point of that mission for the VC guide to lead them to some American and possibly an Australian POW’s? He said they completed the mission but I don’t recall him saying they rescued those American prisoners?
Fantastic laurels! This is just a bit hard to follow, except that it is well understood he was with a team with great chemistry . It’s prob just me, but I have no idea what this great man did in VietNam. Not familiar with all the military terms & letters. Just want to say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SACRIFICE! God bless you Sir.👏🏼👏🏼🙏🙋♀️
You can probably tell some harrowing stories. I think I have read 4 or 5 books just about Khe Sahn and the Hill Fights. Reading about the assaults by the NVA on Hill 881 are as hair raising and valiant as any other famous battle documented in the war. It is also what I think the most under told battles of the war. Everyone heard about the seige of Khe Sahn or Ia Drang Valley or Hamburger Hill, but the battle for 881 is not discussed enough. Seriously brother, you guys were some incredible warriors and the heroism of every swingin' dick on that hill is of Marine Corps legend. What was your Company Commander's name, Captain D(Dalton?)? He seemed like a great C. O., the quintessential Marine Corps company commander. I was a peacetime Marine and later a USAF officer and aviator, primarily flying C-130s. My brother was also a Marine back at DaNang Air Base Dec 66 thru Jan 68 . He has much more sedate, but funny stories of his war, mostly dodging the M.P.s. and sneaking into Dog Patch. Well my hats off to you for surviving that deadly onslaught and fighting a battle as fierce as the fiercest battles in USMC history. Of all the battles I read about, the Battle for Hill 881 was the spookiest snd most hairraising intensity of a few against all odds. At some point, the only thing I have on my bucket list is to shit on LBJs grave or at his Presidential library. In most of the books I read, the best were by enlisted Marines who were not lifers. These guys told it how it was, and no Rah Rah bullshit. Most relate that it was completely mismanaged. It was a shitty, dirty war and you Marine Bush Grunts were shit on by the field grade officers on up. They put you guys out in terrible locations and did not have adequate supply lines. You Marines kept the faith with each other and did your duty as Americans and Marines. Also, Not one flag officer resigned his commission in objection when he knew his Marines were being used as cannon fodder for the Military Industrial Complex. All those generals including Krulack and Walt were chasing another star. At their level of command. they knew the war was being managed not to win, but to prolong the misery. LBJ and his cronies all were invested in businesses from transporting cargo to building bases to Dow Chemical to Hughes Aircraft.
Jarrod, I could not get an answer from TH-cam as to why the two other videos that were posted sometime ago with this one, is no longer there. I rarely visit this channel, and didn't discover the absence until recently, but will make some attempt, when things slow down for me , to find and reload Larry and Nick's videos early this summer. Thanks, David
Jarrod, we asked the same question after discovering the video were not there, TH-cam has not provided an answer. I will try to re-post them in the near future.
He didn't look very thrilled when they said they stole an army ambulance because they needed a lift lol He probably had to steal the jeep to save people because they stole an ambulance for a joy ride.
It’s called the Navy Marine Corps team marines are a branch of the Navy soldiers of the sea like the Army on a ship for our country’s protection a necessity we found out that when we send Marines off the ship to war some of them get hurt so the Navy decided that they would send doctors trained medical but also a warrior like the Marines he would be healing on the battlefield For your own advancement I urge you to read every comment that you can about this man there are many who wish to thank him I am a former Marine sergeant and I God bless his soul and his spirit Semper Fi
I'm an ex-Force Recon operator, circa 80s and 90s. My comment here concerns the makers of this video and Millennials, generally, who have probably surpassed Boomers as the most revolting generation the United States has ever produced--at least in terms of personal behavior, if not in terms of actual damage done to the nation. That these two obtuse juvenile clowns felt it necessary to attempt to "direct" MCPO Burwell into some little mini-performance that they felt would be adequately dramatic, after listening to him for an hour and 40-minutes on this subject, is indicative of a childlike lack of respect born of a total lack of worldly experience, an all encompassing personal indiscipline and a complete lack of self consciousness that is nothing less than frightening.
give em a break, at least they try to understand what happened in the past, and/or record it for future reference. They weren't overbearing, or directing much, they just said enough to keep the man talking on his own as much as possible. In the end they are simply trying to get some footage for later editing, like in an intro. It's standard technique for many docu-interviews. And these kids are probably doing it as part of a school project, based on instruction given to them how to do it.
@@nyjets2428 If you watched the video and read my comment carefully, I'm not sure what I can tell you other than to elaborate a bit. Yes, it was disrespectful. Imagine the same cheeseball "direction" with a Holocaust survivor, for example. You can't. It's unthinkable. MCPO Burwell is (ought to be) essentially in the same category. Listening to someone's tale of death, suffering, loss and sacrifice then telling them to say it again, only with more drama and kitch, is beyond unseemly. Try to imagine yourself listening to him for over an hour, then doing what they did. I'll bet you can't. Another disturbing aspect of this is the detachment from reality and the sort of impermeable narcissistic solipsism in which so many of their generation live (members of it that serve in the military excepted). They don't know the difference between fiction and reality. Apparently, for them, listening to Burwell was little different that playing a video game. They didn't find it "awesome" enough, so they attempted to adjust the settings--oblivious to the fact that they were dealing with another human being and reality--and in so doing, unwittingly exposed their own vacuousness. You can see Burwell bristle, then decide to be polite and cooperate. Cringeworthy is an understatement. I honestly find it disturbing that my comment here requires any defense or further explanation. Then again, we are witnessing the utter collapse of the United States of America, so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised.
@@joeanonymous1834 I honestly couldn’t hear what the director was saying, and I don’t think this legend gives a single fuck about these kids doing the interview. And I don’t either. I was more focus on the mans story. I get what your saying, and your right but this man was part of generation of war fighter that came home from a slug fest of a war and got spat on by hippies and whole other generation of whining little fucks. Always beside you.
Back then they required more guts than physical conditioning. If a war gets bad enough, it will be that way again. They weren't so caught up in the politics and PT scores back in those days. If you were crazy enough, you were in the club. Now, you have to prove yourself through a lot more B.S. than just having a plain and simple hard charging attitude.
I was an AF FAC in Aug 1966 stationed at Dong Ha... I remember Operation Hastings very well....the “Dust-offs” flew in all day and night. I was at Khe Shan the day Gen Walt decided to make a stand there...and the day the marines “landed”. I had no idea how brave they were and the things they did. Simper Fi.
DAVID MORAGNE 6:42 PM (9 minutes ago) to TH-cam Hi James, I did not Know Bob. I joined the Company and what became known as the 2nd Detachment, in December 1966 at Camp Del Mar CA. We finished reformation and training there, and deployed to the RVN in late April 1967. I was in the RVN from 26 April '67 - 28 May '68. When I returned to the States 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company and it's Flag, was still deployed in Quang Tri Province, RVN. The flag and the Company were retired there in 1970, I believe, and some years later was made a Reserve Company in Hawaii. The best, David 510/285-9072
I also like it when he talked about the recon he did before the battle of Khe Sanh. I have done the same thing sent good intel up to the G2 and they ignored it, then we get attacked and everyone wants to wounder why. I am like did you read my intel reports I sent up? Stop calling me crazy you don't live right next to the village. You live 30 min away on a dirt road and are not exposed to it when I would get questioned with my intel reports.
DAVID MORAGNE 6:30 PM (13 minutes ago) to TH-cam Hi Matt, You are certainly right. Many of those who served knew exactly why they were serving. Some others of us, knew we wanted to enlist in the Armed Services, and we had many different reasons for doing so. The experiences we had, and the Teammates we shared them with, are priceless, irrespective of what our original intent may have been. But that's life. We initially intended to create an ongoing series of interviews, cut with "B" roll and shortened, to tell the story of 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company and the men who served in it. This video was one of the original uncut interviews filmed after our Company Commander, William C. Floyd's Memorial Celebration, several years ago in Melbourne Beach, FL. The best, David 510/285-9072
For those who have never been in a fetal position trembling - as an adult - !:32:10 is the essence of the USMC. When all goes to hell - a PFC understands the situation - assumes "command" and begins to move forward yelling as loud as only a Marine can - other Marines trust and move forward BECAUSE OF TRUST AND TO PROTECT THEIR BROTHER - Marines know. SEMPER FI BROTHER!
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Marine Corps trained his ass off. This is one badass...Never talks about himself....always about his Recon team.
.Semper FI sir.
John Lothrop yea he is indeed.
Servant Leadership 101…your men over self.
This guy makes me feel like I've really failed to live up to my potential. And that's a good thing. God bless this hero. What an inspiration.
Bo and I did some time in the teams and not a finer Navy man has served this country. His humor will harm you with laughter and this old Frogman loves him like a brother. Hershel here Bo.
Merry christmas Hershel. Hope it finds you well and in good spirits.
I am name after him . My Dad was in USMC Force Recon.
Only 16 minutes into video, but wanted to add that Doc Burwell twice held the record for deepest dive. He was not only a Combatant Diver, but a Master Saturation Diver. His last record of 1,800-ish feet (which broke his previous dive) was not broken until the mid-2000s when another USN diver broke the 2,000 feet mark.
Also, after his time at 3rd Force another Corpsman would come aboard, Bruce H. Morton. He became a TL of his own Recon team in VN. The only HM (Corpsman) to do so at that time. After his enlistment, he received his commission as a USMC 2Lt. He returned to Infantry and later was Plt Commander at 1st Force Recon.
Semper Fi
1ST recon had a corpsman TL also in 67-68
Norton was a TAC at The Citadel when I was there. He was a grade A son-of-a bitch.
This Navy Seal has such a great memory. One of the best interviews I've seen. So many quotable lines; to paraphrase, "I carried grenades instead of food. I can eat when I get back." Big thanks!
Bo Burwell served two tours with Marine Force Recon as a corpsman in Vietnam. He became a Navy SEAL in 1968 and served two more tours in Vietnam with SEAL team two. He also says here in this video he graduated from UDT school before serving with Force Recon. He also served on UDT team 21. pretty awesome
Lest we Forget
Jake Brown-US Army Infantry
What a wonderful Patriot & man. They don't make many like him, a real treasure to humanity. Worth every minute to watch this! I did two tours in Vietnam but never had to endure what this man has.
He is the complete package, thank the Lord he wasn’t seriously wounded or killed, because he contributed so much to our Service , most especially the Navy. Thank you sir for all have done, BZ!
He is the complete package...that is what I was thinking, thank you it fits this man!
my dad was in 2nd Platoon, "C" company, 3rd Recon Battalion and was saved by a Navy Corpsman. He lived 49 years "extra" due to the Navy Corpsman's actions near Chu Li
Erman Bravo Zulu! May he rest well.
My dad was in recon in the 5th marines. I dont know the battalion and all that stuff but Im proud as hell of him
Just know it was with 5th marines
Semper fi. I was a fac with a company 1/9 marines the walking dead in Vietnam. Went on 3 recon inserts as a replacement radio operator. Force recon were badasses and corpsmen a special breed.
BO, WATCHED THIS ONCE AGAIN. JUST SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, EACH TIME, I hear something I missed. IVE SEEN WHERE SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER HAVE WATCHED.❤️🙏🏻❤️
I thank God for for every Navy Corpsman/Doc I ever served with!!!! Mr. Lowell Burwell, is the EPITOME of military professionalism and Heroism. Recon and Navy Seals, WOW, a real RAMBO! I retired a Marine Master Sergeant/E-8 23 1/2 years, 2001 I retired Ooh Rah!!
Semper Fi my friend !
RAMBO IS HOLLYWOOD
Lejuene from 80-84....we may have walked past each other at some point. Thanks for 23.5, thats a long time to play games. Semper Fi, bro
Thx Ron.
Bo, we are so very proud of you. It's an honor to have you as our friend. God bless you and yours.
The definition of a man right there. Absolute respect for this man.
Bo I was a child during the war. Thank you for my protection and answering the call.
@Steven Thompson brilliant
Wow. A real hardcore warrior soldier. Thank u for great service.
We are so very proud of Bo. Thank you Bo for your service. we all love you!
I was with L 3/4 in July 1966 when 3dForceRecon spotted the build up of the 324thB Division of the NVA Army that resulted in the launching of Operation Hastings, July 15, 1966....They were a great team for sure. hats off...Semper Fi
How tough were the NVA? They looked like little men compared to the Americans.
Hats off to you, too, God bless for your service and we are glad to have you home. Semper Fi', big brothers.
On a B.L.T. SEPT.66 . We had battalion recon working for us . They did scary shit for us, after there numbers were reduced we did our own scary shit. If the officers and n.c.o.'s are the braines of the corps. The e-3 are the heart.
@Gary Williams Thanks. I'm glad you returned there. I have future plans to visit there myself.
@@kdolo100 well I didnt fight these guys in a war but I did work alongside a bunch of them in the gas and oil industry and I can verify they are little biddy people but are tough and work thier ass off
I am a 68 yo Navy Veteran Who salutes every Vietnam Veteran I see and would be honored to salute this Hero
This is a real walking talking hero, people who play sports or music are not.
Why are you even comparing this guy to musicians and athletes? I dont think many people would even consider calling a musician or sport athlete a hero. Well there were musicians and athletes that served in Vietnam and other wars so some might be actual heroes. They most likely don't come anywhere near this guy though. It's rare to find a hero of this caliber.
Steven Thompson depends on what u consider the definition of losing a war. U.S. kill ratio favored the U.S. by a massive margin. Granted, dense jungle makes it hard to find the dead enemy soldiers after a battle or bombing attack. Plus, VC & North Vietnamese army were known to grab their dead after a battle to make sure U.S. cldnt tell for sure how many theyd killed. Then u look at the U.S. and allies controlled the air. Every time U.S. consistently bombed the north for long periods of time. North wanted to meet to talk about a peace treaty. Then their biggest offensive attacks “Tet Offensive” was a total slaughter. The north lost over 50,000 in Wei city alone compared 2,500 marines. Althgh, media showed what a real war looked like without military censorship for 1st time in history. U.S. public opinion on the war became hostile towards a war started out of fear communism wld spread like a plague. Wasnt worth it to the public and Lyndon Johnson decided hed control everything and any decent sized offensive operation had to b approved by the President. Who isnt a General and politics decided how U.S. fought a war that they were winning but knew itd take decades of fighting cause they’d never totally give up. Since, they knew public didnt want us to fight a war for someone else that a lot of times didnt seem to want to fight for themselves. So military didnt lose that war at all. They won every part of that war. Not right to say that those men lost a war they didnt lose. North was counting on dragging it out till public got tired of it. Then they tried teaching south to fight for themselves but south was so corrupt and frankly most of which didnt seem to want to fight. So U.S. left, they didn’t surrender. Then u say we havent won a war since? Whatever ur on, can i have some? Haha yes, were never told everything thats going on and in a lot of cases. Not told real reasons for a war. All throughout history. Wars r started by rich and fought by the poor. Before the poor fought for royals and now they fight for religious fanatics & rich people that r basically like the nobles and royals from centuries past. Seriously wld think human race wld stop settling disagreements by wars by now but it still keeps happening. So if ur saying U.S. lost Vietnam and every war since, due to anyone fighting a war loses because theyve participated in a war and any loss of life makes anyone involved a loser. Then i see ur point, if ur not saying it like that. Then u have no idea what ur talking about.
@@mass.1710 The military industrial profiteers always win.
@@mass.1710 if the us had not had air superiority and it was a fair fight, the us would have been annihilated.
this is factual.
I have looked up to this guy since I was a kid. He doesn't tell many stories but when he does everyone listens. He married my cousin a he is a class act.
Welcome home, thank you Sir, God bless you all...
We are so very proud of our friend, Bo Burwell, Chapmanville, WV. He’s the best. God bless you BO & family. Love you, Judy Acord FRENCH. ❤️🙏🏻🥾🪖🇺🇸
We are fortunate to have men like this. God bless you Doc.
While in Okinawa my StaffSergeant was Force Recon and had done his 5 years since they are only allowed to do five years at Force due to the severity of the missions etc, and he was the coolest motherfucker one could meet.
A fantastic man, a true credit to this nation, and a wonderful human being. God bless him!
While serving with Fox Co 2/5 we were in Okinawa for training and we got a Staff Sergeant straight from Force Recon and this Marine was cool as ice, chilled, relaxed, let us do wild shit a typical grunt does, fighting each other etc, and he never talked about his intense training while he served his five years at Force Recon since most is classified...
What 3 idiots would put a a thumbs down. This man is a dying breed to today's standards. At least for the most part. What a dedicated American hero. That's what I think! I wish I could shake this mans hand and thank him personally. We need this generation to be like him! God bless this man and his wonderful heart he has for his fellow Americans
The VC
Protesters
marcnews75 - Whether protesters are against war or not, they are dirt if they don't respect veterans whom honorably served their country. Protesting is fine. You likely agree.
I was a police officer in the early part of this century with a sergeant Ronald Carr. He was a recon Marine there during this time and he told stories that would make your soul shutter!
Thank you sir for your service and this interview.
Bo and Mike Thornton also a Navy Seal awarded the CMH are just a different breed they are alot alike it's never me or I with these two. They don't make em like this anymore.
Lee Moore Mike’s buddy was awarded as well, yeah? Tommy Norris?
THIS MAN is why I am sooooo PROUD to live in the USA !!......Men like this man are true American HERO'S !!.......Thank You SIR for ALL you've done and sacrificed for our great country.......WELCOME HOME SIR.......JOB WELL DONE !!
You did GOOD, Chief ! . . . REAL GOOD ! ( Semper Fi ! )
What an absolute badass.
A good man but brainwashed like so many.
THANK YOU for your service Sir. Welcome home.
Just watched a documentary called "A Bond Unbroken" that Mr. Burwell was part of.......very good watch, i suggest to all if you get the chance to see it, you'll be glad you did.
I would follow this man through the fires of hell and feel safe with him. Thanks for your service
@41:20 Maybe the VC thought no one would be foolish enough to sleep at the bottom of a valley river when it was going to rain! Thank you for your service!
God Bless You Thank You for Your Service I Blame the Politicians
Thank you sir for your service
Refreshing to hear about a bunch of guys that weren’t drafted and made to go, but signed up of their own accord because of their love for our country. It’s people like these that make a country great. Not the politicians of today lost in comfortable lives with pretend issues to obtain some sort of re-election or more money. It’s the people that make a country great. On the flip side of that coin, at this time in history, there were a lot of people that had the courage to question the government and what was happening and why. Very strange time in our history and there were heroes on both sides of the coin I’m sure. I guess sometimes I have to remember that my mindset is to enlist and serve, however there is always more to the story.
Thank u for ur service sir 🫡
SEMPER FI BROTHER ....Thank You
Hell of a warrior. Thank you for sharing your story.
very impressive and enjoyable. very humble man. would like to hear more from him. god bless'..........................
I also noticed his humbleness and And commend you for ears that are open to the Quiet tone of a true warriors voice
I was a young child when this conflict was going on , first and foremost THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ! I watched all 3 of these interviews ,Nick Estavillo ,Larry Keen and this one with Mr,Burwell .I also have the book "Green Ghosts"that has the names of my own personal acquaintances in the book . The research has been a type of obsession with me for many years as i have a family member who was there WIA with the 3rd recon multiple times, and a mentor/coworker that passed away recently from leukemia due to agent orange. Thank You.
Real men with backbones when the sheep were scared.
Hero, just another sample of american blood an honor. What a guy. Thank for your devoted service.
I have many faces of war and death something I have known most of my life.I am very proud of all service men and women. Semper Fletch!
Guys like this make me even more proud to hold the title Marine.
yessir...semper fi
Got admire survivors of that era.
This guy has had quite the life. I can't imagine what he's gone through.
The best nights sleep I ever had was during a thunderstom on Vieques during our work up training missions in 1994 Operation Restore/Uphold Democracy with USS Wasp & USS Nashville. There is definately something unique about the way the island feels.
Un-cut is the most fair interview to conduct. Reality never ever cuts!
Our Recondo School training during the peacetime era of post Vietnam, has always drawn concerns on how it may have unfolded had the war stayed hot over there. Many sectors of "Bo's" experiences, has brought to confirming closure, many of those what if's.
32:15 SALUTE = Size, Activity, Location, Uniform, Time, & Equipment of the enemy.
1:03:35 Interesting mystery about RTO communicators.
1:33:37 Brought strong to mind just where one's sacrifices reside...
"None are closer to the very author of sacrifice Himself...
Than those who bare themselves into danger,
In order to perform it, for the very sake of others.
This is a 'heavenly gesture' of which, none can erase nor steal."
-former recondo sgt. "rock" 82nd abn. 1/504 inf. 71-74 8917
Bo, thank you.
Force recon doesnt get the love it deserves... these guys were professional as hell
There,s a reason why men like this don,t run for President,they have much more important things to do,his humility is unparralelled,speaks of heroics,and graduating from medical school,like a farmer would talk about his farm,a good man!
GET SOME! Doc Burwell. PURE CORPS. You'll never die.
I met Bo in Dong Ha in late 1966 (or early '67?) while I was with C Co. 3rd Recon Battalion. A platoon from Force was in the same old French barracks in Dong Ha as was C & D companies. He told me a few stories about his adventures with Force. He looks a little different now (so do I.)
Navy Corpsmen were the bravest of the brave....
Studs
What amazing fortitude and responsibility. Sorry folks, no victims to be seen here... Move along.
The breakup at 1320 changed the depth of his conversation. I could track his every word and thought until then, I do not know what occurred or you asked him to do at that moment, but it ruined his flow. I was enjoying hearing his entire story, the whole story, until you broke it up...P.S. I appreciated every word, I sincerely adored it, All of it, but he was writing a book in the beginning until that stated time.
Amazing dialogue of a man who did everything that was asked of him, and a considerable amount more, typical of the men and women of their generation, and all without complaints and whining, hats of to him and his generation. Unlike the current crop of self important, over privileged, SJWs they had a great belief and pride in the service, country and comrades and put everything before themselves. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴
Your very right and they also worked hard as hell for what they had and never went around with thier hands out feeling that everone owes them something
His story about driving to clear explosives reminds me of this underwater welder I met that worked on a million$ government contract to remove a live nuke that was sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. It took him about a week. Couple days to take a boat to the spot, a day to dive to look at the nuke and plan the job out, couple days of welding and securing it to a lift and pulling it out, and a few days to get back home. He owned the company that got the contract and did the job himself on a government ship with the help of some sailors from the navy so he made a million dollars in just a few days. Not many people would have the skillset to work on a nuke at the bottom of the ocean.
DAVID MORAGNE
6:17 PM (32 minutes ago)
to TH-cam
Hi Joey,
The video you watched/this video, is the interview with Lou Kern. Lou is in the room, directing the piece, I am asking the questions/conducting the interview, and Eric is filming/operating the camera.
This is the raw footage for a piece we initially intended to add supporting "B" roll to, and make shorter, then to be included into an ongoing series about 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company.
If you have other questions, feel free to ask.
Thanks,
David
510/285-9072
The park towards the end where he was describing the incredibly difficult terrain where they needed a helo evac wasn’t the point of that mission for the VC guide to lead them to some American and possibly an Australian POW’s? He said they completed the mission but I don’t recall him saying they rescued those American prisoners?
“ I was still coughing blood but I was on my way to Camp LeJune”. What a bad ass this man is !!!!
Fantastic laurels! This is just a bit hard to follow, except that it is well understood he was with a team with great chemistry . It’s prob just me, but I have no idea what this great man did in VietNam. Not familiar with all the military terms & letters. Just want to say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SACRIFICE! God bless you Sir.👏🏼👏🏼🙏🙋♀️
You don't hear a lot about Marine Special Forces in the news. They keep it quiet and do some dangerous missions around the world.
All marines are "Special"...
Rubbish
True my dad was in 1st marine recon and a lot of stuff was classified
Was on 881 south May of 67. We NEVER got any INTELLIGENCE reports . It cost lives.
You can probably tell some harrowing stories. I think I have read 4 or 5 books just about Khe Sahn and the Hill Fights.
Reading about the assaults by the NVA on Hill 881 are as hair raising and valiant as any other famous battle documented in the war. It is also what I think the most under told battles of the war. Everyone heard about the seige of Khe Sahn or Ia Drang Valley or Hamburger Hill, but the battle for 881 is not discussed enough.
Seriously brother, you guys were some incredible warriors and the heroism of every swingin' dick on that hill is of Marine Corps legend.
What was your Company Commander's name, Captain D(Dalton?)? He seemed like a great
C. O., the quintessential Marine Corps company commander.
I was a peacetime Marine and later a USAF officer and aviator, primarily flying C-130s. My brother was also a Marine back at DaNang Air Base Dec 66 thru Jan 68 . He has much more sedate, but funny stories of his war, mostly dodging the M.P.s. and sneaking into Dog Patch.
Well my hats off to you for surviving that deadly onslaught and fighting a battle as fierce as the fiercest battles in USMC history. Of all the battles I read about, the Battle for Hill 881 was the spookiest snd most hairraising intensity of a few against all odds.
At some point, the only thing I have on my bucket list is to shit on LBJs grave or at his Presidential library.
In most of the books I read, the best were by enlisted Marines who were not lifers. These guys told it how it was, and no Rah Rah bullshit.
Most relate that it was completely mismanaged. It was a shitty, dirty war and you Marine Bush Grunts were shit on by the field grade officers on up. They put you guys out in terrible locations and did not have adequate supply lines. You Marines kept the faith with each other and did your duty as Americans and Marines.
Also, Not one flag officer resigned his commission in objection when he knew his Marines were being used as cannon fodder for the Military Industrial Complex. All those generals including Krulack and Walt were chasing another star. At their level of command. they knew the war was being managed not to win, but to prolong the misery.
LBJ and his cronies all were invested in businesses from transporting cargo to building bases to Dow Chemical to Hughes Aircraft.
Jarrod,
I could not get an answer from TH-cam as to why the two other videos that were posted sometime ago with this one, is no longer there. I rarely visit this channel, and didn't discover the absence until recently, but will make some attempt, when things slow down for me , to find and reload Larry and Nick's videos early this summer.
Thanks,
David
Jarrod, we asked the same question after discovering the video were not there, TH-cam has not provided an answer. I will try to re-post them in the near future.
Thank you. I posted the question again. Disregard that post
He didn't look very thrilled when they said they stole an army ambulance because they needed a lift lol He probably had to steal the jeep to save people because they stole an ambulance for a joy ride.
What a guy! Semper Fi!!
“ Death Before Dishonor “
I didn’t realize marines could go through buds. This guy is a badass American hero!
It’s called the Navy Marine Corps team marines are a branch of the Navy soldiers of the sea like the Army on a ship for our country’s protection a necessity we found out that when we send Marines off the ship to war some of them get hurt so the Navy decided that they would send doctors trained medical but also a warrior like the Marines he would be healing on the battlefield For your own advancement I urge you to read every comment that you can about this man there are many who wish to thank him I am a former Marine sergeant and I God bless his soul and his spirit Semper Fi
All that courage and good intention and the war was started on a lie and eventually lost
What a great, thoughtful guy.
UDT is Underwater Demolition Team : Team designation for Naval Divers prior to Naval Seal Teams today.
A Mans Man
I'm an ex-Force Recon operator, circa 80s and 90s. My comment here concerns the makers of this video and Millennials, generally, who have probably surpassed Boomers as the most revolting generation the United States has ever produced--at least in terms of personal behavior, if not in terms of actual damage done to the nation. That these two obtuse juvenile clowns felt it necessary to attempt to "direct" MCPO Burwell into some little mini-performance that they felt would be adequately dramatic, after listening to him for an hour and 40-minutes on this subject, is indicative of a childlike lack of respect born of a total lack of worldly experience, an all encompassing personal indiscipline and a complete lack of self consciousness that is nothing less than frightening.
give em a break, at least they try to understand what happened in the past, and/or record it for future reference. They weren't overbearing, or directing much, they just said enough to keep the man talking on his own as much as possible.
In the end they are simply trying to get some footage for later editing, like in an intro.
It's standard technique for many docu-interviews. And these kids are probably doing it as part of a school project, based on instruction given to them how to do it.
@@stijnvandamme76 You give me a break. I stand by every word.
@@joeanonymous1834 I’m not sure I’m picking up what your puttin down here, how’re they being disrespectful, can you explain? And arrugah
@@nyjets2428 If you watched the video and read my comment carefully, I'm not sure what I can tell you other than to elaborate a bit. Yes, it was disrespectful. Imagine the same cheeseball "direction" with a Holocaust survivor, for example. You can't. It's unthinkable. MCPO Burwell is (ought to be) essentially in the same category. Listening to someone's tale of death, suffering, loss and sacrifice then telling them to say it again, only with more drama and kitch, is beyond unseemly. Try to imagine yourself listening to him for over an hour, then doing what they did. I'll bet you can't.
Another disturbing aspect of this is the detachment from reality and the sort of impermeable narcissistic solipsism in which so many of their generation live (members of it that serve in the military excepted). They don't know the difference between fiction and reality. Apparently, for them, listening to Burwell was little different that playing a video game. They didn't find it "awesome" enough, so they attempted to adjust the settings--oblivious to the fact that they were dealing with another human being and reality--and in so doing, unwittingly exposed their own vacuousness. You can see Burwell bristle, then decide to be polite and cooperate. Cringeworthy is an understatement.
I honestly find it disturbing that my comment here requires any defense or further explanation. Then again, we are witnessing the utter collapse of the United States of America, so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised.
@@joeanonymous1834 I honestly couldn’t hear what the director was saying, and I don’t think this legend gives a single fuck about these kids doing the interview. And I don’t either. I was more focus on the mans story. I get what your saying, and your right but this man was part of generation of war fighter that came home from a slug fest of a war and got spat on by hippies and whole other generation of whining little fucks. Always beside you.
He was also a Navy Seal .
Back then they required more guts than physical conditioning. If a war gets bad enough, it will be that way again. They weren't so caught up in the politics and PT scores back in those days. If you were crazy enough, you were in the club. Now, you have to prove yourself through a lot more B.S. than just having a plain and simple hard charging attitude.
You notice this man's demeanor, if he told you not to move you look into those eyes you don't move or blink or breathe
and katlyn jenner is a hero???? wtf...this guys a hero
Is this the same Bo Burwell that I served as a Civ at MI in SP back in the early 80s? Bill P.
Dont you love it when people go out of thier way to answer a simple question you pose?! Maybe someone who knows will respond in 2023
I was an AF FAC in Aug 1966 stationed at Dong Ha... I remember Operation Hastings very well....the “Dust-offs” flew in all day and night. I was at Khe Shan the day Gen Walt decided to make a stand there...and the day the marines “landed”. I had no idea how brave they were and the things they did. Simper Fi.
My uncle was a frog man in Ww2
Was a sign painter before the war and would paint signs for Marines coming in
A frogman that painted signs for marines?...sounds like an oxymoron
DAVID MORAGNE
6:42 PM (9 minutes ago)
to TH-cam
Hi James,
I did not Know Bob.
I joined the Company and what became known as the 2nd Detachment, in December 1966 at Camp Del Mar CA.
We finished reformation and training there, and deployed to the RVN in late April 1967. I was in the RVN from 26 April '67 - 28 May '68. When I returned to the States 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company and it's Flag, was still deployed in Quang Tri Province, RVN.
The flag and the Company were retired there in 1970, I believe, and some years later was made a Reserve Company in Hawaii.
The best,
David
510/285-9072
I also like it when he talked about the recon he did before the battle of Khe Sanh. I have done the same thing sent good intel up to the G2 and they ignored it, then we get attacked and everyone wants to wounder why. I am like did you read my intel reports I sent up? Stop calling me crazy you don't live right next to the village. You live 30 min away on a dirt road and are not exposed to it when I would get questioned with my intel reports.
Whoa, now there's a bad ass..they don' t make that model anymore, hats off to Mr Burwell a National hero!!
Did you know Bob Rebsher 3rd Recon Camp Lejeune?
Great interview!
1:41 :21 Why discipline is so important. What a warrior.
Welcome Home
For more information about Force Recon units during the Vietnam War go to http//firstforcerecon.com
He is a Marine. Any questions? 🤛🏻🤛🏻🤛🏻🤛🏻🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷
i love this.
DAVID MORAGNE
6:30 PM (13 minutes ago)
to TH-cam
Hi Matt,
You are certainly right. Many of those who served knew exactly why they were serving. Some others of us, knew we wanted to enlist in the Armed Services, and we had many different reasons for doing so. The experiences we had, and the Teammates we shared them with, are priceless, irrespective of what our original intent may have been. But that's life.
We initially intended to create an ongoing series of interviews, cut with "B" roll and shortened, to tell the story of 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company and the men who served in it. This video was one of the original uncut interviews filmed after our Company Commander, William C. Floyd's Memorial Celebration, several years ago in Melbourne Beach, FL.
The best,
David
510/285-9072
For those who have never been in a fetal position trembling - as an adult - !:32:10 is the essence of the USMC. When all goes to hell - a PFC understands the situation -
assumes "command" and begins to move forward yelling as loud as only a Marine can - other Marines trust and move forward BECAUSE OF TRUST AND TO PROTECT THEIR BROTHER -
Marines know. SEMPER FI BROTHER!
Wheres the bill keen video?