MyStory1

1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion
I served with the 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion (1st LAI Bn.) from September 1989 until February 1993. The Battalion was formed in 1985 and originally named the Light Armored Vehicle Battalion (LAV Bn.). Later it was re-designated the Light Armored Infantry Battalion. The 1st LAI Bn. makes it's home on MCB Camp Pendleton, CA. It is part of the 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) and is usually deployed as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). When we deployed for the Persian Gulf, we deployed as part of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (IMEF). Still later in 1992 the battalion retired it's colors along with 1st Reconnaissance Bn. and the two where joined resulting in 1st Reconnaissance Bn. (Light Armored). The unit motto; "Tip of the Spear" is derived from the fact that this is the leading edge of the 1st Marine Division. Task force Shepherd was a name adopted by the Battalion Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Myers as a designation for 1st LAI Bn. during the Gulf War. The name comes from a former Commandant of the Marine Corps, General L. Shepherd. You can read more about 1st LAI Bn.'s History and Lineage here. Any former 1st LAI Bn. members.. Here is a Must Read.

I joined the Battalion as a 0352/0313 in September 1989 and was assigned to Weapons Company, TOW section. We had a great unit T-Shirt then, and I was recently given a photo of if (mine long since met with the rag-man) from an old timer from LAV Bn, John Murphy. Click the image below to see our Weapons Co. T-Shirt in larger format. BTW, I still have two footlockers which followed me through my travels with WPNS Co stenciled on them from my original assignment to Weapons Co. For those who remember my barracks room, they were my impromptu television stand.

The Light Armored Vehicle
The LAV is basically a hull, designed to be a platform for a variety of weapon systems. The basic hull is an eight wheeled, 4 or 8 wheel drive armored vehicle built by General Motors. It is composed of 1/2" armored plating and on average weighs 14 ton. The steel hull is welded so that the combination of 1/2" steel and angled plates provides protection from small arms fire up to .50 cal. This hull will accommodate such weapon systems as the 25mm Bushmaster Chain gun, the TOW II Anti-Tank weapon system, the 81mm Mortar and several others. The picture here is of the LAV-AT or Anti-Tank. You can learn more on the The LAV Family Page.

The LAV-AT
This is the Light Armored Vehicle-Anti-Tank or LAV-AT. It is the basic LAV hull with a Emerson 901 turret mounted on it. There are two TOW II Anti-Tank missiles in the launcher and the optical system which includes a powerful day tracker and a thermal sight. The TOW II missile can defeat any armor on today's battle field. The LAV-AT carries 14 missiles in reserve. The major advantage to having the TOW II weapon system on the LAV is that the gunner can acquire targets with the protection of armor and the loader can load with the same degree of protection. This is my vehicle Mary-Lou or USMC 521839.

Mary-Lou
This is me with my LAV. As with any crew-served apparatus...the LAV's crew is no different. When living out of the LAV for many, many long months, you become quite fond of the thing that is providing you with protection from the elements. While some units had the luxury of base camps and barracks, We lived as nomads. I took a lot of pride in our vehicle and somehow she took on the name of Mary-Lou. I, as a bored Marine, looked for things to do out in the desert during "down time"...mainly draw pictures on her. I was the Vehicle Commander and had a crew consisting of a driver, gunner and loader.

Dave S and Me

A Friend and Fallen Brother..........
This is a picture of my good friend, fellow crew member, Brother Marine and myself. David T. Snyder served with me and was a member of my crew until for reasons only beknownst to whomever....he was transferred to another vehicle. Dave is standing closest to the camera. This picture was taken on a Division Exercise in Saudi Arabia, hence the NBC suits (MOPP Gear). Dave was killed in a fratricide incident near a town or police post called Umm Hujul on the border of Kuwait...in a battle with Iraqi forces, January 29, 1991. That battle was the first time Iraqi forces attacked U.S. Forces enmasse. There where several cases of fratricide during the Gulf War. Even I had an incident where we where targeted by U.S. aircraft, and ordinance dropped, which to my luck, the pilot missed. My unit suffered several casualties.