This document provides a summary of Charles Lynn Lowder's career as a Marine from 1967 to 1968. It describes how he joined the Marine Corps after dropping out of college rather than be drafted for the Vietnam War. As a recruit at MCRD San Diego, he excelled and was selected as a guide. He later became an officer through the Enlisted Commissioning Program. In 1968, he deployed to Vietnam as a reconnaissance Marine where he led dangerous patrols and helped pioneer new rigging techniques. He received the Silver Star for valor during multiple combat missions.

1. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009
HONOR
PLATOON
Vol. 69 – No. 22 – COMPANY H WWW.MCRDSD.USMC.MIL
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO AND THE WESTERN RECRUITING REGION
DIs head out for fishing
excursion
Pg 8
Company H recruits learn combat
marksmanship
Pg 4
 S. C C. B
Chevron staff
Part I of a II Part Series
C
harles Lynn Lowder
marched onto Shep-
herds Memorial Drill
Field on July 2, as the
parade reviewing officer and
positioned himself exactly six
paces in front of the commander
of troops. As the graduating
recruits, drill instructors, and
officers of Company I rendered a
salute during the pass in review,
Lowder thought back to 1967
when he marched across the
very same grinder as his pla-
toon’s honor man.
Former collegiate football
player, pioneer in Special Patrol
Insertion/Extraction or SPIE
rigging, and Vietnam hero,
Lowder owes his complex and
voluminous life to the Corps.
When Lowder was a young
child raised in the small town
of Sullivan, Ill., his dream of
becoming a United States
Marine was born.
Lowder was in second grade
when he saw his first Marine
Corps recruiting poster, and he
was attracted to the trademark
dress blue uniform. In fourth
grade he watched a movie called
Battle Cry, based off the novel by
author Leon Uris, that showed
MCRD San Diego in the 1950s,
which forever lingered in his
mind as he advanced through
school.
Upon graduating from high
school, Lowder attended North-
ern Illinois University where he
played as a starting strong-safety
on the football team. Although
he attempted to stay focused
on school, the conflict between
the United States and Vietnam
began to heat up, and he refused
to let the opportunity to partic-
ipate pass him by so he dropped
out of college and went to speak
to a Marine Corps recruiter.
“They were drafting young
men at the time, but I decided
that if I was going to war I
wanted to be with the best, so I
enlisted in the Marine Corps as
an infantryman,” said Lowder.
“I wasn’t going to wait around
and get drafted.”
It wasn’t long before he was
standing on the legendary
yellow footprints in the middle
of the night both drowsy and
unnerved.
Lowder will never forget the
day he was greeted by his senior
drill instructor, Gunnery Sgt.
Bell.
“My father was not present
while I was child, so although
I didn’t know it back then,
I needed a strong male role
model,” said Lowder. “Men are
visual learners. I needed some-
one to show me what to do, not
just tell me.
“(Bell) was the classic drill
instructor and I watched every-
thing that he did even when I
probably wasn’t supposed to be,”
said Lowder. “He stretched me
both mentally and physically.
More that I ever thought was
possible.”
Bell ended up taking on the
role as a father figure, some-
thing that Lowder didn’t expect
to find while in boot camp.
“He proved to me that I
always had more in my tank
than I thought,” said Lowder.
“He kept me on ‘true north,’ and
didn’t let me blow left or right.”
At the time, Lowder was
21-years-old, which was older
than the majority of recruits
who were fresh out of high
school.
“Although some of the
recruits in my platoon were
drafted, I couldn’t have told you
which ones,” said Lowder. “They
acted no different. We were all
in the same soup.”
Lowder’s platoon was on the
range when he was approached
by his senior drill instructor and
asked if he had any aspirations
of being an officer.
“I immediately said no
because I wanted to go to Viet-
nam as soon as possible,” said
Lowder.
Because his drill instructor
saw his strong leadership skills,
Lowder was given the billet of
guide on his first day at recruit
training and kept it until gradu-
ation.
“Like I’ve said to several
people, my birth certificate says
December 19, 1945 - Decatur,
Ill. That isn’t the case,” he said.
“I was actually ‘born’ on Sep-
tember 4, 1967 at MCRD San
Diego.”
Lowder’s next step in train-
ing was to attend the School
of Infantry, Marine Corps Base
Camp Pendleton, Calif., to train
as an infantryman.
Although he could escape the
depot, Lowder could not run
from the prominent fact that he
had what it took to be a Marine
Corps officer.
While at SOI, Lowder’s first
sergeant had been reviewing the
Marines’ service record books
and saw that Lowder was an
exceptionally qualified Marine
for the Enlisted Commissioning
Program.
Despite Lowder’s initial hes-
itation, he attended the ECP
screening and was accepted into
the program, but unfortunately
he had to wait for the next
class.
While he waited, Lowder was
sent to another training com-
pany where he trained alongside
three noncommissioned officers
in the infantry.
“They found out I was going
to become an officer and took
me under their wing,” he said.
“They taught me a lot about
(what to expect in) Vietnam.”
Lowder said he has witnessed
first-hand, the power of mentor-
ship.
He said his drill instructor
changed the course of his life
by teaching him inner strength.
His first sergeant saw his poten-
tial and put in ECP; and those
three NCOs passed on the exten-
sive knowledge of Vietnam.
In 1968, Lowder earned his
commission.
“I heard reconnaissance
Marines were (tough). Natu-
rally, I wanted to be one of
them,” said Lowder. “So I pur-
sued the secondary (military
occupational speciality) of
recon.”
With his newfound career
goals, Lowder immediately told
his sergeant major he wanted
to become a recon Marine. In a
few days, orders for recon were
sitting on his desk.
“No one got an incentive
check for helping me out in my
career,” said Lowder. “I always
had good leadership and people
that believed in and saw more
in me than I did myself.”
It wasn’t long before
Lowder’s dreams became a real-
ity and he was stuffed on an
airplane with a load of other
second lieutenants en route to
the hostile jungles of Vietnam.
“The attrition rate of infan-
try units was high,” said
Lowder. “If a lieutenant was
doing his job, he would either
be shot and injured, or killed.”
Depot friend shares story of Marine career
Charles Lynn Lowder, middle, and a group of his Marines stop for
a photo while on duty in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of C. L. Lowder
Colonel Gregg T. Habel addresses Marines, family and
guests during the Recruit Training Regiment Change of
Command Ceremony here Wednesday. Habel relinquished
command to Col. Robert Gates. Habel has been reassigned
to New Oleans where he will assume duties as chief of staff
for 4th Marine Division. Sgt. Carrie C. Booze/Chevron

2. 2 CHEVRON ~ NEWS AND COMMENTARY ~ JULY 31, 2009
Silver Star recipient, depot mentor, shares Vietnam story
‘Uncommon valor was a common virtue’
 S. C C. B
Chevron staff
Part II of a II Part Series
I
n 1968, Charles Lynn Lowder sat alongside more
than 100 other second lieutenants, and peered out
the windows of the Boeing 707 aircraft that flew
over the dense jungles of Vietnam. The sea of green
trees that blanketed the land was punctuated by circular
clearings where airstrikes had already taken place. Lowder
described this sight as surreal.
Lowder’s journey began on the depot in 1967 as a moti-
vated private. Within a couple years, which were riddled
with good luck and exceptional leaders, he became a com-
missioned officer with the secondary military occupa-
tional specialty of reconnaissance.
The plane landed at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of
Vietnam, and the Marines quickly deplaned into the
nearly unbearable humidity.
Soon after landing, the 1st Marine Division personnel
officer welcomed the new lieutenants.
“He asked for three volunteers for recon, and only three
lieutenants raised their hands. I was one of them,” said
Lowder. “He asked us our backgrounds and I told him I
was (former enlisted) with an infantry primary MOS and
a recon secondary MOS. He immediately assigned me to
First Force Reconnaissance Company.”
Lowder then hopped into a CH-46 helicopter with the
other volunteers en route to An Hoa Combat Base, located
30 miles south west of Da Nang.
“I was anxious to get to my platoon. I had already
waited long enough and just wanted to find out what had
been going on,” said Lowder.
Just after arriving, they received word that a team was
in trouble. A helicopter had been shot down and a couple
of Marines had been killed. So Lowder grabbed his rifle
and jumped into another helicopter to retrieve the dead
Marines.
“While out there I saw a sergeant who had been shot in
the leg,” said Lowder. “It woke me up and made me realize
that we weren’t using blanks anymore, this was combat.”
Later that month, Lowder was sent on a patrol with the
same sergeant who had been shot.
As they walked along the banks of a river, a Viet
Cong soldier snuck up behind them, but luckily the
Marines reflexes were quicker. After killing the soldier,
they rushed to higher grounds which would give them
an advantage in a fire fight. Rounds zoomed above their
heads and cracked on tree branches that shadowed over
them as his team set up a 360 degree security and elimi-
nated the rest of their enemies.
“This was my first fire fight, and after the incident I
couldn’t help but wonder whether I would live through
Vietnam,” said Lowder. “I seriously doubted it.”
Lowder tried to keep in high spirits, and came to the
conclusion that even if he didn’t survive he wanted to
make his mark in Vietnam.
While in combat, Marines gain ingenuity that enables
them to get a mission accomplished quicker and more
effectively, explained Lowder
In 1968, Lowder’s unit made history when Col.
Roger Simmons, commanding officer, First Force Recon,
invented Special Purpose Insertion and Extraction (SPIE)
rigging.
During SPIE rigging, Marines wear harnesses hooked
to carabiners which are attached to a 120-foot rope. While
a helicopter dangles them between 250 to 1,000 feet above
ground, the helicopter lowers the Marines into the jungle
and they unhook themselves from the rope. This method
is used for quick insertion of troops into areas where a
helicopter cannot land.
Lowder said that his unit started using SPIE rigging
before their commanding officer got it approved by the
Marine Corps, but that the remarkable invention ended up
saving many Marines’ lives.
“Before this was invented, a ladder was dropped
through the helicopter’s hell hole and the Marines would
have to scale up that during extractions,” said Lowder.
“SPIE rigging gave us more mobility with our rifles.
Lowder and his Marines were in the first training
video that presented SPIE rigging to Headquarters Marine
Corps for approval. This troop insertion method has
proven to be a great success and is still used today.
Lowder managed to stay untouched through 24 patrols,
ambushes, and prisoner missions.
Although he was a warrior, his mother had taught him
to respect the sanctity of life and he never let the nature of
combat fog his values, he said.
Lowder said he remembers hiding in the brush and
watching the Vietnamese soldiers march right beside him.
While analyzing their faces, he thought about how much
see Lowder, Pg. 8
Back-to-School Bash
A Back to School Bash for fam-
ilies with school-aged children is
scheduled for Aug. 18 from 5:30 to
8 p.m. in Bldg. 6E. Enjoy dinner
with a mystery guest speaker; pan-
elists; and resources for families
to prepare for a successful school
year. For information, call (619)
524-0916.
Cardiac risk screening
Cardiac risk screenings will be
available by appointment only from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 18 at
the Fieldhouse gym. Screenings
includes: cholesterol, body fat,
blood pressure, blood glucose and
individual counseling sessions. The
event is open to all eligible depot
personnel. For information, call
(619) 524-8083.
Brown Bag Lunch Seminar
The next Personal Financial
Brown Bag Lunch Seminar will be
“Understanding Homeowners, Auto
and Life Insurance,” Aug. 19 from
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Marine
& Family Services’ Classroom, Bldg.
14. Seminars are free and open
to authorized depot personal and
their families: active duty; reserv-
ists; retired military members; civil
service and contract personnel. A
free light lunch will be served,
but attendees are welcome to bring
their lunch. To register, call (619)
524-5728.
Scholarship banquet
The San Diego Chapter 12 Mont-
ford Point Marine Association will
hold its annual Scholarship Banquet
on Aug. 22 from 6 to 10 p.m. at
the Anchors Catering and Confer-
ence Center, Building #3210, 32nd
Street Naval Base, San Diego. Res-
ervations must be made by August
1. Tickets will not be sold at the
door. For information, call (619)
204-7673, (619) 264-7487 or (858)
279-4481 or e-mail mpmachapter-
12@yahoo.com.
Semper Fit Strolling
Semper Fit Strolling is offered
Mondays and Wednesdays from
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in front of
the Fitness Center. The class will
include power walking, running and
strength training. Necessary items
to bring are: stroller, water, towel
and mat, sunscreen and snacks. The
event is open to all eligible depot
patrons. For information, call (619)
524-4427.
Gamers Grub video game
release party
All eligible patrons are invited to
enjoy a free lunch and drinks while
playing this month’s newest video
games Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1
p.m. at the depot Recreation Center.
This event is offered the last Tues-
day of each month. For information,
call (619) 203-3277.
SEND BRIEFS TO:
MCRDSDPAO@usmc.mil. The
Chevron staff reserves the right
to publish only those briefs that
comply with Department of Defense
regulations and the standards of the
U.S. Government.
Evelyn Barientes, the wife of
drill instructor Sgt. Rene Bari-
entes, rappels off the rappel
tower during Jane Wayne Day
aboard the depot July 25.
Wives of Marine Corps
Recruit Depot Marines got
together to experience what
their husbands do every day.
The wives tackled challenges
such as the confidence course,
the obstacle course and the
rappel tower.
“It’s interesting to see what
(my husband) does on a daily
basis,” said Kristie Comwill,
wife of Staff Sgt. Johnathan
Comwill, Company G.
The wives rappelled from the
tower and Comwill said that
while she was scared to rappel
at first, she was able muster
up the courage to do it. “I just
decided that if I didn’t do it, I’d
regret it.”
Lance Cpl. J. J. Murphy/Chevron
Jayne Wayne Day
offers participants
first hand taste of
the Marine Corps

3. 8 CHEVRON ~ FEATURE ~ JULY 31, 2009
Lowder, from Pg. 2
they probably had in common.
“We were all men fighting for our
country,” said Lowder. “They too were
someone’s son, husband or father;
humans.”
Although Lowder was capable of
seeing the humanity in the enemy sol-
diers, he never lost the ‘kill or be killed’
mindset, he said. Standing  foot 
inches, Lowder knew he was a big target.
During one fire fight, the enemy
began rolling hand grenades into where
Lowder and his team had set up their
firing position. A hand grenade blew up
next to Lowder, knocking him off his
feet. Shrapnel penetrated his soft cover
and grazed his skull.
For this, Lowder received the Purple
Heart medal.
August , , was the first time
Lowder actually looked into his target’s
eyes. While apprehending a prisoner
south of DaNang along the Ho Chi
Minh Trail, Lowder moved in front
of the route to observe the flow
of traffic. Suddenly, six North Viet-
namese soldiers, wielding AK–47 rifles,
approached the Marines’ position.
Lowder jumped in front of the enemy
and demanded their surrender, but
they responded with fire. Lowder killed
the lead soldier while other Marines
silenced the rest as they attempted to
run up the trail. At the same time, five
more soldiers approached their position.
Lowder stood in full view and delivered
accurate fire, therefore, protecting one
of his Marines who was engaged in
hand-to-hand combat with another sol-
dier. He then ran back to assist his fellow
Marine.
“I just responded and did my job,”
said Lowder.
Lowder was awarded the Silver Star
for his conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity in action that contributed
significantly to his unit’s mission accom-
plishment.
Lowder said he is proud of being a
Marine and doing his duty honorably,
but now that his uniform simply hangs
in his closet, he has to live with the fact
that he has taken lives. Every day he
lives with these memories playing viv-
idly like a motion picture in his head.
Despite everything, Lowder said he
has the highest respect for the North
Vietnamese soldiers whom he described
as both professional and courageous.
“At times, I wonder what great things
some of the men I have killed could have
done with their lives. I wonder what they
could have accomplished and where they
would be right now,” said Lowder.
Although Lowder no longer dons his
olive drab attire, he still stays in touch
with the men whom he fought alongside.
“Combat fuses the souls,” said
Lowder. “We help each other stay
grounded. Combat can be an intimate
experience. We have a lot of love and
understanding for each other.”
Despite his previous beliefs, Lowder’s
remaining months in Vietnam turned
into weeks and before he knew it, those
weeks turned into days. Lowder and his
men cheered as the helicopter lifted out
of Vietnam for the last time.
Lowder said that although everyone
was ecstatic about going home, it wasn’t
long before their joyful chatter ceased.
He said he remembers looking at of their
tired and weary faces, all lost in their
thoughts.
It has been more that  years since
Lowder returned to the United States,
and at that time, America had a negative
view of the war and the men who fought
in it.
While riding in a taxi cab through
California with a few of his Marines,
Lowder pulled up behind a old pick-up
truck that had a man riding in the
bed.
“The man looked back at
us and noticed that we had
our uniforms on. The look
on his face immediately
transformed to anger,” said
Lowder. “He jumped up in
the truck bed and began
yelling profanities and
making disrespectful
hand gestures.
“When the warriors
came back from WWII,
they were respected
and greeted with open
arms, but the Ameri-
can society had nega-
tive feelings about Vietnam,”
said Lowder.
He said that being welcomed and
accepted back into society plays
a big part in a servicemember’s
recovery.
“The worst thing you can do
to a warrior is deny what he has
done and where he has been,” said
Lowder. “Many Americans did that to
the Vietnam veterans.”
Despite Lowder’s bad experience in
California, he currently resides here
and makes frequent trips to the depot
to present motivational speeches to
Drill Instructor School students.
He speaks to them about lead-
ership and how to
handle subordi-
nate Marines by
using his experiences
from the battlefield.
He also stresses the fact
that the legendary drill
instructor is the first
example of a Marine the
young recruits will see, so
they need to set the exam-
ple.
“The Marine Corps
hardwires Marines for
success. The older I am
the more I say that it
is true,” said Lowder.
“So apply yourselves
Marines. The United
States needs you.”
Depot mentor, decorated war hero
Charles Lynn Lowder’s unit
films the first Special
Purpose Insertion and
Extraction (SPIE) rig-
ging demonstration for
submission to Head-
quarters Marine Corps in
hopes of making the rig-
ging a commonly used
method of troop insertion
and extraction from
combat zones. The
method was approved and
is still used in the Marine
Corps today.
Photo courtesy of C. L. Lowder
Lt. Gen. Ormond R. Simpson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, pres-
ents Charles Lynn Lowder with the Silver Star medal in an Aug. 29, 1969
ceremony. Lowder was presented the medal for his heroic actions while appre-
hending prisoners along the Ho Chi Minh Trail on August 10. Lowder also
received the Purple Heart medal for injuries sustained when an enemy hand
grenade blew up next to him. Photo courtesy of C. L. Lowder