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thedrifter
05-01-09, 06:09 AM
Vietnamese Marine Corps Advisors’ Association held reunion April 23

4/30/2009 By Lance Cpl. Meloney R. Moses , Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —A group of retired Marine Advisors to the Vietnamese Marine Corps gathered April 23 at The Basic School to renew friendships, enjoy camaraderie and celebrate their role in battle.

The story of their efforts during the 1972 Easter Offensive has been chronicled by Col. Gerry Turley in his book, "The Easter Offensive."

These Marines, known as Covans, are host to a number of distinguished members, including six Navy Cross recipients and eight general officers, including a former assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.

To the Vietnamese, Covan is a shortened version of the phrase “Covan My,” which means “American Advisor.”

Many of these guests also participated in several “firsts” including, Firing the first TOW missile to destroy Russian tanks in I Corps and leading the first Vietnamese Marine Corps amphibious landing in a combined amphibious-heliborne assault.

Following a brief discussion about how TBS has grown since their time, the Covans moved on to view a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program demonstration.

This demonstration included four black belt course instructors who displayed modern techniques with weapons of today, such as the bayonet, M16A2 Service Rifle, baton, and their hands and feet.

Within a short time, these instructors were able to expound on 15 different variations of techniques before a tour of Raider’s Hall.

Raider’s Hall embraces the memories of the raider’s battalions that began forming in 1942 and holds all items donated by the raiders themselves or their families.

Concluding this memorable reunion, the Covans enjoyed lunch with a group of second lieutenants and were able to reminisce on the companionship they had as officers at war.

Ellie