A DOD Photo of Col. David E. Lownds CO of Khe Sanh in 1968. This is how we all remember Col. Lownds, constantly smoking those cigars, and of course the Mustache. A real Marines-Marine. Constanly looking out for his Marines. Col. Lownds was as concerned for the Air support groups as he was for his own Marines. Semper Fidelis, George T. Curtis (HMM-363 LCpl 67-68) MGySgt USMC Ret // GCURTIS@POPASMOKE.COM Came across your photo of David Lownds and thought it was just terrific. I had the privilege of serving under Col. Lownds at Khe Sanh from mid-'67 to April, '68 as a somewhat naive junior Officer (1st Lt./Capt.) and thought the world of the man. From those days to now, I have never met anyone that I had more respect for. During some pretty dark times, he never, ever conveyed anything but a quiet, strong confidence in believing that things would work out. Around 2 AM, the night that Lang Vei was overrun (2/7/68), I found myself in a bit of a jam and Col. Lownds told me over the radio (PRC 25) that when (not if) I got back to the COC bunker he would give me one of his precious cigars. I did and he did. Your photo of him with the ever-present cigar brought back some incredible memories. Brian Traynor [traynor42@comcast.net] have had the honor of knowing col lownds during the late 90s, and i so agree about what was written here about him. a true marine who just after a short time i grew to have such a deep respect for and proud to know that i could call him a close friend. what a great marine,american,father,husband and human being a true honor to know him..Howard Decker //HARVEYM133@aol.comComment by: Craig W. Tourte on Dec 15, 2008 05:22 PM Lownd’s Mustache: I only saw Colonel Lownds on the Khe Sanh Combat Base a few times. I was impressed with his prominent large black mustache, ending in a twisted point. Even then he looked very distinguished with the authority of command, and often a big cigar protruding from his lips. I would say more like a movie character than a Marine Corps Infantry Battalion Commander.
Rate this file (Current rating : 8.7 / 10 with 6 votes)
Lownd.s Mustache I only saw Colonel Lownds on the Khe Sanh Combat Base a few times. I was impressed with his prominent large black mustache, ending in a twisted point. Even then he looked very distinguished with the authority of command, and often a big cigar protruding from his lips. I would say more like a movie character than a Marine Corps Infantry Battalion Commander. Dennis Mannion sent me a link to an interview Colonel Lownds did some thirty years ago. The interview was thirty-five odd pages and quite interesting. Regarding the mustache, and I.ll paraphrase here, and not quote his exact wordings, you.ll understand what he is saying about this issue. Colonel Lownds said that a leader is recognized because he knows what he is doing and because people recognize who he is. In order that others know who you are and that you.re around you have to have something distinct. My standard trademark in the Marine Corps was to always carry a stick. It wouldn.t be anything fancy, it.d be a broom handle, or something I.d pick up and I.d say this is my stick. I didn.t use it as a walking aid but the young Marines would recognize me when I carried it around. If I happened to visit another battalion or another company I would sometimes inadvertently leave it there, they would always send someone to my unit after I left and say that the Colonel left his stick behind. This was one of the ways people would know that the Colonel was in the area. I didn.t have a stick at Khe Sanh, I couldn.t find one, that.s a good excuse, so I grew a mustache, and I guess it became quite famous. So that.s the story, the colonel grew his mustache because he couldn.t find a stick to carry around. I think the mustache was a good choice. I.d forget someone carrying around a stick back in 1967/1968 on a muddy combat base; I could not forget a very photogenic Colonel with a large black mustache. S/F Craig W. Tourte -Submitted by: Craig W. Tourte [CTourte@sbcglobal.net] 2008-12-15
Comment 1 to 2 of 2
Page: 1
This gallery: views today and views since January 1, 2014
(Show details)
Back to POPASMOKE
Album list
Last comments
Most viewed
Top rated
My Favorites
Search