The 2/9 Network is forever dedicated to the memory of its founder and inspiration - Red Hill. Semper Fidelis Red!

Hell in a Helmet

Welcome to the 2nd Battalion-9th Marine Network. A Network dedicated to helping you find the "Brothers" that you served with and help the "Brothers" you served with find you.

Here is just a short history of the 2/9 Network. It all started back in 1984 when I made my first trip to "The Wall." I was so moved by that experience, as I am sure all of us have been and for you making your first trip will be, that I have returned every year since.

And a major reason I came was not only to Honor my fallen Brothers, but to try and find some of the men that I shared the same mud with in Vietnam and to find my Platoon Commander.
I had a banner made of the "Hell in a Helmet" logo and stood flying it proudly, and like zombies, out of the crowd came the Brothers of 2/9. I started taking down names and addresses. These men were searching too.

I did find the men I was searching for and my Platoon Commander, Lt. Bob Hanover but he has unfortunately like so many of our brothers passed on.

Each year beginning with that trip in 1984 after a trip to "The Wall" and gathering more names I would mail a copy of "The Network Roster" to everyone. Maybe they would recognize a name. I started to include a cover letter about a possible reunion. By 1992, I had collected 84 names. Procrastination is an attribute amongst us. I needed a kick in the butt, and finally, Don Truesdale telephoned and said, "Red, just do it, Brother." If there are 3 of us or 30, shoot, we'll at least be in the same hotel. I mailed a reunion notice to 84 people in March of that year, and by November, the Network had grown to 250. Seventy people signed in the logbook for the first reunion. By the second reunion, there were 450 in the Network. The third reunion, 630 in the Network. And now, after 10 reunions we stand at over 1500. I never envisioned this. It can be laborious, but it's a labor of love.

I do want to point out that even though this site is comprised mostly of "Vietnam Era" 2/9ers that ALL former and current Marines that serve, or served, with 2/9 are invited to join. Your name and address etc; will be added to the "Network Roster" and "Mailing List" respectively for the time periods of "Pre-Vietnam Era", "Vietnam Era" and "Iraq/Afghanistan Era". Your name will automatically be added to the web site no matter what era you served.

Semper Fi

Richard "Red" Hill

UPDATE 08 October 2024

Reunion room reservations must be made by 11 October or you will have to pay the going rate for the room. The reunion is shaping up nicely. Click on the Reunion button on the left side of this Home Page for the latest up date, including info about our keynote speaker at the Birthday DInner on 10 November.

Semper Fi,

Danny

PS Our website has now exceeded over 400,000 hits since being established.

Contact me at twoninencoic@aol.com