If you have any information related
to Colin Broussard , his contributions to our MSG and USMC
legacy, or any personal recollections, please send a note so that we
can might all be able to share and honor his memory.
8412
Career
Recruiter Ken Crouse:
"Colin was most proud of his accomplishments within his many
assignments as a Marine Recruiter."
2537 Radio Chief
9982 Small Computer
Operator / Programmer
MSgt Colin Broussard USMC served as a member of the Ambassador Graham
Martin's Personal Security Unit in Saigon Republic of Vietnam during
the Fall of Saigon, officially known as 'Operation Frequent Wind'.
During 'Operation Frequent Wind' MSgt (then SSgt) Broussard was
assigned as an escort and driver for Ambassador Graham Martin. He
left South Vietnam at the side of Ambassador Martin on the third
chopper out. SSgt Colin Broussard, Ambassador Martin's Bodyguard - Call
Sign: RAM
Marine Security Guard School
Bodyguard School
Special Security Guard Detail, DOS, Washington D.C.
American Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal - Marine Security Guard
American Embassy, Saigon, Vietnam - Bodyguard to Ambassador Gram Martin
American Embassy , Nicosia, Cyprus - Bodyguard to Ambassador William
Crawford
Body Guard to Ambassador William Crawford,
Nicosia, Cyprus
(after assassination of Ambassador Davies)
A/NCOIC MSG Detachment Brussels Belgium
Communication and Radio Chief, 1st Bn, 11th
Marines, Camp Pendleton
Recruiting School,
NCOIC Recruiting Sub Station
Assistant Recruiting Instructor, Recruiting Station Los Angeles,
Instructor, Sales and Communications Skills,
Marine Corps Recruiters School
NCOIC 12th Marine Corps District Officer &
Enlisted Recruiting (10 Western States)
...
Private
First Class
Private First Class
Lance Corporal
Corporal - Meritoriously
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant- Meritoriously
Master Sergeant
Awards
& Decorations
Ken Crouse:
"Relative to the Awards
and
Decorations section, please change Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
to Vietnam Service Medal. This was a DD215 item received after he
wrote the bio... The VSM issue was huge to Colin as the AFEM was
awarded to participants of Operation Frequent Wind. Colin always felt
that to be a bit of a slap in the face since he felt we should've been
awarded the Vietnam Service Medal. However, eligibility for the VSM
ended in March of 1973 with the withdrawal of the combat forces
following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords that January. Through
Colin's initiative and the leadership of his Congressman, Duncan
Hunter, authorization for the VSM was signed into law by President Bush
with the 2003 Defense Authorization Act. More on that on the
fallofsaigon.org website... What should be noted, though, is that this
was Colin's idea - not the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America
or anyone else. It was Colin's idea - perhaps a few of us wrote some
letters, but it was Colin that first came up with the issue and carried
it to his Congressman after we were turned down by the Secretary of
Defense's office and the Pentagon (SecDef could've done it with a
stroke of the pen, but didn't or would not)..."
- Navy Commendations Medal
- Navy Achievement Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy Unit Citation (1 Star)
- Meritorious Unit Citation (3 Stars)
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (6 Stars)
- National Defense Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Humanitarian Medal
- Marine Corps Overseas Deployment Ribbon
- Sea Service Deployment Medal
- Marine Security Guard Ribbon - *Vietnam Service Medal
Personal
Bio:
DOB:
September
3, 1950
Parents:
Amy
"Penny" Beck (formerly Broussard) and Lawrence Broussard (Deceased)
Children:
Kelly
Broussard Mackaig (Daughter),Son-in-Law:
Jessie Mackaig
Brothers:
Randy
Brousard (USMC) ,
Michael Beck (USMC),
Tim Beck (USAF),
Occupation:
USMC Retired Webmaster:
Fall-of-Saigon Marine Association
US Embassy, Saigon Vietnam
Fall of Saigon Marine Association
Comments:
Date: 17 Jan 2006:
Colin always remembered
his friends, too, and never took a single one for granted. Last March
the attached photo was taken in Congressman Hunter's El Cajon Office
when I went down there with MGySgt John Valdez (President of the
association and our former NCOIC in Saigon) and Colin to present the
Congressman with a plaque in appreciation for his work on the VSM
issue. Colin would always call me up and say how we needed to do this
or that... perhaps how someone had done something "outstanding" - in
the true Marine Corps vernacular of its use - and we'd have to figure
out how to recognize that person (it was never a negative thing or a
gripe).. even the plaque for Congressman Hunter was done that way...
Colin called me up and said he's gotten this K-Bar, Vietnam Service
Medal, Marine Corps pin, etc. and was going to go over and give it to
the Congressman.. O.K., when you want to do it and he made an
appointment with the office and I flew down, Colin and Top met me at
the airport, we had breakfast and then off we went to the Congressman's
office... I had learned over the years not to question anything he
suggested, but just figure out my role if there was one to be had,
salute sharply and fall in :-)... The Corps could use more Marines like
Colin.
s/f Ken
PPSU Team
Saigon, VN
1975
SSgt Clem Segura
SSgt Dwight McDonald
SSgt Jim Daisy
Sgt Paul Gozgit
Comments:
MSG Detachment
Saigon, VN
MSgt. John Valdez
Doug Portratz
Ken Crouse
Bill Spruce
John Ghilain
Kevin Maloney
Randy Smith
Bill Newell
Comments:
Col Steve Hastey
1975
MSG Detachment Cam Tho
Fall of Saigon Assoc. Historian
