Hell in a Helmet

This is not an official Marine Corps site.

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

In 2005, Red Hill handed the reins of the 2/9 Network to me, and I continue to try to live up to his dedication to "the Brotherhood."  After being de-activated in 1994, the unit was re-activated in 2007 and continues the "Hell in a Helmet" tradition in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Network continues to grow, the Roster now lists almost 3,000 Marines, and we continue to have our Reunion every year. All 2/9 Marines are welcome in our group. If you find this site on "the net", I hope you will register or contact me if you have any questions or want more information.

Semper Fi

Gabriel "Gabe" Coronado, Jr