Bandido Charlie Association

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Bandido Charlie Company
1st Battalion (Iron Rangers)
16th Infantry Regiment
1st Infantry Division

5th Battalion
60th Infantry Regiment
9th Infantry Division

Lieutenant Colonel Edwin W. Chamberlain, who was the Commander of the 3d Battalion, complained one day that Charlie Company (with their red bandannas) looked like a bunch of Bandidos. The name stuck, according to Colonel James H. Bledsoe U.S. Army (Ret).

-James D. Johnson, who wrote the book Combat Chaplain: A Thirty Year Vietnam Battle wrote in his book that he had talked to Lt. Garner one day and "he sees himself as immortal" and "will make general... or he'll get kicked out because of his unorthodox way in which he conducts his military business"

Lt. Larry Garner never got the chance to make General. On his last operation, after already turning over his command to Captain Dick Botello, Lieutenant Larry Arthur Garner accompanied his Bandidos to save a downed helicopter crew. Bandido Charlie Company (led by Lt. Larry Garner) charged the VC and drove them away from the downed helicopter, and rescued the crew. During the night Lt. Larry Garner and his men formed a small perimeter around the helicopter. The V.C. mounted a viscous counter-attack and Lt. Larry Garner took a V.C. bullet in the heart and was killed along with two other brave men.

Membership in the Bandido Charlie Association is Free. There are no fees or dues charged for membership. The Officers of this Bandido Charlie Association are not paid. The Officers are not reimbursed for their equipment and software used. We use 100% of funds raised to help support our current Bandidos in Iraq. It's simple to donate. See additional information by clicking on the DONATIONS button to the left,

The Bandido Charlie Association holds a copyright as a Work of Visual Art from the US Copyright Office on the Bandido Charlie 1/16th Logo shown in the upper left corner of this web page, Copyright registration number VA 1-427-944.

Lt. Larry Garner was one unique individual. And he wanted our Charlie Company to be unique also. When Charlie Company arrived in Vietnam Lt. Larry Garner was a platoon leader. He was promoted to Commanding Officer to replace a previous Captain.