The 1st Reconnaissance Platoon under the leadership of 1st Lt. William Livingston consisted of 30 men who were ordered to leave their staging area near COP2 at 1941 hours. Lt. Livingston was a hard charger. He had had reconnaissance training at officer’s candidate school in Quantico, Virginia, and wanted to be involved in the action. On occasion he would make bold moves against the enemy, but he was a Marine who would not ask his people to do anything he himself was not willing to do—even at the cost of being
wounded or killed in action.