1st Cavalry Division Association Non-Profit Organization 302 N. Main St. US. Postage PAID Copperas Cove, Texas 76522-1703 West, TX 76691 Change Service Requested Permit No. 39

PublishedSABER By and For the Veterans of the Famous 1st Cavalry Division VOLUME 66 NUMBER 2 Website: http://www.1CDA.org MARCH/APRIL 2017 The President’s Corner In the last issue of the Saber HORSE DETACHMENT by CPT Jeremy A. Woodard Scott Smith announced his Allen Norris resignation effective February The present day Horse Cavalry Detachment of the 1st Cavalry Division, based 8160 Waterford Dr. Stanley, NC 28164-6777 25. That was also the date at Fort Hood, Texas, was formed under the direction of MG James C. Smith (704) 483-8778 the Board of Governors was (Commander May 1971 to September 1973) of the 1st Cavalry Division - a <[email protected]> scheduled to meet. At that general noted both for his ability to build morale among his troops and a keen meeting in accordance with sense of public relations. The Horse Cavalry Detachment of the 1st Cavalry bylaws of the Association, I was elected to complete Scott’s term as President. Division, one of seven mounted cavalry units on active duty in the United States I would like to personally thank Scott for his service to our country and to Army, brings to life the spirit of the cavalry by its transformation into a unit from the 1st Cavalry Division Association. MG (Ret) Scott B. Smith is a Vietnam the proud heritage of the United States Cavalry. Veteran having served with the 1st Cavalry Division as the 8th Engineer Battalion The horse as a partner in war is no more. It has been over 70 years, February Commander 1969 – 70. He was with the Cav again in 1977-78 as Commander of 1943, since the last mounted troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division traded their the Division Support Command at Fort Hood. horses for jeeps, trucks and tanks in preparation of their entrance into the Pacific Prior to his becoming Association President in 2016 he served on the Board Theater to fight the Japanese. The days of mounted troops and squadrons may of Governors, as 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Vice President. He was the driving force be behind us, but the spirit and traditions of the old cavalry lives on in today's in the formation of the Health Care Information Committee, served as its first modern 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. chairman, and in that capacity wrote a number of articles for the Saber. He has The garrison, workshops and stables are located in a rural setting adjacent to also pushed for the formation of a Marketing and Recruitment Committee. He the main entrance of Fort Hood. The detachment is organized and equipped to was a founding member of the Association’s Nevada Chapter. Scott was the represent the division as an 1870 era "horse soldier" troop, complete with cavalry Director of the Institute of Security Studies at UNLV and served on Nevada’s uniforms consisting of government issue blouses, trousers, hats, belts and boots, Veterans Services Commission. I ask you to keep Scott in your thoughts and authentic firearms, sabers, saddles and work details of the period. The standard prayers. weapons issued to the troops are the 1875 Model 45-70 Springfield "Trap Door" In this issue is information about election of officers of the Association. If you Carbine, the 1875 Colt Single Action, 45 Caliber Revolver and the 1860 Light would like to serve the Association and your fellow Troopers, please send your Cavalry Saber which was considered as standard issue for the Civil War period. information to the nominating committee. Association Officers are elected at the Saddles used on the horses are the McClellan 1885 Saddle, which has been General Membership meeting during the Annual Reunion. modified with the 1904 quarter strap. Plans for the 1st Cavalry Division Association’s 70th annual have been The close order mounted drills are pattered as in the 1883 Manual of Cavalry finalized. You can sign up by using the form in this issue or download a form Tactics. Even the horses chosen for platoon mounts are selected to the same from . Our annual reunions are a great time for you to connect physical standards imposed a century ago. Each horse must be no less than 15 with fellow Troopers, meet old friends, and make new ones. I hope to see you hands high, and it must be dark, with a minimum of white markings. In addition there. (Thanks to Dennis Webster for contributing to this article). to the horses and mules, the platoon has a Studebaker escort wagon, from the 1890s, which has been restored by members. The wagon was originally used THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR By now, all of you to haul supplies, but it is now mostly used to give rides to children attending the Dara C. Wydler should have read the horse platoon shows. 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703 last edition of the Saber The detachment operates as a self-sufficient unit, performing all of its specialized (254) 547-6537 and found that MG functional support. The leather shop is equipped with the tools and specialized [email protected] (Ret) Scott Smith has Continued on pg. 3 resigned as our Association President. We here at the HQ, wish him the best and are hoping his health takes a turn for the better. Additionally I need to make a DIVISION DOINGS correction on Scott’s rank. Last edition I had demoted him to Brigadier General, Phantom Warrior Academy conducts Air Assault open house, he is in fact a retired Major General. So sorry for the mistake Scott, not sure what by Sgt. Carolyn Hart, 1st Cavalry Division I was thinking while writing my article. Public Affairs An open house was hosted The Board Members met in February and elected Allen Norris to serve as by the Phantom Warrior Academy, at the President for the remainder of Scott’s term. I look forward to working with Allen air assault course on March 2. The event in the future. served as a way for the PWA to engage This Saber edition says good-bye to a legendary officer, LTG (Ret) Harold G. soldiers throughout Ft. Hood who may be Moore, more commonly known as ‘Hal’ by his Troopers and friends. My only interested in going through the course and knowledge of the General is through the memories of his men and the movie can be used by units as a team building “We Were Soldiers”. His men loved him dearly and their stories will continue to exercise. honor the general and the 7th Cavalry Regiment. After his passing, I came across “Going through the course is a pre- Pvt. Gage Higgins, HQ Support BN a speech he had written years ago, for a reunion in El Paso. While reading his requisite for air assault school, and it gives Soldier, “Going in now that I know words came to life and I could vividly picture him walking the grounds of Fort the soldiers the opportunity to run through what to expect is very motivating,” Benning, the same grounds he walked so many years before. the course and get a feel for what to expect he said. Rewards of working in this office are the men and women we talk to during beforehand,” said Capt. Kurt Semon, Continued on pg. 2 commander of the Phantom Warrior Academy. “During the open house, actual INDEX PAGE INDEX PAGE INDEX PAGE air assault instructors run the course. So 5TH CAV 5 CALENDAR 2 NEW MEMBERS 7 the same ones they see out here today are 7TH CAV 7 CAV CREDIT CARD 15 OBITUARY: TULLY 10 8TH CAV 8 CHAPTER INDEX 15 OTHER REUNIONS 3 the ones who will train them during the 9TH CAV 9 CHAPTER NEWS 3 REUNION 12/13 school.” 12TH CAV 6 CHANGE ADDRESS 2 SANTO TOMAS 7 The air assault school is run on a 15TH MED 17 ENGINEERS 20 SILVER WINGS 16 monthly cycle, with 185 slots available. 20TH ARA 18 HICCUP 15 SOUVENIR SHOP 15 Each unit is allotted a certain number of 21ST FA 21 HONOR ROLL 24 SUB RENEWAL 3 slots, which they are free to fill as they 30TH FA 10 HQ AND SPEC TRPS 11 TAPS 2 Sgt. Krysten Vasquez, a Soldier with 61ST FA 4 LTRS TO EDITOR 2 TAPS-ACTIVE DUTY 2 615th 1ACB, engages the log-jump see fit. The course is 11 days and starting 82ND FA 19 LIFE MEMBERSHIP 3 2HAL MOORE 22/23 portion of the air assault course. in April, students will not have weekends LRRP/RANGER 14 WANTED 3 off. Continued on pg. 3 MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 2 Don’t Keep it a SECRET, Let us Know About It. To submit by e-mail, send to [email protected] SABER Clip and Mail to 1st Cavalry Division Association The newspaper of the 1st Cavalry Division Association 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703 published during each even numbered month at Last 4 #’s of your SSN______DOB______302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703. Tel: (______) ______Phone: (254) 547-6537 / 547-7019 Rank and Name:______Deadline for publication is the 1st of each odd numbered month. New Address: ______e-mail: [email protected] City: ______State: ______Zip: ______website: http://www.1CDA.org Unit: (1)______and (2)______Date of Assign: (1)______and (2)______www.facebook.com/AlumnioftheFirstTeam E-Mail:______Program Director / Editor: Tina Wilgeroth I served with the 1st Cav. Div. in (Circle one or more) Pre-WWII WWII Scholarship / Membership Director: Karleen Maloney

ADDRESS JAPAN KOREAN WAR KOREA ‘57-’65 FT BENNING VIETNAM Executive Director: Dara C. Wydler

CHANGE FT HOOD GULF BOSNIA AFGHANISTAN IRAQ FT BLISS I DO/DO NOT authorize release of my personal info to Assn. members. ARTICLE SUBMISSION I served with another military unit during a war time period? YES NO Originals, clear copies, typed or printed are accepted via e-mail at [email protected]. Attach a self-adhesive label with photo information on the back of submitted photos. Include name and SNOWBIRDS address if the photo is to be returned. If you have two addresses during the year, we need to know them. Please give us the Articles should be received at National Headquarters no later dates and addresses for both households. than the 1st of every odd month. Any article received after the 1st (Circle one) Winter Summer Rank and Name: ______of the month will be put in on a space available basis. LAST 4#s SSN:______DOB ______Opinions expressed are the writers and not necessarily those of 1: Address: ______the Saber or the 1st Cavalry Division Association. City: ______State: _____ Zip: ______Dates: ______Tel: (______) ______LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To be considered for publication, letters should net exceed 300 words and 2: Address: ______should be of general interest and in good taste. Letters express the writer’s City: ______State: _____ Zip: ______Dates: ______Tel: (______) ______opinion, not that of the Saber or the 1st Cavalry Division Association. Political endorsement and poetry cannot be used. Form letters or third-party letters are not acceptable. Letters which contain libelous or obviously untrue 2017 Calendar of 1st Cavalry Division Association statements will be automatically rejected. All letters must be signed with addresses and telephone numbers included. MAY 18-21 Rabbit Fest, Copperas Cove, TX Names will be used with the letters but addresses and phone numbers may be omitted. Letters also may be edited for length or clarification. MAY 26 Carry the Load Rally, Fort Hood, TX We reserve the right to reject for publication any letter received. Unused letters will not be acknowledged. June 7-11 70th Annual Reunion Fort Hood, TX Letters to the Editor Nov 10-11 Veteran’s Day Washington DC Dear Editor, I wanted to take this time to thank 1st Cavalry TAPS for your continued support over the years. I am We have been notified of the death of the following: happy to say that this May I will be graduating ALFARO, SP-4 Ivan, D Co, 2-7th Cav, 1966. 3 February 2017. Magma Cum Laude from the University of CHANCE, COL (Ret) Lawrence E. "Ed", HSC, 15th Med Bn. 1968-69. 21 Georgia with a B.B.S. in Risk Management and January 2017. Insurance. Through my time at UGA, I have CHILDRESS, CPT John R. HHC, 8ENG, 1968-69. 28 December 2016 also earned a certificate in Legal Studies and COX, Trooper James E., A Trp. 4-12 CAV, 1968-71. 4 December 2016. have been presented with so many wonderful JANKIEWICZ, PFC Stanley M. , HHC, 1BDE, 1941-45. 19 February 2017. opportunities. I could not have gotten to this point JONES, CW2 David E., A Co, 227 Avn, 11th Avn Grp, 1968. 27 January without this scholarship, and your generosity 2016. means everything to me. Thank you so much! Best, Skyler Hanson MARTENS, SGT Richard A., B Btry., 61 FA, 1952. 12 December 2016. MICELI, SP-4 Carmen, A Co, 7 CAV, 1965. 21 January 2017 OTHER REUNIONS MOORE, LTG (Ret) Harold 'Hal', Cdr 1-7 CAV, Cdr 3 BDE, 1965. 10 Korean War historical Seminar 19-22 April 2017. Springfield, VA. POC February 2017. Tim Story . O'HEARN, Mr. Terrance J., G Co, 15th BSB, 2006-2008. 5 February 2016. 227th AHB 2017 Reunion, 25-29 April 2017. Gaylord Opryland Resort and OLIVER, LTC (Ret) Ernest L., Sr., 1CD, 1953-55. 25 January 2017. Convention Center, Nashville, TN. Info at . POC PACCERELLI, COL (Ret) George, H Co, 75th INF, 52nd INF, 1-7 CAV, . 1968-69. 24 January 2017. 15th Medical Battalion Association, 26-30 April 2017. Westgate Branson RITCHASON, SSG Gary A., C Co, 1-9 CAV, 1969. 6 February 2017. Woods Resort, Branson, MO. Info at , POC STEVENS, CW2 James L., Jr., HHC, 13 SIG. 22 November 2016. Ron Ingram, , 402-670-1370. TAYLOR, SP-4 Willie F., Sr., C Co, 2-7th Cav, 1968-69. 3 January 2016. 8th Cav Regiment Reunion, 17-21 May 2017. Columbus, GA; Fort Benning, TULLY, COL (Ret) Robert B., Cdr 2-5 CAV, 1965. 16 February 2017. GA; . Angry Skipper Association Reunion, 17-20 May 2017. Delta Company 2-8 ACTIVE DUTY TAPS Cav, 65-72, Washington, D.C.,< www.angryskipperassociation.org>. We have been notified of the death of the following Active Duty Troopers in Troop Surge, Battle of Baqubah, OIF 06-08, 2017 Reunion 25 May 2017. the United States that were killed while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve: Killeen Expo Center, Killeen, TX, poc Bobby Colella , (386) 366-4803. 2017. D Company, 2-8th CAV (Angry Skipper 1965-72), 17-21 May 2017. Crowne We have been notified of the death of the following Active Duty Troopers in Plaza (Dulles Airport), Herndon, VA. Info , contact Robin Woo, . GARCIA, PVT Michael L., 4-9 CAV, 2BCT, July 2016. 17 February 2017. A 2-12 1CD Reunion 1-4 June 2017. Bell Cow Ranch Cabins and Lodge; Chandler, OK. 30th FA Reunion, 19-22 June 2017. Lake George, NY, POC John Hoetker THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR (518) 377-9420 or . Continued from pg. 1 Apache Troop Reunion, 3-6 August 2017. Arlington, VA. POC is Mike Bond our workday. Rosemarie Hoyt Weber has called (and written) on numerous . occasions to thank the Troopers of the Division for their service and sacrifices Eager Arms Reunion, 9-13 August 2017. Bravo Company 2-8 Cav, 67-68, made throughout history, more importantly her history. At the age of 10, Rose Indianapolis, IN, . was an internee in Santo Thomas and reminds us that ‘Freedom isn’t Free’ and 4th Infantry Division Celebrating 100 Years, Fort Carson, CO August 13-20, that same freedom is something she cherishes daily. 2017; visit On May 26th there will be a Carry the Load Rally at the Horse Cav Detachment. 5th U.S. Cavalry Association, 11-16 September 2017. Best Western Premier, This rally will welcome those marching on the West Coast Relay Team to Fort Harrisburg, PA. Info at . Hood, giving them a break before heading to Dallas. For more information go 12th Cav Regiment Reunion 12-17 September 2017. Welk Resorts Branson, to or contact John Collins at (512) 627-6215. Mo. Finally, I would like to remind everyone about the 70th Annual Reunion here 20th Annual ARA Reunion, 13-17 September 2017. Williamsburg, VA. in Killeen/Fort Hood, TX, 7-11 June 2017. The Division has a week filled with CHARLIE Troop1/9 Cav, 17-19 September 2017. Gettysburg, PA; Contact: events the membership can attend. I have also started posting the names and Patrick Bieneman . units of attendees to our webpage; look, see who is coming, and prod those who Jumping mustangs Reunion, 15-18 September 2017. 1-8 Cav, 65-67, Grand are still on the fence. See ya’ll soon. Rapids, MI, . Page 3 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 LIFE APPLICATION/SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL BUSINESS STYLE CARDS CHAPTER NEWS are available at 200 for $15.00. No hassle with having to carry legal size sheets of paper (Life Membership Applications) or sub forms. Orders will be sent to printers New York/New Jersey Chapter (1 pic) for printing when 3-4 are accumulated. Please be patient with us. Sample below. The New York-New Jersey Chapter will hold its Spring meeting and lunch on (Actual size 3” x 2”) April 8, 2017 11:00AM at the Elks Lodge, Ridgefield Park NJ there will be 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION Chapter Updates-Lunch. Hanging out with your friends. It’s time for another 302 N. Main St. Copperas Cove, TX 76522 group chapter picture. (254) 547-6537 / 7019 Set GPS: to 19 Cedar St., Ridgefield Park New Jersey www.1CDA.org North Carolina – Tarheel Chapter March 29 is Vietnam Veterans Day. BRING a VN artifact or souvenir to this NAME meeting (no guns). POSITION IN CHAPTER UNIT Asheboro is in the geographic center of North Carolina and is within 100 DATES OF ASSIGNMENT miles of 140 of our 225 NC members. There are seven hundred 1st Cavalry NC veterans listed by our National Assn. We need new members. STREET ADDRESS PHONE: Minutes from the December 3rd Meeting: Members and guests met on CITY, ST., ZIP 000-000-0000 December 3rd at the historic Seaboard Station Restaurant in Hamlet, NC. EMAIL 000-000-0000 Cell Several members visited the National Railroad Museum in downtown. Martha Enroll me as a Life Member...... $10.00 Haskins won the 50-50 drawing. A 50th Year Vietnam War Commemoration Event planned for our Asheboro Renew my subscription...... $10.00 Meeting. Donations: Thanks to all who make donations to our chapter and to the New or Renewal of Associate Membership...... $15.00 participants in the 50/50. D-Trooper...... $25.00 Meeting Plans Chapter Meeting March 11, 2017 Asheboro, NC Business Cards ...... $15.00 Chapter Meeting June 10, 2017 Raleigh, NC $10 covers your subscription to SABER for one year. Chapter Meeting September 9, 2017 Mooresville, NC $25 makes you a D-Troop member plus a one year subscription. $50 makes you a D-Troop member plus a one year subscription and you receive a suitable poster or print. Division Doings $100 makes you a D-Troop member plus a one year subscription and you receive Continued from pg. 1 a First Team print. “Not having weekends off will be more physically demanding on the students, $500 makes you a Silver Brigade member plus a 10 year subscription. as they won’t have those extra days to recover” said Staff Sgt. Joe Keiser, an $1,000 makes you a Gold Brigade member plus a 20 year subscription. instructor at the PWA. “But the upside is the information we put out to them All D-Troopers receive certificates suitable for framing. will be fresh in their minds, and they’ll retain things better.” Brigade members receive handsome 1st Cavalry wall plaque. All donors ($25 or more) receive mention in the Honor Roll column and may Although the physical demands for the course are high, all staff agree that dedicate gifts. D-Troop milestones can be achieved cumulatively. We will keep the most rewarding part of their job is when a Soldier finally understands the track of your contributions.. material and succeeds in passing the course. “The point when a student gets it, Associate Membership - for those with no service with the 1st Cav. Div. when they understand all the stuff that we’re teaching them and apply it,” said $15 one year Associate membership plus a one year subscription. Sgt. Grace Laster, an instructor at the PWA. “Seeing students succeed and, at $150 Life Associate plus a five year subscription and you receive a framed the end, them wanting you to pin their wings on, that’s the best part.” certificate. LAST 4 NUMBERS OF SSN ______DOB ______Air Cav trains with military dogs by Spc. DeMarco Wills, 1st ACB Rank ______PAO, 1st Cav. Div. FORT HOOD, Texas – Crew chiefs and flight medics from Name______Company C, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion “Lobos”, 227th Aviation Address______Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division conducted K-9 City ______State ______aircraft familiarization and flight crew K-9 training March 2 on Hood Army Zip ______Phone (______) ______Air Field. Lobos coordinated with Dates Assigned _(1)______(2)______I served with 1st Team in Unit (1)______and handlers from the 226th Military (2)______Working Dog Detachment, 720th Military Police Battalion, E-mail ______89th Military Police Brigade to arrange a two-part training where I Authorize release of information to: No one___ Other Members only___ flight crew members could get Other Members and USAA Only___. comfortable around the dogs I served with the 1st Cavalry Division in (Circle one or more) and familiarize the dogs with the Pre-WWII WWII Japan Korean War Korea ‘57-’65 Fort Benning HH-60 Blackhawk. “We want Vietnam War Fort Hood Gulf War Bosnia Afghanistan Iraq Fort Bliss to ensure that the first time a Have you served with any other military unit during a war time period? YES NO military working dog, handler, Military working dog handler Pfc. Sean Co- WANTED/LOST/FOUND and paramedic work together isn’t nahan from 226th MWD Det. runs with his Looking for Jack Moneyhan; served with the Division in Vietnam; rank and in a combat environment,” said service dog towards a HH-60M Blackhawk unit are unknown; please contact the Association at if you March 2, at Landing Strip 41 at Fort Hood. HH-60M Blackhawk pilot 1st Lt. have information. David Caskey. In the first half of training, Troopers spent time with the handlers Looking for items related to Camp Greaves, Korea DMZ (circa. 1950) learning how to muzzle the dogs and giving basic commands to the dogs. In the documents, photos, maps etc. The country of Korea would like the items for second half of the training, the handlers and their dogs visited the Lobos hangar a museum being established at the location of the camp. Send all items to the to be briefed on the capabilities of the Association at 302 N Main St, Copperas Cove, TX 76522. HH-60 Blackhawk and receive flying Looking for a Vietnam Veteran from 3rd BCT that remained in Bien Hoa, experience. “I think it is great to find on his 2nd tour, from 1971 until June 26, 1972. His name is Bob; last name out the difference in reactions between is not known by his daughter who was born in Bien Hoa on July 5, 1972. The an experienced and an inexperienced girlfriend of Bob and mother of the baby girl is Thu Trang Ha, and still lives dog and how to handle the situation in Vietnam. The daughter, named 'Vicky' Ha at the request of Bob, the father. to avoid injuries to both dogs and Vicky and her 3 children, ages 11, 13, 15, live in Santa Ana, CA. POC Jerry handlers,” said Sgt. Raul Garza, a flight Bussjaeger, 949-370-6845, San Clemente, CA. medic from Company C., 2-227th Aviation Regiment. During the flight Horse Detachment Pfc. Raven Vignati (left), is a mili- training, Troopers simulated scenarios Continued from pg.1 tary working dog handler from 226th in which a 9-Line MEDEVAC was tools and specialized machinery, which is required to meet the needs of tack MWD Det. requested for a K-9. The medics repair and remanufacture, saddle repair and restoration, and boot repair and learned to work with a stressed animal in a confined space and still provide care manufacture. Major use of the equipment is made during the late fall and winter to the patient. “The back of a MEDEVAC helicopter (HH-60M) is a tight space months to ensure that all gear is in readiness for the spring and summer parade when packed with our complete medical loadout,” said Caskey, “This gives our season. In addition to the personal gear that must be maintained by each trooper, medics and crew chiefs an opportunity to see what it’s going to be like to throw the small "motor pool" of special horse trailers, which are used to transport the a military working dog and handler into the mix.” horses and equipment to remote locations, are also maintained by the troopers. Since its inception in 1972, the detachment has performed for all types of audiences, from children to Presidential Inaugural Parades, the 1984 World's Get Linked & Stay Connected Fair, the 1996 Tournament of Roses Parade and literally thousands of state 1CDA Social Media and local fairs, parades, and rodeos. The detachment performs formal military www.1CDA.org parades and reviews, civic and community street parades, and a 30 minute www.facebook.com/AlumnioftheFirstTeam mounted drill and weapons demonstration. Demonstrations are on Thursdays at 1000 hours. MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 4 61st FA News I are OK, but we still can't drive for hours like we used to. I get to Gordon Cress 6562 Windflower Dr. the point I can hardly get out of Carlsbad, CA 92011-2508 the car, then I can't walk very far (760) 918-0470 when I do. I have this vibrator in [email protected] my back that deadens most of the pain but doesn't help too much Hi all hope this issue of the Saber finds you in good health. We’re well into when I am moving. We will 2017, have survived Super Bowl LI (what a game!), remembered our spouse on probably go to Branson in May Valentine’s Day and some of us survived several extremely severe winter storms again, mainly for the memories (in spite of global warming). Memorial Day is approaching and it provides the of our reunions there. We saw a opportunity to honor and remember those who served and some who gave all Sgts Doll (German POW) and Cassidy cruise advertised the other night for our nation and freedom. Do hope that all of you who can, will take part in and we both agreed that it would some kind of remembrance. be fun except for the trip getting to the departure port. We hope everyone gets This from Frank Burr in early February… “Gordon, seems like there is a lot better and that this weather sickness in this last letter, and I will have to say that we have experienced our holds the way it is. Sta share of it. That is kind of different for us, as we, as a rule don’t experience all Bueno, Bill.” Thanks so that much sickness but this has been a bad winter for us already and we would much for the update, Bill. appreciate everybody’s prayers especially for my wife Angie. In mid-December From Peter O’Brien… Angie fell in the bathroom and fractured a bone in her face. It didn’t require “Hi Gordon, here are any surgery, but it has affected her memory and we’re working on that, but the a couple of Younghans problem is still there and we can use all the prayers we can get. Thanks to all in photos, spring 1955. advance. Frank and Angie Burr.” We’re all sorry to hear this, Frank. You and Downtown Jinmachi’s yours have our best wishes. General Store and SGT’s From the Coppocks (from January 5th through the 24th)… “Our daughter, Doll and Cassidy. SGT Miriam Talbert, underwent surgery on January 6th at UAMS in Little Rock. She Doll was a German POW was at the hospital very early to begin preparations, etc. for the breast cancer and loved to tell stories with a double mastectomy and reconstruction scheduled. She had been advised about his dealings with the surgery would take 6-8 hours. We will trust the entire procedure to our scared German guards, 61st Day Room Heavenly Father. Miriam’s surgeries went well. She was still in recovery at 5 the POW food, trading for but Pete & I were permitted to see her briefly. After speaking to our daughter smokes etc. We always divided his stories by two. He used to ride a horse at and seeing her precious smile, we left UAMS to get home before the roads got half-time at our football too slick. We are also thankful for the many medical personnel who assisted in games with a clean-up these operations. What else can I say to you for your prayers and concern except, grunt trotting behind “Thank you for being a steadfast and faithful friend who shares in submitting with a shovel. His stripes petitions to our Heavenly Father in behalf our loved ones.” Miriam, is now at had zippers and we home. Her attitude remains good, still weak, cannot raise her arms especially never could get his pay the right one where the extensive surgery was required. She is still dealing with correct for his prevailing pain and really not sleeping. Would have thought that in all of the medications rank which was up and she has to take at least one would help with the sleep issue. She’s a good patient, down, up and down. not demanding, just thankful to have the surgeries behind her and striving with He’s probably still in God’s help to heal. She is staying in recliners as it is easier for her to get up, the Army somewhere! but someone has to adjust the levers to raise and lower them so she can push Peter.” Thanks, Peter. I herself up using her knees and legs. Miriam got a very disappointing diagnose know I, and a number of today (Jan 24th) after the C-scan and removal of the 4 drainage tubes, she now the Younghans alumni, has an infection and is taking antibiotics. She is to start radiation when the Sgt Wylie have a lot of memories infection clears up. Her husband, Danny, is scheduled to undergo an overdue of Jinmachi. back surgery in early February. He has kept postponing it to be with Miriam. More from Pete… “More Younghans photos. 61st Day Room, May ’55 and Your continued prayers First Sergeant Wylie from South Boston, thus a true comrade in arms. One of are appreciated. Shirley the brightest guys I met in the Army, very outspoken like any kid from Southie. C.” Our very best wishes He was good to work for and had a relaxed (called laid-back today) way of for Miriam and Danny operating.” Thanks again, Pete, always great to hear from you. (and you and Pete). This issue’s article on the 61st is a little sparse, but I haven’t heard from many From Pat and Bill of you and I depend on your inputs to keep everyone up to date on things in your Stewart… “Gordon, not lives. Remember, your friends and buddies care! much going on right now, I’ve also run into one of those bumps in the road as we age. This getting old just enjoying this fair is not for wimps! My prostate cancer has come back after being in remission weather. I haven't seen a for about 12 years. Its spread to several bones in my chest, neck, back, lumbar February like this in quite and hip, but they have me on new medications to keep it in check. So far, a while. All we have to so good, as I’m not in any pain and still active playing senior softball, riding do is see that the heater in the motorcycle, working out at the gym, etc. The doc tells me that my active the lake is on so our cows lifestyle is the reason I’m doing so well. Will continue it as long as I can, can get water, check hay although I have noticed that I’m not quite as quick and agile as I used to be; Jinmachi General Store feeders and make sure all guess that’s to be expected. the "girls" are OK. No calves as of yet but they sure are getting close. I'm sorry Take care, ‘Sta Bueno and keep those cards, letters, phone calls and e-mails the reunion in Florida didn't turn out well. I'm thinking that most of us just can't coming. travel very far anymore. All of us seem to have our troubles from what I read in your Saber articles. Sorry to hear about the things that are going wrong. Pat and

FROM THE 1CDA OFFICE: questions, feel free to call the office at 254-547-6537. We look forward in seeing and meeting everyone at our most talked about event! Volunteers are desperately needed for local “RabbitFest” (arts & crafts festival) in Copperas Cove. The local chapter is It’s from 18-21, May 2017 in Killeen, Are you a new Member? Texas. Please notify our office if interested in assisting: 254-547-6537/7019. Are you aware we have scholarships to offer you? Volunteers are needed for the local upcoming 70th Annual Reunion of the We offer up to $1200/year in Scholarships to: 1st Cavalry Division Association. It’s from 7-11 June 2017 in Killeen, Texas. • Active Duty Soldier - Members assigned to Division - grant can be used Please notify our office if interested in assisting! 254-547-6537/7019. by Soldier, spouse, or child. • KIA Soldier - Troopers KIA while assigned to 1CD - grant can be used Door Prizes for Upcoming Fort Hood, Texas Reunion by the child of the Soldier. Doesn’t everyone love the idea of winning something? Wouldn’t it be fun to have a door prize at a few of our venues? With that being said, we would like • 100% disabled Vet - Members that were assigned to Division - grant can to make this happen at the below events: be used by child of the Soldier. Ladies Tea War Luncheons: Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, OEF/OIF Banquet: 3 door prizes A donation to the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association We are asking for donated items/gifts for the door prizes. Monetary donations helps a student acheive their educational goals and is an investment in the are accepted as well. We greatly appreciate your support and cooperation. Any future of America. Page 5 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 5th CAV News no, it was Doc Meyers. Doc was really an all right guy who cared about other James E. Reecamper guys unlike some of the previous medics in our platoon whose names I won't 2351 Robertson Mill Way mention. To be continued... Nixa, MO 65714-6113 (417) 844-5347 When the South was Separate But Equal? By George McKee I was reminiscing with Jim Reccamper about speaking to some of today’s High The 5th Cav. Association’s Reunion Committee has been quite busy over the School youth about our time in military service. I told Jim that the interview past couple of weeks trying to put together an exceptional schedule of events I was participating in brought back memories of events that I rarely tend to that everyone will enjoy. I have set a deadline of March 30th to have almost remember. I enlisted in 1962 and shipped out of my hometown of Pittsburgh everything wrapped up. We’ll post it on our website, www.5thcav.org. I also PA. Thirteen of us were volunteers and about 700 draftees. We left on a troop want to send the registration form mid-April. train destined for Fort Knox, KY for Basic Training. Then many of us went As mentioned in several other Saber & Voices articles, the host hotel is the on to Fort Gordon, GA for Advanced Infantry Training. Do you see where I Best Western Premier, Harrisburg, PA. Room rates are 119.95 + tax, which am going with this? I was from the north. That is north of the Mason Dixon includes complete breakfast buffet for a night’s stay, complimentary onsite line. I was aware that segregation had existed in the southern states but did not parking, in room Wi-Fi and shuttle service to and from Harrisburg Int’l Airport. know that it still existed when I went into the Army. Much to my surprise, it did To make your reservation please call the hotel directly at 717-561-2800 be sure exist. How did it affect me a white boy you might ask? Let me tell you how it to tell them that you’re with the 5th Cav. Reunion. Recently an issue came up was. After AIT, I was on holdover pending an application for OCS. While on where a member desires a king room and there were none blocked for our event. hold, a friend and I got a pass to go into Augusta, GA. We rode the Post bus This issue has been resolved but the hotel only has a limited number of this type into town. The bus stopped at the front of the Greyhound Bus terminal and let room, so if you want a king room I recommend you make your reservations all of us white Soldiers off. Then the bus proceeded to go around the corner to ASAP. Any questions, Jim Reecamper at [email protected] or 417-844-5347. the back door of the terminal and let all the Colored (black) Soldiers off. Now Battle of March 11 1967 Part II understand how strange this was to me since the terminal was one large open In the last article, Henzi said “I could hear the shots from Plue and Even's room end to end. We saw them coming in one end as they saw us coming in the M-16s as they were pouring it hot and heavy into the enemy. I was almost out other. They had their water fountain and restroom right next to our equal and of ammo. All I could do now was direct fire. I asked other grenadiers for extra separate fountain and restroom. Then we went to our separate but equal parts ammo, but they said they were saving it for the counter attack. Good idea. So, of town. I figured to leave it at that.” We were at the east side of Hill 82 near the bottom. My friend and I decided we would go to the hotel on the main street and have Then we heard the order that one-half of the platoon would have to go back up a drink at the bar. We went into the bar and each of us took a stool and ordered the hill. I remember asking Lt Dewly (sic) when we were up on top, why were our drinks from a very friendly bartender, and I do mean friendly. He was kind we all going to the bottom of the hill. Shut up and do what you're told Hein-zee, enough to take our order and say very quietly to my friend that he would have was his reply. That's the Army! The thirteen of us that were left, moved back to go around to the back door and he would bring his drink to him. You see, to the east of the hill going towards the South China Sea. I figured there must my friend was confused, he thought he was white because the bus driver did be 250-500 or more NVA just from the firepower they were letting loose at us. not stop him from getting off at the front door of the bus terminal. He was a They weren't scared and they were in there slugging it out with us. If there had Cherokee American Indian and in Augusta that meant he was colored (black). been only a few of them they would have beat it out of there fast. Anyway, Lt Because I protested and stated very emphatically that he was a Cherokee, the Dewly took one-half the platoon up the hill. We were sitting on the trail away kind bartender said quietly that it would be best if we both left rather than spend from the shooting. I was sitting on the trail with my .45 1911A1 pistol cocked our pass in the local lockup. and locked. I only had one round of HE (High Explosive) M-79 ammo left Time passed and I was able to get home to Pittsburgh and get my car to bring and two rounds of canister buckshot. I had three loaded magazines for my .45 back to Fort Gordon. While I had my wheels with me, I was advised and learned pistol. I also had two HE hand grenades and one claymore mine. I know this that having northern plates on a vehicle was an open invitation to receiving a sounds like a lot of ammo, but I felt naked against all those NVA soldiers armed traffic citation. Of course, all you had to do was pay the fine on the spot or be with AK-47s, RPD machine guns, RPG rocket launchers, hand grenades and locked up and in those days, you were then AWOL. What a shake down. The mortars. I was saving this for the "counter attack." By the way, it never came, eventual ruling by the Supreme Court that you could not be AWOL if you were but one must be prepared for it. in government custody certainly put a damper on that game. Anyway, I heard noise of people coming from the direction of my flank and The Surgeon General Dept. of the Army decided I was not ready to be an behind me. They were quite noisy. I thought, now we're going to really catch officer due to my corrected eyesight. His thinking was I could not lead Troops it. I turned with my .45 pistol expecting the worst, but to my great relief, I in combat. I am thankful that no one told that to the young men who served noticed G.I. M-1 helmets with camo so I knew they were our guys. I noticed under my direction as a Staff Sergeant in 1965 and 1966 in Vietnam. the lead man was older so he must be an officer or Sergeant. There's a lot of So I went to Korea for 13 months and then came back to Fort Benning. Orders guys coming. It looks like a platoon, no it's a company. The lead man was CPT for the 11th Air Assault Division. What was Air Assault? I was in the Army not McInerney, D Co Commander. He came right up to me, smiled in my face, the Air Force. Ok so we were going to get very familiar with the geography of shook my left shoulder, and said, "Not to worry C Co, Delta is here to save the the Carolina’s and Georgia flying in every conceivable aircraft and landing in day." I guess I must have had the look of death on my face and he was trying to many different kinds of fields not classified as airports. We were on maneuvers cheer me up. I said, "Yes sir!" most of the time. When I say most of the time, I mean for weeks at a time and Down the trail, they went with CPT McInerney on point. This is a very once for three months. Moreover, that lead to an overload crisis nine months dangerous position for an officer, especially in the middle of a firefight. I later at Ireland Army Hospital with wives having babies. My wife was one of remember thinking to myself. What a man, the Captain is on point! My kind those. What does all of this have to do with the separate but equal (not). of man. Even though I was in a world of hurt and thought this might be my last During one of our training breaks in early 1964 before my wife was with day on earth, CPT McInerney made me feel good. This is the kind of officer me, I took three other Troopers with me to wonderful Victory Drive to get a we can all be proud of. Down the trail they went. In five minutes I heard that hamburger. We pulled into the Drive-In Restaurant to the carhop service area automatic fire from AK-47s and RPDs. I remember thinking, damn, I hope the and ordered our meal by a very friendly carhop. She smiled, took our order, Captain is alright. Hope he and his men were able to get to cover. Within a and then hotfooted it to the building. Something just didn’t seem right because minute of hearing the shots, we heard the bad news come in over the radio. The they would normally wait on more than that one car before placing the orders. CPT, all the LTs, and all the sergeants except one and the medics were KIA. I decided it was time to leave like immediately. My friends complained that we KIA! All of them dead, my heart sunk, I felt like crying. The men of Delta had not gotten our food. I told them it was not worth the trouble and hang on. were my brothers, and now they were gone. The best of them; Gone. These As the four police cruisers’ flashing lights came down the “in ramp,” we were brave men of D Co came to help C Co and they ended up taking more casualties going up the “out ramp” and going petal to the floor back to the barracks. They and KIAs than us. Had we moved up that trail instead of waiting for them, all chased us to the post and once we entered, they stopped and went back to town. 13 men of 1st Plt, including myself, would have been KIA. We would have You see the two Soldiers in the back seat of my car were black. We had violated been slaughtered, so Delta did save us that day. I really like and admired CPT separate but equal. McInerney, a good brave and kind man. May God rest his soul and the souls of Now here is where this story takes a twist. My Platoon Sergeant was a man our brave brothers from D Co who were killed on Hill 82 that day; they were by the name of Holloway. Sergeant Holloway said he and I could go into town my friends and acquaintances, my brothers in arms. We were at the bottom of together on a Saturday night and enjoy ourselves. How was that possible you the hill waiting to see what goes when we heard that D Co needed a medic. Doc might ask? Well you see, while he could not go to my parts of town he could Meyers said he would go. So Doc headed out with Pat Rankin and Sergeant take me to his, and there would be little or no repercussions from his people. In Kellogg going after him to look out for him. I noticed Sergeant Misel had two fact, that is exactly what we did. I accompanied him to an all black private club. M-16s and a few extra magazines. I said "Hey Sarge, is that an extra gun. I We sat, drank, and socialized. He danced with some of the ladies. My sense of need one because my M-79 is out of ammo." He gave it to me without a fuss. I rhythm would have embarrassed him, his friends, and me if I had tried. knew we must be in pretty deep shit because that was so unusual for him to do. It was certainly an interesting and uncomfortable time in our history. We all Anyway, now I had a weapon to use when the counterattack came. Thank God knew that we could all bleed the same red blood. When we got to Vietnam, it I never needed to use it. was profoundly proven to us, all in violent ways. My radio operator and I knew We were on our way to join in with D Co because I guess someone figured out that we both had the same rare blood type. I jokingly told him to please not get 13 men didn't have a chance by ourselves against that large enemy force. With too close to me or too far away because we might have need of each other. He D Co we would have a chance and be a reinforcement to them. When we joined was black and I am white. On the other hand, was I joking? Fortunately, we up with D Co, I noticed that Sergeant Kellogg was standing there with his arm both survived without serious injuries or wounds. bandaged up. He was in real pain by the look on his face. I asked him what My last duty station was Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA in 1974/75. happened and he answered, "I got shot!" I could see he was in a real hurt. Then By then separate but equal was long gone and Soldiers could enjoy socializing I saw a D Co men bringing up a wounded man on a poncho. Who got hit? Oh with each other off post as well as on post, no matter what your color or race. MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 6 12th CAV News 0001 Hey Sailor, new spanning more than nine months and comprising a division-level war fighter Ken Howser, Jr. in town? Have you ever exercise, various gunneries and a combined arms live-fire exercise, the 3rd 16505 Virginia Ave Unit 1141 experienced a milder and Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf,” (the 1-12 Cavalry) 1st Cavalry Division, Williamsport, MD 21795-1483 warmer winter season cased its colors in a ceremony on Cooper Field at Fort Hood Feb. 16. “They are (301) 898-7763 than the one not yet ready to deploy, fight and win,” said Col. Robert Whittle, 1st Cav Div Deputy [email protected] www.12thCav.US passed? In all my long Commander and reviewing officer for the ceremony. “They will depart soon to Facebook.Com/12thCavalryRegiment years of haunting the the Middle East for a nine-month rotation. There, our Cav Troopers will train with our allies and serve as CENTCOM’s armored reserve.” As the Greywolf earth and the Cav Reunions, I do not recall one. Does not mean there was not Soldiers, along with friends and Families of the brigade looked on, Brigade one or that the records do not record one; only means I, myself, and I have Commander Col. John Woodward and CSM Alfred Ronneburg rolled up the neither the memory nor the experience. An intruding thought - while true for unit colors and tucked them away in an operational combat pattern sheath, where my AO, it might not be for yours. Just an FYI. . they will remain until the unit arrives in Kuwait. Upon arrival, the unfurling 0256 (Sent by me to all valid 2-12 email addresses in my address book the of the colors will signify that the brigade day I received same. If you did not receive if from me, you are not in there.) is operational in its new location and has 2017-01-23, “Friends, Family, and Veterans of the 2nd Battalion 12th Cavalry taken on the mission with which it was Regiment, on behalf of LTC Michael D. Bajema and CSM Anthony L. Carter, tasked.” . good afternoon. Our Battalion will hold a reflagging ceremony on February 3, 1456 To continue the DoD effort to ensure 2017 at 1000, on Thunder field, by our Battalion Headquarters. The Army's latest all Veterans are aware of the opportunity to redesign concept for the Combined Arms Battalion reorganizes the Battalion have their discharges and military records to one Infantry Company and two Tank Companies. In an effort to reconnect reviewed, the department is reaffirming its with our past heritage, we are reflagging our companies with the Vietnam era intention to review and potentially upgrade call signs. They will reflag as Aces High (Alpha Company), Bad Bet (Bravo the discharge status of all individuals that are eligible and that apply. Veterans Company), Wild Card (Charlie Company), Gambler (Golf Company), and who desire a correction to their service record or who believe their discharge was Hold 'em (HHC). If you are in the local Fort Hood area on February 3, 2017, unjust, erroneous, or warrants an upgrade, are encouraged to apply for review. then please join us for the reflagging ceremony on Thunder Field at 1000. Our For discharge upgrades, if the discharge was less than 15 years ago, the Veteran address is 43005 Clear Creek Road, Fort Hood, Texas 76544. We also plan to should complete DD Form 293 and send it to their service’s DRB (the address is host this year's 12th Calvary Regiment Reunion during the 1st Cavalry Division on the form). For discharges over 15 years ago, the Veteran should complete the week (June 5 through June 9, 2017). Thunderhorse!” Robert F. Altman II, DD Form 149 and send it to their service’s BCM/NR (taiotf). For corrections of MAJ, IN, Executive Officer 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment 1st Armored records other than discharges, Veterans should complete the DD Form 149 and Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. . One only hopes we had submit their request to their service’s BCM/NR (taiotf). There are three keys to few dozen Troops of 2-12 Veterans attend, handsomely represent the Battalion, successful applications for upgrade or correction: First, it is very important to and regale the active Troopers with our exploits. explain why the Veteran’s discharge or other record was unjust or erroneous - 0456 “PFC Kai Yemale Yancey, 26, of Ft. Hood, for example, how it is connected to, or resulted from unjust policies, a physical Texas, died January 1, 2017 following complications or mental health condition related to military service, or some other explainable from a short illness. PFC Yancey entered active duty or justifiable circumstance. Second, it is important to provide support, where with the U.S. Army in February 2015 as a Motor applicable, for key facts. If a Veteran has a relevant medical diagnosis, for Transport Operator, assigned to the 1st Battalion 12th example, it would be very helpful to include medical records that reflect that Cavalry Regiment since 2016. He received the Army diagnosis. Third, it is helpful, but not always required, to submit copies of Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal the Veteran’s applicable service records. The more information provided, the and the Army Service Ribbon. He enjoyed watching better the boards can understand the circumstances of the discharge. Again, too movies, skate boarding, wrestling, boxing, water detailed and involved to resolve here – contact me for details. . member of the Warren, Ohio, Boxing Association, where he was the Undefeated 1656 The Branson, Missouri, all 12th Cavalry Reunion is scheduled to run off Lightweight Champion and a 2009 graduate of Howland High School, where from 12 until17 September 2017 at the Welk Resorts Branson. Details will be he excelled in wrestling. Survivors include his wife, Janelle; a brother, J.R.; and in the Crossed Sabers newsletter, which should soon be in your hot little hands. sister, Nijah, among others. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery, Warren.” . the DPAA in regards to the recovery of Lt. James Marvin Stone's remains in 0665 Front! Attention to orders all Bad Bet Veterans; Vietnam. You forwarded this request to me and others and I responded to Jim's a request for help from our Face book page. (Still in the request. As a result, I was asked to participate as a member of the mission same spot, give it a look and a like between posting pictures scheduled to return to Vietnam February 28, 2017. I (C 2-12) was next to Lt. of your meals and arguing politics.) “I am Earl Bickel, Stone when he was KIA. Jerry McLain (B 2-12) will also accompany me as my father, Trooper Edward John Bickel, was a part of B an eyewitness. I just want to thank you for sending me that e-mail. It has Company 2-12 Airmobile in Vietnam during his Army afforded me the most wonderful opportunity to once again serve after 49 years. time. He could have gone by Eddie. He left Vietnam I consider it an honor and duty. Thank you once again, Herb Marshall”. My in July of 1970. As of 8 July 70 he was a Specialist. He pleasure, and honor, as a Trooper. retired in the 1990s, but sadly is 1956 Part two continuing from Trooper Couch. “A Company did not have its no longer with us. That's all I know - just looking for own Joint Security Station (JSS) and would operate out of the Iraqi police station guys that may have served with him at and during those in northern Ghazauyah. The A company TOC was on Camp Liberty as was 2-12 times, who can tell me a little about him while he was Cav Bn TOC. This was in southwest Baghdad there. (Maybe relay his experiences, what happenings International Airport (BIAP). Camp Liberty in his life, personal remembrances.) There is only so was the base for a Brigade Combat Team, in little I remember of what he had told me he had done. this case 2nd Brigade 1st Infantry Division The only mentions I remember him relating were the under the command of Colonel J.B. Burton, Cambodia event and the tank farm incident in June Infantry, USA. As the Brigade Combat teams 1970.” . are built from modular units, we also had the 0856 Trooper James E. 'Jimbo', or 'Jimmy', Cox, following: 325th or 326th Airborne Infantry age 66 of Knoxville, passed away on December 4, Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division; 2-32nd Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry 2016. Trooper Cox was a retired Machine Operator with Norfolk Southern Division; 1-5 Cavalry Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division; 2-12 Cavalry Battalion, Railroad and proudly served his country in the United States Army, A Troop 4th 1st Cavalry Division; 3-64 Armor Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division; and the 9th Squadron, 12th U.S. Cavalry, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. Baghdad was the responsibility of in Vietnam. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Sherrill; daughter, Kim; Multi-National Division, Baghdad (MNDB), under the command of Major son James "Scooter" Cox; and seven grandchildren among others. Burial was General Fil, 1st Cavalry Division Commander. The Multi-National Corps-Iraq in the Lynnhurst Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were members of A Troop was on Camp Victory, under the command of Lt General Raymond Odierno, 4th Squadron, 12th Cavalry, 1st Brigade, 5th ID (Mech) Vietnam, July 1968 - which was the place where Uday and Qusay Hussein had kept game animals for November 1971. “Jimbo and I trained together in Ft. Knox, Kentucky and fought canned hunting purposes. 2-12 Cavalry Battalion had been there awhile before together in Vietnam 1970-1971. He was a brave Soldier, helped save lives and we arrived in April of 2007. C Company had the first Joint Security Station; it was awarded the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and Combat Infantryman's was named 'Casino', and was built around a large rented Iraqi home and fortified Badge among others. We spent some remarkable times together. Jim had a with sandbags, HESCO barriers, and T walls. Iraqi Army troops sometimes, great sense of humor, was kind and full of love.” “Another Trooper takes his but not often, went out on patrols with US Troops.” . blessed us in life and many others. His ‘Forever Smile’ was for everyone, not 2056 A 2-12 1st Air Cav Reunion will be held 1 June until 4 June at Bell Cow only for his brother’s. So long brother, until we meet again. May your spirit Ranch Cabins and Lodge, 341070 East 890 Road, in Chandler, Oklahoma. You and smile light the path for us to follow home.” . may contact me for details. 1056 1CDA 70th Annual Reunion being held rain or shine in and at Killeen/ 2156 One, two, three, Buddy Check! #LeaveNoOneBehind! How many Fort Hood, Texas from 7-11 June 2017. Also concurrent and simultaneous is friends from those Army days or Veterans meetings have you called today? our 12th Cavalry Regiment Reunion of unknown annual duration using the This week? This month? “An average of 20 Veterans died from suicide each same facilities. Ever since, I have been a member in any regard. day in 2014; 6 of the 20 were users of VA services. Veterans accounted for 1256 Greywolf Bde cased colors, Feb 23, 2017. “After a rigorous train-up Continued on pg. 19 Page 7 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 7th CAV News 72nd Anniversary Liberation of Santo Tomas I’m taking this opportunity to thank two gentlemen for their years of exemplary volunteer service to the 7th United States Not a day goes by that I, Rosemary Cavalry Association. My first thank you is directed to our scribe Hoyt Weber do not thank God for the of 17 years, Bob Anderson. Bob has decided to put his keyboard away and First Cavalry. Seventy-two years invest his time in other endeavors. So thank you, Bob, for the many years and ago, 800 men of the Flying Columns the amusing stories and enjoyable reporting you, your imagination and your traveled 100 miles in three days to keyboard provided. Bob, you reminded all your audience of the people, times, rescue and free the 3700 internees places and events worth remembering. My next thank you goes out to Jim that were held in Santo Tomas for 37 Savage, our Webmaster. After 20 plus years, Jim has decided to exit the fast months. The 44th Infantry and the lane of the digital highway. Jim, the Association website is obvious evidence 37th Infantry were also part of the of your artistic creativity, your technical skills and your enjoyment of all that rescue. Some people do not realize is the 7th Cavalry. Thank you Jim, the website you created and managed is an the “gift” of freedom. The First Cav attractive, well-composed and functional outlet for historical and topical data. Rosemary Hoyt Weber and the 44th tank Battalion gave Bob and Jim, again thank you both for the many hours, the blood, sweat and us this gift. We had not seen our tears you both put into your craft. American flag for 37 months. I keep in touch with Chelly Mendoza Family, The departure of these two men provides volunteer opportunities in both Jack Pike, Chetly Calvery, and John Yunker who was 100 in July of 2016. I am these vacant positions. The 7th Cavalry Association relies on the efforts of in touch with his Family, also Bob Harrison and his son. Freedom is not free, volunteers, so “new blood” is vital and necessary to the organizations well being you all took a risk in your lives and freed total strangers. Each of you are in and longevity. my prayers and my husband Ralph. The tremendous fear of not knowing what Please review the position descriptions below and let me know if you are our future held was erased on February 3rd, 1945. I pray every night for your interested. ultimate courage. Her address: 10200West Bluemound Apt 529 Milwaukee, WI Association Scribe Requirements: 53226. A million thanks to each of you. -Computer literate, Below is an excerpt from “Three Years in Santo Tomas” by Eve Foss Hoyt, -Produce a bimonthly column in the Saber (due by 1st of odd months) mother of 10-year-old Rosemary Hoyt regarding their horrid experience and -Analyze and interpret information to improve audience understanding liberation. -Contribute association news “The Japanese army entered Manila on the evening of January 2, 1942. The -Offer editorial opinions next night Japanese officers surrounded the Bennett house and took Mr. Bennett -Two year commitment prisoner. Specific questions regarding the scribe position requirements should contact Rosemarie and I, along with Mrs. Bennett and her two children, were picked Bob Anderson at . up on the afternoon of January 8 by a dozen or more Japanese soldiers. Association Webmaster Requirements: For the first four months, Rosemarie and I slept on the cement floor. After - HTML/CSS understanding of attributes / tags / development that, we lay on rough planks raised on sawhorses about eighteen inches above - PHP scripts and PHP email forms the floor. We suffered greatly from bedbugs, head lice and a starvation diet. - CSS scripts Develop / maintain / update We were fed from a community kitchen set up by the internee committee. We - CGI - Common Gateway Interface. Develop / maintain / update CGI scripts stood in long lines holding our little tin cans for the meager rations. - Database - that use CGI scripts / SQL database operation Rosemarie and I had the dry type of beriberi. Eventually we became so - JavaScript create scripts / maintain / update JavaScript code. emaciated and thin that we looked years older than we actually were. There was - Two year commitment no flesh on our bones, our eyes were sunken, Specific questions regarding the webmaster position requirements should and the veins in our arms and legs stood out like contact Jim Savage at . thin blue ropes. Again, I urge you to please review and consider the description lists for the As I look back to those long dark days of above positions. If you are qualified, and interested in applying for either of imprisonment, I realize more and more that it these volunteer positions, contact John Guillory at was truly God’s grace that we were still live. or call me at 951-283-7458. Though our captors kept our bodies hungry and Thank You, John Guillory, President 7th United States Cavalry Association our minds tortured, they permitted us to go to Mass and to receive the Sacraments. Our troops rescued us on the evening of NEW MEMBERS February 3, 1945. We thought then our long SGT ADAMS KEVIN M. TX J 2- 8C 1010 nightmare was over, but we were to experience SGT AFOA NEEMIA TX HHC 15STB 1506 new horrors. On 7 February, the Japanese began SGT ANDERSON JAMES JOSEPH MI B 1- 12C 7108 shelling us with artillery fire from a new vantage SP-4 ARPAN KEN SD D 2- 5C 65 point. I thought that the air raids of those three years were bad, but the artillery SGT BAH FATOUMATA TX HHC 2- 5C 1508 fire did something to my nerves that is beyond description. COL BAKER PHILLIP TX A 1CDA 00 Food did not agree with us after such a long period of starvation, but we ate SGT BECKETT ORIS GLENN WV B 2- 8C 6908 ravenously, the K-rations of our Soldiers. Although we did not know it at the E-4 BERTONE GERALD NY D 1- 12C 6612 time, when our battle-scarred troops came into Santo Tomas, they gave us their SGT BOREN JEFFERY D. TX B 2- 8ENG 9004 1LT BOWIE CHARLES AR D 1- 8C 6303 own rations, willingly going hungry themselves. SGT BRYANT DAVID TX 1- 7C 1202 My husband did not come back. He was killed when our own forces sank the SGT BULLOCK MICHAEL CA HHC 1- 5C 8702 unmarked Japanese ship on which he was being taken prisoner to Japan. I am SSG BURRIS LATOYIA TX 1- 96TC 1105 sure he is praying for us in heaven.” SP-4 CARVERICK DONALD C. AZ B 27ORD 5605 E-4 COE SIDNEY TN D 1- 7 6507 SGT RINEY DOUGLAS J. IL 3- 3CR 1212 SSG DANIEL BAILEY VA HHC DISCOM 0011 SPC ROSCOVIUS ALLEN TX B 115BSB 1411 E-4 DAVIS CLIFTON GA A 1- 8C 6807 SPC RYCHENER KURT A. OH D 1- 8C 9003 SPC DIAZ AMEZCUA RICARDO TX B 115BSB 1410 SP-5 SAMPSON CLIFFORD CA 15ADM 6705 MAJ DIRIGE DESIREE MD 4BCT 1001 SGT SHARPE ROBERT TX F 2- 5C 0906 SFC DOUG J. DORNE ON 3- 5C 67 SFC SIMMONS GEORGE C. JR NC A 13SIG 66 1LT GARNELLA THOMAS W. CA B 15MED 7001 E-4 STUBER KENNETH R. RD C 1- 77FA 6910 DR GIESE T.H. TX C 2- 20ARA 6607 MR SZABO JULE VA 142 L ASSOC E-4 GOODREAU WILLIAM J. CA B 7C 7211 CSM TORRES MARCO TX B 215FSB 9912 SP-5 GORE KENT W. OR 1- 15AC 6508 SGT TURK DIXON ON ASSOC 1368 SP-4 HANSEN JOHN C. JR MI 1- 15SS 6702 SGT TURNER RAY P. PA HHB 2- 19FA 67 E-5 HILL ANDREW A. CA 11AVN 6710 E-4 WELDON RICHARD J. VT 13SIG 6611 PFC HILL LEROY E. JR IA A 1- 12C 6407 SGT WESLEY PATRICE TX HHC 1- 10C 98 MAJ INGLERIGHT GEORGE AL C 1- 198ARM 9501 CSM WISE RANDALL TX 1- 227AVN 1508 LTC (RET) KAFURA HERMAN G. WI HQ 1CDA 6908 E-5 WOODRUFF THOMAS R. MI D 1- 8C 6709 MR KENNEDY GLENN A. II GA L-ASSOC 143 SFC WOODS LISA TX C 1- 115BSB 0605 E-5 LOWERY FLOYD TX E 2- 5C 7109 SP-4 YEPES JOHNNY R NM A 1- 30ARTY 6901 SSG LUJAN FRANCISCO L. NM 227AVN 0412 E-5 MAKISH EMIL NY HHC 256BCT 0405 SFC (RET) MALONE-DIRIG IMAN MD 1- 4BSTB 1007 SAVE THE DATE! 26 May 17 at 1500 E-5 MANNING THOMAS J. NY 228AV 6810 Fort Hood Texas Rally “Carry the Load” SFC MURRELL DION R. GA 1- 3BCT 0602 Welcome those marching on West Coast Relay Team to Fort Hood E-7 NYGREN MICHAEL A. CA B 2- 5C 6907 SP-4 O’NEIL JOSEPH F. LA 82ARTY 6212 1st CAV Detachment HQ’s 69007 Trooper Loop E-6 PATTERSON LAWRENCE IL 2- 19ARTY 6812 www.carrytheload.org SSG PRICE GERALD IN 2- 9C 6403 POC: John Collins 512-627-6215 or [email protected] SGT RASH RONNIE TX A 1- 5C 6810 MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 8 8th CAV News Ninh Province, Vietnam. These 10 Thomas J. De Young 3439 Brooklyn Ave Soldiers were assigned to the 2-8th Port Charlotte, FL 33952-7211 (Call Sign: Stone Mountain) under the (616) 719-0223 command of LTC Richard W. Wood [email protected] (Stone Mountain 6). These men were www.8Cavalry.Org the epitome of the Regiment's motto Hi again, There’s an old saying about those of us who fly airplanes: “There Honor And Courage! They ranged in are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots.” John King and age from 18 (the youngest - a PFC) his wife Martha are legends in the private pilot community. They have run an to 34 (the oldest - a Captain). They aviation flight training company that has trained literally thousands of pilots. represented a cross section of the John and Martha state that they hold every license and rating the FAA has, as battalion. Two were from HHC; one they both fly their planes from single engine to their personal jet; they even from A Co; four from C Co and three from E Co. There were 2 PFCs; 2 CPLs, have airship ratings. Martha is very much all business while John has a bit of a 2 Spec 4s; 2 SSGTs; 1 1LT and 1 CPT. warped sense of humor. In one of his seminars that I attended a few years ago, “The "official" record of the battle tells us that it started in the very early John asked a question that went something like this: “You are flying at night in morning hours of 6 May 1969. The Soldiers of D Company, under the command a single engine plane… a dark moonless night, and you experience an engine of CPT Henry "Rocky” Colavita (Angry Skipper 6), who were on patrol several failure. You look out the window and all you see ahead is darkness – a black klicks away from the LZ, notified Mountain 6 on the evening of 5 May that hole. What do you do?” Hmm, now there’s a good question that has crossed the they had spotted a very large unit of NVA soldiers moving in the direction mind of many of us flyers. John’s answer: “Turn on your landing light. If you of the LZ. This early warning probably saved many American lives on the don’t like what you see, TURN IT OFF!” LZ. It cost the NVA dearly! CPT Harry "Skip" Taylor (Lone Armor 6), the Life can be like that sometimes. When trouble comes our way, there often C Company CO, who was manning the LZ Defensive Perimeter, will tell you doesn’t seem to be a good way with which to address it. I have had several that the battle actually began during the very late hours of 5 May when one of calls lately from brother Vets for whom life seems very much like that black his LP/OPs notified him of very heavy movement toward the LZ. Armor 6, hole, a future that seems like a dark void with no good outcomes. It’s not who lost 4 Soldiers Killed In Action on the LZ, also feared that his LP/OP had the time to be “bold” on the way to “old,” to suffer alone and in silence. The been eliminated; but he was overjoyed to learn later that morning that they had outreached hand of a fellow Vet who personally understands the darkness that survived the NVA attack and withdrawal. According to Shelby L. Stanton in comes with thoughts of combat, of loss, of relationships broken or lost through his book "Anatomy of a Division" (p. 168), "In the early morning darkness of 6 tragedy is the saving thing that can lift him up and be that saving ballistic May, the NVA 95th Regiment delivered an intensive rocket and mortar barrage, emergency parachute that some pilots enjoy in newer private aircraft. We can followed by a massive pincer ground assault against two sides of the base. LZ be that helping hand by being an active participant in our Veteran organizations. Carolyn's Garrison was reduced by the absence of several line companies on Whether the trauma is brought on by PTSD or by a recent tragedy, the effect on patrol, and the withering defensive fires of the Battalion's Company C and E the soul can be equally devastating. We can be there for others. If you haven’t were unable to prevent the on rushing battalions from storming through the attended a unit reunion lately, plan on doing so. If you are retired and have wire and into the landing zone from two different directions. Six perimeter some time, volunteer at the Legion, the VFW, the DAV, the USO or one of the bunkers were overrun, one of the medium howitzers was captured, and the many other Veteran organizations. The very fact that we can be together in an enemy threatened to slice through the center of the base." According to J. D. atmosphere of shared experiences can be the thing that helps our fellow Vets Coleman in his book "Incursion" (p. 96), the LZ also included "Battery A, 2d and indeed ourselves deal with the darkness that at times can be overwhelming. Bn, 19th Artillery (105-mm) and Battery B, 1st Bn, 30th Artillery (155-mm). There are many other ways that you can reach out to fellow Veterans; some Counting the Battalion Headquarters Company, there were 231 infantrymen, are creative in using what one has available. Here’s an example: At our local 156 artillerymen and 35 engineers and logistical support personnel. Altogether, chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart , one of 422 Americans to defend against an enemy force that exceeded a thousand our new members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, owns a fishing boat. men." According to the First Cav's History in Vietnam, "The 1st Air Cavalry He offers to take a Vet and two members of his/her Family out for a day of Division, Vietnam, August 1965 to December 1969" (p. 293): "The decimated inshore fishing in Charlotte Harbor, rods and bait provided. What a great way enemy force began to withdraw at 4 a.m. and contact was broken by 6 a.m. At he thought of to lift the spirits of fellow Vets. first light, three companies were air assaulted to block and interdict avenues The Jungle: of escape to the north and west. Delta Company saw 30 individuals carrying Many of us recall the challenges of operating in the jungles of Vietnam: The their wounded away and killed 18. Alpha got five and Delta Company killed impossible terrain, the triple canopy that with the addition of unverified maps six more later that day." According to Coleman's "Incursion" (p. 99 and 100), made navigation a guessing game, the heat and humidity, the rain – the rain! Then "When the NVA broke contact..., he left 172 soldiers dead, 30 captured, and a there were the insects, the mosquitoes, the scorpions, the snakes, the leeches, truckload of arms and ammunition. The pursuit operations cost the NVA sixty and all manner of creatures that called this place home. A hot shower and clean more dead and fragmented what had once been a formidable fighting machine. clothes were something to dream about, we didn’t often get clean uniforms, and Incredibly, despite the intensity of the assault, only ten Americans were killed, we got new ones as the old ones rotted on our although another eighty were wounded." bodies. Seeing a flushing toilet during a stand “The names of these 10 KIA are carved on The Vietnam Memorial Wall on down at an Air Force Base was an awesome Panel 25, Lines 9 thru 15. We hope you will join us on 20 May 2017 at 1300 sight. Yet we learned through experience how hours to touch their names on the LZ Carolyn Memorial, to acknowledge their to live, survive, and fight in these seemingly Honor And Courage: SP4 Foster L. Sonnier, HHC; CPT Joseph Woodward, impossible environments. We shared what we HHC; CPL William L. Negrini, A Co; 1LT Oliver A. Best, Jr., C Co; PFC learned with our replacements in the field, and Richard J. Daley, C Co; CPL Jackie R. McKenzie, C Co; SGT Fruto J. Oquendo, when we got home with those about to ship out C Co; PFC Paul J. Kronthaler, E Co; SGT Gilbert G. Palacio, E Co; SP4 Jose in classes sometimes referred to as “Lessons Soto-Concepcion, E Co. learned in Vietnam.” The song we learned in Transportation from the hotel to the Memorial will be provided by bus to make OCS still rings in my mind, “You can hear it sure we all get there on time. We look forward to seeing you at the Association in the heat of the jungle, you can hear it across Reunion from 17 May to 21 May, 2017. the sea, the sound of every freedom loving Reunions: man, the cry of the US Infantry: follow me, May 17-21, 2017: Planning is well underway for our 8th Cavalry Regiment follow me!” The skills we learned at such great personal expense have often Association’s Reunion in Columbus, Georgia/Fort Benning so make sure to been lost as our forces have focused for over a decade on Desert Warfare. With mark your calendars for this important gathering. Members of the 8th Cavalry: the renewed focus on the Pacific Region, efforts are underway to address this 1/8th, 2/8th, 3/8th, and 6/8th who served in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, situation with Jungle Warfare Training Programs now taking place in locations many other theaters of operation and those currently serving on active duty in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. Soldiers and Marines are learning will be among those attending. We are looking forward to a great turn-out this that not every jungle is the same and that each has its own challenges. This year. This is an important reunion: we will be electing officers and discussing topic is discussed in an interesting article by Christina Wood in the February the future efforts of our Association. We are extending an invitation to units issue of Military Officer which you can read at , once on the assigned or attached to the 8th Cav over the years as well. The registration form website, click on Publication/Media > Military Officer Magazine > View the and other information are posted on our website, so make March 2017 Edition. sure you check it out. Register now if you can – it will assist us immensely in Memorials: our preparations. As I mentioned in the last issue of Saber, there is a memorial walk at the May 17-20, 2017: will bring “Angry Skipper Association” to Washington, National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning, Georgia called The Walk of Honor. D.C. for a reunion at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Herndon, Virginia. This is a It is a quiet place of reflection consisting of monuments to the fallen. One of group of Troopers who served together in Vietnam with Delta Company 2/8th the events we plan to attend at our May Reunion will be a visit there for the during the period 1965-1972. Registration opens the 1st week of February. dedication of a monument to the 10 men of the 2-8th Cav who lost their lives . in the Battle of LZ Carolyn on May 6, 1969. A plaque listing their names and August 9–13, 2017: will bring the “Eager Arms” Troopers to Indianapolis, units of assignment will be mounted on a marble monument. A short program Indiana for a 50th year reunion. This is a group who served together in is planned. Doug Magruder provides the following details surrounding this Vietnam with Bravo Company 2/8th Cav during the period July 1967 – July memorial: 1968. One of their excursions will be to the Huey 360 Museum at Grissom Air “On Saturday, 20 May 2017 at 1300hrs, the LZ Carolyn Memorial will be Reserve Base in Peru, Indiana about which I wrote in the last issue of Saber. dedicated at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning in Columbus, . Georgia to honor 10 Soldiers who were killed in action on 6 May 1969 in Tay Continued on pg. 11 Page 9 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 Michael W. Bond traps and marksmanship. Practical exercises were conducted to provide the 3014 Northridge Rd. Browns with experience. The training proved very effective as can be seen by 9th CAV News Hardy, VA 24101 [email protected] results attained by some of the platoons. (540) 815-5004 9.DEFINITION OF TERMS: AFA - Aerial Field Artillery, A/2-20 flying AH-1G gunships. *Note to readers, GAF - Ground-to-air fire; whenever an aircraft is fired at from the ground. Pink The Cambodian Campaign memorandum is published as received by writer. If Team - The basic combat element of the Air Cavalry, consisting of one you would like to receive the document as a whole, please email scribe for the AH-1G and one OH-6A. (3-17 utilized the OH-58). In Cambodia the Pink Team attachment. was supplemented by a UH-1H C&C aircraft. Editor C&C - The command and control aircraft carrying the ARVN LNO and senior Air Cavalry officer. In Cambodia, a C&C aircraft accompanied each Pink Team. A/S - Air Strike; when concentrations of enemy troops, equipment or bunkers DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY were found, air strikes were requested. HEADQUARTERS, 1ST SQUADRON, 9TH CAVALRY BDA - Bomb damage assessment; after an A/S a Pink Team was called in to 1ST AVIATION BRIGADE check the area and assess the damage, caused by bombs or artillery. APO San Francisco 96289 Section of AFA - Two AH-1G gunships from A/2-20; when AFA was requested a section (flight of two) was sent to engage the target. AVDAUX-C 17 June 1971 Heavy Section of AFA - Three AH-lGs; if there were an uneven number of AH- SUBJECT: After Action Report, Air Cavalry Combat Operations in Cambodia lGs available, a heavy section was formed by aiding one additional AH-1G to THRU: Commanding General, lst Aviation Brigade, APO San Francisco a section. 96289 KBH - Killed by helicopter; when the enemy was killed by a Pink Team, he was TO: See Distribution considered KBH. 1.DATES OF OPERATION: 22 February 1971 to 19 May 1971 KBAFA - Killed by Aerial Field Artillery; when the enemy was killed by AFA, 2.LOCATION: Republic of Cambodia he was considered KBAFA. 3.COMMAND HEADQUARTERS: 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry KBA/S - Enemy killed by an air strike. KBARTY - Enemy killed by artillery 4.REPORTING OFFICER: LTC Carl M. Putnam Forward Operating Location - Location where the Air Cavalry would rearm 5.TASK FORCE ORGANIZATION: and refuel; also a jump off point for cross-border operations. There are no HQ, 1st Squadron, 9th Air Cavalry (1-9 ACS); A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th maintenance, mess, or overnight facilities at the forward operating location. Cavalry (Apache) (A/1-9); B Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry (Saber) (B/1-9) Examples were Katum, Thien Ngon and Loc Ninh. detached 27 March 1971; C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry (Cavalier) (C/1- Laager Site - A location forward of the Troop’s base camp where minor 9); A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry (Silver Spur) (A/3-17); B Troop, 3rd maintenance can be performed and mess and overnight facilities are available. Squadron, 17th Cavalry (Stogies) (B/3-17) joined 27 March 1971; F Troop, 3rd A and C/1-9 laagered at Tay Ninh while their rear elements were at Phuoc Vinh Squadron, 4th Cavalry (Centaur) (F/3-4) joined 31 March 1971; Air C Troop, (later moved to Di An.) 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Black Horse) (11 ACT) joined 24 February BROWNS - A platoon-size Vietnamese unit designated to work as the Aero- 1971; A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 20th Aerial Field Artillery (Blue Max) (A/2-20) Rifle (Blue) platoon of the Air Cavalry. Each Air Cavalry Troop involved in Direct Support cross-border operations had a Brown platoon, which was under the command of 6.BACKGROUND: the troop commander. a.On 21 February 1971, the 1-9 ACS was alerted to begin cross-border LESSONS LEARNED operations. On 22 February 1971, 1-9 began aerial reconnaissance missions in Use of Mini-Gun on the OH-6A: Cambodia. With four Air Cavalry troops working in support of four ARVN The use of mini-guns mounted on the OH-6A scout aircraft did not prove task forces operating under Headquarters Military Region III (MR-III), the Air successful for 1-9 ACS in Cambodia or Vietnam. The Squadron eventually Cavalry set out to find, fix, and destroy the enemy. utilized only non-mini-gun aircraft. It was felt the advantages of using a three- b.To support the cross-border operations, forward operating locations (FOL) man crew far outweighed the advantages offered by a two-man crew with a with rearm/refuel points were established at Katum and Thien Ngon. A/1-9 mini-gun. living at Song Be operated from Loc Ninh and later laagered from Tay Ninh Three-man crew advantages: while the rear elements moved to Phuoc Vinh and then to Di An. B/1-9 living 1.Three pair of eyes for reconnaissance at Bearcat had its combat elements laager at Quan Loi, 100 kilometers closer to 2.Effective firepower from both sides of aircraft in nearly all directions. the area of operations. C/1-9 was already laagering from Tay Ninh with its rear 3.Ability of gunner to carry a wide variety of weapons for use against varied at Phuoc Vinh and later this was moved to Di An. A/3-17, already living at Quan targets (including smoke, CS, fragmentation, incendiary, concussion, and white Loi, operated from Katum, and later operated from Loc Ninh. Headquarters 1-9 phosphorous grenades; M-79 grenade launcher, and M-60 machine- gun). established a forward command post (CP) at Katum to facilitate coordination 4.Observer can mark location with smoke while gunner engages enemy. with the Air Cavalry Troops and the ARVN Task Forces. The forward CP 5.Pilot utilizes right turns. was moved to Tay Ninh East in April to facilitate coordination with MR-III Advantages of mini-gun: headquarters, which was also at Tay Ninh. 1.Tremendous firepower. 7.TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS: 2.It was discovered that when taking fire from an enemy position the mere noise a.Because of the unique rules of engagement in Cambodia, minor modifications from the mini-gun, regardless of direction of fire, would occasionally cause to normal Air Cavalry tactical maneuvers were required. ARVN platoons the enemy to cease fire and move for cover; however, this makes it difficult to designated as "Browns" were trained in Air Cavalry tactics to replace the Aero- assess the size of the enemy force being encountered. Rifle (Blue) platoon. To be responsive to ARVN ground forces the Cavalry Disadvantages of two-man crew: needed a means of direct communications with the ground commanders. This 1.The right side of the aircraft is unprotected. was accomplished by use of a command and control (C&C) helicopter with 2.Pilots tend to make left turns so the observer can maintain visual contact with both an ARVN liaison officer (LNO) and a senior Air Cavalry officer on board. target. (It is an established fact that when hovering or in slow flight at near max- The LNO coordinated with the ground commanders and relayed clearances gross loads, less power will be required and better aircraft performance can be to engage targets located by the Air Cavalry. This provided the coordination achieved by utilizing right turns.) necessary to deliver close-in fire support to troops in contact. 3.The mini-gun tempts the pilot to use his aircraft as a gunship against targets that b.Deep penetration into Cambodia and the necessity to return to Vietnam to refuel could be more safely and effectively engaged with the Cobra – thus forgetting and rearm meant the visual reconnaissance (VR) time in the area of operations his primary mission of reconnaissance. would be greatly reduced. The key to increasing VR time was to increase 4.The mini-gun puts excessive structural strain on the aircraft. (When the mini- the endurance of the AH-lG, since the OH-6A did not have fuel consumption gun is engaged while flying straight and level the aircraft will yaw as much problems. To maximize VR time, it was necessary to reduce the ordnance load as 10-15 degrees to the left, and the airspeed will bleed off 5-10 knots in a of the AH-1G and increase fuel load nearer to capacity. To compensate for the sustained burst.) lighter ordnance load of the Air Cavalry AH-1G, A/2-20 Artillery was placed in Maintenance Stand down: direct support of the Air Cavalry Task Force. These helicopters were used in a Most ground combat units are allowed a maintenance stand down; this was not direct fire role to engage known enemy locations, to the case for Air Cavalry. It was found in both Cambodia and Vietnam that a provide firepower for troops in contact, and to protect downed aircraft and 1-2 day maintenance stand down per month gives the Air Cavalry Troop time crews. to repair battle damaged aircraft. With the type of flying performed by the Air 8.TRAINING: In the two months prior to the Cambodian operation, the Cavalry, it is subject to an extremely high rate of battle damage, much more so Squadron had been training ARVN rifle platoons to perform detailed ground than any other aviation unit. It is therefore reasonable that the Air Cavalry be reconnaissance normally accomplished by the Aero-Rifle (Blue) platoon of the allowed a monthly stand down to repair these aircraft without sustaining further Air Cavalry Troop. Use of these ARVN platoons (Browns) greatly reduced the aircraft damage. During this stand own the Troop’s operational mission can be language problem between the forces accomplishing ground reconnaissance adequately covered by one or more of the other Troops in the Squadron. and the reinforcing troops that followed. In Cambodia, U.S. ground forces To be continued... were not allowed on the ground; however, the Browns were immediately available to secure downed aircraft or to rescue shot down crews. General Minh, Commanding General, MR-III, decided to expand the Brown team Plan now to attend the 70th Annual Reunion of the 1st Cavalry concept to 13 teams. The Air Cavalry Troops familiarized these teams with Division Association from 7-11 June 2017 in Killeen, Texas. Details and registration form on pages 12 and 13 in this issue of SABER. helicopter operations, training them in rappelling, rigging downed helicopters for extraction, and ground reconnaissance as well as refresher training in booby MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 10 30th FA News fundraising auction that we hold in our Hospitality Suite right after dinner. The “HARD CHARGERS” complete details for the reunion were published in the January Hard Charger Daniel P. Gillotti 4204 Berkeley Dr. Newsletter. You can find our newsletter by going to: . If you are not a member of the 30th FA Regiment Association, you will (440) 934-1750 not receive the newsletter via email. Contact me for a Membership Form using [email protected] my email address above. For more reunion information, contact our Reunion www.HardChargers.Com Coordinator, John Hoetker by calling him at: 518-377-9420, or email him at: . its 26 degrees outside and some snow has been falling intermittently. We are Hard Chargers on the Sick List: Our WWII hoping Mother Nature will be good to us, and give us nice weather until the Hard Charger, CPL Joseph I. Brown, who spring breaks. We hope wherever you are it is warm and cozy. Last night on served with the 2nd Bn, 30th FA, in Alaska patrol duty with the Sheriff’s Office, we received a downpour of snow that was in 1942-1944, and then with HHB, 30th Field about 5 inches deep in a matter of 45 minutes. We assisted at a bad accident in Artillery Group at Camp Picket, Virginia, which one car smashed into the back of another car. Within in minutes we had then at Camp Butner, North Carolina before an Ohio State Trooper, a fire truck, two tow trucks, and an ambulance. It took shipping out to Scotland aboard the ship about 45 minutes to clear the wreckage and take one of the drivers for medical “Queen Elizabeth on 8 November 1944. Group Villers France, 2-10-1945 attention. When we returned to the Sheriff’s Office I was able to clock out at They arrived in Scotland on 27 November 11:30 PM, and there was at least 5 to 6 inches of snow on my personal car. It 1944, then moved to Dorsett, England on 7 February 1944, they deployed to took me about ½ an hour to drive 12 miles home, as the roads were a mess. Soissons, France, and then to Villers, France, on 9 February 1945. At the close Stay well my friends! Spring is just around of WWII, the 30th FA Group moved to Hilpolstein, Germany, and remained the corner! there until moving to Schwabach on 11 February 1946. By this time, CPL 2017 Hard Charger Reunion: Our 2017 Joseph I. Brown returned back home to Chicago, Illinios. We ask for your Hard Charger Reunion will be held in a Lake prayers for Joe, as he is battling some really serious health issues with a very George, New York. Reunion registrations bad flu problem, along with breathing and heart issues. This old Hard Charger are coming in, and it appears we will have needs our collective prayers please. Several years ago, I told Joe that he had to a good crowd attending, including our stay healthy as he was going to be our Guest Speaker at the celebration of our allies across the border from the 30th Royal Regiment’s 100th Anniversary in 2018. Do not give up the fight Joe! Canadian Artillery. We will be staying at Hard Charger History: It is a little-known fact that the 30th FA Group had the Queensbury Hotel in Glen’s Falls, New Brown & Arizmendi the mission to turn the old German Training Center at Grafenwohr into a Basic Camp Butner, NC 1944 York, and the room rate is $99 per night. Training for Troops, relieved of occupation duties to be training in their basic The hotel is only a 10-minute drive to Lake George Village. Arrival date will arms. A particular dangerous incident occurred on 4 May 1946, when a fire be Monday, 19 June 2017. On Tuesday, 20 June, we will be on a bus trip to broke out in the Ammunition Dump, 18,000 to 20,000 tons of ammo, including Fort Ticonderoga and Prospect Mountain. We will have lunch at their gift shop. V-2 Rocket warheads blew up. On Wednesday, 21 June, we will travel by bus to Lake George for a two-hour This incident was given considerable press dramatization by the “Stars & cruise around the lake. There is a snack bar near the dock before boarding if Stripes.” Effective 31 July 1946, the 30th FA Group was inactivated, and an you want something to eat while you are waiting to board the boat. In addition, important chapter in the history of the 30th FA Regiment came to a close. Even there is a snack bar onboard the boat. Thursday, 22 June, we will hold our after all these the 30th FA Regiment still lives by the Hard Charger Creed “No annual membership meeting followed by our annual memorial service. Our One is forgotten - and No One is left behind.” This is Hard Charger 9G End banquet will begin in the evening at 6 PM. Please bring items for our traditional of Mission-Out!

In Loving Memory He had kept all the survivors alive through a terrible night of enemy attacks.” Then-Spc. Ralph West recalled Tully, who had once coolly saved several Soldiers swept down a creek bed in a flash flood, calling in artillery and B-52 Col. Robert B Tully bombing strikes to cover the extraction of the Lost Platoon. “I told Col. Tully on one of my many visits to his home in Florida that I was November 12, 1923 - February 16, 2017 sure that many of us came home that might not have had we been under the command of another officer,” said West, 75, of Miami, Florida, a draftee who As written in San Antonio Express News by Sig Christenson, Staff Writer left the Army as a sergeant. Col. Robert B. Tully came home at last Tuesday after a long military career that One of Tully’s three sons, retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Tully Jr., said “he included the dramatic rescue of a decimated platoon during the Army’s first spoke very little of that battle.” major battle of the Vietnam War. It was a fight Family and friends say he rarely There was no need to, he added, once the book and movie came out. When discussed but, still, they say, he was anything but a subdued man. the elder Tully, the son of an Army one-star general who retired in San Antonio “He was a magnet for people,” said his nephew, retired Army Lt. Gen. Robert and is also buried at Fort Sam, got to the Lost Platoon, he found dead American Tully Clark, 68, of San Antonio and a former commander of the 5th U.S. Army Soldiers surrounded by North Vietnamese regulars. at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. “People just wanted to get close “I think he was really sad because so many in that platoon got killed,” said to him and hear his jokes, listen to his stories.” Tully died Feb. 16 in Avon Park, Tully, 66, of Cottage Grove, Oregon. “They fought to the bitter end.” Florida. He was 93. The battle involving Moore’s battalion lasted four days, leaving 234 American He served two tours in Vietnam, leading the rescue of the “Lost Platoon,” and roughly 1,800 North Vietnamese soldiers dead. “Tully's men looked up to which had been cut off early in the Battle at Ia Drang. Tully later commanded him because he would never order them to do something he was not willing to a 1st Cavalry Division brigade, and served as an aide to Gen. Guy S. Meloy, do himself, because he always saw to their needs ahead of his own,” Galloway Jr., when he led the 5th U.S. Army at Fort Sam during the late 1950s. “(Tully) said. Said Clark: “He was a hero to me all of my life.” [email protected] was soft-spoken, stuttered a bit, but was a real Soldier's Soldier all the way,” journalist and author Joseph Galloway, who saw him at Ia Drang and in other Excerpt from “The word was the Ia Drang would be a walk. The word was operations, said in an interview. “He was always on top of things to ensure that wrong” by Joseph L. Galloway his Troopers had the best chance of surviving to go home.” The fighting at Ia Drang began Nov. 14, 1965. Tully led the 5th Cavalry’s 2nd “Earlier in the day, the Brigade Commander, Colonel Brown, had moved the Battalion, which rescued the platoon and reinforced a battalion commanded by 2nd Battalion of the 5th Cavalry, led by Lt. Col. Robert Tully, to Landing Zone then-Lt. Col. Harold G. “Hal” Moore. A retired Army three-star general, Moore Victor, 2 miles from X-Ray, and told them to reinforce Moore. By noon, they co-wrote the book, “We Were Soldiers Once…And Young,” with Galloway. were closing in on Moore's position, and what they saw stunned them. Sergeant The Mel Gibson movie chronicling the battle was based on the book. Moore Adams was on the line when the first of Tully's men marched in. "My God, died Feb. 10 and was buried a week before Tully’s death. there's enemy bodies all over this valley," the newcomer shouted. "For the last The platoon, led by Lt. Henry T. Herrick, encountered a full North Vietnamese 30 minutes, we've been walking around and over and through bodies." Army Battalion, and was almost overwhelmed. “My worst-case scenario had Moore now ordered a two-pronged attack -- by two companies of Tully's men just come to pass: We were in heavy contact before all my battalion was on across the slope of Chu Pong and by Herren's Bravo Company to rescue the Lost the ground,” Moore said in the book. “And now I had to deal with a cut-off Platoon. Herren's men reached the knoll at 3:10. "When I got there I walked over platoon.” Two of Moore’s companies tried to reach them but became locked in to where Henry Herrick was lying dead," Lieutenant Deal recalls. "It seemed so a pitched battle of their own in which 2nd Lt. Walter J. “Joe” Marm earned the unnatural for my friend to be lying stomach down with his face in the red dust. Medal of Honor. He was wounded while single-handedly destroying an enemy I looked away; I did not want to remember him that way. But I have." Sergeant machine gun position with a grenade and his rifle. Savage had not lost a single man after taking command, despite a long night and The two companies withdrew that evening, 85 of their men killed and day of attacks. When Herren's men told them that it was safe to get up, not one wounded. Arriving on foot the next day, rather than by helicopter, Tully and of them moved for 5 minutes. "They just stared at us in disbelief," Deal says. his battalion were the first full reinforcements to reach Moore’s men and led the rescue of the platoon, Galloway said. Warmest regards to the Family. After 26 hours of fighting, “what had been a 29-man platoon had shrunk to eight unwounded, 12 wounded, nine dead,” Galloway said. “Command had We honor the passing of our First Team friends and comrades in arms. fallen to a 21-year-old buck sergeant, Ernie Savage of Birmingham, Alabama. Page 11 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 and rode across this area a long time ago, despite not recognizing it. HQ and Special Troops News In Seoul, there is a Ron Killingsworth wonderful museum 10329 Caddo Lake Rd Mooringsport, LA 71060-9057 dedicated to the war. I (318) 996-9969 remember there was an [email protected] area pushed off to the side, filled with ordnance Greetings Troopers from NW Louisiana where we are having the craziest that was used to fight in of winters. I have never believed in “Global Warming” but I have become a the Korean War and was believer in “Climate Change.” We have gone from 75 degrees one day to below part of the peace-keeping freezing the next. Now we are in a warm spell that has lasted so long that effort in the following bushes have started to bud out. We run the a/c one day and the heat the next! years. Acres of planes, I am glad the holiday season is over and things can return to normal. We wish tanks, helicopters, and all of you the best in the New Year. We now have a new president of the USA a beat up ship. It just Sheldon Sindelar at DMZ in South Korea 2011 and time will tell if political promises will be kept. A lot of people did not get amazed me the amount the president they hoped for and voted for and are showing their displeasure. of technology it took to fight a war. It made me think of my own company We need to remember that we usually change presidents every eight years or unit. All we had was a jeep or a truck. Never too much stuff. It shocked me sooner, and that it is impossible to please everyone. However, most of us seldom to see how much ordnance there really was. The rest of my stay in Korea was display our displeasure by rioting, demonstrating and threatening. As far as very pleasant. As we traveled the country, we had a young Korean gentleman those who promised to leave if Trump was elected, all I have to say is good luck accompany us. He was about the same age as I was when I had fought back in in the other country of your choice. I served overseas in many countries and ’50 and ’51. I remember the respect he addressed me with when he found out have failed to find one better than the US of A. I had served with the U.S. Forces in Korea. Together we made a trip to a small News from the active duty Cav: The 3rd Cav Reg has returned from village, I can’t remember the name. However, residing there was an old Signal deployment. The 1st Bde (Ironhorse) and the 2nd Bde (Black Jack) are training Corps Soldier from the South Korean Army. Although we didn’t speak the same for movement to Fort Irwin National Training Center in California, obviously language, we understood each other like brothers. They treated me like royalty readying for deployment into harm’s way. The 1st Cav Div Headquarters and for my service to their country and I am so glad that I made it back when I still band are in Afghanistan. The Cav Band performs for the Troops throughout could.” that battle area. The 3rd Bde (Gray Wolf) had deployed to Kuwait. The 1st Cav Great story and pictures Shel! If you find time, it would be interesting to read Horse Cavalry Detachment participated in the 58th Presidential Inauguration about what the 13th Signal did during the Korean War. I’m pretty sure the 13th parade. Signal later became the 13th Signal Bn and continued to serve with the Cav until If you are an active duty Trooper deployed, or at Fort Hood, we would like to most of the support battalions, including the 312th MI Bn, my old unit, were hear from you. The Veterans of the great 1st Cav Div Association are ALWAYS deactivated shortly after Desert Storm. Shel would like to hear from anyone concerned about the active duty Troopers! News from your unit is always who served with the Cav during his years in Japan and Korea. You can contact welcomed. Shel at or contact me by email for his address and I received an email from Sheldon Sindelar of Prior Lake, Minnesota, who telephone number. served with the 1st Cav in the occupation of Japan and then in Korea during If you plan to attend the 70th annual reunion of the 1st Cav Div Association the Korean War. Shel wrote: “I served with the 1st Cav, 13th Signal Company at Killeen (June 6-11) (you haven’t registered yet???) be sure to check out the from ’49 to ’51. I was stationed in Japan at Camp Drake and then was deployed new memorial to the Soldiers and civilians killed or wounded in the shooting at to Korea at the start of Fort Hood back in 2009. (13 were killed, one unborn, and over 30 were injured, the Korean War. Hardly some critically.) (MAJ Nidal Malik Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013.) anyone writes about It is a gazebo built between the Shilo Hotel and the Convention Center and is Korea anymore, ever quite impressive. Also, on the left column of the Shilo Hotel, under the drive since Jim Miller from through cover near the front desk area, there is a bronze memorial to David A. Winona, Minnesota Steiner who organized the building of the Shilo Hotel and owned it. There are retired. I wanted to share some interesting words of President Abraham Lincoln thereon. If you are ever some pictures of Korea driving through Texas, there are thousands of historical markers well marked on from my personal library. most highways. Stop and read one from time to time. Some of them are very The first picture takes interesting. place when U.S. forces Sue and I just returned from the annual board meeting of the 1st Cav Div Assoc broke out of the Pusan that is held at Killeen, Texas, every February. The meetings included the Board Perimeter and made it of Governors meeting for the Association, the Foundation Trustees meeting and up to Seoul. At the time, Sheldon Sindelar at 38th parallel in Korea ca. 1950 the Museum Foundation meeting. Our Association president, Scott Smith, has most of the buildings were resigned as president of the Association due to health issues. Our prayers and still standing. By our third or fourth trip though, Seoul was leveled. My Troop hopes for improved health go out to Scott. Allen Norris, the 1st VP, conducted was on its way to the Yalu River. We crossed the 38th parallel many times, the Association board meeting and will probably be appointed to finish out including the time when the Chinese forced us back. In the picture you can see Scott’s term as President of the Association. The Association remains in good me standing on the 38th parallel. My tent sits in the background. financial shape. The Ia Drang Scholarship Program is running out of money but In 2011 I had an opportunity to go back to Korea. The Seoul I knew as a the foundation has awarded $633,853 in scholarships to 261 students and we young man had changed from a destroyed city, to an ultramodern metropolis. are still awarding scholarships to children and grandchildren of the Veterans of The ground where I pitched my tent in 1950 was now home to a five star hotel the Ia Drang Battle. There are over 40 students still receiving this financial aid. with a bidet. I thoroughly enjoyed the bidet. The 38th parallel that we walked Under the Foundation’s other Scholarship Program for KIA or 100% disability across in 1950 is now called the DMZ, one of the most fortified places on Earth. of active Troopers, there are 11 children receiving these scholarships. We have It is 155 miles across the peninsula and two and a half miles wide. three children/spouses of active duty Troopers receiving scholarships. If you On my return trip, there was nothing familiar or anything that vaguely want to support these scholarships, contributions are always welcomed. resembled the area I had traversed decades ago. When my Family and I were Well, fellow Troopers, that about wraps it up for this issue. Hope to see you taking the bus from the hotel up to the 38th parallel, I experienced a great at Killeen for the reunion. Meantime keep your powder dry, watch your back, nostalgia. I remember that it was drizzling rain on the ride up. I got an eerie thank a Veteran if you see one and may God bless you and your Family, the great feeling watching the landscape from the bus window, knowing that I had walked 1st Cav Div, and the US of A.

8TH CAV NEWS improvement projects here are nearing completion, several are waiting for my Continued from pg. 8 attention in Grand Rapids. I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Columbus September 15-18: 2017 will bring the “Jumping Mustangs” to Grand Rapids, Georgia at our May reunion. Many of us remember well the tune on the radio/ Michigan for a reunion. This is a group from 1/8th Cav who served together in TV there in the 1960’s, “On the banks of the Chattahoochee where the Piedmont Vietnam during the period 1965-1971. My summer home is there, so I may pop meets the plain, the virgin forests of Georgia pines are washed by gentle rain – in for a visit and get a few photos to share with you. . Honor and Courage! While one of our active duty units has returned home from a long rotation, others are departing. Keep these brave, selfless young men and women in your LOCAL CROSSED SABERS CHAPTER MEETING thoughts and prayers. It is hard to believe that winter has passed so quickly. The weather up in Michigan has been unusually mild this year. It also means that it’s time for this • 1st Cav Division Association HQ’s old Soldier to begin thinking about the move north. I told a neighbor that while • 302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove I enjoy my home here in Florida where I am now an official resident, I can’t take the heat and humidity that the sub-tropical summers bring to this place. I swore • Open to ALL Association Members after two tours in RVN that I would never be that hot and miserable again. So, • Last Monday of each month, 11:30am it’s time to pack up, put up the hurricane shutters, close up this house, and make • 254-547-6537/7019 the long drive back to a milder climate for the summer. While all of the home MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 12 70th Annual Reunion of the 1st Cavalry Division Association - Killeen Texas 7-11 June 2017

The Crossed Sabers Chapter invites you to join the with what you wear, as long as it isn’t indecent! rest of the First Team family in Killeen/Fort Hood, The Association will provide a Reunion Room in the Shilo Hotel during the Texas for the 70th Annual Reunion of the 1st Cavalry reunion for you to gather together and enjoy yourself. Drinks in the Reunion Division Association from 7-11 June 2017. Most of Room are free but we ask that you generously donate to help us pay for this the First Team will be home for this reunion and we room. are planning an excellent event. All Life members The Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Shop will set up a store in the Shilo and Associate members of the 1st Cavalry Division Hotel to sell all kinds of First Team merchandise including shirts, hats, Stetsons, Association are welcome to attend this special event. pins, decals and other items too numerous to mention. The Souvenir Shop will As always, family members of our war dead, Gold also be open in the 1st Cavalry Division Museum during the reunion. A Reunion Star Families, and widows of our members are T-shirt may be ordered and the order form is located on this page. welcome to join us for this reunion. The Division will have several units deployed but we will have Troopers from Please register early to assist us in coordinating all of our units at Fort Hood during the reunion. The Division leadership is the best reunion possible. Some events will have limited seating available due coordinating a special event on the evening of Friday, 9 June entitled “Spirit of to the size of available rooms. All members of the Association must register the Cav” and other events on post during that day as well. Busses will transport and pay the Registration Fee in order to attend the reunion. Early registration, reunion attendees from the two hotels and KCCC to Fort Hood on Friday for a December 2016 through 21 April 2017 is $20 for all members, except those vehicle display visits to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum and a Demonstration on active duty. Active Duty Troopers pay $10 to register. Those sending in by the Horse Cavalry Detachment. Visits to some of the unit areas will also Registrations post-marked after 04 May 2017 must pay late registration fee of be available and you can get a first-hand look at today’s Army. Coordination $40. Family members attending with an Association member, widows of 1st for additional events is also being done. If you haven’t been to Fort Hood for Cavalry Division Troopers and Gold Star Family members that attend do not a reunion, make sure you attend and see the great Troopers of today’s First have to pay a registration fee. Team. Hotel Information Transportation We will be utilizing the Shilo Inn Hotel as the Reunion Headquarters and will The Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK) is a modern airport with hold many of the reunion events that are scheduled this year in the Killeen Civic jet service from Dallas, Houston and Atlanta. Airlines with flights to Killeen and Conference Center (KCCC) located adjacent to the Shilo. There are no include American Eagle, United, and Delta Airlines. The Austin-Bergstrom hotels in the area large enough to hold our group so we will be utilizing busses Airport with other major airlines is located approximately 78 miles from Killeen to get together for our events. and airports in Dallas are about a three hour drive away. The Shilo Hotel has guaranteed a room rate of $104 per night plus tax for The following rental car agencies are located in the airport: Alamo, Avis, up to 125 rooms on peak nights and there is no charge for parking. Call (254) Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty Car Rental. Airport shuttle and 699-0999 reserve a room. The reservation toll-free number is (800) 222-2244. taxi service is also available at the Killeen Airport. Make sure that you identify yourself as attending the 1st Cavalry Division AMTRAK offers services to Temple, Texas (25 miles away) if you wish to Association reunion and make your reservations prior to 9 May 2017. The travel by train. Rental cars and bus service from Temple are available. Shilo breakfast in the restaurant, which will be open to support our reunion. Trailways bus service is also available to Killeen. The hotel does provide a free shuttle service from the Killeen Airport. Shuttles Please check with the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) prior to packing and rental cars are available at the airport. The hotel is located at 3701 S. W.S. for your trip if you are flying to the Reunion. The rules on what can and cannot Young Drive in Killeen. be taken on the aircraft change regularly. Courtyard by Marriot, located at 1721 E. Central Texas Expressway, has Road construction is always a factor and I-35 the main route from Dallas to blocked rooms for the 2017 Reunion. Many of you may recognize this as the San Antonio has numerous construction sites. Please check the Internet for road address of the hotel which we used to use (Plaza) but this is a much improved conditions and delays and drive safely on your way to the reunion and back hotel. The Courtyard Marriott has been completely renovated and remodeled home. and looks brand new with new plumbing and air conditioning and a fresh new The Best Part of the Reunion look. Updates will be posted in the January/February 2017 Saber. As always, the best part of any reunion is the people that attend. The 1st Shilo Inn & Suites $104 (800) 222-2244 or (254) 699-0999 Cavalry Division Association reunion brings in Troopers from almost every era 3701 S. W.S. Young Drive, Killeen, Texas of the First Team’s history. Troopers that rode horses, fought in the Pacific with Courtyard Marriott $104 (800) 321-2211 MacArthur, occupied Japan, fought in Korea, or stood watch on the DMZ will E. Central Texas Expressway, Killeen, Texas spend time with the Sky Troopers of Vietnam and the Troopers from Operation Residence Inn Desert Storm, Fort Hood, Bosnia, and the latest combat veterans of Iraq and 400 E Central Expy, Killeen, Texas (254) 634-1020 Afghanistan. The equipment and terrain might be different, but the common Holiday Inn Express bond of serving with America’s First Team binds us together. Saddle up and join 300 E Central Expy, Killeen, Texas (254) 526-2022 us in Killeen in 2017! Candlewood Suites 2300 Florence Rd, Killeen, Texas (254) 501-3990 TownePlace Suites Panera Bread helps 1CDA raise funds for scholarships 2401 Florence Rd, Killeen, Texas (254) 554-8899 by David A. Bryant Fort Hood Herald There are several other good hotels in the general area in Killeen but if you choose to stay at one of those hotels we will not be able to provide bus The 1st Cavalry Division Association partnered with Panera Bread in transportation for you. All of the hotels provide free parking and there is ample Killeen, Texas on Thursday to help bolster the nonprofit’s scholarship funds. parking at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. The restaurant provided a percentage of all sales from customers requesting RV Park Information the donation on behalf of the Association. The fundraiser was held to support If you are coming in a Recreational Vehicle there is an RV Park directly the different programs within the 1st Cavalry Division Association, said behind the Killeen Civic and Conference Center. The fee is $20 per night and Dara Wydler, the Association’s Executive Director. “We offer scholarships they provide electric, water and dump facilities. Contact the KCCC at (254) 501-3888 for additional information. If you are active duty or retired military to spouses and children of service the West Fort Hood Travel Camp would also work but it is several miles from members, scholarships for active the KCCC and they do not take reservations. The RV Park in Belton is still open duty Troopers, scholarships for the but is no longer a KOA facility. children of our (killed in action) Reunion Event Overview Soldiers and scholarships for our The 70th Annual Reunion will run from Wednesday, 7 June through Sunday morning, 11 June 2017 and is full of events and time to visit with one another. 100 percent disabled Veterans and This year we will be running our usual events and have again included a Golf their children,” she said. Tournament (four-person team, best-ball scramble) that will provide support to The restaurant chain, known for our Scholarship Foundation on Wednesday. The golf tournament will be held its natural foods, enjoys helping on the Courses of Clear Creek on Fort Hood. We are seeking sponsors to help out in the community, said Killeen off-set costs to maximize our income for the Foundation and its scholarship programs. We will have some teams from the active duty Troopers and hope restaurant general manager Celina Baylee (scholarship recipient) and mom that many reunion attendees will also want to play and enjoy this event. We Kerchen. “We like to be involved in Katrina Clemons present Panera em- have also added back into our schedule a Texas Barbecue that will be on post the community,” Kerchen said. “We ployee, with a 1CDA flyer at the group’s on Friday afternoon. like to help out because it shows fundraiser. As usual, we will also have our Welcoming Mixer, War Era Lunches, Unit we’re here and we’re able to help out.” Lunches, Gold Star Family Breakfast, Purple Heart Breakfast, Ladies Tea, Sweetheart Dance, Annual Association Banquet, Group Breakfast and Memorial The First Team Association was formed in 1944 by a group of First Team Service. We will have meetings of the Chapter Presidents, Foundation and Soldiers who wanted to keep in touch with one another and held its first Museum Foundation Trustees, the Board of Governors and our General meeting in 1948 at Fort Bliss. The National Headquarters for the Association Membership meeting. During our General Membership meeting on Saturday is located in Copperas Cove, Texas. According to the Association’s website, morning, we will hold elections for the Association and both Foundations and the Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association was established for select the location for the 2020 reunion. We expect bids from several Chapters to host the 2020 reunion and will have specific details to provide at the reunion. the purpose of providing financial assistance in the form of scholarship grants The Ladies tea will be a bit different in 2017. The ladies will be taken to a toward the pursuit of an advanced education. local establishment called Painting with a Twist (http://paintingwithatwist.com/ The grants are mainly for children of 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers who died harkerheights. Artwork will be established prior to the reunion. Be sure to or were totally and permanently disabled while serving with the 1st Cavalry leave room in your suit case for the trip home. Division in any armed conflict. Children of Association Members who died Seating for all events is open with the exception of the Reunion Banquet on Saturday night. If you are attending the banquet, you must get your tickets while serving with the Division in peacetime are also eligible to receive marked with a table number at the Banquet Seating table when picking up your scholarship grants, as are active-duty Soldiers currently assigned or attached to registration packet. If you want to sit with specific people, we recommend that the Division, their spouses and children. you all go to the Banquet Seating table together with your tickets available. The Foundation also administers a separate program for descendants of Don’t wait until the last minute or we may not be able to accommodate your Soldiers who served in designated units during the battles of the Ia Drang Valley needs. Cavalry casual attire is appropriate for all reunion events. We are always between November 3 - 19, 1965. Since its inception in 1967, the Foundation questioned about attire for the banquet. Wear what you feel comfortable has provided over $783,000 to 488 children of Troopers who were killed in wearing; a coat and tie, your uniform (if it still fits), casual clothing with open action or totally and permanently disabled; more than $269,000 to 277 active collar, or jeans or shorts. We want you to attend and aren’t overly concerned Continued on pg. 19 Page 13 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 70th Annual 1st Cavalry Division Association Reunion

WEDNESDAY JUNE 7 THURSDAY cont’d SATURDAY cont’d 0900-UTC Association Golf Tournament 2000-2400 Sweetheart Dance 0900-1100 General Membership Meeting 0900-1800 Souvenir Shop Open 0900-1800 Registration Desk Open 1300-1800 Registration Desk open FRIDAY JUNE 9 0900-1800 Souvenir Shop Open 1300-2400 Reunion Room open 0730-0900 Gold Start Family Breakfast 1200-1400 Unit Luncheons 0900-1800 Registration Desk Open 1300-2400 Reunion Room Open THURSDAY JUNE 8 0900-1800 Souvenir Shop Open 1500-1600 Veterans Benefits Briefing 0900-1800 Registration Desk Open 0900-1600 Events on Fort Hood 1745-1845 Cocktails (Cash Bar) 0900-1800 Souvenir Shop Open 1100-1300 War Era Luncheons 1900-2230 Association Banquet 0930-1030 Foundation Trustees Meeting 1300-2400 Reunion Room Open 1045-1145 Museum Trustee Meeting 1700-1830 TX BBQ SUNDAY JUNE 11 1200-1400 Ladies Tea (Painting with a Twist) 1900-2030 Spirit of the Cav 0700-0830 Group Breakfast 1330-1500 Board of Governors Meeting 0700-0830 LRRP/Ranger Breakfast 1300-2400 Reunion Room Open SATURDAY JUNE 10 0900-1000 Memorial Service (Long Roll Muster) 1700-1900 Welcome Mixer 0730-0845 Purple Heart Breakfast

1st CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION 70th REUNION - 2017 REGISTRATION FORM Mail to: 1st Cavalry Division Association - Reunion 302 N. Main Street, Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703 I will attend the 1st Cavalry Division Association 70th Annual Reunion at the Killeen Shilo Inns Suite Hotel, Killeen, TX June 7-11, 2017. Cancellations must be received by 5:00pm Wednesday, May 31, 2017 in our office (254-547-6537) for a refund. Seating at some functions is limited. Hotel Cancellations must be done personally with the hotel. Are you a member of the 1CDA: YES_____ NO_____ Is this your first 1CDA Reunion? YES NO NAME:______I will be accompanied by: ADDRESS:______SPOUSE/OTHER______CITY/STATE:______GUEST#1______NICKNAME:______GUEST#2______GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBER:______GUEST#3______PHONE# (H)______GUEST#4______

(C)______GUEST#5______PREFERRED UNIT (s) #1______#2______I am staying at: Shilo Inn & Suites_____ Local_____ DATE(s) SERVED #1______to______Home_____ RV_____ Other:______#2______to______I served during (circle one or more): Pre-WWII WWII Japan (anytime) Korean War Korea 57-65 Ft Benning Vietnam War Ft Hood Gulf War Bosnia Iraq Afghanistan Ft Bliss Other:______EMAIL:______Registration fee required for Association Member only (Widows and Gold Star Family members pay no fee) – no fee for family members accompanying Association members. Registration fee includes: Name Tags (required for admission to Reunion Room and other activities), Official Reunion program, Reunion Pin and information package. FUNCTION # AMOUNT TOTAL FUNCTION # AMOUNT TOTAL Registration Fee (Members Only) 1 $20.00 ______SATURDAY JUNE 10 After May 4, 2017 1 $40.00 ______Purple Heart Breakfast ____ $21.00 ______Active Duty (w/ID Card) 1 $10.00 ______Unit Luncheons (circle one) ____ $25.00 ______5C 7C 8C 9C 12C Wings WEDNESDAY JUNE 7 ARTY HQ LRRP/Ranger E Association Golf Tournament ____ $70.00 ______Association Banquet (Adult) ____ $42.00 ______*(circle one) (Child) ____ $22.00 ______THURSDAY JUNE 8 5C 7C 8C 9C 12C Wings Ladies Tea ____ $35.00 ______ARTY HQ LRRP/Ranger E Welcome Mixer ____ $25.00 ______Sweetheart Dance ____ $10.00 ______SUNDAY JUNE 11 Group Breakfast ____ $25.00 ______FRIDAY JUNE 9 LRRP?Ranger Breakfast ____ $25.00 ______Gold Star Family Breakfast ____ $21.00 ______War Era Luncheon Add a little extra (Donation) ______WWII Veterans ____ $25.00 ______Korean War Veterans ____ $25.00 ______Saber Renewal $10.00 ______Vietnam War Veterans ____ $25.00 ______Gulf War Veterans ____ $25.00 ______New Life membership $10.00 ______Iraq/Afghan War Veterans ____ $25.00 ______Rank_____ Texas BBQ Dinner ___ $23.00 ______Last four of SSN: _____ DOB:______

GRAND TOTAL ------> ______

____Credit Card ____Check ____Cash ______EXP Date:______Card number – print clearly ______Name on Card ______Signature – Credit Card payment only Banquet seating is assigned at the reunion. You must take your tickets to the Banquet Seating Table to get your table number assigned. NO ONE will be admitted into the banquet without a table number on their ticket. To assist us in organizing the seating, please circle the unit you wish to sit with at the banquet. Please get your table assigned prior to noon on Saturday. NO CHAPTER IN YOUR AREA? If there is no 1st Cavalry Division Association Chapter located near you, are you interested in forming a new Chapter? Contact the Association’s Chapter Coordinator at or call (254) 547-6537 for information on how to start a chapter in your area. Join a chapter near you or help start one. First Team! MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 14 Hello from the nation’s capital. at The Wall on Memorial Day 2017, and with any other members of the Bravo LRRP/Ranger You most likely read the Division Blues who might be there, to get the details on what happened. MG Nardotti Ken White 3834 Inverness Road Doings article in the January- is associated with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and has been a regular Fairfax, VA 22033 February 2017 issue of the Saber participant at the observances at The Wall on Memorial and Veterans Days in (703) 352-1468 about the deactivation of the recent years. [email protected] Army’s last active-duty Long Speaking of Memorial Day, it will be upon us before we know it and we Range Surveillance (LRS) unit, Delta Company, 52nd Infantry (Long Range all know what that means - Rolling Thunder will be in town. If you’ve never Surveillance), 3rd Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Hood in January. The Army had seen hundreds of thousands of motorcycles in one place, you really need to announced in early 2016 that it would be deactivating its three active-duty come to the nation’s capital on Memorial Day Weekend. Rolling Thunder is LRS companies in 2017, along with its four remaining National Guard units a spectacle like no other in the world. It is uniquely American. It is a display in Nebraska, Georgia, Indiana, and Alabama in 2018. The active-duty LRS of patriotism and a show of respect for all who have served in our military. It companies were comprised of 15 six-man teams, each led by a staff sergeant, and is also a reminder by means of a demonstration that our country should never they specialized in navigating forward positions to monitor enemy movement again abandon its service members like it did in the Vietnam War. It attracts and gathering intelligence for commanders. However, it was determined some more than a million motorcycle riders and spectators combined, according to time ago that senior ground commanders had a growing preference to use the event’s organizers, and it continues to grow in size each year. technology, such as drones and satellites, for intelligence gathering rather than Rolling Thunder – Riders Leave Patriot Harley in Fairfax for the Pre-Ride to using five- and six-man teams. The nearly 100 Soldiers in each of the active- the Pentagon on Memorial Day Weekend duty companies were reassigned to other active duty units, and those in the On a different note, the 75th Ranger National Guard units were reassigned to other National Guard units. Regiment will host its bi-annual change The use of small teams of infantry Soldiers to gather intelligence has been of command activities, known as Ranger part of the Army since before the Revolutionary War. In 1776, General George Rendezvous, at Fort Benning, Georgia, Washington, Commander of the Continental Army, established the Army’s first from June 26 through June 30, 2017. intelligence gathering unit under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ranger Rendezvous will mark the K Knowlton. The unit was known as Knowlton’s Rangers. LTC Knowlton beginning of a 15-month celebration of led 130 men and 20 officers - all handpicked volunteers, on a variety of secret the 75-year anniversary of the modern missions that were too dangerous for regular Troops to conduct. This included day Army Rangers, dating back to World reconnoitering the Breeds Hill area of Boston during the siege of the city by the War II with the establishment of the 1st British to monitor the activities of the British troops bivouacked there, and to Ranger Battalion on June 19, 1942 and Merrill's Marauders on Oct 3, 1943. burn any remaining buildings at the base of Bunker Hill, with orders to capture Ranger Rendezvous will begin on Monday, June 26 with a mass tactical any British soldiers guarding the location. airborne assault. The following morning on Tuesday, June 27, Rangers will Long range surveillance, or reconnaissance, companies have served in all begin the day with a PT run, conduct a State of the 75th Ranger Regiment brief, of America’s wars, including World War II where the famous Alamo Scouts and induct Ranger Regiment legends as Distinguished and Honorary Members worked with Army Rangers to liberate prisoner of war camps, the Cold War of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Wednesday, June 28, will feature Ranger tactical in Europe, Korea, Vietnam, and most recently, Iraq and Afghanistan. It was and physical competitions to include a combat-focused stress shoot, a Best during the Vietnam War, however, that small reconnaissance teams established Ranger-style endurance event, boxing, combatants, and team sporting events. themselves as an integral part of the Army’s intelligence gathering apparatus. In the afternoon, the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade will induct the Class During the years leading up to the Vietnam War, the mission of collecting of 2017 into the Ranger Hall of Fame followed by the no host Ranger BBQ. intelligence in South Vietnam was done by the US Special Forces, Project Activities will culminate on Thursday, June 29 with the 75th Ranger Regiment's Delta, Detachment B-52, 5th Special Forces Group. With the escalation of Change of Command at the National Infantry Museum Parade Field. the fighting with the NVA in 1965 and 1966, General Westmoreland and his Throughout the week, there will be a variety of fellowship opportunities military commanders at MACV saw the need for increased use of intelligence for Ranger Veterans, Families, and guests. To see the details of the planned gathering and authorized the Army to form LRRP companies for each of the activities, please go to the 75th Ranger Regiment Facebook page at http://www. major combat units and for the corps-level IFFV and IIFFV commands. General facebook.com/. Westmoreland was well aware of the value that small reconnaissance teams William Hornbuckle (1971-72), Dubli, California sent in the following: “I could provide on enemy positions and movements based on the experience of received a call from Ken Gallagher (1971-72), Henderson, NV. He had called LRRP units in post-WWII Germany. There they patrolled the Czechoslovakian John David Floyd (1971-72), Conroe, TX, to wish him a happy birthday. Found and East German borders, then members of the Communist Warsaw Pact states. out that John David’s wife, Della, has been in the hospital for six days. I called The LRRP concept was well known throughout the Army, though concentrated John David and talked to him this evening. Della had a dental problem that in Europe. required the services of an oral surgeon. John David brought Della to the The experiences of these LRRP units formed the basis of the ones that emergency room with severe pain on the left side of her face. They started her General Westmoreland authorized for the Army in South Vietnam. The LRRP on heavy pain killers and antibiotics. She started hallucinating from the strong Detachment for the 1st Cav was formed in mid-to-late 1966. It was authorized drugs so they had to lessen them. She was in such pain that all she could do a strength of 120 men, and Captain James D. James (1966-67), Woolwich, was ball herself up in the bed and sob from the pain. Della's doctor told John ME, a Special Forces-trained officer, was selected as the company commander. David that the pain in her face was from a nerve becoming inflamed. They are Captain James had previously commanded the Airborne Recon Platoon, 1st now using a painkiller that specifically focuses on nerve pain. They have also Combat Aviation Company (Provisional), headquartered in Verona, Italy. The started her on a medication that works specifically on inflammation of nerves. mission of the 1st Cav LRRP unit, as well as that for the other LRRP units, Hopefully, the two of these working together will turn the corner on this.” was simply enough: 1) search out and locate enemy troop encampments, 2) “John David asked me to contact all our brothers to ask for their prayers for report on enemy movements, and, 3) direct artillery and airpower at targets of Della and their Family. Can you forward this request from John David to all opportunity. our guys as soon as possible? You can reach John David at the following email: LTC Jim Wright (1967), Poquoson, Virginia, sent in the following regarding . Bill.” the deactivation of the LRS units: “Greetings and Happy New Year! The Bruce Cain (1968), Cleveland, Texas, sent in the following: “For those of you Army’s decision to deactivate small-team reconnaissance units may prove to who knew Bob Whitten, you were blessed. His friendship meant so much to be shortsighted once divisions are again committed to combat in environments me, and to Parky, Ankony and others. I wish some of you could be here with comparable to what we faced in Vietnam. I suspect many of the military analysts me now. I'm having a hard time. I've been putting this off for so long, now that underpinning this decision never understood the distinction between LRRPs I'm here I'm speechless, I thought I'd be able to talk and leave a beer, and joke and Ranger units. I believe divisions will again find a need for LRRPs that are around, but I can’t. It's not suppose to be like this, we are all suppose to grow responsive to their unique recon requirements. Hopefully, the proven historical old and grumpy, not die on some God forsaken hill in a country we didn't want LRRP tactics, techniques and procedures learned via the school of hard knocks to be in. This is a beautiful site, and the people here treat Vets with respect. will not have to be relearned at a high price in casualties when the inevitable Bob has a wonderful home. I know now why he talked so highly of Fort Myers. occurs. Best regards, Jim.” Please take a moment today and remember our guys. I will leave that beer and If you would like to read more about this decision by the Army, please read a pack of smokes behind. He would do the same for me. Thanks for listening. the article that LTC Wright sent in from the Stars & Stripes. The URL for it is .” as follows: . (copy and paste the “Ken, a high school friend of mine passed last month and left some pictures link into your browser’s http// window.) which he had inscribed on them “LRRP.” His name is Rudy Olivares and the As a side note, the date on the seal of the Army's intelligence service, 1776, inscription was for the year 1969. Remembering him from high school football, refers to the date that Knowlton's Rangers were formed. it is no surprise that he was with real Soldiers. I hope someone remembers him On a different note, I received a call from Hans (John) Gulden (1970), Orange from his time with the LRRPs in country. Mark.” County, California who served with Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry. In closing, I would like to say a few words following the death of LTG Hal Hans was part of a rescue mission on October 10, 1970 involving a LRRP/ Moore. I didn’t know LTG Moore in Vietnam but I had the pleasure of meeting Ranger team. The team was on patrol in III Corps when it came under intense him and talking with him at a number of 1st Cav events in Washington, D.C. enemy fire from an NVA unit and was unable to maneuver. The Bravo Blues over the years. He always shook my hand and thanked me for my service as with MG Michael Nardotti, USA (Ret.), then a 1st Lieutenant, came to the a “fellow Cavalry Trooper.” I always felt honored that he would do and say rescue by driving the enemy soldiers from the battlefield and pulling out the that. I am also grateful to him for his efforts to help ensure the legacy of the 1st team. MG Nardotti was awarded the Silver Star for his actions that day, and Cavalry Division and the Vietnam War. And although the news media referred Hans was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received. I mentioned in the to him as an “Infantry Icon” in reporting his death, I think that he was much January-February 2017 issue of the Saber that I hope to talk with MG Nardotti Continued on pg. 21 Page 15 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 CHAPTER INDEX ALMOST HEAVEN WEST VIRGINIA JUMPING MUSTANG CHAPTER FLORIDA CHAPTER WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER CHAPTER Pres: Arthur (Joe) Craig 1-8 Cav NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION POC: William D. Carpenter Pres: Harvey Auger Pres: Robert Stauffacher 295 W Interlachen St CHAPTER 18355 Drennan Rd. 713 Diamond St. Lake Alfred, FL 33850 4825 King Arthur Dr Pres: Gene Russell Fairmont, WV 26554-3713 Charlotte, NC 28277-0052 Colorado Springs, CO 80928-9308 (863) 268-8063 7923 Jansen Dr. (719) 683-2837 (304) 366-0022 VP: Gill Harris (704) 321-2011 Springfield, VA 22152-2413 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] POC: Paul Lemieux (585) 704-2758 (703) 220-5322 PO Box 6548 Facebook: Florida Chapter 1st Cavalry POC: James C. Knafel E-mail: [email protected] CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST 5510E - 500 South Woodland Park, CO 80866-6548 Division Association Website: 1cda.org/national_capitol.htm (719) 687-1169 CHAPTER Contact for meeting info... Columbia City, IN 46725-7621 Meets 3d Sat. of the month Jan.-Apr and Pres: Barney B. Jones (260) 244-3864 E-mail: [email protected] Sep.-Oct. 0900 at the American Legion Post Meets 9am 2nd Sat. of mo.at at Retired PO Box 444 FLORIDA TROOP E “BLACK HAT” E-mail: [email protected] 176, 6520 Amherst Ave., Springfield, VA. Pebble Beach, CA 93953 Website: www.JumpingMustangs.com Enlisted Assn. Chapter 1, 834 Emory Cir., Pres: Juan Kellog Breakfast available prior to start of mtg. Jun Colorado Springs, CO. (831) 917-5952 607 SE47th St., Apt. 7 meeting is at WRAMC and Nov. meeting E-mail: [email protected] Cape Coral, FL 33904-5506 KETTLE MORAINE CHAPTER at the Assn. Vets Day gathering. Pres: Gordon Weidner SHERIDAN’S CAVALRY CHAPTER E-mail: [email protected] (Greater Chicago Area) CENTRAL SAVANNAH Contact: Johnnie Robertson 1219 Cleveland Ave. NEVADA CHAPTER RIVER AREA CHAPTER Racine, WI 53405-2929 VP: Joe LaPorte (239) 600-1273 Pres: John Lyles 2900 Maple Ave. #12E Pres: John Rangel, Jr. Website: www.seahog.org/cav/index. (262) 637-3835 POC: Milton S. Clark, III POC: Gary Quinn POC: Robert Richter Downers Grove, IL 60515-4119 html 7789 Buckwood Ct. (630) 846-9960 395 Harlem Grovetown Rd. Meets 4th Sat. ea. mo. from Sept.-May W204 N11945 Goldendale Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89149-6661 Harlem, GA 30814-4525 Germantown, WI 53022-2321 E-mail: [email protected] 1:00pm at Biggys Place, 3701 Fowler St., (702) 522-7313 POC: Terry Hodus (706) 513-5858 Fort Myers, FL 33901 (262) 628-8056 Meets the first Saturday of the month Meets on 2nd Sat. of mo., 1400 at Ryans Meetings held at 3 month intervals with 3718 W 114th Place at 10am at American Legion Post 8, Chicago, IL 60655-3414 Steak House on Peach Orchard Rd., Augusta, FOLLOW ME CHAPTER a banquet dinner in Dec. when elections downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. Call for GA (Mar., June, Sept. and Dec.) are held. (773) 445-1213 Pres: Robert Dodson directions. E-mail: [email protected] Meets 1900 4thTues. ea. mo. Veterans Website: www.sheridansfirstcav.com COLUMBIA-WILLAMETTE Ctr., 1000 Victory Dr., Columbus, GA. LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER Meets at the American Legion Post #1084, No meeting in December. Pres: Bob Arbasetti 322 E. Maple Ave., Roselle, IL 61072. Pres: Terry Low Pres: John Guillory 973A Thornbury Ln. 16560 S Harding Rd. 780 Mandevilla Way 2016 Meeting Date - Apr 16, Mar 13, Oct FORT KNOX AREA CHAPTER Manchester, NJ 08759-5296 15, Dec 3 Oregon City, OR 97045-9679 Pres.: Thomas Ken O’Barr Corona, CA 92879-8251 (732) 657-4284 (503) 210-5558 12210 Valley Dr. (951) 278-3740 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO Goshen, KY 40026-9501 Facebook: New York New Jersey Cav- CHAPTER Website: www.Hood2Hood1stCav.webs. (502) 228-8032 Vice Pres: John Burgner alry com 228 South Hacienda St. Pres: Gregorio Trujillo E-mail: [email protected] Meets at Elk Lodge at Cedar and Spruce, PO Box 215 Meets 1800 3rd Wed of ea. mos. at the POC: Larry A. Whelan Anaheim, CA 92804-2569 Ridgefield Park, NJ. Village Inn, 1621 NE 10th Ave., Portland, (714) 535-0737 Las Animas, CO 81054-0215 2103 Winston Ave. (719) 456-0028 OR 97232. No meeting in Dec. Louisville, KY 40205-2535 E-mail: [email protected] NORTH CAROLINA - TARHEEL Meets 0900 on 3rd Sat. of mo. at American POC: John Campos (502) 485-1270 CHAPTER 1308 Lewis Ave. CONNECTICUT CHAPTER E-mail: [email protected] Legion Post 132, 143 S Lemon St., Orange Pres: Roy Wood Pres: Keith Moyer CA 92866 La Junta, CO 81050-3024 Website: www.1cda.org/fort_knox.html 4407 Talavera Dr. (719) 384-0379 48 Boretz Rd. Meets 3rd Sat. of mo. at 1100 at the Bark- High Point, NC 27265-9660 Colchester, CT 06415-1009 LRRP/RANGER of the 1st Cav Division E-mail: [email protected] er Masonic Lodge, 705 Main St., West (336) 707-1402 Website: www.firstcavalry.net (860) 537-1716 Point, KY. during the Vietnam War. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Pres.: John LeBrun Meets 1st Sat. of each month at 10am at the Contact for Membership: Don Gibson Holiday Inn Express in LaJunta, CO. Website: www.ConnCav.com GERALD F. KINSMAN CHAPTER 932 3rd St. 803 McDonald Church Road Meeting info in newsletter and on web page. Pres: Owen Levine Blaine, WA 98230 Rockingham, NC 28379-8529 (360) 393-6645 WALTER H. WESTMAN 77 Clubhouse Dr. (910) 417-9104 NORTHLAND CHAPTER CROSSED SABERS CHAPTER Leominister, MA 01453-5170 E-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Pres: Jerry Eller Website: www.lrrprangers.com Pres: Donald A. Delsing (978) 534-6284 Meets 2nd Sat of Mar., Jun, Sept. & Dec. 3697 Gresham Ave. N. 808 S. 2nd St. E-mail: [email protected] Full chapter meeting during Reunions Killeen, TX 76541-7703 Oakdale, MN 55128-3212 Meets yearly. NORTHWEST CHAPTER (651) 770-5422 Pres.: William Koepp FIRST CHAPTER Any changes to this listing, E-mail: [email protected] JAMES J. MASON WEST MICHIGAN 4633 Timothy St. SE POC: James D. Wright Pres: Robert H. Wolfe CHAPTER contact the Association at Lacey, WA 98503-5764 4756 Haracourt Dr. 12781 Able St. NE Pres.: Ron Kloet (254) 547-6537 or e-mail at (360) 259-4815 Blaine, MN 55434-3261 El Paso, TX 79924-3047 POC: Bob Anderson POC: Roberto Maanao (915) 755-7944 (763) 757-7140 9030 Conservancy Dr. NE 3036 Marquette Dr. SE E-mail: [email protected] Ada, MI 49301-8822 Lacey, WA 98503-6255 Meets quarterly at different locations. (616) 682-5446 (360) 491-9118 Call or write for information. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: jjmwmc1cd.com Meets 1200 1st Sat. of even months, Meets on 3rd Thurs. of Feb., Apr., Jun., contact William Koepp or Roberto Aug., Oct., and Dec., at 7pm, at the Grand Maanao for meeting location. Valley Armory in Wyoming, MI .

1st Cavalry Division Association THE HICCUP - Health Care Information Committee Report USAA Visa Signature® Credit Card James R. Rollins DOD to open online Exchange shopping 1566 FM 3258 to Veterans The following is excerpts from an Lufkin, TX 75904-0440 announcement by the Department of Defense [email protected] that honorably discharged Veterans will soon be able to shop Online at military exchanges. Note: this will only allow Online shopping and not allow shopping at the brick and mortar stores. Currently, only active duty service members, members of the Guard and Reserves, military retirees, 100-percent disabled Veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and the Families of these groups are eligible to shop at AAFES locations, either online or on-base. There is no current proposal to allow Veterans to shop at on-base • Show your support for the 1st Cavalry Division Association each time you use your 1st locations. Cavalry Division Association USAA Rewards credit card. • USAA Bank will make a contribution to the 1st Cavalry Division Association for every The shopping benefit will go into effect on Veterans Day, 11 November 2017. credit card account opened and each time you make an eligible purchase with the card. The policy change will extend limited online military Exchange shopping • This card benefits the Association, its scholarship program and the 1st Cavalry Division privileges to all honorably discharged Veterans of the military. While shopping Museum Foundation. • This card offers you great service, competitive interest rates and rewards points that you privileges will exclude the purchase of uniforms, alcohol, and tobacco products, can redeem for your choice of gift cards, merchandise, travel discounts and other rewards.* privileges will include shopping on the Exchange Services' dynamic online • There is no annual fee for this card. retail environment, the release said. The change follows careful analysis, • Choose from two card designs created exclusively for the 1st Cavalry Division Association. coordination, and strong public support, according to officials. For more information about USAA you may call 877-917-1232 or visit www.usaa.com/1cdacc. "We are excited to provide these benefits to honorably discharged Veterans to recognize their service and welcome them home to their military Family," said Peter Levine, performing the duties for the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. "In addition, this initiative represents a low-risk, Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Shop low-cost opportunity to help fund morale, welfare and recreation programs in P.O. Box 5774 Fort Hood, TX 76544-0774 Phone: 254-532-2075 FAX: 254-532-6490 support of service members' and their Families' quality of life. And it's just the E-mail: [email protected] right thing to do," Levine added. online catalog visit: www.crossedsabers-chapter-giftshop.com "As a nation, we are grateful for the contributions of our service members," The Crossed Sabers Chapter Souvenir Shop is a non-profit organization. Net Levine said. "Offering this lifetime online benefit is one small, tangible way the income is distributed to the Association for the Scholarship Program and other nation can say 'thank you' to those who served with honor." ongoing programs as needed, to the Soldier Travel Fund which allows active duty The online benefit will also strengthen the capacity of the Exchanges' online Soldiers of the Division to attend away Reunions as guests of the Association, to businesses to serve current patrons. The inclusion of honorably discharged the 1st Cavalry Division Museum, and to fund other activities for the Troopers Veterans could double the Exchanges' online presence, according to DOD and Families of the 1st Cavalry Division Association. The manager, Michelle Napolitano, accepts telephone orders with payment by MASTERCARD, VISA or officials, thereby improving the experience for all patrons through improved DISCOVER credit cards or you can order on-line using credit cards. vendor terms, more competitive merchandise assortments, and improved Printed catalogs are available for $3.00 from the Association located at: efficiencies. 302 N. Main St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522-1703. Issues: There has been nothing stated on how they will determine if a person Make your check out to 1st Cavalry Division Association. is a Veteran or honorably discharged. The current system is linked to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) that verifies if a person is eligible to access the Exchange website. However, the Army & Renew your SABER today, Air Force Exchange has said they have been working on this for four years to check the expiration date on your label make it happen. . MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 16 Hank Llewellyn Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United States, who told a 58 Mapleleaf Lane roomful of Veterans that because of the service and sacrifices of Americans, Pottstown, PA 19464-1543 (484) 948-9451 Afghanistan is coming closer to the day when it will be a peaceful, self-reliant, [email protected] productive nation. Forty percent of the students are girls, and reforms are taking place across every area of government. Hello once again fellow Sky Troopers. Let’s pull pitch and launch this Wings “Kim’s story, and Jane’s, and the Ambassador’s comments, remind me that the sortie. I am but one, among so many, who mourned the recent passing of Lt. United States is a land of new beginnings. We’ve never experienced a forced Gen. Hal Moore. My email inbox exploded that morning with incoming from change in government due to war. Tragedy and hope are commonplace here - dozens of readers of our yellow rag Saber, informing me of his passing. I don’t they co-exist. But the ability to share our differences peacefully, and to start want to be redundant, as I’m sure you’ll find tributes to this great Soldier between fresh, is miraculous. It’s as much a part of our national fabric as the stripes on the pages of this issue. However, communicating with a friend from Taos, NM our flag. “We are a land of the commonplace and the miraculous, and we are all generated this thought that I want to share. For those who may not have served fortunate that is the case.” Julie, thank you for your thoughts and sharing this with him or known of his character, Hal Moore was the leader on the ground experience with us. of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry in the giant battle of Ia Drang in 1965. The book Okay, moving on let’s get to some Silver Wings mail. The first one came from and movie starring Mel Gibson, We Were Soldiers, was Lt. Col. Moore's story Sam Verdini of Montoursville, PA. “Hank, I just read you article on the Flying of early combat exploits for which he was awarded a Distinguished Service Crane (Jan/Feb Saber). In 1965-1966 I served with the 15th TC at An Khe. In Cross. He rose to Lt. Gen. before retiring. Virtually none of the command Dec, 1965, we had the 1st flying Operating Room, attached to Flying Crane. officers or NCOs, who were not KIA in the Ia Drang Battle, is still with us. I have a few pictures I could mail to you.” Sam was a SP4 Communications Correspondent and co-writer of the book Joe Galloway and MOH pilot Bruce Specialist with A-Company, 15th TC and he did mail 5 photos that I scanned, "Snake" Crandall still remain. But Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley passed in 2012, Ed added to my archives and returned. I’ve included two in this article. Sam, "Too Tall" Freeman (another MOH awardee) in 2008. General Moore's beloved many thanks for your nice comments and wife Julia, well known to Sky Troopers of the Cav, passed away in 2004. These photos. were incredible people of great strength, courage, and character. For all you old I heard from Maj. Fred Ferguson (ret.) First Cav Troopers, whether you served with General Moore, before or after the and Col. (ret.) Wilford Jackson concerning Ia Drang, and all you grunts, redlegs, and rotor wingmen world wide, say a quiet inaccuracies in the summary about LTC prayer for the General's easy passage through the gates of heaven to serve on (ret.) William (Buck) Anderson’s and God's honor guard in perpetuity. He will be greatly missed. Maj, Ferguson’s rescue mission 31 Jan I inquired via email of “Little Sister” Julie Kink, wife of MOH recipient 1968 by Mel Canon that appeared in the Mike Sprayberry to ask if they had seen Lt. Col. Crandall during the January last column. I’m awaiting additional inauguration in DC, as all surviving Medal of Honor recipients are always information and will have more about this invited. She stated they had not. So I performed some intel and fired off a (correction) in the next issue of the Saber. “Checking In” note to the Lt. Col. to which I received an almost immediate My thanks to Maj. Ferguson and Col. reply. “Hank, I am fighting old age, had 13 vertebrae titanium wired/screwed Jackson for bringing this to my attention. together a little over 2 years ago and chest surgery (with 54 stitches) last month. Next up, a message from Larry Agosta, CH-54 Sky Crane fitted with Air- Had stitches removed today, back did not heal very well. Can't turn my neck UT C/229th and 15th Admin Co., Oct 69/Oct mobile hospital pod. An Khe 65 about 1/3.” Bruce noted that he WILL be going to an event with Joe Galloway 70, Bien Hoa. “Hank, Once again I need at C and GSC in late February and MOH events in NYC 22 March and 25 your assistance. Some five or so years ago, I received a copy of the roster for C March in D.C. However, he plans to be cutting travel down due to back and Co, from a fellow Trooper that I had asked for waiting to present it in a claim I neck problems. “Vertebrae problems created when a number were crushed had filed. Well as usual still waiting, the point is I misplaced that roster and now when chopper downed in Vietnam, Jan 68. I suspect it may be more old age I really need it ASAP. Can you put than combat related.” Thanks for checking in, Bruce. I’m sure that Air Cav the word out again if someone can Pilot Swagger will offset any old age travel concerns and you’ll do fine. send me a copy of the roster, my Julie added, “Our trip to Washington for the inauguration was great . . . now name (Larry Agosta) appears at we're home and getting caught up! As requested, here's a piece I wrote about the top of the first page and need the experience . . . hope you can use it somewhere.” Indeed, I can. I wanted to that proof to submit.” Larry, I share Julie’s inauguration insight/summary/experience with the readers of this believe the person that helped you column. “Inauguration was “both commonplace and out last time was Trooper, Rich miraculous. In his opening remarks at the inauguration Maybury and I cannot find his of President Donald Trump on January 20, Sen. Roy address information. Larry, I’m Blunt of Missouri noted that the ceremony about happy to be of service. If anyone to take place, the peaceful and orderly transition of can be of help, contact Larry power - was both “commonplace and miraculous.” Preparing to fit pod to CH-54 at: POB 10163, Largo Florida, “Commonplace for this country, and yet miraculous, 33773. compared to many dark corners of the world where the Let’s move on. Here’s some interesting military tidbit’s of interest from transition of power is neither peaceful nor orderly. One readers. First up, I received the following “Forward” in January from former such place was the Germany of my father’s boyhood, Caribou pilot, Bruce Silvey, 17th AVN. After reading, I rolled it up and threw where a poor economy and foreboding political it into my “Not My Army” circular file. My, my, things have changed. “Army uncertainty led his parents to leave their homeland Changes Uniform Policy. Female Soldiers may now wear dreadlocks and Mike Sprayberry & and bring their son to the U.S. in 1927 in search of a male Soldiers whose religious faith requires beards and turbans may now Julie Kink better life. Another such place was Vietnam, where seek permanent accommodation. The new Army directive 2017-03 spells out my brother flew helicopters as a proud Soldier of the changes to Army Regulation 670-1, the uniform policy, for the turban, worn by U.S. Cavalry. It was where, in 1969, he became one of tens of thousands of male Soldiers; the under-turban, male hair worn under a turban; the hijab, which Americans to lose their lives on foreign soil.” is a head scarf worn by females; and beards worn by male members. Because “I attended the 2017 inauguration, not to cheer or jeer our leaders, but to the next edition of AR 670-1 is expected to be published in Feb 2017, the Army witness a tradition that’s part of the fabric of America. As a non-political will not be able to include the new rules in the new edition. For more on Army person, it was a lesson in citizenship. As the daughter of an immigrant, the uniforms, visit the Military.com equipment section.” sister of a fallen Soldier, and the wife of a Medal of Honor recipient, it was an Another: After two years of study and debate, the DOD has made a policy honor. “All of the nation’s 75 living Medal of Honor recipients were invited to change, effective next November (Nov 11th Veteran’s Day), to allow 16 million attend the events, as is customary for each inauguration. Thirty-four of them honorably discharged Veterans to shop online for discounted military exchange were there. Our schedule included receptions hosted by the Veterans of Foreign products. Several million Vets already are eligible to shop in exchanges, on Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, and a luncheon at the Navy base and online, because of their active or reserve component including retirees Yard hosted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On Inauguration Day, we attended a and100 percent service connected as well as Medal of Honor recipients. Thomas breakfast at the Reserve Officers Association Headquarters and then walked a Shull, Chief Executive Officer of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service lead short distance to the Capitol where we sat as a group on the lawn near the steps the quest to expand online exchange shopping to ALL honorably discharged for the swearing in ceremony. That evening, we were guests at the Veterans Veterans. The online benefit does not extend to Veterans’ dependents, although Inaugural Ball, hosted by the American Legion and the Veterans Inaugural spouses and Family members theoretically could use the authorized customer’s Committee, emceed by Drew Carey. login. “Among the incredible people I was honored to meet was Kimberly Mitchell, With that, I’ll bring this month’s Silver Wings of the Cav sortie to an end. If who grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, you former Sky Troopers have anything of interest to share or say, a reflection and rose to Lt. Commander. Kim was born in Vietnam during the war. As a from your Olive Drab past perhaps, then get it into the Wings mailbox or call. newborn, she was found on a road clinging to the body of her dead mother, and I’m also going to take a moment to do a little recruiting. I took over writing your was taken by a South Vietnamese soldier to an orphanage from which she was Silver Wings of the Cav column as your aviation correspondent from “Double adopted by an American Family. Kim now runs a non-profit center for Veterans. Duck” Frank Tierney in 1998. It was to be a “Temporary Duty Assignment.” “I met Jane Horton, whose husband, Army sniper, Spc. Christopher Horton, I’m now approaching the twentieth rewarding year and looking for someone to was 26 years old when he was killed in Afghanistan in 2011. Jane has served as take over this “assignment.” Hopefully before the end of the year as the Nov/ an advisor to Veterans groups and officials on survivor issues, and was involved Dec issue shall be my last. So, if you believe busy hands are happy hands then in changing legislation to enable spouses to use GI Bill education benefits. She I’d like to hear from you. Spring is here, get out and enjoy it. I shall. Until next is the Military and Congressional Liaison at the Embassy of Afghanistan. “I met time, clear right! Hank Page 17 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 15th MED/15th FSB/15th BSB never seen a mission aborted,' said Specialist Four Dick Gamester, who monitors MEDEVAC Control at Phouc Vinh. 'I've seen missions delayed by weather and Mike Bodnar I got a telephone call suppressive fire, but never called off. There are nights when the only birds 13010 N. Lakeforest Dr. from 1969 MEDEVAC door in the sky are MEDEVAC.' The espirit de corps touches everyone. You can't Sun City, AZ 85351-3250 (623) 972-4395 gunner Richard Hampsher, get into the program unless [email protected] probably in response to my you volunteer and even www.15thMedBnAssociation.org write up about Bill Pickle. then the competition is Richard said they both made tough. sergeant at the same time. Richard says his MOS was a wireman and that he “Specialist Four Mike was in MACV. He went to 1st Cav MEDEVAC because he was tired of running Vineyard, a helicopter ammo and 15th MED needed door gunners. mechanic at 15th MED, Webmaster Ron Huether has included all past issues of this Saber column on worked in the maintenance the 15th MED Assn. Website. I started those in 1999. Is it possible to remember shop before he got a shot that far back that wasn't war trauma? Reading them may jog the memory, and at a crew chief position in possibly induce some war trauma. MEDEVAC. 'I frequently The 1st Cav Assn. just lost two of its best friends with the recent deaths of MG flew door gunner when (Ret) Jim Smith and LTG (Ret) Hal Moore. Both of them were always kind to General Hal Moore at 1st Annual Ia Drang we'd go after a downed me, and I could call them friends. R.I.P. Association. Luncheon. bird,' he said. He didn't I remember at one Reunion in Killeen in the hotel lobby where everyone have to go. He didn't get flight pay for it. 'You just do it,' he said. When a bird gathered to depart, seeing through the crowd the two of them standing together goes down, everyone heads for the pad. It's like a brotherhood.' That startling with prominent stetsons and stars, the morning sun's rays illuminating them routine response to a call that seems beyond that of duty is part of the mystique through the skylight. They were always there for us. of MEDEVAC. Yet there is another side. 'It gets to be a little hairy at times,' With the recent Hollywood Acadamy Awards-which I glanced at-one said MEDEVAC pilot Captain Ernest Bayford. 'But I wouldn't say there's nominated movie brought attention to the story of a WWII Army Medic who excessive strain on anyone.' He's right, of course. MEDEVAC teams lead a earned the CMOH. I then researched and read about the incredible story of very comfortable life when the going gets slow. Half their time is free. Even at Desmond Thomas Doss. A devout Seventh-day Adventist, of which I knew the brigade field hospitals, where the teams are on call twenty-four hours a day, quite a few in the Army who were also reserved to serve, and as Medics, because they have no duties until suddenly, though routinely, they are called to scramble. they were conscientious objectors. “Downed aircraft, let's go!' Captain Bayford shouted from the doorway of What I read about Desmond Doss was beyond courage. Even with the the crew quarters. It was 2:21 p.m. and the scramble was on. The crew reached Hollywood rearrangement of the truth, the truth about what he did was even the chopper at full stride; in minutes it was airborne, hitting a hundred knots at more unbelievable. From the war stories on the Website one submitted by the treetop level. The bird climbed to two thousand feet; then nine minutes after 15th MED Assn. founder, crew chief Sherman (SNORE) Breeden: "A MEDICS the call and ten miles northeast of Quan Loi, the descent began. They circled GREATEST FEAR" once at thee hundred feet as a Cobra gunship pulled in behind. The downed “Since graduating from the U.S. Army Medic School, I have suffered the aircraft was somewhere in the thick green foliage below. A Light Observation terror of a recurring dream. Or should I call it a nightmare? I know that Helicopter (LOH), flying as low as it could, finally spotted the wreckage and someday it is bound to come true. I dream I am shuffling along a narrow sandy marked it with purple smoke. Aircraft commander Bayford banked the ship roadway winding snakelike through dense, moist jungle. Triple canopy foliage to the left and hovered over the now visible downed helicopter, its slender tail drapes the tops of trees two hundred feet above, shutting out the sun. A small protruding through the bamboo. unit of infantrymen walk slowly ahead and behind. We walk wearily, but with “It was 2:33 when Specialist Five William Meeks attached the yellow, torpedo- increased caution. No one speaks, yet we sense from the forest that something like jungle penetrator to the cable hoist and lowered it to the bamboo below. On is wrong. Maybe it is the unusual absence of birds, the silence broken only by the ground a man grasped it and, shielding his face from the entangling bush, rode snapping twigs under heavy payloads, clicking machine gun shells dangling in the cable skyward. bandoleers sagging from well-worn shoulders, heavy panting of sweat-soaked He looked straight men. We continue, waiting for something to happen. We are looking for it, up at the chopper expecting it, seeking it - yet hoping it is never found. We know it is useless to with a strained hope. This is war. smile, drawing “My head turns up at the faint crack of a twig somewhere ahead. I am caught closer, closer until for an instant by an intense twinkling of sunlight slipping between emerald he could touch jungle leaves. I linger for a moment, hypnotized by the blade of light, aware of the skid, grab the what is about to happen. There is no reason to think. I react without deciding. Medic's hand and My legs collapse, crumbling slowly to one side, my body falling yet hanging in pull himself aboard. mid-air. A cloud of red dust puffs into the still air as my body drops heavily to 'We've got to get the the ground. I bounce and roll, tearing at my pack straps. I am still in the open pilot out! We've got - still rolling. I feel the jab and tear of jagged rocks and sticks as I roll to a stop to, got to!' he said in a shallow grave like depression. My arms are free. My pack lies with the aid again and again, bag in a clump of weeds a few feet away. I feel no wounds. The whole length breathing hard as of my body is pressed flat hard against the earth, my face compressed into the he lay against the soil. I try to be thin but feel grossly conspicuous. Certain my rear is high up General Jim Smith-center-with 1st Cav Vets at 1985 Los cabin wall. The in full view. I grind my pelvis tighter into the ground. It will go no lower. I Angeles Vietnam Veterans Parade. whine of the hoist am stiff and trembling as bullets crack and whiz randomly about. The air is full started up again, of speeding metal. I expect the shattering, hot impact at each second. I sweat bringing the rescued door gunner to the side of the ship and inside. He clutched in sheets, my lungs heaving, my heart pumping a rapid pulse to the brain. Any at the Medic-crew chief. time now, any moment 'Medic!' “It was 2:35. ‘He's trapped. I couldn't budge him.’ He waved me away, “Bullets whine, exploding into fragments, shattering branches, which drop the man blurted out. 'We've got to get him out, we've got to,' said the door to the ground, whole limbs ripped and torn, 'Medic!' Louder he screams out to gunner. 'They will. They will,' answered the Medic. The ship gained altitude me in panic. Slowly, through the evolution of seconds, my mind can see him slowly, banked to the left and circled again at three hundred feet. It was up to the sprawling face-up in the chalky dust, writhing in a puddle of spreading blood Blues now - the crack infantry element of the 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry, already coagulating in the intense noon heat. 'Medic, Please.' He claws the air beckoning airlifted to the area and maneuvering toward the downed aircraft and its pinned to me, opening and closing each hand desperately, pleading. One-hand moves pilot. The MEDEVAC chopper circled above. Specialist Meeks turned at once back clutching his eyes, a brush of tangled blond hair caught between sticky to his patients, wrapping and taping the crushed toes of the door gunner. fingers wet with blood. 'Please help me?' “The jungle is roaring arainof “As the chopper passed over the crash site for the fourth time, a thick cloud bullets, the air pungent with gray smoke and dust. I begin to rise. Suddenly I of white smoke erupted from the bamboo below and there was a bright red flash imagine an explosion splattering my face, turning it to jelly. I cannot move. I from the ground. ’Hey, man, our ship just blew up!' the wounded door gunner know he is dying. I must get up! 'Please!' I try to move. I am paralyzed, lying shouted. He turned to the Medic with his eyes wide and fearful. The Medic helplessly. 'Please!' Tears streams glistening down my face plunk softly into talked into his radio mouthpiece, listened, and then looked up at his patient. the earth. I am sobbing and falling apart. I begin to vomit. 'He's alright. The Blues got him out. He's okay.' The helicopter circled down to "It always ends there. I awake and am relieved to remember that it is only land in a yellow meadow close to the crashed and burning chopper. The rescued a dream. But today I am less certain. The airline stewardess speaks into the door gunner looked past the Medic. A big smile shot across his face and he microphone solemnly. 'Good morning, gentlemen. Hope you enjoyed your flashed the 'V' sign at the freed pilot, now sprinting toward the ship. 'You're the flight. Please fasten your seatbelts and observe the 'No Smoking' sign. The greatest. You're the greatest,' the rescued pilot cried to the MEDEVAC crew as weather in Bien Hoa is hazy, but dry. The temperature is now 110 degrees. he climbed aboard. Then he turned and lunged at his own two-crew members Hope you will all enjoy your stay in the Republic of Vietnam.' who caught him in a wild embrace.” “There is a mystique about MEDEVAC. So much has been written of the Do not forget, the 19th Annual 15th Medical Bn. Assn. Reunion will be held courage, the dedication and espirit de corps of the men in MEDEVAC that 26-30 April 2017, at Westgate Branson Woods Resort, Branson MO. and the today they live with legend. Tradition seems to affect their every action. Pride 70th Annual 1st Cavalry Division Assn. Reunion 7-11 June 2017 - Killeen/Fort becomes a primary motivation. 'It's why I joined the Army,' said MEDEVAC Hood, Texas. pilot Warrant Officer Richard Leonard. 'There's something about saving a life - Always remembering our 1st Cav Troops on duty around the world; over and and the way MEDEVAC does it, defying the odds - that makes it appealing. I've out. MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 18 20th and 79th Artillery Regiment News of Oakland, CA; son, Doug, wife Suzy, granddaughters, Bruce Wilder Maddie and Emily of St. Charles, MO; son Chris, wife 9724 Rosariod Dr. Teresa and grandson, Michael of Folsom, CA; his Parrish, FL 34219-9200 (423) 245-6116 brother Richard Wilson of Clarksburg, WV, sister-in-law [email protected] Joan Poimiroo and her Family of El Dorado Hills, CA, www.araassociation.com brother-in-law Walt Gabler and his Family of Ukiah, CA. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for COL Looking out my window here in the Skyland Falls Condominium I see an Gene Wilson was held on December 18th, 2016, in early spring! Could what I am experiencing be global warning? It all started Christ Lutheran Church, Lakewood, WA about three weeks ago when the daytime highs were reaching the 80-degree Visit the website of for additional information. Col (R) Gene Wilson Shih Tzu, Maggie, will not even attempt a potty run. The Condo Association Next, let me turn your attention to the status of lawn maintenance team did their last mowing in the fall and is not due back planning for the 20th Annual Reunion in Williamsburg, Virginia, on September until April! I down sized to this condominium so I would not have to cut grass 13 -17, 2017. Our Board has approved the following for your use in making anymore. Looks like I will have to invest in another weed eater to replace the plans. The information is divided into three main topics: The Embassy Suites, one I gave to my sister! Well, it sure beats shoveling snow! A year ago, I had the Jamestown and Yorktown bus tour, and the Fort Magruder Farewell Dinner. just finished removing my third 5-inch snowfall from the drive and sidewalk. I Embassy Suites: think I will not comment anymore. After reviewing several properties in Williamsburg, the Board of Directors So let me move to something more positive. My three sons have made it approved the Embassy Suites. The Embassy Suites has a very competitive room a habit of using one of my photos from rate of $89/night for Wednesday and Thursday and $119/night for Friday and Vietnam days to send greetings on Saturday. These rates do not include an 11% sales tax or $2.00/night occupancy special occasions, e.g., Memorial Day, charge. If you include the taxes and the occupancy charge, the bill for four Veterans Day, Birthday, and Anniversary nights is $470 or an average of $117.44 per night. This is a little confusing, but dates of special events. Just recently, I we do not want anyone to be surprised at check out. The breakfast included for received the one I treasured the most, two people has a value of $25.00 and we have the “happy hour” from 5:30 -7:30 which captured my days in ARA at An PM every day. Khe. The Embassy Suites has two styles of rooms: The Executive King Suite w/ Photo left, I was a young Captain in sleeper sofa and Executive Double Suite w/sleeper sofa. Both are priced the 1965 assigned to A/2/20 ARA at the age same and have a living area and bedroom. We have a block of rooms on reserve of 28. The note that came with this announcement said, “To celebrate your 80th until August 14th, 2017. After this date, unreserved rooms will be released for Birthday this March 13, 2017, your three sons will rendezvous at Skyland Falls. general sales. Your presence is requested!” Individuals are responsible for making their own reservations. Individuals First of all, I was impressed that they had taken the time to arrange such may contact the hotel directly at (757) 229-6800 or toll free at (800) 284-3930 a meeting secondly, I was thrilled that they wanted to be with me on this and request ARA room block. In addition, the hotel will furnish a “Reservation milestone event of my life, and thirdly, I thank God that I am here on earth to Link” in which individuals may reserve their room reservation directly through participate! Which leads me to the purpose of bringing up my 80th, I have said www.embassysuiteswilliamsburg.com. so many times before and I feel as though I am beating a dead horse. We have We will have our welcome dinner at the Embassy Suites on Wednesday an annual reunion for the sole purpose of getting together to enjoy our days in evening. The cost for a two-entrée dinner is listed at $28.95, but our cost will retirement, to share our Family stories, our journeys, our hopes, our dreams, and be $26.95 net of 10% sales tax and an 18% service charge. The per person our blessings. Each year and with each issue of the Saber, I list the name(s) of charge, is $34.98 with tax and service charge included. The menu will consist members who have made their last takeoff. So it is with this issue, of grilled herb roasted boneless breast of chicken, carved roast beef au jus and I have received word of the death of a very close friend and fraternity brother selected vegetables. from Davidson College who deployed with us in 1965 from Fort Benning as the In addition, they are providing a two-bedroom suite at no cost. There is a Battalion S-2. Ivan T. “Van” Wood III died on December 16, 2016, in Santee, SC. onetime cost to remove the furniture. This room is to be used as the hospitality Van was born in 1936 in Marion, SC, the son of Ivan T. Wood, Jr. and Margaret suite. We are permitted to have snacks and drinks in the room (including E. Wood. He married his best friend and high school sweetheart, Margaret Jones alcohol), but it must be kept within the room. in 1955, and moved her to Davidson, NC, where he was as a Distinguished We will also have access to the dining room after breakfast for our Saturday Military Graduate from the ROTC program in 1958 and was commissioned a meeting and an additional meeting room at no charge if someone else has not 2nd LT in Field Artillery with detail to Military Intelligence Branch. After his paid to rent it. military service, Van taught school in South Carolina until The Jamestown and Yorktown Bus Tour: 2000. He moved in retirement to Spring Hill, Florida, for On Friday September 15th, we have scheduled a bus tour of the Jamestown fourteen years when he moved back to Santee, SC. His Settlement and Yorktown. In 1607, three ships landed at Cape Henry. They wife Margaret of 57 years preceded him in death. He is soon proceeded up a river to establish the first permanent English settlement in survived by his sons, Mackey Wood (Patty) of Manning, America. We will visit Jamestown first on our bus tour. SC, and Tim Wood (Bonnie) of Marion, SC; his sister, After Jamestown, we will visit Yorktown, the site of the final battle of the Rose Wood of Spring Hill, FL; three grandchildren and Revolutionary War. When we arrive at Yorktown, we will have lunch. There is five great-grandchildren: Megan Smolka (Adam) [Wyatt] a variety of restaurants with different prices. Our participants are on their own of Columbia, Jared Wood (Bralyn) [Camden] of Aiken, for lunch, but our guides are available for suggestions. SC; Randy Bradshaw (Carole Anne) [Sage, Tyson, Our bus capacity is 55 people. The cost per person based on 40 paid Wren Oliver]. A graveside service with military honors Van Wood III participants is $49 and drops to $41 based on 50 paid participants. The cost was held in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion, South includes roundtrip motor coach transportation, admission to Historic Jamestown Carolina, on December 21, 2016. Van was my “big brother” in the Kappa Alpha and the Yorktown Battlefield, escort/guide to accompany the group, applicable Order Fraternity and my Platoon Leader in ROTC. As one of the five married taxes, and gratuities. If you travel by yourself without a golden pass, the price students, we were very close in our social lives and car pools to Charlotte. May is about $14.00 for admission to the parks. Scooters are available if needed, but God continue to shower his love on Van and grant him eternal peace! this cost is not included. The second life to celebrate is Colonel (Retired) Donald Eugene Wilson. Fort Magruder Final Banquet: “Gene” Wilson died on December 8, 2016 in Lakewood, Washington, at the It is important to remember that Williamsburg is not so much a convention age of 82 after a valiant 7-year battle with corticobasal degeneration. “Gene” destination as a tourist destination, so many of the hotels do not have large was born May 27, 1934 to Lester “Buck” and Edna “Edd” Wilson in Shinnston, banquet rooms. For this reason, the Board felt it was necessary to choose a West Virginia. Gene graduated high school in Shinnston and completed 2 years facility that was better suited for our farewell banquet on Saturday, September of pre-engineering at Fairmont State College before receiving an appointment 16th. Their banquet facilities have recently been renovated and will easily to the United States Military Academy. Upon graduation in June 1958, he was accommodate our group with tables in the round. Since we are not staying at commissioned in Field Artillery. His first tour of duty as an Army Aviator was the Fort Magruder, there is a onetime charge of $500 to reserve the room plus in Bad Herzfeld, Germany with 3/14th Armored Cav Regiment Aviation Section applicable taxes due on March 1st. All food and beverages must be provided by as the East -West German Border Pilot. It was here that Captain Gene Wilson the hotel. The group agrees to spend a minimum of $2,500 in food and beverage met Ellie Gabler, a “school-marm” from California teaching 4th/5th grade on revenues not including sales tax or service charges. the Army Post. Their yearlong courtship and marriage on January 12, 1963 led The cost for a two entrée buffet dinner is $34.95 per person. If you add sales to 54 years of raising 3 children, 18 moves, many friends and new adventures. tax (10%) and the service charge (22%), the cost per person is $47. In order to Gene’s military career of 30 plus years took him around the world. His break even on the billing minimum ($2500/$34.95), we need to have 72 people assignments included -- two tours in Germany, two in Vietnam, one in Korea; sign up for dinner. stateside – Fort Sill, OK; Fort Bliss, TX; Battle Creek, MI; Fort Leavenworth, Please go to for more details and copy of the KS; Washington D.C.; Onalaska, WI; Fort Lewis, WA; and Boise, ID, Governor’s registration form. Advisor to the National Guard. His military retirement in 1988 was followed by I hope you will make your plans to attend our 2017 Reunion. It is always Manager of JAC-ACAP at Fort Lewis. He took pride in knowing his Troops, good to renew old friendships, meet new associates, and share some of those always looking out for their welfare. His awards included the DFC, 3BSM, great stories. I hope to see you all in Williamsburg. 3MSM, 12AM, 2ARCOM, Master Aviator Wings, and Parachutist Wings. “This is Armed Falcon28Delta, breaking right!” Gene, a loving and giving man, touched the lives of many people and will be missed. Gene is survived by his wife, Ellie, of Lakewood; daughter, Genevieve Page 19 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 82nd FA News shouting “You’re all dead,” Patton jumped high enough to make Michael Jordan Daniel P. Gillotti look like a second stringer. Talk about confusion! Patton, good leader that he 4204 Berkeley Dr. was, screamed that none of his tanks were destroyed because 75mm howitzer Sheffield Village, OH 44054 rounds could not penetrate his armor because the fuses were not armor piercing. (440) 934-1750 When the Umpire came back to Harry with that bit of information, Harry, no [email protected] great respecter of regular Army rank, and equally nimble-witted, told the umpire to tell the General that he was aware of the fact, and to tell the General that This is a story about Harry “The Horse” Lambert on the day the fuses had been removed, and that without them they would penetrate the Harry captured Gen Patton, written by 1LT Jim Farquharson, B Btry, 82nd FA, General’s armor. It was at this point that the maneuvers stopped and Gen Patton WWII. While we were sitting at the airport in Killeen, Texas Aug 1993, waiting took center stage for the “greatest mule barbeque of an ass-chewing” that had for our flight to Dallas/Ft Worth, Harry “The Horse” Lambert turned to me and ever been given up to that time. Harry said that besides having a high voice, asked, “Did I ever tell you about the time I captured Gen Patton?” Now any the General question like that, even from a character like Harry, my old 82nd FA Bn CO used very vulgar during WWII, is bound to perk up the ears of any Soldier who delights in tales language. He of the “Old Army.” His claim was about as far-fetched as I could imagine, spared no one. because nobody ever captured that greatest all Forceful, American Combat Every living soul Leader, old “Blood and Guts.” And I told Harry that. He looked me straight within the sound in the eye and said, “The hell I didn’t!” Of course, I had to ask, “How’d you do of his voice that?” Since our plane was late, I sat back and let Harry fill in the details of the knew exactly momentous, unsung event. “It was during the ’41 Louisiana Maneuvers. The what he thought 1st Cav Div had been loaded on cattle cars, rode the rails to western Louisiana, of each member and dropped off near “Nowhere.” The Army never let us get near a town, of his staff, their because civilians objected to the smell we brought with us, plus of what the assistants, tank horses left behind. Any new recruit who had not been in the Army more than 2 commanders months could agree with that complaint. After you got so used to those earthy and their people, 82nd Firing during Louisiana Maneuvers odors that came with 15,000 horses and men that you believed that everybody Umpires, and that silly-assed reserve FA Lieutenant who had been on a recon smelled like that. That was the way the world smelled!” “The ’41 Maneuvers he had no right to be on in the first place, but the Umpire, being a fair man, and were the biggest the Army put on since WWI. As Harry recalled, it was Gen drawing on some inner-strength, held his ground. The HQ had indeed been Hugh Drum’s Red Army vs. Gen Walter Krueger’s Blue Army. Thousands of destroyed and was out of action, incommunicado, for the rest of the morning for Troops were involved. Hundreds of Umpires ran around deciding who was some six hours, I think Harry said. Those 6 hours was probably the longest 6 dead and who was not. There were some “Donny brooks” between opposing hours that any staff officer in the Red Army ever went through. In all fairness, commanders over some of those decisions.” It was during these maneuvers the it was probably the same for ‘Ol' Blood & Guts, but it was a lesson never word “SNAFU” came into our lexicon. Some of them, created by inexperience forgotten. Harry’s boss, the 1st Cav DIVARTY Commander, COL Joe Swing, of handling so many men at one time, are still in the record book of Great was less than pleased when Harry received a commendation for putting Gen SNAFU’s. Several came about because nobody seemed to know how to handle Patton out of action. COL Swing thought Harry had used the Field Artillery in complaints of irate citizens who did not like the way we smelled. Generals really a poor manner, more like anti-tank guns. As Harry said, “they couldn’t fire all did not know what mounted Troops could do against newly developed Armored of the stupid Reserve Officers as the country didn’t have enough people, or time Divisions, like the 2nd, with their new show-offy Gen Patton. It was into this to breed more. I have no doubt there are a lot of old Soldiers today who fought arena; amongst the piney-wood flats of Louisiana that 1LT Harry Lambert, then with Gen Patton in the ETO who owe their lives to what Harry “The Horse” CO of C Btry, 82nd Horse Artillery Regiment, went on a Btry CO’s Recon. Lambert taught ‘ol Georgie that day. Bless them both! He had just learned about that part of his job description from having attended the FA Officer’s Advance Course at Ft Sill. He wanted to find a suitable OP. Therefore, he placed his Btry in position and along with his orderly, rode out in 12th CAV NEWS the direction where he thought the enemy was supposed to be. Btry CO’s had Continued from pg. 6 orderlies in those days that acted as horse handlers, etc. They kept off the road 18% of all deaths from suicide among US adults in 2014, while Veterans and were as quiet as two horsemen could be. They had ridden perhaps 2 miles constituted 8.5% of the US population. In 2010 Veterans accounted for 22% and had not seen a thing. Nevertheless, he started to get a funny feeling and of all deaths from suicide and 9.7% of the population. Approximately 66% he could not really describe why or how. He just had this funny feeling that of all Veteran deaths from suicide were the result of firearm injuries. There is somewhere there were some Red Army soldiers. He told his orderly to stay continued evidence of high burden suicide among middle aged and older adult where he was and not make a sound while he went deeper into the piney woods Veterans. In 2014, approximately 65% of all Veterans who died from suicide on foot. He had gone about a quarter mile, maybe half, when he picked up the were aged 50 years or older. . sound of human voices, very faintly in the distance ahead of him. He claimed 2256 The first kick and I have completed our move into our new EM housing to be sacred to death that he would be killed or captured at any moment as he on Camp Williamsport, Queen Mary's Land. As noted above our new Lima quietly tippy-toed toward the sounds. It took about 10 minutes to creep up to Lima is 240-366-8447. If you are feeling froggy and have time to kill, hop on where he could see the enemy. He was amazed to see a bunch of light tanks over and give us a call. As usual, no name and no number means no answer. laagered around what seemed to be an HQ tent, but even more amazing to him In that case let my narcissistic answering machine and antagonistic voicemail was that there was not a sentry in sight. Nobody had been posted as outpost screen your call; we have to exclude the shysters and the riff-raft somehow. The security! How else could an Army Reserve Officer of a Horse Artillery outfit, of lucky will get return calls. Moving is not for the aged and infirm. Even with all people, get so close to what might be a Division CP? Dominating the noisy others doing the packing/unpacking, exercise, heavy lifting, toting and hauling, discussion was a squeaky-voiced, two-star General. Harry indeed had himself we both are worn to a frazzle mentally and physically. We stuck it out in our last some very important intelligence to work on. Creeping back to where he had quarters for 39 years so we should be good-to-go until 2056. left his orderly, they took off for their Btry as fast as they could. 2359 Journal closed. “During the second World War, the Germans took four But, he said, he really did not know what to do. Or how to work out something years to build the Atlantic Wall. On four beaches it held up the allies for about really destructive on the Red Army with the very small number of assets he had. an hour; at Omaha it held up the U.S. for less than one day. The Atlantic Wall At this point, I must add that, knowing Harry, having served 3 years overseas must therefore be regarded as one of the greatest blunders in military history.” under him in WWII, I think he had a good idea of what he wanted to do, but - Stephen Ambrose, D-Day, page 577. Semper Paratus! Write if you get work! he just did not know how he was going to do it. Therefore, he looked up SGT Horine, a Chief of Section who had been in WWI and asked him how they could capture that squeaky-voiced General he had seen. SGT Horine allowed as how Thank you for joining the 1st Cavalry Division Association! he thought they could raise a proper fuss if they could get a gun section within Help us sign up other Troopers that have served within the First Team! range of the HQ. At this point I want to explain to the younger Soldiers that in the Once Cav - Always Cav! Horse Artillery, each limber and piece in a four-gun Firing Btry of rubber-tired, 75mm howitzers was drawn by 3 teams of horse, called lead, swing, and wheel. Panera Three teams of horses also drew each limber and caisson holding the ammo. A Continued from pg. 12 rider handled each team. Behind these sections rode the gunner and cannoneers duty Soldiers and their Family members; and more than $553,000 to 227 on horses. SGT Horine went on to suggest that if they took just the Wheel Horse descendents of the Ia Drang Battle. The scholarships currently provide $1,200 Team of the howitzer section plus the cannoneers and wrapped the traces with per year with a maximum of $4,800 for four years of schooling per student. gunny-sacks so they wouldn’t make any noise, they just might be able to sneak “It’s a great Association — we do take care of our Troopers and their spouses up to the spot where Harry had seen the Red Army Division HQ and blast the and children,” Wydler said. “And we especially take care of our Veterans.” hell out of them. That suited Harry to a “T.” So, gathering up an Umpire and Joseph Wilgeroth, a retired First Sergeant from the Air Cavalry, said helping the telling him of his plan, but telling no one else except 1SG Miracle, Harry and organization with their scholarship program was just the right thing to do. “I’m SGT Horine’s half-section rode off. With Harry leading, the section soon came a member of the Association, a member of the local chapter here,” he said. “So I to the spot where he had taken off on foot. Then, very quietly and slowly, they thought I’d come out and help out the Association and have some food. You’ve rode toward the sound of the voices that were still in animated discussion. At got to eat anyway, right?” a range of about 200 yards, they quietly dismounted, unlimbered the piece, and Wilgeroth said it was important to raise funds for the scholarship programs pushed it ahead a bit to a clearer field of fire. Then quietly and gently, shoved a because the more money they have, the more they can give out. “The more blank round into the breach of their howitzer. Everything was quiet, as they had money raised, the more scholarships can go out,” he said. “And it maintains not been seen. Harry said that when the round went off, and the Umpire started sustainability for future recipients of the scholarships.” MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 20 Jesse Crimm ENGINEER News 4445 Silverwood Ln. so I would miss it. “What the hell are you doing?” he screamed. “Well, I didn’t Jacksonville, FL 32207-6241 have a gun and I figured I’d road kill it and the cook could fix it up. Venison (904) 737-6172 is good,” I told the Corporal. He laughed and said, “You’re crazier than hell, [email protected] Richey!” So, by the time we’d reached the last guard post, an abandoned ammo Never Too Late For Christmas: Those bunker, at the edge of the boundary of the post, it was way past dark. We drove of you who read Stanley Holewa’s up and were challenged by the guard. We stopped and answered his challenge rants, as he calls them, on our Association Facebook pages may remember this and then he came over and told us he’d shot at some people walking up on him. one. For the rest, just know that Holewa awaits you with new rants weekly. He’d challenged them, they didn’t replay, so he whanged a few rounds their Here is a Christmas story worthy of some space here. “My First Christmas in way. Cpl Muskgrove turned white. “Did you hit anyone?!” he asked. “Don’t the Army: December 24, 1974 Camp Garry Owen Korea. T-45 is the Commo know. I can’t leave my post to look,” replied the guard. Cpl Muskgrove just Platoon's Hooch open bay Quonset hut. Camp Garry Owen is six air miles from moaned and then got on the radio, asking for MP’s to come out. It turned out the DMZ. It’s nighttime, the Hooch is empty except for myself and another PV2 the guard’s post was right on the perimeter of the camp and the next day was the (Ernest Monroe from Texarkana, TX. I'll never forget the guy) all the lights are opening day of deer hunting season. Hunters were walking and talking on their turned off. We're in our bunks staring at some small blinking Christmas lights side of the fence heading toward their stands in the dark night. The guard had a Trooper put up around a window. We have no cash; we have no pass so we're no knowledge of being near the perimeter and was under orders, to challenge, stuck here. Monroe jumps out of his bunk, looks at me and said in a loud voice, and if no reply, shoot, which he did. No one was shot. I’m sure the hunters had "Man this is f-up man, this is so f-up man, we gotta do something it's Christmas to go change their underwear and never hunted that part of the woods again. Eve, what you going to do in the morning?" I said, "I'm going to the Mess Hall Muskgrove and I had to pull over on the way home. I couldn’t drive laughing as for breakfast then to the Service Club." "Service Club, what for?" "I'm told they hard as we were. I heard they took that guard post off the list until after hunting will give you a Christmas gift and inside is a pack of cigarettes; I'm out." "Hey season. (submitted by S.Richey) good idea man, I'm out too." So that's what we did Christmas day lay in our Memory, the persistence thereof: binds us in ways deeper than words. But words bunks went to Mess and stare at those lights. I've stopped smoking years ago will have to do as those of you who recall Thomas Harrison reflect. “Harrison but every December 24 I think about the 2nd Infantry Division, our Soldiers on was an equipment operator. I believe he got killed on an LZ. Happened after the DMZ and the 7th Cavalry; I drink an adult beverage in their honor. People I left. We came in from an LZ once, flew into Ton Son Nute and were so dirty forget we have Soldiers guarding our freedom on the DMZ.” we were sitting outside the building where we could catch a ride back to Phouc More Than An Apology: This is a confession of internet stupidity. In 2015, Vinh. Some little kids came up and squatted down in front of us and we found I posted a greeting under the Engineer section of our Association’s Facebook something to give them, C rations or cigarettes. Harrison had false teeth. He page. Not knowing any better and walking away blindly, I missed several pushed them out of his mouth and clicked them, scared the hell out of the kids replies. So to those who posted replies in 2015 and to whom I sent a statement and they took off. Now that was funny. He was just an ordinary good guy, doing of negligence, I list you here now in this Engineer Page of Honor and invite you his job.” to the Reunion at Ft. Hood in June. You are: Len White, B Co, LZ English, 66- In Addition: Lynn Titus has begun compiling a booklet in memory of all 8th 67; Carlos Estremera, Gulf War 90-91; Plumbman Pipewrench, Tay Nicn, 69- Engineers lost in Vietnam. He would welcome any remembrances you have of 70; Mike Gibbons A Co. 67-68; Thomas Hodge, A Co, 85-88; Larry Tomsyck, those lost. For example: Cleveland Johnson and I either cut cards or rolled dice C Co, 82-84; Jimmy Lee Hardy, Phouc Vinh,68-70. Now don’t get me wrong to decide who would take a mission. I remained at Tay Ninh. He went out and but I think Plumbman Pipewrench might be a “nome de plume” for the person did not come back. Kenneth Bercier went with him. I hardly knew Bercier but underneath decoded to be Don Ward. In addition, all of this is to say that your the Wall rubbings of his name and Johnson still hang in my den. Association’s Board of Directors has approved and funded a comprehensive Memory Persistence II: In the May/June Saber of 2016 a picture was printed new electronic media, 21st century, face for our Association. Check us out on called Christmas, Phouc Vinh 1968. From that picture, Anthony Lockhart was all the electronic data media places. able to find “Miller” and in turn that lead to finding Mike Swearing. As his former Recruit or Die: Well, that’s it in a nutshell. Our Association either begins sergeant Lockhart remained in contact with Swearing till his recent death. He attracting significant numbers of post 911 Vets and actives or we wither away who was lost was found and lost again but not forgotten. That’s the way Saber a slow death. So how do I do my part you ask? Two word answer: listen- works. One Trooper talk. Okay, maybe one more thing. Get yourself a handful of those Association finds another here. applications that you saw pictured in the last Saber. Then as you go about your Lockhart can be daily life listen for clues that occur in all sorts of conversations. Associate reached at 419-234- members count too. For example Robert Pool over in Mississippi has committed 3956 and would be to membership based on respect for persons who served within our Division. In glad to hear from other words, when you hear respect give back the same by offering membership those who served with in your organization. Now you’ve listened for clues, next talk. Your words him. Just in case there don’t need to be fancy, just sincere. Hand your conversation mate the pamphlet are more memories to with an invitation to attend a local Chapter or the Reunion. Central Texas can be jogged, here is the be a good vacation for a Family trip: better than waiting for the TSA to rummage 1968 picture again. thru your carryon bag, or being stranded on the high seas in a cruse ship with I can’t believe it: I dead engines. have reached the age The Way It Was: For those of you who had your basic at Ft. Campbell, this when Antiques Road memory from Steve Richey may bring a smile to your face. “We had gone Show on Public TV through reception, which was like being processed into prison, or what I imagined is more interesting it to be. One of our guys joined our company escorted by two MP’s. He had than American Ninja hair nearly down to his waist and wore handcuffs. We all immediately assumed Warrior or Super Girl on commercial networks. I’ll turn to my wife and say he was drafted. It figured. We were given haircuts and the only way you knew “honey, don’t we have one of those in the garage?” And how many of you the guy you’d been spending time with being processed was the clothes he had are still cursing because your baseball card collection was dumped? Missing on. You no longer remembered him by his face and haircut. We all looked the that Mickey Mantle rookie card? How about Enos Slaughter or the Brooklyn same. A day or so later, you were able to recognize the guy from his face, and Dodgers team card from 1955? they lowered us farther down the hole of basic training. We were all issued Cav Heavy Armored: Do the terms M1A1, M1A2, Bradley, tracks, up armored, our Army clothes and told to dress alike in the same color and type of clothes. gas turbine, send a chill down your spine? The rest of us would like to know One day we were fed a big lunch of spaghetti with lots of red sauce, formed up, why and there is room here to tell us your story. You see, about once a year I and then ran about a half mile with our duffle bags on our shoulders in the hot, get a note that says in so may words “why don’t you tell more about the old 8th humid Ft. Campbell, KY sun. There were several guys who got to see their Engineers? “ Well, the truth is that I have told, over the past seven years, enough spaghetti again. We were now no longer inductees, we were trainees, working of my stories and lack input from other engineers except for one who kept a our way to be regular Soldieries, if there was ever going to be us getting to diary. The lack of materials from the past tells two things. The past is past being a regular Soldier. Training progressed. Five of us were sent down to get and the future is ahead. That is why I have begun preparing a paragraph called a driver’s license. We were stuffed into a hot room with little ventilation, read, Active Duty and now will be glad to document Heavy Metal stories till you get re-read, discussed, and discussed the twenty-five questions that were going to your own Saber scribe. You metal types are the ones that won in 100 hours Gulf be on the test. There must have been sixty of us in the room. My brothers, War 1. You metal types are the ones that a while later drug down the statue of who had both been in the service, told me to put down “truck driver” no matter S. Hassan in Bagdad. You do remember right? what. I did and I was selected to take the driving test. I’d never driven a truck Court Case: A person I distantly know was arrested for marijuana possession bigger than a pickup. Five of us from B-1-1 were selected to take the training. and cultivation. After his court case was dismissed, I asked him how he got off. Three of us passed. Hughes was a fat kid who was always complaining about He said, “the evidence was planted.” the Army not recognizing him for his intelligence took and failed the test. So Active Duty: The 3rd Cavalry Regiment is officially home from Afghanistan. now we all knew, Hughes was not only fat, he was dumb too; not as dumb as Some 1700 Soldiers were deployed to train, advise and assist the Afghan swift. Swift was in an IQ rating all his own. Swift went AWOL the day before National Army deployed throughout 14 provinces. The mission has been graduation and got recycled. So, I passed the test and got my driver’s license. passed to the 1st Armored Division out of Ft. Bliss. Elsewhere on base, Black One of the other drivers was emotionally cracking up, and the third ran over the History Month was celebrated at numerous events and gatherings. The principle company billboard and it crashed right through the Company Captain’s office speaker at the Phantom Warrior Center was Dr. Gregory Cruell of Texas A&M window. Those two birds never got to drive again. Soon Cpl Muskgrove and I University. Cruell urged a coming together of volunteers, spouses, Soldiers, had the duty to go to all the guard posts and check on the trainees that had been Family and friends to celebrate the success of our nation. Concurrently, Vice put out on guard duty. I was driving down this road and a deer jumped out in President Mike Pence spoke on a similar theme to the cadets at West Point. front of me and I floored it. Cpl Musgrove screamed at me and jerked the wheel Continued on pg. 21 Page 21 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 Mail Call for the 1/21 FA. Gath- I think he said he flew out of Quan Loi in 21st FA News er round to read the latest news. 1968. He states the unit he flew in only had Summer is almost upon us. I four Cobras in that unit that had the number John Parker am sure everyone is ready to put four on them. His photo was from 1968 and 10915 Tradition View Dr. the winter behind us and enjoy mine was 1969. There is the possibility I Charlotte, NC 28269-1411 the pleasure of warmer weather. could have been standing beside the same [email protected] As for myself, I look forward to Cobra that Johnny Grice had piloted the year de-winterizing my motor home before. Possible! and hitting the road again. What is your warm That wraps it up for this issue. The next weather fun thing to do? How about dropping a line and letting us know what deadline is the first week of May. I look for- you are up to this summer. For a lot of us it is Reunion time in June. This year ward to hearing from you. You can email me the 70th 1st Cavalry Division Association Reunion is back in Killeen, Texas. It or go to 1/21 Field Artillery & Cavalry Friends is always great to be at Fort Hood and interact with the active duty Troopers. and message me. Garryowen Tube Troopers. Headquarters Battery: I have no one reporting for Headquarters Battery in this issue. If there is anyone that was in HQ Battery during the 1st Cavalry’s time, give everyone a report to what life was like being in HQ Battery. Thank you for your generous donations A Battery: I did have someone from A Battery contact me, Paul J Novak. After made in honor of LTG Moore to the basic and AIT, Paul was stationed at FT. Carson, Colorado on a 8” SP. After a year there Paul, left for Vietnam as a Corporal. Paul arrived in the 1st Cavalry IaDrang scholarships. on January 2, 1968 and assigned to A Battery 1/21 FA. He was promoted to E-5 5BN 7th Cav Association...... $500 and put in charge of a gun section. He started in Phan Thiet to LZ English to Aberdeen Proving Ground TPP, Camp Evans. From the pictures he sent me the area of operations ranged from the CERDEC-CP&I ...... $50 coastal region to the Highlands. He said he was active all over I Corps. Sometime Almeter, Randal A...... $30 around April 25, 1968 crashed in AShau Valley, LZ Tiger (lower); got banged Asset Realty Advisors...... $100 up but stayed until DEROS in September 1968. He retired from Delta Airlines, finished law school while still working for Delta Airlines. He still practices law Associates of Cecile Rainey at Staples...... $100 in Long Island, NY. Paul keeps in contact with Jesse (Honcho) Ramon from San Auburn Veterans Committee...... $300 Antonio, Texas; who served two tours in Vietnam. Paul is trying to find Bobby Jeff Dyal, Pat Deery, Doris Hill, Sullivan from Mississippi. I hope that we can put Paul Novak and Bobby Sullivan Dick Phelan, Cathy Golden, Lew Wood in touch with each other. Barker, Robert L...... $200 B Battery: I have not had contact with B Battery lately. I guess they are under Bell, James C...... $25 radio silence for security reasons. It is time for B Battery to check in. Bond, John...... $100 C Battery: I guess C Battery is having too much fun on their R&R. Rest and Boyd, Chris...... $100 Refit is ending. Need someone to let me know that all is well. C Battery is to Carpenter, Cynthia...... $300 report back soon. CERDEC-CP&I...... $50 That does it for 1/21 FA Battalion report for this issue of the Saber. I have a Chapman, Lee...... $100 story I will share with you. I graduated from high school in 1967. That summer I worked with a construction company as I had every summer the past three years Chase, Thomas and Judy...... $25 while I was still in high school. The first job site was working on a new church Cleveland, Mark...... $100 sanctuary. After a couple of days, I noticed there was this loud crying every Collins, Geoff...... $200 day about noon. I became more aware after several more days of this. Finally, Darby, Martha...... $50 someone from the church was visiting around lunchtime so I asked what the deal Dean, Glenn B...... $50 with the girl in the graveyard was. It was explained that her fiancé’ had been Dillard, Bill and Frances P...... $100 drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam, not long after he arrived in Vietnam Edwards, Robert...... $100 he was killed in action. His body was returned and he was buried in the church Galloway, Joseph L...... $300 graveyard. The young lady works in a bank near the church. Nearly every day Harrell, Wilbur J., Jr...... $100 she comes to his gravesite during her lunchtime and grieves over his grave. This Int’Brotherhood of Boilermakers,IronShop.. $5,000 stayed with me even after our work was finished and we had moved on to other Johnston, Linda...... $25 job sites. This was in the summer of 1967 and I joined the Army in April of 1968. After basic at Ft Bragg, NC then AIT at Ft Sill, OK, I took Airborne Jump School Killian, Albert F...... $50 at Ft Benning, GA. I was back at Ft Bragg with the 82nd Airborne Division. Kingseed, Cole C. PhD...... $250 I was only a four-hour drive to my hometown so I was home most weekends. Mackie, Brendan...... $20 After a year, I received my orders to Vietnam. I had started dating a girl near McBee, Fred and Kathy...... $100 my hometown. In the days before I was to leave for Vietnam, I remembered that Merchant, Richard I...... $250 girl that came to the grave and grieved so much. I asked my girlfriend for us to Middlebrooks, Sonny...... $25 part ways and I would look her up when I returned from Vietnam. In the event Moore, Greg and Evelyn...... $100 something happened to me, the impact on my Family could not be avoided but Moore, Robert R...... $50 I did not want it to affect someone else such as that girl I remembered. When I Nelson, Gerald E...... $50 returned home in 1970, she had taken up with someone else. I always wondered Olmstead,Jim...... $100 if I had made a wise decision. Funny how Vietnam and events affected me even Ott, Stuart...... $100 before I was sent to Vietnam. At least I did not have to worry about a Dear John letter. Ha Ha! Parish, Willard F...... $50 Reunion time is fast approaching and time to start thinking about getting to- Peterson, Dlarence O. III...... $50 gether with fellow 1st Cavalry Troopers. It will be a time of remembrance with Ramiemeier, William...... $100 the passing LTG Hal Moore and of Col. Robert Tully. Both were commanders Rohrbach, Fred and Polly...... $500 during the battle of LZ XRAY. LTG Hal led the 1/7 Cavalry and Col. Robert Selleck, Patrick & Gertrude...... $125 Tully lead the 2/5 Cavalry. A big Garryowen to these gallant officers. I want to Sides, Jim and Delrena...... $100 thank Tim Millar for spearheading the effort in getting a paver for CSM Arlyn Simpson, Denise M...... $50 Wood. CSM Wood passed away in December and a group of us are donating to Spence, Clyde W...... $100 have a memory paver for him at Ft. Hood. CSM Wood, was to many of us, our Stalnaker, Daniel...... $100 Chief of Battery, 1969-1970. If anyone is interested, message me for information. Stimeling, Laurence E...... $50 A Challenge Coin is being made for the 1/21 Field Artillery. It should be ready Swift, John B...... $100 by the first of April, 2017. If you are interested, message me for information about this coin. Tatum, Dr. & Mrs. Crawford...... $100 The 1/21 FA has a Face book page for all to enjoy. I posted a picture of me Thomson, John...... $100 beside a Cobra Gunship in 1969. On the side of the Cobra was the number 4. Turnham, Tim...... $50 Johnny Grice sent me picture of himself beside his Cobra that he piloted in 1968. Unger, Vernon and Barbara...... $200 Waters, Matthew and Lias...... $300 Engineer News Webster, Dennis E...... $75 Continued from pg. 20 Winborn, Adron T...... $20 Also the local AUSA chapter has opened its 2017 scholarship program. Apply Winkel, Paul...... $500 at . Wydler, Dara...... $200 The Winner: Last month all readers had the chance to answer one question for the jackpot prize. James Miller jumped right on it naming “Chief” as the LRRP NEWS last horse to have been mounted in combat. Miller also added in an email “your Continued from pg. 14 comment about the 11B’s slogging thru rice paddies brought back memories of more than that. He did as much as anyone in this country, or more, to help the 12B’s placing culverts in waist high water. That was followed by some fishing process of national reconciliation after the war with the book he co-authored with C4 only to find chunks of shattered fish. This was A Co around February with Joe Galloway, We Were Soldiers Once… and Young, by separating the of 1970.” I tried to send James his prize but he never gave me his address. So, issue of military service of those who fought the war from the issue of U.S. I invested the money saved back since November 16 in an aggressive industrial policy directing the war. May he Rest in Peace. "Garry Owen, Sir!" growth fund. Guess what? The Dow Industrial Average rose 2600 points Finally, 2017 marks the 35th anniversary of the dedication of The Wall between November and today. Nope, too late now James. Read next issue and ensuring that Memorial Day 2017 will be an exciting time here in the nation’s try again. capital. The VVMF has scheduled a number of events to commemorate the Next Issue: When you hold the May/June Saber in your hand, may it be at a anniversary, and of course, there will be Rolling Thunder. Hope to see you here. table with your fellow engineers at the 2017 Reunion. RANGERS LEAD THE WAY. MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 22 In Loving Memory

MOORE Retired Lieutenant General Harold “Hal” Moore February 13, 1922 - February 10, 2017 Written by Gen Hal Moore’s eldest son, and delivered at funeral Before I speak about my father, on behalf of all of his children and grandchildren, we wish to say thank you to Auburn and to St. Michael’s Church for all your care, devotion, and support. This is perhaps our Family’s one last time to embrace all of you in thanks. Thank you to our Auburn friends for your generosity to our parents and to us for many, many years. It is why life here in this small spot of God’s creation in East Alabama is so wondrous and so rare. My father’s life was a love story. Now, love. Love is not the word that comes readily to mind when speaking of a General. Love is not the first word that comes to mind when you think of a Soldier, when you think of life in combat. But love is foremost in what we children and grandchildren know of our father. Love for our mother is what we saw when he gently kissed her at the kitchen stove when they thought we weren’t looking. Love for his Troopers, his band of brothers, who he led under desperate circumstances in two wars. It is what they know on the battlefield and in their bones. And it is love that has powered his devotion to his faith and to his God. Love of Family. His love was an engaged love. Never a spectator, he wanted to be on the field itself, hiking with us deep into the mountains, setting up fishing camps, skiing with us into the dark hours. Yet coupled with this playful love was a serious love – the kind you don’t recognize until years later you say to yourself, “thank God they did that for me.” Serious love principle one: Get your kids a good education. He and my mother took on debt to send us to Catholic schools, even when stationed in Norway and the nuns taught us in indecipherable Norwegian. Serious love principle two: Get your kids’ teeth fixed. Again, he and my mother took on debt to put each of us in braces. He believed that a great smile leads to self-confidence, and self-confidence leads to great things. Teeth matter. Smiles count. Love of Julia Compton, our mother. Let me read a letter he wrote to his grandmother, dated November 14, 1949, just a week before he and Julie got married. “Dear Granny. Well of course, you know that old stale news by now that I am getting married up. I just wanted to write to tell you that she is tops. She is taking me – dog and all.” Here is how we knew they loved one another. There are pictures of him beaming on his skis and she on hers, a little bewildered, but with a game, half-smile on her face. It is clear that this isn’t her natural habitat. By contrast, there are pictures of her beaming in lovely dresses at Washington affairs, shaking hands with some diplomat, while he stands next to her, with that same game, half-smile on his face. It was clear that social Washington wasn’t his natural habitat. Somehow, they each willed themselves to be in the world that the other loved, and so in that way they could never be separated. Love of his Troopers. Later today, he will be buried with our mother at the Fort Benning Cemetery. He will be surrounded by those he led and loved in the Ia Drang Valley campaigns. He has never stopped missing them, and now he will be with them. I believe he wrote his book, “We Were Soldiers” with Joe Galloway in order to explain to us the unique kind of love that men feel for one another in combat – love for one another that drives them to bear any pain, any sacrifice, and even death for one another. It is transformative, and he needed to honor his Troops by making us understand it and understand them. You may be surprised to learn of his eventual friendship with Vietnamese Gen. Huu An, who had tried to kill him in the Ia Drang Valley. In a memoir he wrote these lines, “My unending thirst for peace and unity drove me back to the “Valley of Death” in 1993. Returning in a helicopter, I and 4 or 5 of my Troopers approached the very same area we left in 1965; there was no visual evidence from the air of there ever having been a battle there. The foxholes had eroded and beautiful wildflowers were everywhere. Lt. General Nguyen Huu An and I came face-to-face. Instead of charging one another with bayonets, we mutually offered open arms. Although we did not understand each other’s language, we quickly learned that the soul requires no interpreter. Ever so gently, General An placed his arm in mine. Unity was sealed through the reverent affection of one arm in the other.” Together, we listened to and learned from the land, as it too not only forgot, but was also forgiving. Love of God. Finally, we remember – particularly in this sacred space – his love of God. Someone once asked him, “General, what do you consider your most important accomplishment.” Now, of course, you are asking this question of someone nearly 95 years old, with somewhat of a resume. “What is your most important accomplishment?” He replied, “It hasn’t happened yet. My most important accomplishment,” he said, “will be when I cross that line at St. Peter’s gate and meet my God and my Julie.” The one accomplishment he cared most about is actually one that we now share together with him. No one can know God’s will, but I believe that in this church, here today, we can celebrate the one great accomplishment that mattered most to him of all accomplishments in his life, the one he still longed to achieve after 95 years – it is here. And we all get to be part of it. By Harold G. Moore, III

The 7th Cavalry Regiment was organized in 1866 and in our 150-year history General Moore was a great Soldier and I fought right beside him when he said, there have been well over 1,000 Regimental and Battalion Commanders. “Fix bayonets and we are fighting to the last man.” Garryowen my friends. Most can name only two, but today, I wish to acknowledge the one man who Gary Kidd, [email protected], Morter Platoon 1-7th Cav C Co 1965 exemplified Duty, Honor, Country – Harold Gregory Moore, Jr., LTG (Ret). In IaDrang Vietnam 1963, then LTC Moore took his Troopers through 2 years of training at Fort Benning and molded them into the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry. Colonel Moore, a student of military history, helped to re-write the proud legacy of the 7th Cavalry with exceptional bravery and a commanding presence on the battlefield. So, to I just returned from the funeral of my 1-7th Cav Brigade Commander LTG Hal his Family and the Sky Troopers with whom he served, I say thank you for Moore. It was a great memorial to a great man. It was truly an honor to serve sharing him with us for these past 50+ years. Bob Anderson, 1/7 Cavalry, with such a great gentleman and I was honored to have the opportunity to meet Vietnam, 1969-1970! GarryOwen! with him at his home on 15 February 2015. Rest in Peace my friend. George Hughes, D Co, 1-7th Cav 1966-1967 [email protected]

My Battalion Commander at LZ-Xray and My friend later in life. When we visited and when we wrote , neither was ashamed to express love for one another. Soon after landing, a NVA Soldier walked into our hastily-formed perimeter I'll always remember our trip back to X-Ray/Albany in 1997. Drive On Trojan who provided (then) LTC Moore intelligence which caused him to order B Co 6, Hotwire 3/6 Out . LT. Bill Franklin to proceed up the 900' Chu Pong mountain to make contact. First Platoon led by 2LT Al Devney and his tough and experienced Platoon Sergeant Larry Gilreath, led the way as the 1st Platoon in the column of B Co commanded by (then) CPT John Herren. Within minutes, loud noises began rolling down the mountain LTG Moore was a truly legendary figure in the 1st Cavalry Division, if not which increased with intensity until they reached a crescendo of pops, sounding the entire U.S. Army. He leaves behind a warrior’s legacy, which will live like popcorn machines placed next to all of our ears. Third Platoon led by large, long and well. To this former 7th Cavalry Trooper, the general was the 2LT Dennis Deal and his very tough Platoon Sergeant, Leroy Williams, began embodiment of the stalwart Soldier: Duty, Honor, Country. To you LTG, Harold to enter the dry creek bed, were third and bringing up the rear in the column Gregory “Hal” Moore, Jr., I render a slow hand salute, and Garryowen Sir! of Bravo Co. As I entered the creek bed, LTC Moore was alone and literally John Guillory, President, 7th United States Cavalry Association "snap shooting" into heavy brush to cover us in which he must have thought there were possible enemy Soldiers. As I passed him, he yelled to me, "Go get 'em, Denny." It was then amidst the terrific noise and small arms popping that I realized the very aggressive, inspirational and tough LTC Moore finally had “his war” 6 weeks after we arrived in Vietnam. LTG. Hal Moore, a true Legend. I joined the 7th Cavalry in December,1968. By Dennis Deal 3rd B Co 1-7 CAV. that time Hal Moore was already a legendary Soldier among Seventh Cavalry Troopers.I did not have the honor of serving under him,but I have met and talked to a lot of GarryOwen troopers who did. And they all hold him in very high regard.I regret that I didn't get the chance to meet or serve with him. I'm sure To his country he was Lieutenant General Harold Gregory Moore, Jr.,but to I'd be a better man for it. Randy Sutton,Sr.(SFC Retired) A1/7 Cav. 1968-69. his men he just a good friend. Martin Latigue C.Company 1st Bn 7th Cavalry. GARRYOWEN, SIR and Rest in Peace. [email protected] Page 23 saber MARCH/APRIL 2017 Eulogy written by Joe Galloway: Julie sighed and loudly declared, “Home again! Safe in the arms of holy mother I know for absolute certain that Hal Moore is sitting with Julie looking Army!!” And she meant it too. down on us and laughing like hell because he put one last one over on his pal When I made a particularly emotional speech Julie would tell me, “Joe Joe Galloway. Many years back he insisted on us shaking hands on a deal that Galloway you made me cry again. It ruins my makeup. You’ve got to stop whichever one of us died first; the other would agree to preach at his funeral. I that!” was pretty sure the deck was stacked against me but as all those years rolled past I called the Moore residence one morning to read to Hal the prologue to our we all began to wonder if Hal was going to outlive all of us. He knew better and book that I had written early that morning. Hal was off getting the mail so I read all I can do now is my duty. A promise is a promise, but I swear I can hear him it to Julie, at the end there was silence. Then Julie said, “Joe Galloway you may laughing as I stand here before you. live to be 100 years old, and I hope you do, but you will never write anything Besides being my best friend for the last half century Hal Moore was my co- finer than this in your life!” I knew then I had knocked it out of the ballpark. author in writing and publishing two books. Partnering in writing a book is at Hal and I made two research trips back to Vietnam to interview the Commander least as fraught with possible dangers as the institution of marriage….and yet who had done their best to kill us all in the Ia Drang Valley. On a third trip with we remained best of friends throughout. Forrest Sawyer and an ABC crew, we finally achieved Hal’s lifelong dream of The year that Hal’s beloved wife Julie died, I marked the next new year by a return to the Ia Drang Battlefields. Hal had told me years before that one day sending an email to Hal that read: “I did not want another year to pass without he wanted to go there, to walk the perimeter of those foxholes around LZ X-Ray telling you how much you have meant in my life...and how much I love you.” and more than that, he wanted to spend the night on that battlefield. I told him He responded several days later with an email painfully punched in his the North Vietnamese would never allow that. He said something to the effect computer one letter and one finger at a time; Julie had done all his correspondence of hide and watch, Joe. to that point. What Hal said was this: “what there is between us transcends all That magical day finally came true and we filed off the Old Russian hind other relationships. You are my best friend! We placed our lives in each other helicopter ABC was paying a fortune to charter for us. At the end of a long hands in battle and there is only pure trust between us!” hot day walking, that ground and being interviewed on camera, it was time to We have not come here to mourn the passing of a great man. We have come to leave. The helicopter would have to take two round trips to get us all back to celebrate the life he lived….the people he loved….the good times and laughter Pleiku. We sent most of the Vietnamese and most of the American Veterans out that we all remember when we think of Hal Moore. in the first lift. It was still in sight when Hal said, “Joe, tell the boys to gather I first met LTC Hal Moore one morning in early November 1965 when we had up a bunch of firewood and fill all our canteens from the creek.” I asked, why? all spent a wet, miserable night in our foxholes on a high mountain plateau east He said, “Never mind just pass my orders.” Besides us, there were four US of Plei Me Special Forces camp. We had endured a long hot walk in the sun and Veterans, a Vietnamese interpreter, and the ABC crew. I gave the orders and that cold night. I had shivered and shook all night long and finally the sun was former CPT Larry Gwin asked me, “Joe, has the heat gotten to the old man?” I coming up and I quickly got out my C4 plastic explosive, pinched off a tad, lit it, said, “Never mind, just do as he says.” and began boiling a canteen cup of water for my coffee. Just then four combat That chopper had not made it back to Pleiku before the most awesome boots appeared on the edge of my foxhole, there stood Hal Moore and his alter monsoon clouds rolled in over us. I had the only poncho and it was seized and ego CSM Basil Plumley. Moore took one look at me and told me, “In my placed over our woodpile. We just stood there in a blinding rain like a bunch battalion we all shave in the morning and that includes raggedy ass reporters.” I of jackasses in a hailstorm. There would be no helicopter coming back for us looked at my cup of hot water and dug out my razor and soap. Plumley had an in the dark now. I knew Hal Moore had arranged this whole thing in one of his evil grin on his face as he enjoyed that scene. talks with God. It was Hal Moore who green-lighted my entrance into the hell that was When the rain stopped, we built our fire, sat back, and watched a clear sky Landing Zone X-Ray a few days later. I heard his voice over the radio when full of stars overhead. Suddenly, there was a meteor shower like nothing any of CPT Matt Dillon told him, “That reporter Galloway wants to come in with us us had ever witnessed. Every few seconds another flash across the sky. It went tonight.” Hal’s response, “If he’s crazy enough to want to come in here and on for an hour or more. We all took it as a sign from all the souls who had died you’ve got room, bring him!” in this lonely wilderness. They were telling us that they were at peace and so I dodged the other reporters hanging out at LZ Columbus until it got near dark should we be. So, should we be! and they caught a ride back to Pleiku where they could get a nice dinner, hot That night with my back against one of those little scrub trees, I napped. When shower and a warm bunk; and I got a ride with MAJ Bruce Crandall into the I woke up, I saw the figure of Hal Moore walking the perimeter, communing pages of history. with his beloved Troopers who had held the line until death claimed them. All After the fighting died away at noon on Tuesday, November 16, Hal and I that night, he patrolled the perimeter. Back in Pleiku LTG Nguyen Huu An, walked away from the chaos of loading up and moving out. I told him I wasn’t Hal’s opposite number in the Battle, was walking the floor of his hotel room sure I could write this story. He said, “You’ve got to, Joe! You’ve got to tell the worried sick that something would happen to us out in the Valley. He had called American people how my Troopers fought and how they died here!” the Defense Ministry trying to get them to order the chopper pilots to fly back From that day forward, we were blood brothers, an unlikely and improbable out in darkness. What he heard was, General, you mean to tell us that you have couple – a professional military man and a raggedy ass reporter for United Press let an American General, an American reporter and a network film crew get International. When Hal began planning a new stranded out in a highly secure zone??? He had reason to worry about us. Operation, he would send word to me to get to An Khe, or he would send a I was at Julie’s bedside the night before she passed away. She awoke and told helicopter to fetch me. me, “Oh Joe, we have come so far together and still have so far to go!” Her Let’s fast forward through ten years of hard research, finding and interviewing death took a lot of the joy out of Hal’s life and brought loneliness into it for the over 250 individuals on both sides of the battle, to the point where we sat down first time ever. He talked of wanting to die when we sat outside talking in the and started writing We Were Soldiers Once…And Young at my farmhouse in the garden of the hospice. I told him he couldn’t do that. We still had work to do. northern Virginia countryside. Hal and Julie were staying at their sons home, Hal asked, “What work?” I told him we had to write the follow-on book to We Steve 15 miles away in Woodbridge. We were laboring away on the book 16 or Were Soldiers. He perked up and we got through 18 months of writing We Are 18 hours each day, seven days a week. Soldiers Still and another round of book tours. In December of 1991 we were done and Hal was going to catch a train with I could go on with this story telling all afternoon, but it is time to wrap it up. Julie back to Auburn. He stood outside my home, shaking his head, and declared, Hal Moore you changed my life. You made my life much stronger and better. “Now I know why Virginia was famous for slave drivers!!” He claimed I had You taught me how to build character, how to follow a moral compass, how to shackled his leg to my dining room table and even kept him from conjugal visits always stand for what was right. I have loved you as a brother and as a father. to Ms. Julie. All I could do was grin. You were my Captain in Battle. We stood side by side fighting off an enemy When the book was published, we began the first of three grueling cross- determined to kill us all, and thanks to you and your leadership, we prevailed. country book tours. Hal had fallen on the ski slopes at Crested Butte and You taught me how to forgive our enemies, and indeed to make friends with shattered his hip. The docs were impressed with the bone strength of this elderly them long years later. I have loved you for 51 unbroken years and I will carry gentleman and decided to just put in screws and glue it all together. We set off your memory and your example with me all of my days left to me. on the tour with Hal on crutches and in ever-increasing pain. I would like to close with this Native American prayer of farewell: Each day was the same, up at 3am in some cheap motel and off to the airport, Thank you for what you gave to me. a new city with 12 or 15 interviews, a lunch speech, and another cheap motel. Thank you for what you took from me. Before long Hal began grousing over the early wakeups and began blaming Thank you for what you left with me. me. I told him to suck it up, using one of his favorite dictums, that he had been Joe Galloway, [email protected] in the army and West Point for 37 years total and he had gotten up early every day of those years. Hal shook his head and told me, “That’s right Joe and I have been slowly reclaiming all those lost hours of sleep. I had just gotten to the Korean

War when you interrupted MOORE my program!!!” The real delight was when Ms. Julie joined us for a stop or two on the book tour. Hal had to behave when she was around and she knew it. I always delighted when we First passed through the main gate Team of this or that Army base and MARCH/APRIL 2017 saber Page 24 HONOR ROLL Thank you for your generous donations from our following Troopers: UP TO $25 SP-4 MARROQUIN, Jaime SGT HAMUS, Michal M. SP-5 AAKJAR, Raymond P. Sr. COL (RET) MARTIN, James R. SP-5 HAYS, James R. SFC AHO, Herman A. SP-5 MARTIN, Marshall W. MAJ HOLLAND, Robert G. MG (RET) ALLEN, William F. SP-4 MARTIN, Thomas J. SP-4 HOLMES, Mason SP-5 BARBER, Michael W. SGT MARSH, Loren D. SGT HONZO, Joseph E. SGT BABINSKI, David A. 1LT McCARL, Terry A. SGT JOHNSON, Richard M. SSG BACA, William S. SGT McCARTY, John M. SPC (RET) LETKIEWICZ, Paul SGT BENTZ, Glen A. CW2 McCAW, Stanley C. SGT LOMBARDO, Edward C. SP-4 BARTOLOMEO, Patrick MSG McCOY, Burl G. PFC MEYER, Charles SGT BEHSELICH, Dennis P. SP-5 Mc CURDY, Jonathan D. COL (RET) McKAY, Donald M. SSG BENNETT, Paul D. SGT MELCHER, Douglas L. SGT McMICHAEL, Marvin D. E-4 BOYER, Richard W. COL (RET) MILLER, Kipp O. SP-5 MIRAGE, Paul L. SP-5 BRAUN, James M. SGT MILLER, Richard Gene In Memory Of LTC (RET)& Mrs. Donald A. Orsini SGT BREEN, James F. SSG MODOLO, Richard J. SP-4 MORGAN, Robert J. SP-4 BROWN, Gerald E. SP-4 MORGAN, Robert J. SP-4 MOYNIHAN, Michael P. PFC BRUSTOWICZ, Richard R. E-5 MORTON, Burnis E. SP-4 MROS, Stephen R. CPT BUONACCORSI, Paul P. SP-4 MROS, Stephen R. E-4 NEWBERG, Ronald R. SP-4 BURKHARDT, John B. SGT MUELLER, John E. CSM (RET) NILES, Guy R. 1LT CAMPISE, Jasper A. E-5 NORDSTORM, Gary L. LTC (RET) NOTT, Michale B. SGT CARLSTEDT, Warren W. COL (RET) NOWOWIEJSKI, Dean, PhD COL (RET) NOWOWIEJSKI, Dean A.,PhD SGT CHANEY, Harold D. E-5 O’BRIEN, Patrick MAJ ORTIZ, Jose R. CPT CHEWNING, Eric SGT OCHOA, Blas CPT OVERMOHLE, William P. MAJ CHOW, Louis W. LTC(RET) OGLE, Glenn A. SP-4 POPE, Jerry L. CPL CONRAD, George H. SP-4 OLLIS, Robert E. MAJ (RET) REID, Ralph C. CPT COPLEY, James C. SP-5 OUELLETTE, Gilbert L. SGT REYNOLDS, Robert L. SGT CANNON, James E. COL (RET) POLONITZA, Edmund H. MAJ RICHARDSON, Charles E. SP-5 CHAPOTON, Louis J. SP-4 PYFFEROEN, Michael J. MAJ ROBERTSON, John W. SFC CLARK, Charles W. CPT QUALLEY, Gary F. SP-4 SCHAADT, Ronald E. SP-5 CLEMENTS, Robert M. CPL RAHORST, William F. 1LT SMITH, Patrick A. SGT COUSINEAU, Joseph R. CPT RAINS, Jackie R. CW4 SOMMERS, Jerry C. SFC (RET) CORBIN, Don R. SPC RAMOS, Adrian MG (RET) SPENCE, Clyde SGT CUMMINS, John P. CPL RICE, Berkley M. SFC (RET) WAGNER, Donald E. SSG DANAK, Marion R. SP-5 REICHERT, William SP-5 WRIGHT, Charlie Vaughn E-5 DAY, Randy C. CPT ROB, John V. MAJ (RET) DEMAILO, Alfed S. SP-4 ROBERTSON, Jesse H. $51 - $100 1LT DOWNING, Jack D. SGT ROSCOE, Frederick G. SGT BLUMBERG, Terry R. SP-4 DUNFORD, Michael J. SGT RODRIGUEZ, Jose N. COL (RET) BOOTH, James W SP-5 DUNGAN, Stephen D. CPT SALLING, Robret L. Honoring DTroop, 1 Squadron, 9th Cavalry, SGT SGT EDEN, Raymond A. SP-5 SCHROEDER, Albert Donald Skidgell, MOH 14 Sept 69 Posthumous SGT EDMOND, Robert 1LT SEPULVADO, Richard M. COL (RET) BOOTH, James W. SGT EICHLER, Robert E. PVT SHEEHANS, Daniel Honoring the LRRP’s “H” Co. 75th Rangers SGT ERCOLANO, Emil A. CPT SHOUTHALL, James, Jr. SGT GAILFOIL, John R. SGM (RET) FERGUSON, John H. MAJ SIMMONS, Donald R. E-5 GLEASON, Paul D. SP-4 FEHRENBACHER, James R. SGT SNODDY, Harold M. SGT HOOVER, Thomas J. CW3 FINCH, Robert J. 1LT Stafford, Ernest M. In Honor of B Company, 1-7th Cavalry 1968 SGT FINK, Earl B. CPT STAHL, Frank B. SFC (RET) HOSKING, Richard L. CPL FROST, Cullen D. CW3 STANSBURY, Harry J. MSG INDERDAHL, Howard K. MAJ (RET) FUNK, Jack SGT STOFKO, Gerald BG (RET) JUNOT, and Mrs. Arthur J. SGT GAERTNER, Harold J. SP-4 STRANDE, James L. In Memory of MAJ (RET) William A. “Bill” SGT GARCIA, Lino L. CW3 STOOK, Walter P. Richardson MAJ GAUTIER, Robert W. SGT STUDSTILL, David J. LTC (RET) McCARRON, William L. SP-5 GOOD, Benjamin F. MSG SWAIN, Martell, Jr. SSG ORLANDO, Pete MSG (RET) GRADY, John C. SGT SZIDON, Marvin H. PSG PALMER, Leslie L. SP-4 GRADY, Patrick J. SP-4 TAKACS, Frank G. COL (RET) PUTNAM, Lawrence H. CW4 (RET) BROMME, Lance S. MSG (RET) TEMPLIN, Cleo F. SGT REED, Dave A. SGT GUERTIN, Armande E. PFC THORNTON, Buddy CSM (RET) WEBSTER, Dennis E. CPL GUILLEN, Jose E. SGT THRASH, Larry L. In Memory of Sue Booth, a Great Cavalry Lady CPT HALL, Sansi M. and Brian LTC (RET) TILLY, Phillip R. SFC (RET) HAMILTON, Daniel R. CPL TRAHAN, Kimberly S. $101 - $500 PFC HAMILTON, Johnnie G. LTG (RET) TREFRY, Richard G. LTC (RET) BARKER, Robert L. SSG HAMPTON, Leandrew E-4 TURLEY Johnney E. SGT CARTER, John G SFC HARTY, Donald J. PFC TUTTLE, David L. MR. JONES, Ralph CSM (RET) HELMS, Felix L. SGT VanBEEST, Larry D. In Honor of: Baiting Op. 03/26/70, F.S.B. Jay SP-4 HEIMBACH, Wallace H. CPT VIGUE, Ronald L. 03/29/70 and F.S.B. Illingworth 04/01/70, 42 SGT HEISEY, Peter M. SP-4 WAGEL, Joseph E. K.I.A. 137 W.I.A. and 179 Purple Hearts CSM (RET) HOETKER, John A. SP-4 WAGNER, Bruce K. SGT GAMBRELL, Robert M., Jr. SGT HOLMES, Lyman F. SGT WILLMON, Gary M. SGT HENRY, AL SGT HOOD, David W. 1SG WILLIAMS, Lee In Memory of SP-5 Oscar “Doc” Gutierrez, C MAJ (RET) HOWARD, David D. CPT WILSON, Laurance A. Co. 1-7th Cav 3/11/68 SP-5 HUBER, Jerry SFC WILSON, Raymond D. MG (RET) NARDOTTI, Michael J. Jr. SP-5 HURST, William A. LTC (RET) WORLEY, Joe R. SP-4 STEWART, Carl A. SGT JACOBSEN, Alan T. SFC YETMAN, Stuart B. COL (RET) JAMES, James D. $501 - $1,000 SP-4 JONES, Robert R. $26 - $50 COL (RET) BOOTH, James W SFC KELLER, Charles C. MAJ (RET) ARMER, Raymond B. In Memory of Sue Jackson Booth, Loving Wife SP-5 KETZNER, Howard, J. SGT BARNARD, Leonard W. & Mother, Life Companion, Patriot, who Loved SP-4 KUNDTSON, Howard D. LTC (RET) CONNORS, Francis X. K. the 1st Cavalry Division, and was Considered a LTC (RET) KUYPERS, Thomas O. SP-4 DECKER, James R. Cavalry Trooper Herself SGT LA PORTE, James R. II COL (RET) DeVRIES, Paul T. PFC LABAK, Robert L. SGT DISCH, Dennis F. LTC (RET) LEMASTER, Robert E. SSG FEATHER, Melvin L. $1,001 AND UP SGT LARENSEN, John E. MAJ GRAY, William C. 61st FA Battalion - William E. Stewart BG (RET) LOMAX, Rhoss C. LTC HALE, Henry S. SFC LAWSON, William C. SGT HAMPTON, Dan R. The First Team Family Cares! We greatly appreciate all of our First Cav Members! COL (RET) LUPO, Anthony T. In Honor and Memory of CPL Paddy Gallagher, THANK YOU! SFC (RET) MALBROUE, Eddie P. 11th Pathfinder Co.Vietnam 1965-1967