OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM FOUNDATION THE INFANTRY HERITAGE LETTER VOLUME 16, issue 4 OCTOBER 2018

One year after the dedication of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial at the National In- fantry Museum, a rededication event was held to pay tribute to the men and women who have given their lives in the war in the past year. Annual rededications will be held until Inside this issue: the war ends. Today, the memorial’s black granite panels carry the names of 6,943 brave warriors who must never be forgotten. Here are the 28 whose names have been added: NIA welcomes new 2 president

GWOT Memorial 3 Rededication gallery

Doughboy and OSM 5 awardees

Unexpected tribute for 6 Gold Star family

New executive chef at 6 the NIM

Cheer to 100 Years! 7

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM FOUNDATION PAGE 2 THE INFANTRY HERITAGE LETTER

Leadership Changes at the National Infantry Association With the retirement of its longtime The NIA is a parent organization of the president, the National Infantry Asso- National Infantry Museum Foundation. ciation is welcoming a new leader. Since 2009, it has contributed more than COL (Ret) Rob Choppa has been $240,000 to the museum’s construction selected to take the reins from COL and operations. (Ret) Dick Nurnberg, who has held the During his Army career, Choppa position since 2001. served on several operational and train- Choppa says he’s honored to ing deployments in Infantry/Maneuver represent all Infantrymen and looks Nurnberg Choppa Command and Staff assignments, serv- forward to growing the association. ing as Chief of Infantry at “Our continued support of the Chief of Infantry, the from October 2013 until his retirement. National Infantry Museum, and our individual / corporate Nurnberg, with 17 years of institutional knowledge to members are our priorities,” he said. “We look forward to share, will continue to support the NIA as a consultant increasing our social media exposure, online marketing until January. He then plans to enrich his retirement for memberships, expanding recognition of deserving volunteering with the museum’s archives department. leaders, and teaming with other corporate and organiza- Nurnberg served 32 years in the Army, retiring in 1996 tion entities.” as the commander of USA DENTAC at Fort Benning. National Advisory Board Meets The National Infantry Museum Foundation Advisory Board, made up of more than 40 retired officers, business leaders and citizens, is tasked with helping the Foundation chart its course for the future. Mem- bers attend annual meetings at the museum and offer guidance on various issues throughout the year. Thank you to all for your service! Advisory Board members attending the Sept 7 meeting included (left to right) Bob Poydasheff, Mike Sierra, Joe Galloway, Walt Wojdakowski, , Carl Savory, Mim Hallock, Jim Weaver, Chuck Jacoby, , Tom Metz, Jim Balkcom, Carmen Cavezza, Greg Camp, Andy Redmond, William Steele, and Pete Jones.

Board of Directors National Advisory Board LTG Carmen Cavezza, Chairman Emeritus GEN John Abizaid, Chairman GEN LTG Tom Metz, Chairman Mr. Jim Weaver, Vice Chairman MG Will Latham Dr. Carl Savory, Vice Chairman GEN Ed Burba, Chairman Emeritus LTG John LeMoyne Mr. Brian Abeyta GEN Barry McCaffrey, MG Ken Leuer HON John Allen Vice Chairman Emeritus Secretary of the Army John Marsh Mr. Mark Baker GEN LTG Tom Metz Mr. Cecil Cheves Mr. Jim Balkcom Honorable Bob Poydasheff Mr. Jake Flournoy LTG Mike Barbero COL Ralph Puckett Mr. John Hargrove LTG Jerry Bates Mr. Tom Rabaut Sen. Hunter Hill MG J.B. Burns GEN Bill Richardson Mr. Tony Link LTG Carmen Cavezza Gov. Ms. Jacki Lowe LTG Charles W. “Bill” Dyke GEN Robert W. RisCassi Mr. Frank Lumpkin III GEN Larry Ellis COL Mike Sierra Mr. Warner Neal MG Carl Ernst LTG Mike Spigelmire Mrs. Becky Rumer LTG Mike Ferriter MG William Steele Mr. Michael Silverstein LTG Tom Fields Mr. Mat Swift HON Judy Thomas GEN John Foss Mr. Fred Taylor Mr. Joe Galloway LTG Sam Wetzel Ex-Officio Members LTG Dave Grange MG Jerry White BG David Hodne Mrs. Richard Hallock GEN John Wickham COL (Ret) Mike Burns GEN William Hartzog MG Walt Wojdakowski COL (Ret) Bob Brown Mr. Dave Hanselman GEN Chuck Jacoby BG Jim Yarbrough Mr. Bill Huff GEN Buck Kernan Mrs. Jean McKee PAGE 3 War on Terrorism Memorial Rededicated After years of planning and fundraising, the National Infantry Museum unveiled a major memorial to the Global War on Terrorism in October 2017. A year later, Gold Star families, military members, veterans and civilians gathered again to pay tribute to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have given their lives in the conflict since September 11, 2001. “As long as there is one KIA due to the Global War on Terror, we will gather here on the first Saturday after Labor Day to rededicate this magnificent memorial,” National Infantry Museum Foundation Chairman LTG Tom Metz told the audience. “It is our responsibility, those of us safely at home, to honor their service with the compassion and dignity rightfully due those who The ceremony closed with a bugler playing Taps and a missing man flyby performed by the Ranger Flight made the ultimate sacrifice.” Company. Joining LTG Metz on the dais were CSM (Ret) Joe Gainey, the first senior enlisted advisor to the Chair- Silence fell over the crowd and hand fans went still as man of the ; Maneuver Center CSM Brzak read the names of 28 service members of Excellence Commanding General MG Gary Brito; whose names have been added to the memorial since National Infantry Museum Foundation President BG 2017. Blank black granite panels remain for names that (Ret) Pete Jones; MCoE CSM Scott Brzak and MCoE will be added every year until the war is over. Chaplain COL Robert Hart. The ceremony began with a More than 100 Gold Star family members attended Presentation of Colors by members of the Army, Navy, the event, some traveling from as far away as Missouri, Air Force and Marines. The MCoE band played each Texas and New Mexico. They talked about the comfort service’s song as the flag was raised on the memorial. (continued on page 5)

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM MEMORIAL REDEDICATION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2019 PAGE 4 Highest Infantry Awards Presented The National Infantry Association presented the Wetzel graduated from West Point in 1952 and Doughboy Award -- the Infantry’s highest award -- at the then spent 34 years in the Army. Despite a grim cancer annual Dough- diagnosis in 1981, he closed out his career in three high- boy dinner at the profile assignments: commanding general at Fort Benning, National Infantry deputy commander-in-chief of U.S. Forces in Europe and Museum on Sep- commander of in Frankfurt, . tember 11. The CSM Cobb logged 32 years in the Army, retiring in honorees included 1995. He was the former command sergeant major of LTG (Ret) Sam Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk and the Wetzel, CSM (Ret) Infantry Center at Fort Benning. Autrail Cobb and Gary Fox joined the Army in 1982 and served as an Gary Fox. Infantryman for more than two decades. Since leaving Wetzel, a the Army, Fox has led the Office of the Chief of Infantry, longtime member which manages personnel development, branch repre- LTG Wetzel, second from left, receives of the National sentation and force integration. the Doughboy Award from (left to right) Infantry Museum The Doughboy award is presented on behalf of all Chief of Infantry BG David Hodne, NIA Chairman LTG Tom Metz and CSM Foundation’s Infantrymen, past and present. The trophy recipients Martin Celstine. Advisory Board, receive is a chrome-plated replica of the Model 1917 told an audience steel helmet worn by American Doughboys in World of more than 300 friends and fellow Soldiers that the War I. The award was established in 1980, with Bob combat Infantryman is the noblest profession of all. Hope the first recipient. NIM Champion Honored for Service to Infantry Members of Congress took a break from lawmaking and politics September 5 to honor a colleague for his contributions in support of the Infantry. They quiety gathered in Bob Hurt’s office as Infantry leaders surprised him with the Order of St. Maurice. As a young Infantry and Intelligence officer, Hurt served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Special Forces in Vietnam. This experience at a young age served as a foundation for a lifetime of service to our nation in many forms. Hurt would eventually become Sen. Sam Nunn’s Chief of Staff until the senator’s retirement in 1997. He then joined forces with another of Sen. Nunn’s key partners, COL (Ret) Frank Norton, who was the lead staff per- son for Sen. Nunn in his role as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Together they created the formidable Hurt, Norton and Associates consulting firm in Washington. In 2003, upon learning of the fledgling efforts to build a new National Infantry Museum, they offered to assist at the Congressional level. It is not an overstatement to say that without their expertise and experience the museum may never have come to fruition. They pursued this endeavor un- like any other that their firm has so successfully supported, largely because they both wore the Combat Infantryman’s badge. The project was personal and something that they would never let fail. Tragically Frank Norton died in 2009, only a few weeks after the museum opened. Bob poured much of his grief on the loss of his friend and partner into doubling down on his efforts to make sure the NIM would thrive. For his service to the Infantry in and out of uniform he was presented the Order of St. Maurice by National Infantry Association Chairman LTG Tom Metz in a surprise ceremony at Hurt’s office complex in Washington. Consultant Bob Hurt poses with wife Virginia after being awarded the Order Many members of Congress and their staffs were in attendance for this of St. Maurice. richly deserved recognition.

Visit us at www.nationalinfantryfoundation.org and on these social media sites! PAGE 5 Memorial Rededication (continued from page 3) of being around others who have lost loved ones, and of their gratitude for all who have pledged to never forget. The families were special guests at a re- ception held the night before the rededication, and at a breakfast preceding it. Their arrival at the museum was marked by a phalanx of Patriot Guard Riders who had ridden across town to the museum in a convoy with fellow motorcy- clists. Just days before the rededication, Mark your calendars now for September 7, 2019, when the Global War engraver Mark Strozier applies a on Terrorism Memorial will again be rededicated -- not only in honor of those template before etching new names whose names will be added to the memorial, but in honor of all who have into the memorial’s granite panels. served in our nation’s longest war. Family’s Sacrifice Honored Twice The Barreras family traveled from Arizona to of a special forces for a very important event: the induction of team that made head- their son, father and grandfather, Marty Barreras, lines during the rescue into the Ranger Hall of Fame. When they arrived at a of Jessica Lynch, the reception at the National Infantry Museum preceding 19-year-old supply the induction ceremony, clerk who’d been taken they discovered another hostage in Iraq. Parents Ray and Gloria Barreras, tribute to Marty’s heroism Barreras was family members and best friend ... the Global War on Ter- one of nine Rangers Russell Bell remembered “Gunny” rorism Memorial. inducted into the Hall Barreras at the Global War on In 2004, at age 49, of Fame this year. Terrorism Memorial. CSM Martin R. Barreras Accepting the honor was fatally wounded in an on his behalf was his friend, MSG (Ret) Russell attack in Afghanistan. He Bell. During the reception, Bell and Barreras’s family had started his military ca- members learned of the new Global War on Terror- reer with the Marines, but ism Memorial just outside that carries the Soldier’s after five years joined the name. They slipped away for a few emotional mo- Gold Star Mother Gloria Army, becoming a member ments at the memorial. Barreras finds her son’s of the 75th Ranger Regi- Barreras’s name is one of 6,943 etched in the name on the memorial. ment. In 2003, he was part memorial’s black granite panels.

New Chef Spicing Things Up at the NIM There’s a new flavor coming from the kitchens at the National Infantry Museum. Exclusive caterer It’s Your Day Catering has brought in a new executive chef, Brandon Ponder. Brandon has been a professional chef for 22 years, starting his career in the restaurants of the Gulf Coast, where he perfected his passions for Creole cuisine and turning southern comfort food into fine dining. He loves working with fresh seafood and making delicious sauces. When he’s not in the kitchen, Brandon enjoys kayaking, hiking and camping with his wife and two children. Brandon’s dishes are already receiving rave reviews from wedding guests, corporate retreats and reunion groups. If you’d like to sample some of his creations, ask our Events Department how to arrange a memorable meal for your group. Brandon Ponder, the National Infantry Museum’s new executive chef, shows off one of his specialties, Creole Salmon and Shrimp over Parmesan Risotto. PAGE 6

By joining the 1775 Society, you are a part of an exclusive, annual membership group that provides significant financial support to the National Infantry Museum Foundation. It is because of patriotic people like our members that the museum’s mission of honoring Soldiers – past, present, and future – continues to be fulfilled every day.

Freedom Level - $10,000 Mr. and Mrs. George Boyd, Sr. Gen (Ret) Charles Jacoby Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Cheves COL (Ret) and Mrs. Johnny Brooks Mr. and Mrs. Doug Jefcoat Mr. and Mrs. Jack Pezold Dr. and Mrs. Frank Brown Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Johnson Dr. and Mrs. Carl Savory GEN (Ret) and Mrs. Edwin Burba, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Scott Johnson Ms. Katherine Corn Wilson COL (Ret) and Mrs. Greg Camp COL (Ret) and Mrs. Gary Allen Jones LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Carmen Cavezza BG (Ret) and Mrs. Peter L. Jones COL (Ret) and Mrs. Rob Choppa Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Liberty Level - $5,000 Mrs. Lovick Corn Dr. William P. Kendall GEN (Ret) and Mrs. John Abizaid LTC (Ret) and Mrs. Jim Creek Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey Kennon Mr. and Mrs. Steve Butler, Jr. Mr. William J. Cunningham, Jr. Ms. Ilene Kent Emory University Goizueta Business School COL (Ret) John D’Agostino GEN (Ret) Buck Kernan Mr. and Mrs. Jake Flournoy Ms. Janet Davis Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kilpatrick, Jr. Mrs. Jean McKee Mrs. Owen Ditchfield Mr. and Mrs. Alvion Kimball Mr. and Mrs. Warner Neal Mr. and Mrs. Mack Dove Mrs. Robert King GEN (Ret) Robert RisCassi LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Charles Dyke COL (Ret) and Mrs. Cole Kingseed George and Ann Swift Family Foundation MG (Ret) Maurice Edmonds Dr. and Mrs. James Kurish Tawani Foundation COL (Ret) and Mrs. John Fatum Mr. and Mrs. Mason Lampton Thayer Companies BG (Ret) Michael Ferguson COL (Ret) and Mrs. Earle Lasseter The HON Judy Thomas Mr. and Mrs. James Ferrell MG (Ret) and Mrs. Willard Latham LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Harold Fields SGM (Ret) Jim Lee Gordon Flournoy Charitable Lead Annuity Trust Mr. and Mrs. Tony Link Patriot Level – $2,500 Mr. and Mrs. Jake Flournoy Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lumpkin III Mr. and Mrs. James Balkcom, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Flournoy Mr. Doug Magruder Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Blanchard GEN (Ret) John Foss LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Lawson Magruder III COL (Ret) and Mrs. Kris Fuhr LTG (Ret) Mr. Frank Maier Dr. and Mrs. David Kulbersh MG Malcolm and MG Patricia Frost Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Manganiello Mr. and Mrs. Jay D. Kurtz COL (Ret) and Mrs. John Fuller Mr. and Mrs. John Martin Mr. and Mrs. Chuck McClure Mrs. Robert Galer GEN (Ret) and Mrs. Barry McCaffrey MG (Ret) Peter McVey Mr. Paul Garcia CSM (Ret) and Mrs. Steve McClaflin Dr. Robin Pennock Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner Garrard, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson McGahee Dr. and Mrs. Richard Robbins Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Garrard MG (Ret) Carl McNair, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Thayer Mr. R. Walker Garrett Mr. and Mrs. Paul Meadows Mr. and Mrs. Jim Weaver Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Goldfrank LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Thomas Metz Dr. and Mrs. Jack Goldfrank Mr. Kenneth Miller GEN (Ret) Benjamin Griffin BG (Ret) Orlin Mullen 1775 Level - $1,000 Mrs. Richard Hallock MG (Ret) and Mrs. James Musselman Phyllis and Newt Aaron Mr. Kevin Harcourt Mr. and Mrs. Alex Naik Mr. and Mrs. Brian Abeyta Mr. and Mrs. John Hargrove Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Newman Mr. and Mrs. Rick Alexander Mr. and Mrs. Madden Hatcher LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Jack Nix Mr. and Mrs. Dan Amos William and Ashley Hawthorne Mr. and Mrs. Charlton Norris Mr. and Mrs. Brian Anderson COL (Ret) and Mrs. Thomas Hayden Mrs. Carol Norton Mr. and Mrs. R. Wayne Andrews Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hecht III COL (Ret) and Mrs. Dick Nurnberg Mr. Tom Arthur Mr. Richard Hecht COL (Ret) Bob Offer and Dr. Carole Rutland Mr. and Mrs. Hal Averett Mr. and Mrs. Ken Henson Mr. and Mrs. Marc Olivie’ Dr. and Mrs. Champ Baker, Jr. Mrs. Roger Hewitt Mr. and Mrs. Dan Parker Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ball Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hill Mr. and Mrs. Jack Pease III LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Jared Bates Mr. and Mrs. Comer Hobbs, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Chris Peebles Dr. and Mrs. Gary Bayer COL (Ret) and Mrs. Hank Holcomb COL (Ret) and Mrs. McDonald Plummer, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Billy Benton, Jr. COL (Ret) and Mrs. John House GEN (Ret) and Mrs. Mr. and Mrs. Carter Berry Mr. and Mrs. William Huff The HON and Mrs. Bob Poydasheff Mr. and Mrs. William Blanchard Mr. and Mrs. Jim Irvin The HON Robert Prater LTC (Ret) and Mrs. Donald Bowman Dr. and Mrs. Kurt Jacobson Mr. Kenneth Privat PAGE 7

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Privette Mrs. H. Norman Schwarzkopf Mr. and Mrs. Justin Wender COL (Ret) and Mrs. Ralph Puckett Mr. Bill Scrantom LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Sam Wetzel Mr. and Mrs. Alan Ramsay Ms. Julia Sellers MG (Ret) and Mrs. Jerry White COL (Ret) George Rasula Mr. and Mrs. John Shinkle Mr. and Mrs. William White Mrs. Sam Rawls, Jr. COL (Ret) and Mrs. Michael Sierra Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wilensky Mr. and Mrs. Bill Reaves Mr. and Mrs. Michael Silverstein Mr. and Mrs. Ben Williams Col (Ret) and Mrs. Andrew Redmond LTG (Ret) and Mrs. Gary Speer Mr. and Mrs. Bill Windham GEN (Ret) and Mrs. William Richardson Mr. and Mrs. J. Edward Sprouse LTG (Ret) Leonard Wishart III The HON Tom Ridge Mr. and Mrs. John Stacy MG (Ret) and Mrs. Walt Wojdakowski Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Roberts Mr. J. Riley Stansell LTC (Ret) Richard Wood Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Rossi MG (Ret) and Mrs. William Steele Mr. and Mrs. Troy Woods The HON and Mrs. Bill Rumer Mr. and Mrs. Mathews Swift Mr. and Mrs. John Woolbright LTC (Ret) and Mrs. Scott Rutter Mr. and Mrs. Jim Talley Mr. and Mrs. Bill Woolfolk III Mr. and Mrs. Claude Scarbrough III Mr. and Mrs. Phil Tomlinson Mr. and Mrs. Joel Wooten COL (Ret) Don Sando and the HON Julia Mr. and Mrs. Brad Turner Mr. Richard F. Wright Lumpkin Sando Mr. and Mrs. Scott Voynich Mr. and Mrs. James Yancey BG (Ret) Gene Schmidt Mr. and Mrs. John Walden, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Yellowlees MG (Ret) Edison Scholes Mr. and Mrs. Rob Ward Mr. and Mrs. Albert Zimmerman Mr. and Mrs. Todd Schuster To learn more about how you can be a part of this noble mission, contact Jane Bayer at 706-685-2604 or [email protected]. Cheers to 100 Years! The champagne flowed and guests raised their glasses to Fort Benning and its 100 Year Anniversary at the 9th Annual Salute to Sol- diers Gala and Silent Auction. From the unique photo backdrop filled with pictures of the post from the last 100 years to the champagne bubble balloons filling the air above the dance floor, more than 400 guests, including 1775 Society members, Fort Benning leadership, active duty Soldiers and many friends from the public filled Cavez- za Hall for a night of dinner and dancing. The silent auction and “100 for 100” campaign during dinner raised more than $21,000 for the Foundation. Beautiful pieces of art by local artists such as Garry Pound and Maudie Huff and getaways to Rome and Tuscany were a huge hit. All of the proceeds raised during the event help further the museum’s mission of honoring Soldiers. Next year will mark the museum’s 10th Anniversary and we hope you will attend the gala on August 17, 2019.

Outgoing NIA President Dick Nurnberg 1775 Society Chairman Bill Huff poses Columbus City Councilor Judy and wife Amy enjoying the reception with wife Maudie in front of the centennial Thomas’s table is always the life of before dinner. photo montage. the party.

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USA TODAY’S CNN TRAVEL’S TOP 12 #1 BEST FREE MUSEUM &MILITARY MUSEUMS WORLDWIDE NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM FOUNDATION 1775 Legacy Way Columbus, Georgia 31903 706.653.9234 nationalinfantrymuseum.org

FOLLOW THE INFANTRY HONOR THE SACRIFICE PRESERVE THE LEGACY

The National Infantry Foundation was established in 1998 to honor our nation’s Infantrymen, past, present and future, and to preserve their legacy. The Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Army, is committed to sharing their legacy through the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center.

The museum project is sponsored, in part, by the U.S. Department of Defense. The content of this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Government and no official endorsement should be inferred.

NIF STAFF

BG (USA Ret) Peter Jones Mike Bullard President and COO Director of Building and Facilities

Col (USAF Ret) Andy Redmond Cyndy Cerbin Executive Vice President Director of Communications

CSM (USA Ret) Steve McClaflin Lisa Day Vice President of Operations Office Manager

Jane Bayer Mary Terry Director of Development Accounting Manager Have you joined the NIA? Sonya Bell Mike McCabe visit www.infantryassn.com Administrative Services Manager Director of Information Technology

Vickie Benton Lora Davis Warren Director of Events Director of Education and Volunteer Services