ThunderThunder RunRun Vol. 16 – NO. 3 “Together Then – Together Again” 3rd Quarter, 2001 The 11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia The 11th Cavalry “Charges” into Washington DC 1,380 Troopers and Families ever. Many thanks to our reunion chair- awards. Attend Historic Reunion man, Jack Burns. What an outstanding In This Issue by Ollie Pickral performance! Many volunteers who go If you didn’t make the Sat. night nameless because they just want to help t must have sounded like the “last banquet, you now get a change to read out, make our reunions so splendid. Cavalry charge” when veteran and the keynote speech by the Secretary of What really makes the reunion are when active duty troopers poured into the Army, Tom White. As you are aware, I the Troopers and their families get to the Washington DC’s Hyatt Regency Hotel Tom served two tours with the 11th hotel. Every year I witness our troopers on Capitol Hill. Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. seeing a buddy for the first time in 30 – I arrived there on Wednesday, two Also, check the long list of donors 35 years. That is the reason we come days prior to the actual reunion dates to our Scholarship fund. Many, many and continue to attend each year there- and the place was full of Blackhorse thanks to all of you who contributed. after. troopers. Many attendees were doing Your donations are helping our mem- This year we gave out seven awards the tour thing and seeing all the sights of ber’s children get a college education to deserving troopers that give of them- our capitol city and others were there to whom ordinarily might not finish had selves to keep our organization the “best start the party early. To hear their rea- you not given. there is”……..John Poindexter, A sons, they professed they were the early Chaplain Larry Haworth has his Troop; Otis Carey, F Troop; Jim Murray, advanced party, some really stretching it Please turn to REUNION on page 4 1st How Btry.; Ben Hotchkiss, B Troop; by claiming to be there early to secure Adrian Vaaler, HHT Regt.; Pete Echon, the hotel for our arrival. Same thing F Troop; and John Sorich, A Troop. 100th Anniversary logo Thursday……..we had to open the The John Quilter Memorial awardee challange coin for sale “Bunker” early because there were so for 2000, Homer Pittman of K Troop many troopers there. By Friday morn- presented the 2001 award to Jim Settle ing, we of the Reunion committee were of K Troop. starting to get a little worried if we This year’s Trooper of the Year could handle the numbers that were Award was presented to Gene Johnson, coming in. E Troop and Air Cav Troop. Gene rode What a great reunion !! The three point for two years on this 100th organizations, active duty 11th ACR, Anniversary reunion, truly making it The Blackhorse Association and 11 one of our best. Congratulations to Gene ACVVC put it all together and it turned See Quartermaster on page 15 and all the recipients of our annual out to be one, if not the best reunions From the Command Track ..........................................2 Tom White, Secretary of the Army, addresses Nashville prepares for 11 ACVVC reunion for 2002 ....3 Troopers ..................................................................9 11th Annual Blackhorse Picnic ..................................3 Welcome Aboard! ....................................................11 Web Site Adds New Features......................................4 Inside Journey to Fiddler’s Green ......................................11 100th Anniversary Calendar ......................................4 Gary’s Story ............................................................12 Arthur the A Troop Mascot ......................................13 Scholarship Update....................................................5 3nd Quarter Troopers celebrate 100th Anniversary in area of it’s Trooper’s donations provide for family......................13 founding ..................................................................6 2001 Journey to Fiddler’s Green ......................................12 Donations – Scholarship Fund....................................6 Incoming..................................................................14 Chaplain’s Corner ......................................................7 From the Quartermaster ..........................................14 Women’s Corner........................................................8 Quartermaster Order Form ......................................15 www.11thCavNam.com From The Command Track By Ollie Pickral, President ’m still wind- ing down from We now set our sights to the next reunion in Ithe reunion, Nashville, Tennessee at the Sheraton Music one of the best thus far. Deb, City hotel. Along with the members of the April and I “redis- Reunion committee, Steve Page, the reunion covered” Virginia, our home state chair will be riding point. just after the reunion and had a degree of control over the reunion pro- award. The feeling on this matter was Ollie Pickral, President great two weeks gram. We also chose the leaders of 11 that the cost of college has grown sub- 11th ACVVC with friends and ACVVC for 2002 – 2003. I’m proud to staintually over the last 12 years that we family. Now it is announce that all our Officers and have provided scholarships, without any back to the business of leading our great Directors were re-elected for the next two increase in funds over those years. Also, organization. years. because of the special efforts of John As described in the cover page article, Your Officers and Directors are: Sorich, our Scholarship Chairman, we over 1,300 troopers and family attended Ollie Pickral ..........President have increased the amounts of money we this special 100th Anniversary reunion John Sorich............Vice President have for this purpose. John’s raffle and saluting the 11th U.S. Cavalry’s first cen- Frank Cambria ......Secretary silent auction has provided more funds tury. What an exciting reunion that cul- Bill Holford ..........Treasurer than in the past. This will provide each minated a two year effort by three organ- Board of Directors scholarship winner with $1,500 per semester for two semesters. izations, 11 ACVVC, The Blackhorse Chuck Schmidt Association and the active duty 11th Eric Newton As you are aware, we select a city, two Armored Cavalry Regiment. My special Mike Forbes. years out for our future reunions. At the thanks go out to each of those who Your Officers and Directors just membership meeting, three cities were attended and especially those that helped passed two additional motions. One was presented: Eugene Oregon, Colorado with the planning and execution of a fine- to solicit bids to have our “Blackhorse Springs, Colorado and Pensacola, ly tuned, organized weekend. We were Salute” slide and music program, profes- Florida. After the votes were tallied, fortunate to honor our Killed in Action sional done (your President regrets the Eugene, Oregon was selected. Our and those who died in the line of duty on projection problem that washed out the reunion committee chair will be Adrian several occasions. We visited the slides at the Saturday banquet). One solu- Vaaler. This will be a first for us going to Vietnam Memorial and laid a Blackhorse tion might be that we place all our slides a city in the Northwest part of the coun- wreath, visited the Tomb of the Unknown on a video CD and dub in the music. We try. Oregon is a very beautiful state and I Soldier and laid a Blackhorse wreath, will keep you apprised of the results of for one look forward to going there in then again at our memorial service at Fort this. The second motion passed was to 2003. Myer, Va. increase the current maximum of our Until next time We now set our sights to the next scholarships from $2,000 to $3,000 per Allons reunion in Nashville, Tennessee at the Sheraton Music City hotel. Along with the members of the Reunion committee, MOVING? Steve Page, the reunion chair will be rid- We want you to get your copy of Thunder Run ing point. He has already booked the without a lot of trouble? Complete this form 129th military band to entertain us. We and mail it to: 11th ACVVC Membership are also working on a possible appear- Update, Warren Swinford, 2300 W 400 S., ance of a popular country music artist. Clayton, IN 46118. There is a lot to see and do in the Name: ______________________________________________________________ Nashville area so start making plans to Old Address: ________________________________________________________ attend. The dates are August 8 – 11, 2002. City: ____________________________________State: ____ Zip: ____________ There were several things discussed New Address: ________________________________________________________ and passed at the 16th reunion in Wash. City: ____________________________________ State: ____ Zip: ____________ 2 DC this past month. We passed a motion that allows 11 ACVVC to dictate the Phone __________________________________ Effective Date:______________ 1st Quarter, 2001 Thunder Run Nashville prepares for 11 ACVVC 11th Annual reunion for 2002 Blackhorse Picnic By Steve Page airport shuttle. Come Join Us! Everyone Welcome Chairman Reunion XVII The hotel is only 15 minutes from the The 11th Annual Northern eunion 2002, August 8 -11, 2002. airport as well as 15 minutes from down- California 11th ACR potluck BBQ It’s never to early to start thinking town. Your committee looks forward to sponsored by Ron and Janet Krueger Rabout the next reunion. Mark your hosting this reunion and