ThunderThunder RunRun Vol. 25 – NO. 1 “Together Then – Together Again” 1st Quarter, 2010 The 11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia Are You A Member? 2LT Jessica N. Roberts his issue of Thunder Run is being mailed to over 16,000 Blackhorse Ttroopers on our mailing list, including members, lapsed memberships and those who have not yet joined. If you haven’t yet become a member of the 11th ACVVC, or if your membership has expired, this is a good time to take a minute and become a member or renew your mem- bership. on the first line of the label, take this oppor- If you are not sure of your membership tunity to join and become a member. If the L to R, BG Anderson, 2LT Jessica N. Roberts, and status in the 11th ACVVC, take a second and words “EXPIRED” are printed, you should proud Grandfather Otis Carey (F Troop, 71-72). check the mailing label on the back page of take a minute to renew your membership. this newsletter. Look for these words: FREE Expired members will also have their mem- LT Jessica N. Roberts was commissioned COPY or EXPIRED bership number printed on the same line. 2by BG Anderson, Deputy Commander If the words “FREE COPY” are printed Please turn to MEMBER page 6 USAREC recently at HQ Ft. Knox, KY. Jessica hails from Leitchfield, Kentucky. Together Again! She is the daughter of Leisha and Dale John Sorich, A Troop 69-70 know, our unit was awarded The Presidential Roberts and the granddaughter of Otis and ll of us involved in the 11th ACR past Unit Citation for an Anonymous Battle that Julie Carey. Otis (F Troop, 71-72) is the Aand present owe a big “Thank you, took place on March 26th, 1970. This was Internet Coordinator for the 11th ACVVC. Sir!” to Alpha Troop’s Capt. John made possible by the commitment of John Jessica Roberts earned her Associates Poindexter. Since first meeting John at our Poindexter. Degree in Nursing from Elizabethtown San Antonio reunion over a decade ago I had When John came to me at our most recent Community and Technical College in 2008. no idea then what a positive influence he reunion in Santa Clara with the information She is currently employed as a Registered would become for all of us. All of the 11th that we would be going to the White House Nurse for the Medical Surgical Unit at Twin ACR and the 11thACVVC have been to meet our President and receive the PUC, I Lakes Regional Medical Center in enriched through his diligence and generosi- could hardly believe it. He said to me, “I’d Leitchfield Kentucky. ty. Most definitely the men he served with in A Troop. Recently, as most of you may Please turn to TOGETHER on page 7 Please turn to ROBERTS on page 6 From the Command Track ..........................................2 Reunion Trooper and KIA Survivor Assistance Legends ......................................................................4 Fund Revisited ..........................................................17 Welcome Home Parade ..............................................5 Chaplain’s Corner......................................................18 Editor’s Corner............................................................6 PIO Memories—Parts 3 & 4......................................19 Incoming ....................................................................7 Blackhorse Hoofbeats................................................20 Meet Our 2009 Scholarship Winners ..........................8 Inside Women’s Corner ......................................................22 ‘Hot C-Rations – Cold Sapper Team’............................9 Jimmie Leach, 40th Colonel of the Blackhorse ..............23 11th ACVVC Donations..............................................10 1st Quarter 2010 11th ACVVC Calendar Appeal ..........................24 Registration ..............................................................12 2010 From the 63rd Colonel of the Regiment......................25 Registration Form: 11th ACVVC Reunion XXV ............14 Welcome Aboard ......................................................26 2010 Reunion – Washington, DC ..............................15 Journey to Fiddler’s Green ........................................27 11ACVVC Scholarship Application ............................16 QM Store ..................................................................28 Scholarship Update ..................................................17 From the Quartermaster ............................................32 www.11thCavNam.com From The Command Track By Allen Hathaway, President he 2010 Scholarship As president, I am pleased to report TFund raising effort kicked off in December that the overall state of the 11th with the mailing of the Allen Hathaway, ACVVC is excellent. We continue to be successful in many President annual 11th ACVVC calendar. This is the 15th areas; treasury, membership, quartermaster, newsletter, year for the ever popular calendar. website, scholarship and reunion attendance to name a few. Donations from the calendar are used to fund our scholarship program. The schol- friends early giving them plenty of time to in every area. This support is a result of the arship program continues to thrive thanks make their plans to attend. Contact any pride we all have from serving in the best to the support made by our members. board member if you need help finding an unit in the United States Army! Our Scholarship Fund is self sufficient old friend. Finally, come prepared to enjoy In December we learned of the passing and relies solely on donations to continue. yourself! of our former regimental commander BG All scholarship awards as well as all print- As president, I am pleased to report that James H. (Jimmie) Leach. As a colonel he ing and mailing costs associated with the the overall state of the 11th ACVVC is served as the regimental commander from calendar are paid directly from donations excellent. We continue to be successful in April 1969 until December 1969. He was a made to the scholarship fund. We ask for many areas; treasury, membership, quar- guest speaker at our 1988 reunion and also your continued support of the calendar and termaster, newsletter, website, scholarship the memorial re-dedication in 2007. He scholarship program. While the calendar and reunion attendance to name a few. and his lovely wife Marion attended many you received is unsolicited, we ask that Our treasury is solvent. The invest- of our reunions. Whenever two or more you make the most generous tax- ments made over the years guarantee the Blackhorse troopers were together he deductible donation that you can. Your organization will be in a good financial never missed the opportunity to sing the donation will ensure we can continue to position for many years to come. Our two regimental song. I had the honor of singing produce the calendar year after year and main sources for operating income are with him on several occasions, the last was support the scholarship program. An enve- membership dues and quartermaster sales. in October 2009 at the reception for the lope is included for your convenience to Nearly 500 new members joined in 2009. Presidential Unit Citation. Our condo- mail your donations. Many annual members choose to renew as lences go out to Mrs. Leach, son Jamie and The 2009 reunion in Santa Clara, CA, LIFE members. We continue to find all the Blackhorse family. was another success. The reunion brought Blackhorse troopers every week. Several of our members have sons and together troopers from all units of the reg- Our quartermaster store is very popular daughters or grandchildren serving in the iment from 1966 thru 1972. Many met old with our members and continues to do a military. As always, keep them in your friends. Some met buddies for the first great business by offering a variety of thoughts and prayers. Take a minute and time since leaving Vietnam. Fifty-six insignia products. Items are featured in offer your hand to thank them for their troopers attended their first reunion. They each issue of “Thunder Run” and on our selfless service. These young men and vowed it wouldn’t be their last reunion. All website. The quarterly newsletter contin- women in uniform contribute daily to the went away having made new friends. ues to deliver news and information to our security of our great country. We thank Planning is under way for the 2010 members with a variety of articles, many them.. reunion in Washington, DC, August 25-29. of which are submitted by our members. ALLONS! – It’s good to be “Together This is our 25th annual reunion. The The website continues to be a source of Again”. “Silver Anniversary”. The Grand Hyatt information for our members. The website Washington is located in the heart of offers a central location for current infor- 2010 Newsletter Deadlines Washington just blocks from the White mation about this organization. The schol- House, the National Mall, museums, mon- arship program continues to thrive thanks The following are the due dates to sub- uments and many more attractions. Please to the support of our members. mit articles for Thunder Run read the separate article on the reunion for The success of the organization is due ideas and suggestions to help you plan First Quarter 2010 ..........Jan 15 in part to the group of reliable and dedicat- your trip. Second Quarter 2010 ......Mar 25 ed volunteers who work every day to Third Quarter 2010..........Jun 25 You can help make this another suc- ensure the continued success of this organ- Fourth Quarter 2010........Oct 1 cessful reunion by keeping a few things in ization. But the