PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT - Blue Spader Blue Spaders

26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
BLUE SPADER Newsletter
PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT
“LET HIM BEAR THE PALM WHO HAS WON IT”
From the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment
Greetings Blue Spaders
As we enjoy another edition of our newsletter, I ask all to remember our Blue Spader brothers and sisters
serving in Afghanistan in the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry. The battalion is well into a dispersed
deployment and a complex and critical combat mission. I know I share your pride in these fine Soldiers
and their families.
Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment, Mike Abbey, is heading a committee to determine a
meaningful way for our Association to recognize these Blue Spaders when they redeploy from combat.
If you have ideas or would like to assist Mike, contact the HSGMOR. We want to let our Soldiers know
how special and important they are to us and the Blue Spader heritage.
Brian Cundiff, former Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, has formed another committee to prepare
nominations for the election of the next Honorary Colonel of the Regiment and head of our Association.
We will hold the election at the next Association business meeting in August 2014. Nominee
information will be published in the newsletter prior to the business meeting. If you would like to serve
or help, contact Brian.
Our annual reunion in Colorado Springs, CO, was a great event. Even with brush fires forcing last
minute schedule changes, the hotel, transportation and activity staffs made our visit comfortable and
enjoyable. White water rafting, visiting the USAF Academy and cogging to the top of Pikes Peak made
for lively discussions and great pictures. At our banquet, GEN Paul Gorman reminded all of us how
blessed we are to be part of the history of a great regiment. My thanks go out to all of you who
volunteered to make the reunion happen. My lasting memory of this gathering will be more than 20
Blue Spaders who attended their first reunion.
Our 2014 reunion will take place 13-16 August, 2014, in Asheville, NC. We will base out of the Crowne
Plaza Tennis and Golf Resort. More information will soon be posted on our web site.
Our 2015 reunion is being hosted by the veterans of C Company and they are busy selecting dates, site
and activities. We are looking for a company group to host in 2016. Contact me or the HSGMOR to
discuss hosting.
ONCE A BLUE SPADER, ALWAYS A BLUE SPADER
John Brown, HCOR
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"
!
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26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
FROM THE HONORARY SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE REGIMENT
Fellow Blue Spaders...What a great week in
Colorado Springs! Lot’s of old friends we haven’t seen
in a minute, and plenty of Spaders attending their first
reunion (including my (some would say much) better
half). Best of all was seeing all the young Spaders at
dinner and during the evenings; we really need a push
to keep the momentum going. To that end I’ll be
working with some of you to figure out how best to
reach the active Spaders, a task made more difficult by
the unfortunate announcement that the BDE at Knox is
scheduled for deactivation (or possibly
“reorganization”). The fight to keep the colors active
rests in the hands of those a wee bit more connected
than I, but I breathe easy knowing we have fighters like
GEN (R) Gorman and the HCOR LTG (R) Brown in
the thick of it.
I’ve already contacted a fellow Spader, SGM James
Beller at Knox to help me start working the reception
for the Spaders as they return, more to follow. As he’s
still on active duty he has about a million and one
things going on, so the onus is really on us to figure this
thing out – any and all ideas readily accepted.
I’ve been asked by the current Spader 7, CSM Vic
Fleek, to try and put together a listing (and hopefully a
picture) of the former Regimental / Battalion Sergeants
Major. I can go back a few years to CSM Dietrich (no
picture) but we will definitely need a hand in getting
the names (and again, pics??) of those before that time
and the general dates they served in position. So, please
rack your brains and send me the info so we can get this
worked out for Vic. His intent is to match the pictures
of former CSMs to the former commanders in his
Battalion AO. I personally think it’s a great idea, and
would like to see it complete well before the issue of
where the colors will next reside is settled.
Again, I am honored to serve as your HSMOR, we
had a great time in Colorado this year, and are really
looking forward to Ashville in 2014 (my lungs are
definitely looking forward to remaining at sea-level).
Hopefully the college schedule will work out and we’ll
have another first-time Abbey in attendance!
Mike Abbey, HSGMOR
Once a Blue Spader, ALWAYS a Blue Spader
*********************************************************
Report of Amendments and Changes to the By Laws of the 26th
Infantry Regiment Association voted June 22, 2013 at the
Association’s Annual Business Meeting, Colorado Springs, CO.
Article One of the By Laws is replaced in whole by the following:
The Association shall hold its Annual Meeting in conjunction with
the Annual Reunion. Expenses incurred by the Annual Business
Meeting are not to be considered reunion costs. The expiration of
term of service of the HCOR and HSGMOR to coincide with the
investiture of the newlt appointed HCOR and HSGMOR shall take
place at the annual meeting of the Association
Article Seven is added to the By Laws
Article Seven:Compliance with Section 501(c) (3) Internal Revenue
Code
a. No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the
benefit of, or be distributable to, any of its members, trustees,
officers or other private persons, except that the Association shall be
authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered
and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the
exempt purposes.
b. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be
the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence
legislation, and the Association shall not participate in, or intervene
in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any
political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for
public office.
c. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the
Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to
be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax
under section 501 (c) (3) if the Internal Revenue Code, or the
corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an
organization, contributions to which are deductible under section
170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding
section of any future federal tax code.
Editor Note: remaining changes will be published in
subsequent issues.
The Blue Spader Newsletter is a quarterly publication of the 26th Infantry Regiment Association, a non-profit organization
(501.c.19). It is distributed as a service to members and friends of the Association. Issues are published in March, June, September,
and December. For membership details, contact Tom Galvin, 26th Regiment Association, 88 Hillside Blvd., #301, Daly City, CA
94014 or call 703-599-6480. Annual membership is $15. Association website: www.bluespader.org. The editor reserves the right to
edit all articles for grammar, content, and length to ensure a quality newsletter.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"
!
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26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
Deployment
Under Infantry Blue skies more than 800 Blue Spaders gathered to case their unit colors during a ceremony at Fort Knox
on May 8, 2013.
This symbolized the battalion's readiness for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, where the ‘Blue Spaders’ will be
teamed with Special Forces units, with a mission of building stability throughout various Afghan villages.
“The last four times the Blue Spaders deployed, we fought in one hot spot of a country… this time we will fight in all of
them at the same time,” said Lt. Col. William Jacobs, commander 1st Bn., 26th Inf. Regt.
To ensure they maintain their honor and reputation, the 1st Bn., 26th Inf. Regt., has undergone months of rigorous training
highlighted by multiple night air assault raids and numerous live fire exercises.
“We have spent the past several months honing our skills at putting the wood to the enemy,” Jacobs said. “We can call for
fire, integrate effects of attack aviation, fast moves and indirect fire simultaneously and when necessary we can render aid
to keep each other alive until the MEDEVAC arrives.”
During the ceremony Jacobs took a moment to share, with the Blue Spader spouses and attendees, what his unit is fighting
for.
“The Blue Spaders have a very long and honorable history. Our history is written not just in words but in our own blood
and relentless pursuit of the enemy. We go where others will not and we do what others are afraid to do,” Jacobs added.
“The honor and the history of the Blue Spaders is in our own hands. We owe it to those who have gone before us to
maintain our honor and great reputation.”
After the ceremony, the Blue Spaders immediately opened a new chapter in their proud lineage as they began deploying to
Afghanistan over the next weeks.
In his final address to the Soldiers of the 1st Bn., 26th Inf., Regt., Col. Bill Ostlund, commander, 3rd IBCT, made his
confidence in his Soldiers known.
“The team before you is trained, competent, confident, and committed,” Ostlund said. “An oft quoted Athenian Oath is
appropriate- It states: ‘I will not disgrace the Soldiers arms, nor abandon the comrade who stands at my side; but whether
alone or with many, I will fight to defend things sacred. I will hand down my country not lessened, but larger and better
than I have received it’.”
“The Blue Spaders will no doubt live this oath or something similar. The Soldiers before you are charged with a simple
task- Deploy with honor- and redeploy all – with honor,” said Ostlund.
LTC William Jacobs,
commander 1st Bn.,
26th Infantry
Regtiment, and his
senior advisor,
Command Sgt. Maj.
Victor Fleek, case the
battalion colors during
a ceremony at Fort
Knox’s Brooks Field
May 8, 2013.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"
!
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26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
2013 Regimental Reunion
Our Intrepid Arkansas River Rafters!
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“No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"
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26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
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“No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"
SUMMER 2013
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26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
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SUMMER 2013
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
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26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
From: Wreathea & Bill O'Hara
Dear HCOR John,
As you know Bill & I take care of Bob Stryker's grave
site, and are good friends with his brother John, (who
we call Jack). When ever their is something news
worthy that has to do with Bob Stryker we try to let the
Blue Spaders in our e-mail list know. Some addresses
have changed and so it comes back undelivered. But
we also ask those that get it to spread the word.
After reading the Spring 2013 Blue Spader Newsletter
we realized that you were not on our list, for this we are
sorry for, so we are writing to let you know that this
past February Jack Stryker donated Bob Stryker's
MEDAL OF HONOR to the 1st Inf. Div. Museum.
Jack invited us to his house to be there when it was
done, we had a nice talk with the two gentlemen that
came to pick it up and they told us that it would be in
Ft. Knox for the Blue Spader's Ball in March and also
that they hope to take it to Colorado to the reunion. It
was sad to see it go, we have had it since 2003 and
displayed it every chance we had to do this. But Jack is
getting older and we are also and he wanted to know it
had a good home before he died and didn't end up in his
kids attic.
We still have the Medal of Honor flag and Bill will take
it to all parade's he is asked to or any other function that
they ask to have it at.
Regards,
Wreathea & Bill O'Hara
*************************************
WREATHEA & BILL
Thanks for the update on an important piece of Blue
Spader history. The museum is a good place for the
MoH to reside and be shared.
Thanks to both of you and Jack for keeping Bob
Stryker's memory and service before so many of our
fellow citizens.
Blue Spader
John
Community Honors Fallen Blue Spader
More than 40 years after Army
Specialist Thomas Feldhaus died in
a helicopter crash serving in
Vietnam, a ceremony was held in
Greeley, Colorado to award
Feldhaus a posthumous Purple
Heart.
didn’t know why Thomas never
earned a Purple Heart.
"We miss him. And that's something
you never get over 40-some years
later," said Don Feldhaus, brother of
Thomas.
Thomas' death report shows a
checked box that reads "non-battle."
Don and his siblings have been
spending the better part of a decade
doing research and interviews to try
to figure out what happened on
They knew their brother died in
combat on October 21, 1969, but
!
"We just love him, and we
appreciate that he sacrificed for
America," Don said.
The brothers think that because
Thomas didn't die in the helicopter he later died of cardiac arrest in a
hospital - an error was made.
"The lightbulb went off, well, Tom
doesn't have a purple heart. Why?"
Don asked.
So he started an exhaustive process
he describes as detective work to
get his brother the award he
deserved.
Back in December, word finally
came that Thomas had earned his
Purple Heart.
On Saturday, 18 May, people lined
bleachers on Armed Forces Day for
a special posthumous ceremony in
honor of Thomas Feldhaus.
Editor Note: two of Thomas’s
brothers attended the reunion. It
was an honor to meet them.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
7
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
General Gorman urges more involvement in capturing and recording regimental history.
At the reunion in Colorado
Springs, we were honored to have
one of our former commanders,
GEN Paul F. Gorman, speak to us
at the banquest. Following are
excerpts from his speech:
Over the years I have chosen
to support this Association by
researching the history of the
26th Infantry Regiment, writing
about its soldiers, and doing
what I could to encourage
vetera ns to reco rd their
experiences for the benefit of
future Blue Spaders. I am here
tonight in pursuit of th ose
objectives.
One reason for our coming
together is to memorialize those
Blue Spaders who by their deeds
earned for this Regiment a
virtually unparalleled reputation
for excellence. But by the
Constitution of this Association,
we are also dedicated to informing
soldiers now serving in the 26th
Infantry about their predecessors,
thereby supporting the purposes of the
U.S. Army Regimental System…"to
enhance combat effectiveness through a
framework that provides the
opportunity for affiliation, develops
loyalty and commitment, fosters an
extended sense of belonging, improves
unit esprit, and institutionalizes the warfighting ethos.”
I n m y BLUE SPADERS
1917-1967, I focused on just
three years among the more than
100 that the Regiment has been
on active service, but I did so to
help readers to understand what
made the 26th Infantry stand out
among similar infantry units over
all those years. Let me zoom in
even further to describe
leadership in just one company,
Charlie Company, 26th Infantry,
in three very different eras:
!
1917-1918. ln the AEF of 1917 Llster, both of Company C. Ferry
two out of three priva tes, six out of
ten noncommissioned officers, and
five of ten company commanders
had no prewar service. Lieutenant
Rexie E. Gilli am, who had been
commissioned from the NCO corps
when the Nation mobilized in 1917,
c o m m a n d e d M a j o r Te d d y
Roosevelt's Company C. In April
1918, to meet a strong German
thrust at the boundary between the
French and the British armies, the
26th was withdrawn from a quiet
sector on the Western Front, and
marched to reinforce the French at
Cantigny.
On 18July the First
Division was ordered east from
Cantigny to attack into the flank of a
German salient south of Soissons.
Losses were heavy in the 26th
Infantry: the regimental commander
was killed, as was h is 2d in
command. 62 of its 86 officers fell
dead or wounded, and of the
regiment's assault strength of 3000+
on 18 July, there were on 23 July,
despite replacements, less than 1500
effectives. Afterwards Captain Rexie
Gilliam was cited in Regimental
Orders (the equ ivalent of the modern
Silver Star) as follows:
was commissioned from ROTC, and
joined the 26th lnfantry in 1941.
Murdoch remembered Ferry as "older,
and more deliberate than other
captains, but he paid attention to
details, and was genuinely fired up
about infantry training and infantry
tactics. He was a large man, and he
had the respect of every man in his
company. Ferry himself wrote after
the war that "we had trained hard in
England and according to British
standard s it was 'better to have 10
percent casualties in training than to
have 50 percent in combat.' We used
close-in support fires and made battle
training as realistic as possible. l was
never so proud of a group of men in
my life as 1 was when we went into
Normandy. You couldn't tell the
veteran from the recruit. They were
that good." Ferry led Company C
out of the Normandy
beachhead,
across France and Belgium, and
penetrated Germany's West Wall, the
Siegfried Line. He was a principal in
the attack at Stolberg that won for the
lst Battalion the Presidential Unit
Citation, but he was captured there,
and spent the rest of the war as a
POW.
1st Lieut R. E. Gilliam, N.A., 26th
Inf. Led his company over the top
four consecutive days. On the last
day he was severely wounded. His
splendid example at ail times kept
the morale of his men at the
highest point. His coolness and
judgment saved his command on
several occasions.
Donald W. Lister took over
Company C after Ferry. He had
reenlisted at Pearl Harbor for the
26th Infantry, landed in North Africa
as a private, then rose quickly through
the ranks, winning a Silver Star and
lieutenant bars, then leading a
platoon during the conquest of Sicily.
Lister led Company C ably through
the Hürtgen Forest and the fierce
defense of the north shoulder of the
Bulge at Bütgenbach. Company C
opened the regiment's
counteroffensive in January 1945,
and attacked with the 26th across
Germany into Czechoslovakia. Frank
Murdoch recalled the final offensive
in the Harz Mountains:
1944-1945. LTC Frank Murd och,
Cavalry, USA , batta lion and
regimental commander from
Normandy
through
Czechoslovakia, rated two company
commanders above all others he had
observed in action: Captain Alan.
B. Ferry, and Captain. Don ald. W.
“No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!" !
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26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
1 9 6 6 . Yo u r s p e a k e r t o o k of the story of the Blue Spaders, maneuver can be depicted
command of lst Battalion, 26th
Infantry in June, 1966 as its
soldiers approached the end of
their one-year tour in Vietnam
(the battalion had arrived
together the previous
September). Among our first
officer replacements was Captain
Jim L. Madden, whom I assigned
to command Company C. Under
Madden, the company became
known for its uncanny ability to
find the elusive enemy, and to
fight decisively. 1 wrote in his
efficiency report that::
"Madden put squads to jobs that
in other outfits were assigned to
p l a t o o n s , a n d m a n e u v e re d
platoons as though they were
companies. He was a masterful
tactician, a determined trainer,
and a stickler for detail on what
soldiers carried and how they
cared for their equipment 1
cou Id count on him to be
immediately on my radio net
when 1called him. He knew how
to use mortars, artillery, and air
support. Above ail, he was a
fighter."
Jim L. Madden was an
exceptionally tall officer -6'8"- a
graduate of USMA, Class of
1961, who volunteered for the
26th from the staff of an
aviation unit near Saigon.
Throughout August and
September, the turnover in his
company was high, and Madden
saw to it that training was
intense du ring its combat
actions. The company mastered
airmobile operations, and
learned both by day and by
night to operate along the roads,
in the triple- canopy, riverside
jungle, in rice paddies, and
through the dense underbrush
of second growth forest.
for their history in the Balkans,
Iraq, and Afghanistan has only
begun to be told . These vignettes
talk to only a few deployments
among many over the regiment’s
history. The soldiers who served
during all these, who serve today
and will continue to serve,
deserve to have their history
written, achievements described,
mistakes analyzed, leadership good
and poor remembered. And
preferably, such history ought to
come from a soldier who was there,
not from a reporter.
by
animated icons on maps or photos.
I also believe that lt is a fact that
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry in recent
years spawned impressively facile
Power Point Rangers
for whom
using iBook software would
be
second nature.
Writing up combat experiences is
good for the Regiment, and it is good
for an author. Many veterans have
found authorship genuinely
therapeutic. Th e First Division
Museum at Cantigny, Illinois can help.
And this Association stands ready to
assist.
To help an author, records of more
Paul F. Gorman
recent Blue Spader operations ought
to be richer: TRADOC can recover
official records, maps and even
overhead imagery from Operations
in OIF and OEF; comms with
families from overseas were daily
occurrences, and these included
cell-phone, still and motion imagery.
Publishing today ought to be much
easier, given the advent of eBooks
and iBooks, and the readiness of
both the First Division Museum
and the George C. Marshall
Foundation to post multi-media
narratives in eBook format on
their respective web sites.
I speak from personal experience,
having authored
and published
two iBooks describing operations
the 26th Infantry based on the
writings, sketches, maps and
photographs of veterans. One
iBook, STOLBERG 1944, has been
for sale by the Marshall
Foundation in the past year on
iTunes for less that $5.00. The
second book THE BATTLE OF
THE MONS POCKET, is free on
iTunes. I believe that anyone who
can produce a PowerPoint slide
deck can author such a multimedia, interactive
eBook,
including sound
tracks and
imagery, still or motion, black and
white
or full color, Moreover,
2013. But that is hardly the end
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
9
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
God, Beer, & Country
July 1969
While serving with Bravo
Company in the November Platoon of
the 26n' Infantry I had a strange beer
party. Back home, we always drank
Pabst Blue Ribbon on the 4th of July
and to tell the truth whenever we
could get it. It was our gang's way of
celebrating big occasions and if the
sun was up it was a big occasion with
us. InVietnam special treats varied as
to where one was located... if you
were stationed in Saigon you could
get pretty much anything you wanted
(for a price;) if you were in a base
camp like Lai Khe, it was dependent
upon what the PX had in stock...they
always had Black Label, and if you
were in the "boonies" things were
pretty much limited to ice cream or 2
cans of beer, for each man, once a
month...given someone didn't steal
the special treat.
Which is what happened
more often than not, so whenever we
would get beer in the field I always
drank my fair share. I don't want you
think I was reckless with my life by
this conduct, because as with most
situations they are not always what
they seem at first. Some of the men in
my platoon would not drink a beer, no
matter where they were...they
professed it to be a religious sin.
Being a God fearing man, I could
understand this very well and was
more than happy to relieve them of
their allotted two cans of beer.
While other guys just would not
drink beer in the field for fear that
"Charlie" would catch them with
their pants down and blow them
away. This is another, very good
reason not to drink in a combat
situation.
I combined my belief in
God and my fears of Charlie killing
me into an interpretation that went
something along the lines of this: If
God did not want me to drink these
'two" beers, he would have never
let them make it to the field, and
further if Charlie was going to
shoot me I would rather be drunk.
There is little in the Army Code to
support this logic, but considering
these were desperate times and our
division motto-' N o Mission too
Difficult, ..." I did my best to serve
my Lord and country. This
particular day, I almost over did it.
As we were sitting in the
midday sun consuming our treats
and stocking up on C rations, water,
and ammo for the next three days of
mission, I consumed no less than six
PBR's and was feeling no pain,
when someone yelled "Gooks!!!"
By this time in country,
I had
learned not to jump until I k n e w
where I was jumping to. My buddy,
Tony Compton, of Grundy, Virginia
had seen the gook and wanted to
chase after him.
Tony was the kind guy who
liked action and was not afraid of
much. He asked if I would go with
him and by then I was leading the
way down the trail. Something I
would have never done if l had not
have been under the influence. Tony
was our point man and always led
the way; the two of us together had
faced death a few more times already
than I wanted.
As a rifleman, I usually
walked second or later in platoon
file and did not really care much for
the action. As we chased the gook
down the trail he became frightened
and dropped his AK-47 on the trail
and keep on running. I stopped and
picked up the gun as Tony caught
up to me. Tony wanted to continue
the pursuit. I figured we had
achieved our mission. The two of
us were about 500 meters away
from the rest of the platoon, in
jungle, and in addition, I r ealized I
had left my rifle back at the
resupply point. So we headed back
to the rest of the guys.
I kept the AK-47 with me the
rest of the mission and when we
returned to Fire Support Base,
Oklahoma, stashed the gun with the
rest of my personal belongings. The
next mission out to the field was
uneventful for the most part, except
while we were walking back into the
support base I found an M-16 laying
SUMMER 2013
in the Rome plowed jungle. I now
had the makings for a great fireplace
mantle display when I returned home.
All I had to do was mail the two guns
back to the States and then a "crossed
rifles" salute would be mine.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y, o r
fortunately, some of my buddies
convinced me to turn the M-16 into
the authorities so its owner could
be identified. We were working in
an area that had seen a lot of
combat over the years and their
belief was the owner probably had
given his life for the cause and
maybe the gun would help identity
him. Or he was for sure in trouble
for losing the weapon. Either way, I
felt it my duty to turn the M-16 in.
Two months later I got off
line and spent the rest of my days
picking up trash and burning crap
at the support base. In my off time,
I took a stick of C-4 and heated up
the AK-47's barrel to remove it
from its chamber. I continued to
disassemble the weapon until I had
it in as small pieces as possible. I
wrapped the pieces up in an army
towel and placed them in a
cardboard box and marked "lamp"
and free mailed it to my home.
After the package had left the base
I realized my elderly parents might
open the package when it reached
my home. I immediately sat down
and wrote my Dad a letter telling
him not to open the package mark
"lamp" until I returned home
because it was a surprise for
Christmas.
My package beat the letter
home by a week. My sister, a nun,
who was home visiting at the time
when the mail came decided to open
the package for Christmas so
everybody could see the Vietnamese
lamp.
Boy were they surprised!
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
10
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
Good Reading...
▪ In 2002, Pulitzer Prize winning author Rick Atkinson opened his trilogy on the U.S. Army’s battle against the
Germans in World War II with “An Army at Dawn,” his account of the war in North Africa. He followed in
2007 with “The Day of Battle,” on the fig11hting in Sicily and Italy, Now, he completes the trilogy with “The
Guns at Last Light,” the war across France and the Low Countries into Germany itself. In your editor’s
opinion, Atkinson does a magnificent job in telling the story from two views -- The Big Picture, as seen by
generals poring over their maps, and the Down And Dirty, the view from the foxhole in the pouring rain. And,
unlike many historians of World War II in northwestern Europe, Atkinson pays attention to the bloody (if
unheralded) fighting in places like the Hüertgen Forest and the Colmar Pocket.
The Blue Spaders - Vietnam: A Private's Account : History of the 1st Infantry Division in Initial
Days of the War [Hardcover]
Carl W. Bradfield (Author)
Amazon Review says: “This is a great first-person account of the initial optimism that the U.S. military took to
South Vietnam in 1965/66 during the early days of our troop buildup there - and the maturation of a young
soldier while in combat. To me, as a contemporary of Mr. Bradfield both in age and military experience at that
time, his personal story of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, already a legendary part of the Big Red One, is a
latter-day real-life version of the fictional Civil War story, The Red Badge of Courage. It should be read by
anyone seeking a no-nonsense account of what Vietnam combat was all about from an infantry GI's viewpoint.
In closing, all I can say to Mr. Bradfield is to echo the words of WW II war correspondent Ernie Pyle and say:
"Thanks pal!"
Links of Interest
Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
www.ausa.org
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Benefits: www.vba.gov/VBA
For more information on the Blue Spader Association visit http://www.bluespader.org
Below are web-sites that provide information on Veterans benefits and how to file/ask for them.
War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center - New Jersey http://www.wri.med.va.gov/
GI Bill Web Site http://www.gibill.va.gov/
Veterans Benefits Administration Main Web Page http://www.vba.va.gov/
Veterans Legal and Benefits Information http://valaw.org/
VHA Forms, Publications, Manuals http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/
VA Fact Sheet http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/gwfs.html
VA Health Care Eligibility http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/home/hecmain.asp
Establishing Combat Veteran Eligibility http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?
pub_ID=315
Directory of Veterans Service Organizations http://www1..va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=view
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
11
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
Note: We have delayed publication of Summer Newsletter hoping to
receive a releasable mission summary from Spader Forward. However,
nothing forthcoming, so we have gone to press. HCOR will continue to
work with the Rear-D Commander to try and get info. We understand they
are performing an extremely unique and difficult mission. Keep them in
your prayers.
Check your membership status and information on mailing label
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
12
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
Taps for Blue Spader Heroes
• Howard A Wieners, PFC, Life Member #388;
WW II - B Co, November 1943 - October 1945
• James V. Patrella, Corporal, H Company
WWII (France, Belgium, Germany and Czech
Republic). Life Member#731
WELCOME to NEW MEMBERS
CPT Eric Shumpert, Cdr Fox Company, 1-26 Infantry, Fort
Knox, KY. LIFE Member # 2097
Dick Miner, SGT, 1968-69 Vietnam. Member #2096
Richard Bartels, 1LT 1965-66 Fort Riley, KS and
Vietnam. Member # 2095
John Feldhaues, brother of SP4 Thomas Felhaus
KIA in Vietnam 1969. Associate Member #2094
Sabino Rubio, CPT, HHC 1969-71 Augsburg, GE.
Member #2089
Carmen Vasquez, SP4, RTO Vietnam 1969.
Member #2091
Kenneth Quade, CPT, Plt Ldr, Vietnam 1965-66.
Member #2090
Jesus Novoa, SGT, Baumholder, GE 1960-62.
Member #2042
Richard Whaley, SSG, 1967-68 Vietnam; Life
Member #2098
Lloyd Jennings, Jr., 1954-55, Bamberg, Germany
Member #2099
SUMMER 2013
Association Contacts
HCOR
John Brown
brownjmiii@aol.com
HSGMOR
Mike Abbey
Michael.W.Abbey@gmail.com
ADJUTANT
Tom Galvin
(Membership & Finance)
TomGalvin.26thInfantry@gmail.com
703-599-6480
Supply Room
Laurie Wolfe
1021 Moore Road, Columbus, GA 31904
lwolfe26@knology.net
Commo Chief
Luke Rogers
lrogers@erfw.net
Editor
Mike Menser
BlueSpaderEditor@centurylink.net
For members who prefer using the postal
system over email, the Blue Spader
Newsletter Editor can be reached at:
M.W. “Mike” Menser
!
!
8967 Cobble Crest Ln
!
Sandy, UT 84093
or just email to:
BlueSpaderEditor@centurylink.net
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
13
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUPPLY ROOM PRODUCT PRICE LIST
ITEM
PRICE
Baseball Cap—White, 1 or 4 color logo (circle “1” or “4”)
$6.00
Baseball Cap—Blue & Khaki with 26th Infantry Patch
$6.00
Brothers Forever Patch
$2.50
Bumper Sticker—1st ID—WWII, CW, RVN, Desert Storm
$3.00
Bumper Sticker—26th Infantry Regiment
$3.00
Coffee Cup (10 oz)
$10.00
Coffee Cup (16 oz)
$12.00
Foam “Coolie” (for drink cans)
$2.00
Tie Pin—26th Infantry Regiment
$1.50
Tie Bar—26th Infantry Regiment
$1.50
Tie Pin—1st Infantry Division
$1.50
Bracelet/Necklace Charm—26th Infantry Regiment
$1.50
26th Infantry Regiment Patch (large)
$5.00
26th Infantry Regiment Patch (small)
$3.00
Miniature Crest—26th Infantry Regiment
$1.50
Miniature Crest—1st Infantry Division
$1.50
License Plate—1st ID with 26th Infantry Regiment
$12.00
Window Decal (inside)—1st ID with 26th Infantry Regiment
$2.00
Window Decal (outside)—1st ID with 26th Infantry Regiment
$1.00
Window Decal (outside)—26th Infantry Regiment
$1.00
#
26TH INF
BLUE SPADERS
Pocket + $ 1.00
$$$$$1.00 $1.00
“A” = no pocket
“B” = logo placed above pocket
“C” = placed on pocket
“D” = no pocket
“E” = logo placed
above pocket
“F” = placed on pocket
Only for Association members! Send order to:
Laurie Wolfe
1021 Moore Road, Columbus, GA 31904
EMAIL: lwolfe26@knology.net
DO NOT SEND money. You’ll be billed for the items and postage.
NOTE on all clothing items. One or four color embroidered design. PLUS (if desired) one line location where you served with the 26th INF. (e.g. WWII, VIETNAM, GERMANY). Indicate choice.
CLOTHING TYPE
SIZE (Circle)
COLOR (Circle) PRICE DESIGN PLACEMENT
T—Shirt Short Sleeve
S M L XL
White / Ash
$10.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
T—Shirt Short Sleeve
2XL 3XL
White / Ash
$12.50
A
B
C
D
E
F
Polo—2 Button w/Collar
S M L XL
White / Ash / Lt. Blue
$17.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
Polo—2 Button w/Collar
2XL 3XL
White / Ash / Lt. Blue
$19.50
A
B
C
D
E
F
T—Shirt Long Sleeve
S M L XL
White / Ash
$12.00
A
B
C
D
E
F
T—Shirt Long Sleeve
2XL 3XL
White / Ash
$14.50
A
B
C
D
E
F
Cardigan
One size fits all
White / Ash
$17.00
A
Sweatshirt
S M L XL
White / Ash
$17.00
A / D (See note above)
Sweatshirt
2XL 3XL
White / Ash
$19.50
(See note above)
Hooded Sweatshirt, with knit cuffs and muffler pocket. With or Without zipper front (circle with or without)
S M L XL
2XL 3XL
White / Ash
$30.00
$32.00
(See note above)
Lined/Unlined Jacket (Please circle size, color, and with or with-­
out lining)
S M L XL
2XL
3XL
Black White
Lined Unlined
$30/$25
$32/$27
$34/$29
(See note above)
Necktie (A) (DUI) Blue Spades
Left Picture
$20.00
Necktie (B) Regimental Coat of Arms
Right Picture
$20.00
D
!
QTY
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!"!
14
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2013
26th Infantry Regiment Association
Membership Application [Eff:8/17/2013]
Do Not Use This Form to Renew Your Membership
PLEASE PRINT
Name_________________________________________________________ Spouse/“Other”________________________
Mailing Address:_____________________________________ City, State, ZIP:
___________________________
Phone:________________________ E-Mail:______________________________________________________________
Company(s) assigned to with 26th INF__________ Dates:___________________ Location(s)_______________________
Duty Assignment with 26th INF_________________________ Most Recent Rank:______ Current Active Duty: (Y)
(N)
Permanent Address (if different)_________________________________________________________________________
Permanent City, State, ZIP:_____________________________________________________________________________
Current Profession/Occupation/Assignment:_________________________________________________________________
! When!implemented,!I!would!like!to!
Signature_________________________________________Date:____________
Dues Enclosed________ Contribution:_________
Total________________ (Tax Deductible)
receive!my!Quarterly!Newsletter!by!!
[!]!US!Postal!Service,!or!
[!]!Direct!EMail!
MEMBERSHIP #_____________________(office use only)
Complete and mail with check to: 26th Infantry Regiment Association, 88 Hillside Blvd., # 301, Daly City, CA 94014
Annual Dues: $15. After 12 months of membership, renewable every January.
Life Membership: Non-Active Duty $250. Active Duty
E1-E5: $100;
E6-E9: $150;
WO1-O3: $250;
O4-O10:$300
Former Honorary Colonel of the 26th Infantry Regiment COL (Ret.) Rudolf H. Egersdorfer
will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday 23 September 2013 at 0900
hours.
COL Egersdorfer passed away earlier this year on 17 February 2013.
The official Arlington National Cemetery webpage lists daily burial schedule for current date
and one week in advance. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/FuneralInformation/DailySchedule.aspx
For further information, contact __ BlueSpaderEditor@centurylink.net or Joanne at:
Rheger26th@aol.com
!
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!
!
15
26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION%
SUMMER 2013
Honoring their father, George Wolfe, his daughters,
Laurie and Amy, “The Wolfe Cubs”, have re-opened
the Blue Spader Supply Room.
Place orders by email to lwolfe26@knology.net,
or write to: Laurie Wolfe
1021 Moore Road, Columbus, GA 31904
This service is available only to members of
26th Infantry Regiment Association.
26th Infantry Regiment Association
88 Hillside Blvd, #301
Daly City, CA 94014
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Burke, VA 22015
Permit #119
!
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First” !
16