Summer - Society of the 1st Infantry Division

3rd Brigade returns home from Afghanistan
Remembering the fallen on Memorial Day
A
P u b l i c a t i o n
o f
t h e
65th Anniversary D-Day Page 10-11
Story of an “old Army” Corporal Page 11
Page 2
Page 5
S o c i e t y
o f
t h e
F i r s t
I n f a n t r y
D i v i s i o n
40 Years ago: Vietnam, 1969
3 Bandido Charlie veterans remember
the Battle of Binh Long Province
Following are the stories of three C Co, 1/16th Inf veterans: Al Herrera,
Ron Mackedanz and Phil Greenwell. Each has taken the time and effort
to have his history in Vietnam recorded, each in a different way. Herrera’s
story is from his self-published book, Mackedanz’s is from his online
memoir written with the help of a friend, and Greenwell’s was part of a
video oral history project sponsored by the First Division Museum.
An excerpt from Blood and Sacrifice a history of the 16th Inf.
Operation Kentucky Cougar
Aug 7–Sept 20, 1969
U.S. Army photo, SPC Shantelle Campbell, 4th IBCT PAO.
The intelligence indicators
were that [Sr COL Nguyen Thoi
Bung’s 9th PAVN Div] might strike
areas along Highway 13 between
An Loc and Quan Loi from bases
across the border in Cambodia.
That area was now the AO of the 3rd
Bde, 1st Cav Div, since that division
had assumed responsibility for
Binh Long province….To counter
the 9th Div plans around An Loc,
MG Elvy B. Roberts, commander of
the 1st Cav Div, initiated Operation
Kentucky Cougar. In late July, LTC
Cassels’ 1st Bn, 16th Inf was placed
under the operational control of
the 11th Armored Cav Regt and
moved north on Highwy 13 to help
the cavalry block the eastward
movement of the 272nd and 273rd
Regiments.
Photo courtesy of Ron Mackedanz.
The Situation
Above: Bandido Charlie on the move, checking out local rubber tree harvest workers,1969.
ments. The first major action was
a battle five kilometers northwest
of An Loc on August 12. For the
five days prior to that mission, the
1/16th (for this mission consisting
of the HQ Co, and A and C Companies only) was primarily utilized to
secure a series of FSBs in the areas
between Quon Loi and An Loc. On
Aug 10, [2nd Plt, Bandido Charlie,
C/1/16th Inf], in coordination with
an ARVN company from the 4th Bn,
9th ARVN Regt, conducted an air
assault near An Loc. The combined
U.S./ARVN force, accompanied
by LTC Cassels, went into a LZ
defended by NVA troops. Cassels
recalled that this landing was the
“hottest LZ I was ever in. I’m sure
Cav riding on the tops of the C Co
the chopper took bullets as it rose
tracks (APCs).
from the LZ.”
Upon landing, the Iron Rangers
Battle of Binh Long Province
immediately
engaged an NVA unit
Aug 12, 1969
As taken from his book
and killed 23 of them. Four enemy
Over the next 30 days, the Iron
Reaching An Loc
soldiers were captured, and,
Rangers fought two major actions
“singing
like
turkeys,”
indicated
In June 1969 CPT Greenwell
and numerous minor engageth
that units of the 9 Div were indeed assumed command of Charlie
moving into the area.
Co, 1/16th Inf (M). The vehicle
The next evening, Cassels
crew CPT Greenwell inherited was
assembled his battalion, less
composed of SPC Ron Mackedanz,
Olson’s A Co, at FSB Allons II
driver, SPC Albion Kalchik, Track
about eight kilometers north of An
Commander (TC), SPC Dennis
Loc, as the RRF for the 11th ACR.
Daughdrill, PVT Mike Renshaw,
Given the diminished size of the
the RTO, the Artillery Forward
Iron Rangers for this operation,
Observer, 1LT Knutsen, and the
[COL James Leach, CO, 11th ACR]
assistant Forward Observer, SPC
th
th
attached D Co, 5 Bn, 7 Cav, that
Siegel (the baby FO).
afternoon
to
Cassels
to
give
him
I was due for R&R so I left
At Left: MG Vincent Brooks
st
additional
firepower.
Even
with
the
the
company at the end of July to
receives the 1 Div guidon
additional rifle company, Cassels
return to Lai Khe. CPT Greenwell
from GEN Charles Campbell,
commanded
just
over
300
men
for
told me to let him know about my
commanding general of the
the
impending
operation.
trip and visit with my wife in Hawaii
U.S. Army Forces Command.
While
C
Co
guarded
Allons
II,
when I returned to the company.
Brooks assumed command
Olson’s A Co pulled security for
I told him that I would. We had
of the Division 15 April.
FSB
Eagle
II,
there
to
counterattack
no idea that it would be 30 years
Below: MG Brooks. U.S. Army Photo.
By SGT Cody Harding, 1st ID PAO
an enemy force that had attacked
before we had a chance to discuss
Public Affairs, acting CG of the 1st
The task of leading the 1st
the fire base a couple of hours
my trip to Hawaii.
Cav Div and deputy commander of
Infantry Division was transferred
earlier.
I arrived back in the company
III Corps and Fort Hood, TX, stated
to MG Vincent K. Brooks, April 15
Moving in the darkness, the
area in Lai Khe on Aug 10, 1969.
during an assumption of command that he was proud to return to the
battalion’s elements linked up
The company XO told me that the
BRO, where he learned his leaderceremony at Cavalry Parade Field.
at Eagle II about dawn without
company had deployed north to
ship skills as a young company
More than 700 Soldiers repreencountering the expected enemy
the An Loc area. I could not leave
commander during the Cold War.
senting each 1st Div subordinate
resistance. Cassels then decided to
alone as there was nothing travelWiggins, who served as acting
unit were assembled as Brooks
move along the enemy’s suspected
ing in that direction to accompany
commander of the Big Red One for
assumed command of the Big Red
withdrawal route to the southme. The next day, Aug 11, 1969, I
nine months, will be assigned as
One from BG Perry Wiggins.
west. The Iron Rangers moved
noticed that the company had not
the deputy commanding general,
Brooks, whose service has
out with Olson’s A Co in the lead,
taken the “water buffalo” (a water
Fifth U.S. Army North at Fort Sam
spanned 29 years and includes
[CPT Phillip J. Greenwell’s] C Co
tank extremely essential for our
Houston, TX.
positions as the Chief of Army
following, and the troops of the 7th
Continued on Page 6...
N O M I S S I O N T O O D I F F I C U L T. N O S A C R I F I C E T O O G R E A T. D U T Y F I R S T !
Al Herrera’s Story
Former BRO officer assumes command of Division
Society of the First Infantry Division
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3rd Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan:
Welcome home from a job well done!
U.S. Army Photo.
U.S. Army Photo.
U.S. Army Photo.
Kunar Province, Afghanistan
SSG Jean-Francois Frenette, 416th Civil Affairs Bn, 351st Civil Affairs
Command, pulls security in northeastern Afghanistan, 19 April. The
team organized contracting services and provided funding for the
building and repairing of schools, roads and bridges in the area.
Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Trp,
6th Sqdn, 4th Cav, 3rd BCT, 1st Div, set up a security
perimeter in northeastern Afghanistan on 19 April,
to allow their Soldiers to safely cross a bridge. The
troop was acting as a security element for a team
of Soldiers from the 416th Civil Affairs Bn, 351st Civil
Affairs Command, San Diego, CA, who was assessing
damage to a school roof in a nearby village.
U.S. Army Photo.
U.S. Army Photo.
Konar Province, Afghanistan
U.S. Army Photo.
Operation Viper Shake
A Soldier with 6th Sqdn, 4th Cav, 3rd BCT, pulls
security outside a new boys school, in the Kunar
province of northeastern Afghanistan, while a team
of Soldiers from the 416th Civil Affairs Bn, 351st
Civil Affairs Command, San Diego, CA, inspects the
structure, 17 April.
U.S. Army Photo.
Afghanistan (April 6, 2009) – Army PFC William Drikell, scans the
valley walls for suspicious activity during a combat patrol near
the village of Walo Tangi, in Konar province, Afghanistan, April 6.
Driskell is a member of 2nd Plt, C. Company, 1st Bn, 26th Inf, 1st Div.
B Co, 1st Bn, 26th Inf Soldiers hike at elevations above
2,500 meters during Operation Viper Shake in the
SPC Andrew Harvey, a native of San Diego,
Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, 21 April in order to disrupt
CA, realizes he still had hours of climbing
ahead, as he stared up at the mountain peaks violent extremists operating in one of Afghanistan’s
most hostile areas.
overlooking Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley,
during Operation Viper Shake. Harvey is an
infantryman with C Co, 1st Bn, 26th Inf.
4th IBCT completes rotation at Nation Training Center
Act of heroism saves lives; Soldier earns Silver Star
FORT IRWIN, CA – Military
police with Headquarters and
Headquarters Co, 4th Bde Special
Troops Bn, 1st Infantry Division
trained their notional Iraqi police
counterparts while at the National
Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA,
3 June.
During the training, IPs
learned how to properly conduct
vehicle and personnel searches,
set up traffic control points, run
detainee operations, and safely
and effectively enter and clear a
room.
The 4th Infantry Brigade
Combat Team is expected to
deploy to Iraq later this summer
in support of the Global War on
Terrorism.
Soldiers of 2nd Bn, 32nd FA, 4th
IBCT, evacuate an “Iraqi” Soldier
during a training lane in a
village at the National Training
Center, Ft. Irwin, CA. The brigade
completed a 30-day rotation, its
final major training test before
the “Dragon” Brigade deploys to
Iraq in late summer/early fall.
U.S. Army Photo.
By SGT Todd Goodman, 3rd BCT, 1st Inf Div
4 June 2009
Fort Hood Sentinel
PFC Robert Debolt became a member of an exclusive club on
28 May, when he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry.
An infantry rifleman with the 2nd Bn, 2nd Inf, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 1st Infantry Division, Debolt was on patrol in the Maywand
District of Afghanistan when his vehicle struck an improvised
explosive device. Debolt dragged himself out of the burning
vehicle and extinguished the flames that covered more than half
his body before going back for his trapped teammates.
Debolt fought through his pain and helped pull his teammates
from the burning vehicle, refusing to leave them until he was
nearly incapacitated from his own wounds and shock. His actions
helped save the life of one of his fellow Soldiers and helped
prevent serious injury to another.
- Story above from article by SPC Shantelle Campbell, 4th IBCT, PAO.
2
Bridgehead Sentinel
U.S. Army Photo.
Keeping up with the 1st Division
1st Brigade Combat Team continues to prepare for the hand
off of the transition team training mission this September to Fort
Polk, LA. Once that mission leaves Fort Riley, the brigade will
build to a heavy brigade combat team.
Iraqi Soldiers stand in formation with Soldiers of the 1st Combined Arms Bn, 18th Inf, 2nd HBCT, 1st Inf Div,
Multi-National Division (at left). The JSS transfered to the Iraqi Army with a ceremony highlighting the
security agreement signed between the U.S. Government and the Government of Iraq.
2 BCT prepares for transfer of authority in Iraq
nd
of JSS Hurriyah have deterred area
violence.
U.S. forces under MultiNational Division-Baghdad handed
over another joint security station
to Iraqi Security Forces in a ceremony June 9th. The 1st Combined
Arms Bn, 18th Inf, 2nd Heavy Bde
Combat Team handed over Joint
Security Station Hurriyah II to the
1st Bn, 22nd Bde, 6th Iraqi Army
Division, 9 June, in the Kadamiyah
district of northwest Baghdad.
Since October, elements of the
Vanguard Bn lived and worked
with the Iraqi Soldiers in a joint
effort to help secure the population of Kadamiyah’s Hurriyah
neighborhood. As the security in
Iraq improved, the two governments decided it was time for the
U.S. Army Photo
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team
is in the process of transferring
authority back to Iraqi forces and
the Iraqi people as conditions
continue to improve and infrastructure is rebuilt. Control of joint
security stations (JSS) is being
relinquished back to the Iraqis in
implementation of articles of the
security agreement that went into
effect 1 Jan 2009.
An historic event took place
30 May when Soldiers of the 1st
Bn, 18th Inf “Vanguard,” 2nd Bde
Combat Team, transferred JSS
Hurriyah to the Iraqi Army’s 1st Bn,
22nd Bde, 6th IA Div. Hurriyah was
once a spot perforated with sectarian violence, causing many families to leave. Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF) and U.S. troops working out
SSG Jeffery Eaken, 1st Combined Arms Bn, 2nd Bde, 1st ID demonstrates
how to properly lay the dismounted 120mm mortar tube while
members of the 17th IA Mortar Company observe. The exercise was to
demonstrate the division’s proficiency in combined operations to key
Minister of Defense and Iraqi Security Forces leadership.
Summer 2009
3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (REDEPLOYED) this
Spring continued to push counterinsurgency operations throughout the provinces of Nangarhar, Nuristan, Konar and Laghman,
as well as Kandahar. The focus was on border security, protecting supply routes, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division final predeployment site survey, Afghan National Army relief in place and
conducting operations to disrupt the enemy.
The Brigade began redeploying from Afghanistan in June and
will be back at Ft. Hood, TX by the end of July. They will then
transfer to Fort Knox, KY by October.
4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers in the 4th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team returned to Fort Riley in mid-June following a 30-day rotation at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin,
CA During their time at NTC, Soldiers participated in numerous
exercises and drilled in various components of full-spectrum
operations, including combat patrols, combined operations and
battle drills. The NTC rotation is the culmination of training in
preparation for the brigade’s upcoming deployment to Iraq.
1st Combat Aviation Brigade will be completely housed at
Marshall Army Airfield. The brigade’s final segment—1st Sqdn,
6th Cav, a Kiowa Warrior Squadron, will arrive officially at Fort
Riley in June. The first components of the “Fighting Sixth” will
touch down at Fort Riley in early May, said MAJ Scott Spradlin,
squadron S-3. At full strength, Spradlin said the squadron will
have about 376 Soldiers and is authorized about 30 Kiowa helicopters. Only about 25 helicopters will actually end up at Fort
Riley, since some of them will be required to fill combat needs
for other units in Iraq and Afghanistan.
1st Sustainment Brigade (REDEPLOYED) officially opened
the doors of a brand new headquarters and operations complex
on 9 March. The $65 million complex took 14 months to
complete and houses the brigade’s 55,204 square foot headquarters, Special Troops Bn HQ, company operational facilities and
motor pool. The 1st Division HQ Bn and 1st Div Band also moved
into buildings within the complex.
U.S. Army Photo
2nd BCT Soldiers prepare Iraqi Army
division’s combined arms live fire exercise.
ISF to take more responsibility.
The transfer of JSS Hurriyah I by
the Vanguard Soldiers also demonstrated the U.S. commitment to
returning Baghdad to its citizens.
On 10 June, C Trp, 5th Sqdn,
4th Cav, 2nd Bde Combat Team
was part of a ceremony transferring authority from them to Iraqi
soldiers of the 3rd Bn, 54th Army
Bde, 6th Inf Div as a direct result of
the Iraqi Security Agreement and
the teamwork of the Iraqi Security
Forces, Coalition Force and the
Iraqi people.
“The transfer of JSS Kahdra is
another way of validating the work
Iraqi Security Forces have done
with the aid of Coalition force for
so long,” said CPT Maxwell Scott,
an intelligence officer assigned to
C Trp. “This ceremony not only
represents the advent of a modern,
more unified Iraq, but it also signifies the strength of the Coalition
Forces to work with the citizens of
Iraq to develop a brighter future.”
Teamwork and selfless service
by the troops at JSS Khadra have
greatly improved the security in
Baghdad and made it possible for
the Iraqi Security Forces to meet
the terms of the Iraq Security
Agreement and take full control of
the security in Khadra.
Ghazaliyah, once known as
one of the most dangerous areas
in Baghdad, had many local
citizens concerned about security.
Recently, Ghazaliyah has become
much safer, due in part to the
security efforts of the Coalition and
Iraqi Security forces.
“Over the next month, Coalition forces will be moving from
the cities, leaving the responsibility of security totally to the Iraqi
Security Forces,” said LTC John
Richardson, commander of 5/4th
Cav. “Although the transition has
not technically transpired, I must
say the Iraqi Security Forces are
performing admirably.”
Although U.S. troops will no
longer be at these joint security
stations, they will continue to
support the ISF. The ISF will take
greater roles in the security situation, to fill the void that will be left
by Coalition forces.
2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team (DEPLOYED) A group of
volunteers in Washington participated in the “Hugs from Home”
project and sent 7,000 gift boxes to Soldiers serving with the 2nd
HBCT. Soldiers received the packages March 12 at Camp Liberty.
May 11—Through partnership with the local government, Iraqi
Security Forces and the 1/18th Inf, citizens of the neighborhood
are witnessing an improvement in their community. In a walkthrough of a busy market street in the Hurriyah neighborhood
in northwest Baghdad, various Iraqi television stations met with
civic, tribal and security leaders, as well as 2nd HBCT leaders, to
see a cleaner environment and thriving shops.
The brigade is scheduled to redeploy in October 09.
New model UH-60M Black Hawks arrive at Fort Riley
The latest in aviation technology for the Army arrived at Fort Riley at
the end of April in the form of two UH-60M Black Hawks.
The 3rd Assault Helicopter Bn, 1st Avn, is the second active duty army
unit to receive the new model of Black Hawk. At first glance, the new
UH-60M Black Hawks look very similar to their sibling, the L model.
However, in the cockpit the old round gauges with dials have been
replaced with four computer monitors that can display numerous
functions to include instruments, radios or maps.
3
Rapid Fire
Fort Knox Chapter of the Society
Any member who is interested in forming a Chapter of the
Society in the Fort Knox, Kentucky area is asked to contact
the Society. A packet of start-up information is available and
the Society will provide every possible assistance. The principal reason for forming a Chapter in the Fort Knox area is to
facilitate liaison and support with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry
Division, which will be stationed at Fort Knox by October 2009.

Society NY / Ft. Dix Branch
Join the NY/Ft. Dix Branch for their upcoming Fall and Winter
brunches on 13 September and 13 December. Both brunches
will be at Sebastian’s Schnitzelhaus in Wrightstown, NJ at 10:30
am. To join the New York/Ft. Dix Branch of the Society or learn
more about their events, contact Antonio Maria at 717-5830821 or black_lions66@yahoo.com.

New Society Vice President
Command Sergeant Major Cory McCarty (Ret), who served as
the Big Red One Command Sergeant Major from 2000 to 2005
has been approved by the Society Board of Directors to serve
as 2nd Vice President of the Society in the position formerly
occupied by Sergeant Major of the Army Bill Bainbridge, who
passed away recently.

After 66 Years, BRO Veteran
Reunited With Dog TaG
“A week ago, 19-year-old Sydney Rector of the Bronx went to a
music store in Midtown Manhattan with her boyfriend, Stevin
Tyska. When they left, they were playing around in a tunnel
between 48th and 47th streets — and that’s where they stumbled
across a 66-year-old dog tag….”
So begins a great story covered by National Public Radio on
one teenager’s selfless act and the veteran it impacted. Read the
entire story at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.
php?storyId=101443140&sc=emaf or go to
www.npr.org and type “Joseph Farish” in the search box at
the top of the page.

Cantigny First Division Oral Histories
Ball State University, in cooperation with the Cantigny First
Division Foundation has completed 40 high definition video
oral history interviews with veterans of the 1st Infantry Division.
The goal of the project was to preserve the memories of the
soldiers whose military service occurred around the globe after
WWII. The interviews were conducted with veterans then residing in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. View these oral histories
and their transcripts online at http://libx.bsu.edu/collection.php?CISOROOT=/CtgnyOrHis. See oral histories by
Ken Alderson, Clark Fuller, Phil Greenwell, Dan Rogers, and
others.

Army BLOG
The Army now has a blog! Visit http://armylive.dodlive.mil/
to read the latest.

Veterans Day 2009
The Society’s Veterans Day Memorial Service will be held on
Wednesday, November 11th at 11:00 a.m. at the First Division
Monument in Washington, DC. Due to security conditions in
the vicinity of the White House, it will be held on the north
section of the Ellipse immediately south and within sight of our
monument.
The First Division Monument is located at the corner of 17th
and E Streets, Northwest, in DC, just in the shadow of the White
House. Parking in the vicinity can be a challenge, but the
monument is located only a short walk from the Farragut West
and Farragut North metro stations.
Before making final plans to attend, check the
“CURRENT NEWS” at www.1stID.org for last-minute changes
and advisories..
4
WORLD WAR II ERA
 I am looking for information
about my Dad, C. Thomas Cronin,
who was a member of the 1st
Division and participated in the
invasion in 1942 in North Africa.
He eventually became a POW
and was captured by either the
Germans or the Italians and ended
up in a prison camp in Sicily until
he finally escaped.
He never talked too much about
his involvement in the war, and he
passed away about 15 years ago. I
would love to hear from someone
who might have known him. He
was from Brooklyn, NY and did
a lot of boxing while he was in
the army. He was stationed at Ft.
Devens, MA before going overseas
for the North Africa Campaign.
I also believe he may have been
at Ft. Benning, GA prior to going
overseas. Any information would
be greatly appreciated.
Edward Cronin
391 Wanoosnoc Rd.
Fitchburg, MA 01420
sueed@verizon.net
VIETNAM ERA
 Thanks for your help with
trying to find my old battle buddy,
SP4 West. We served together first
with the 3rd Armor in Friedberg
Germany and the 3rd ID. Went to
Vietnam in 66-67 with C Co, 1/4
Cav, 1st ID, at Lai Kai. They used
to call us “Salt and Pepper” in
Germany because he’s black and
I’m white. West was tall, 6’2”
at least. I don’t remember his
first name—we always called
each other by our last name or
nickname. Thanks for your help.
Dr. John J. South
CH (COL) USA, Ret.
U.S. Army Ambassador
602-451-4611
chap54@cox.net
BRO Command Staff
visit 1ID monument
MG Brooks and 1st Division
Commanders and Staff
visit the 1st Infantry
Division Monument in
Washington DC in April.
Veterans Jim Tucker,
Clark Welch and Ed Burke
accompanied the group.
Former Danger 6 retires from McCormick Foundation
McCormick Foundation Chief
Executive Officer, David L. Grange,
retired, effective June 30th. He is
now the new CEO of Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc.
in Wilmington, NC, moving him
closer to his extended family and
his two sons on the East Coast.
“There has been no greater
friend to the First Division
Museum than Dave Grange,” said
Paul Herbert, executive director of the Cantigny First Division
Foundation, which is part of the
McCormick Foundation. “His high
standards, his passion for our
mission of telling the story of the
Big Red One, and his concern for
the veterans are essential parts of
what drives us today.”
BG Grange USA (Ret.) joined
the McCormick Foundation in
1999 as executive vice president
and chief operating officer, after
serving 30 years in the U. S. Army.
General Grange’s final position in
the military was as Commanding
General of the 1st Infantry Division.
In 2005, Grange was appointed
the Foundation’s president and
chief executive officer. Since
becoming CEO, he has spearheaded the opening of the McCormick Freedom Museum, overseen
major expansion and improvements at Cantigny Park and
Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, Illinois,
and led the development of a new
Veterans Programs initiative for the
Foundation, including Welcome
Back Veterans, a partnership
with Major League Baseball, and
Operation Healing Freedom, a
collaboration with private equity
firms and the financial community.
One of his final duties was giving
the keynote speech at the D-Day
65th Anniversary and LCVP Dedication on 6 June at Cantigny Park.
“My 10 years with the McCormick Foundation have been among
the most satisfying and rewarding
of my life,” said General Grange.
“The Foundation’s commitment to
service and to building more active
and engaged
citizens reflects
my own
belief in the
strength of our
democracy
and the power
of people and
communities.
It has been a
great privilege
to be a part
of the Foun-
dation’s work and the legacy of
Robert R. McCormick.”
General Grange will continue
to support the Society of the First
Infantry Division and the First
Infantry Division Foundation.
The First Division Museum
wishes General Grange well on
his new endeavors and will miss
him greatly. The new president
and CEO is David D. Hiller, the
past publisher and CEO of the Los
Angeles Times, positions he also
previously held with the Chicago
Tribune.
BG David L.
Grange (Ret)
presents
the keynote
speech at
the 65th
Anniversary of
D-Day event
at Cantigny.
Bridgehead Sentinel
The last full measure of devotion
Distinguished veterans and
friends of the 1st Inf Div, I can say
without hesitation that in 28 years
of active military duty, the greatest privilege I had was to serve in
combat with the Big Red One. And
if I can take a personal privilege,
serving under my Commanding
General Tom Rhame was a distinct
honor. He loves this Division, and
he embodies the motto we all
cherish: “No mission too difficult,
no sacrifice too great, duty first!”
My assignment to the Division was, well, by accident. I was
actually selected to be the aide de
camp to a rising four star, Norman
Schwarzkopf, but his early activation to CENTCOM and my assignment to staff college conflicted, and
as an alternative, I was sent to the
1st Div as the DIVARTY S-3. Little did
I know then that this turn of events
would change my life and provide
me with the greatest honor one
could hope for, to be a Soldier in
the Big Red One.
I did not come here today to
recount wars past. There are lots of
historians better able than I to do
that job. But I will relate this. When
we returned to the Iraqi desert
after the successful liberation of
Kuwait to await orders to continue
our march points north in Iraq,
the word came down from Division
that we were now authorized to
wear the division patch on our right
shoulder. Like others I retired to
my dusty tent to sew on my patch
with a sewing kit I found buried
in my duffle bag. As I sat there not
so nimbly sewing this patch on my
desert shirt, a tear rolled down
my cheek. As I thought about all
the men who had gone before and
rendered the last full measure of
devotion, soon my eyes were so full
of tears I could not see the stitches
was I attempting to make. They had
given “the last full measure of devotion” as had others in the sands of
Iraq and Kuwait.
“The last full measure of
devotion.” These words were first
said by Abraham Lincoln in the
Gettysburg Address. “The last full
measure of devotion.” Six simple
words. Six powerful words. Six
moving words. You know, lots of
people are quick to criticize the
military and American power. But
on this weekend, maybe they too
should take a moment to consider
what kind of person it takes to give
the last full measure.
Well, I’ll tell you, because I
knew those that did, those that were
willing to do so for their entire
careers, and those who serve today,
willing to lay down their lives for
our freedom. It’s a special person
willing to defend his nation from
all enemies foreign and domestic.
It is a special person who takes the
oath to do just that, going out and
meeting glory and danger alike and
then never coming home. Those are
the people we honor this weekend.
Those are the families that are
special among all families. That is
the sacrifice upon which all other
freedom you and I will enjoy this
weekend and in the years to come
is founded.
Unlike the Fourth of July,
Memorial Day is special in a different way. This is the weekend that
we remember those who gave the
last full measure. For them, it was
a total commitment. They didn’t
get to see the soccer games, they
missed the ballet recitals, and they
missed the graduation walks with
proud children receiving their
diplomas. These moments never
happened for them. They did not
have the opportunity to gracefully
age in loving relationships with
their spouses. For them, it was a
total commitment.
So sometime this weekend amid
all the barbeques, parades, special
ceremonies, and weekend gatherings; amid all the joy and laughter
and fun by the pool, I hope people
will find a quiet place and sit in
that quiet place and say a prayer
to our Father in Heaven, thanking
Him for those who gave the last
full measure, and as they do, think
about what that sacrifice means
to them. We of this great Division
know this well. America must be
reminded, which is why we do this
honorable thing and others to keep
the flame of honor burning bright.
I want to thank you for asking
me to give these remarks. Few will
remember the words spoken here
today. No one must forget the sacrifice of those who gave the “last full
measure of devotion.” Thank-you.
God Bless America and the 1st U.S.
Infantry Division. Duty First!
- Remarks given by the Honorable
L. Scott Lingamfelter at the
regular Memorial Day Service at
the First Division Monument in
Washington D.C. Lingamfelter
is President of Commonwealth
Homeland Security Foundation
and a current member of the
Virginia House of Delegates of
the Virginia General Assembly.
He is a retired U.S. Army Colonel
who served in the BRO during
Operation Desert Storm as the
Division Artillery Executive Officer.
1st Infantry Division Soldiers
Who Died During Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom
1 February 2009 – 1 June 2009
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry,
3rd Brigade Combat Team,
Fort Hood, Texas
PFC Richard A. Dewater, 21,
of Topeka, Kansas
15 April 2009
1st Battalion, 187th Infantry,
33rd Brigade Combat Team,
Illinois National Guard (Attached to
3rd BCT, 1st Infantry Division)
The23,following
SGT Christopher P. Abeyta,
of Midlothian, Illinois
businesses in
15 March 2009 the Ft. Riley
2nd Battalion, 34th Armor,
2nd Brigade Combat Team,
Fort Riley, Kansas
MAJ Stephen Hutchison, 60,
of Scottsdale, Arizona
10 May 2009
Military Training Teams, Afghanistan,
1st Brigade, Fort Riley, Kansas
Staff SGT Timothy L. Bowles, USAF, 24,
of Tucson, Arizona
15 March 2009
Business Memberships
area
PFC Norman L. Caincommunity
III, 22,
of Oregon,are
Illinois
supporting your
15 March
2009 Encourage a
Society.
business
SGT Robert M. Weinger,
24,you know
of Round Lake Beach,
Illinois
to join
the Society!
15 March 2009
Special Troops Battalion,
3rd Brigade Combat Team,
Fort Hood, Texas
SPC Ryan C. King, 22,
of Dallas, Georgia
1 May 2009
SGT James D. Pirtle, 21,
of Colorado Springs, Colorado
1 May 2009
v Briggsauto.com
CPT Brian M. Bunting, 29,
of Lueker
Potomac,Real
Maryland
v Mathis
Estate
24 February 2009
LT Florence E. Choe, USN, 35,
of El Cajon, California
27 March 2009
SGT Daniel J. Thompson, 24,
of Madison, Wisconsin
24 February 2009
LT j.g. Francis L. Toner, IV, USN, 26,
of Narragansett, Rhode Island
27 March 2009
SSG William D. Vile, 27,
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1 May 2009
They will not be forgotten
27 May 2009
Dear Larry,
This past Memorial Day, Tom Sommerhauser,
(C Co, 2/2nd Inf, Vietnam ’68–’69) represented
the 2nd Inf Assn at the wake for SPC David A.
Schaefer, Jr., C Co, 1/2nd Inf, who was killed
by an IED on 16 May 2009. The funeral was
held the day after on 26 May 2009. SGT Joshua
Logan C Co, 1/2nd Inf came from Schweinfurt,
Germany to escort the remains of SPC Schaefer.
Following is a letter sent by Tom to Larry
Grzywinski (HQ, 2/2nd Inf Vietnam, ’66–’67)
Be advised that I represented
the 2nd Infantry Association as
promised for SPC Schaefer.
It went well, I think, but I was
allowed only a brief moment with
the wife and the sister, an Airman
in the USAF. It was extraordinarily
crowed, with big shots such
as the governor of Illinois (Pat
Quinn), mayor and police chief of
Belleville, and two major generals,
et al.
SGT Joshua Logan, who
you gave me a heads-up on,
was wonderful. He gave me the
enclosed 1/2nd Inf coin, which I
promised to forward to the 2nd Inf
Regt Assn historian, you.
I loved the baseball cap you
sent, but gave it to the widow
for the step-son, who seemed to
worship the ground his “Dad”
walked on. The two children of
the marriage were quite small and
didn’t quite understand, I don’t
think.
This week has been a strain,
but the Lord moves in mysterious
ways. On Memorial Day I wasn’t at
all sure that I could cope with the
Memorial Day service at Jefferson
Barracks which I always attend,
and the visit to the funeral home
in Belleville. When my wife asked
me what time to set the alarm
for, I said, “set it for 8:00, if it’s
not raining I might go.” At 8:00 it
wasn’t raining, but by the time I
got dressed it was.
I said “**** it, I’ll go and wing
it.” Go I went, and paid a visit to
a brother, Bill Schell, who sort
of represents all of my brothers
passed. I paid my respects in
the rain, anticipated leaving and
thought, “I’m gonna drop in on
Winston.” (PVT Vincent Winston,
KIA in Afghanistan from C, 2/2nd
whose funeral I attend for the
association last year)
Hello Twilight Zone. …
Nobody else around, me, Winston
and the rain. I’m so lost in
thought, anticipating Belleville,
that I didn’t hear him coming—a
young man next to me in a T-shirt
and shorts, on his knees sobbing
his ass off. I knew right off who he
was. I’d met his father at Winston’s
funeral. I said, “You were with
him, weren’t you?”
Larry, I’m damaged goods. I
have no pretentions, but I know
that I was put there, right there,
right then for a reason. I’ll not
go into detail, but I truly feel that
I profoundly helped the young
man. (His name is Phil. He was
promoted from SPC to CPL when
he was WIA. His hands and back
had scar tissue from burns.)
We got out of the rain; talked
for almost an hour. I asked if he
would like to say a prayer and
told him the only ones I know are
Catholic. He said, “That’s OK, I’m
Catholic too.” We went over, and
as I began reciting my favorite
prayer, that of Saint Francis of
Assisi, we were joined by other
young people.
The grave site next to Winston’s
is another KIA from Afghanistan.
His widow? or girlfriend? and
others including a buck sergeant
with a 173rd patch were there.
They joined us in the moment,
and the young lady gave us two of
the dozen roses she had brought,
which we placed upon Winston’s
grave.
The young man, Phil, and
the sergeant began talking, and I
excused myself.
Phil said, although we had
not exchanged any information
whatsoever, with certainty, “I’ll see
you again!” I parted with, “I don’t
doubt it!”
Day 2
En-route to the funeral
home in Belleville, I had my first
exposure to the nut-jobs (my wife
tells me it’s some preacher from
Kansas). They and their children
were holding up signs that were
so unchristian as to be obscene.
I don’t get it, but I leaned on my
horn and flipped them the Big
Red One as I drove by. The cops
didn’t seem to mind, and for once
we were on the same side. After
the funeral ended, they had been
dispersed, but the Patriot Guard
Riders were along anyway. I made
a point of shaking the hands of
each of them while out in the rain.
SPC Schaefer had been
awarded a posthumous CIB,
Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
I was surprised to see an open
casket. The body showed no
apparent trauma but who knows.
Larry, I hope this **** ends
soon! I’ll do this for you whenever
you need me, but I sure as ****
don’t like it.
My son should be back from
his 2nd Iraq tour in August. Hopefully he’ll E.T.S. before he goes to
Afghanistan. Say a prayer for him.
Always your brother,
Tom Sommerhauser
AKA Daring Charlie Boo-Boo
- PVT Vincent Winston from the C
Co, 2/2nd Inf was killed by an IED
on 4 Sept 2008. Phil was with
Winston when he was killed. Phil
was one of four others wounded
in the blast. Tom, who had served
in the same unit exactly 40 years
earlier, attended Winston’s wake
and funeral in 2008.
Battle of Binh Long Province ...CONTINUED from page 1
6
Photo courtesy of Al Herrera.
heard that Alpha was taking fire
from the rubber trees. We were
heading west at the time and then
turned north alongside Alpha Co
into the rubber trees head towards
the enemy fire. All of our .50 cal
machine guns were firing, and
most of the men began firing their
own weapons. We were approximately 50 yards into the trees when
we began taking heavy RPG fire.
I knew our men were firing their
M-79 grenade launchers, and at
first I thought some were firing
very close to our tracks. Then I
realized that it wasn’t M-79 fire;
they were RPG rounds dropping all
around us. I began feeding ammunition to the machine gunner, SPC
Kalchik, who was firing as fast as
he could. I would give Kalchik cans
of .50 cal ammunition each time he
emptied the previous can. I know
we were hit once because I heard
the round as it hit the front of the
track. The driver, SPC Ron Mackedanz, was hit with that round. I was
in the process of handing Kalchik
another can when the next round
hit right in front of us, wounding us
both. We tumbled from the track
onto the ground. Mackedanz and
a few others reached us to help
as Kalchik and I were very badly
wounded. I didn’t realize how bad
the wounds were. We were both hit
in our upper body area. The medic
came about then and tried to stop
the bleeding from my wounds
in my upper right arm area. He
couldn’t, and I told him to leave
and treat the other wounded. He
left, and I decided then that I was
not going to bleed to death right
there and jammed my thumb into
the wound. I finally got it to stop
bleeding.
the stomach. He fell on Kalchik,
but being a large man, McElreath
regained his feet and the four men
continued on to the dust-off helicopter. I can’t recall all the men,
but I know that Mackedanz and
McElreath distinguished themselves
on this day.
I ran to the track and opened
the rear door. I saw CPT Greenwell
holding his shotgun; he had been
firing a 12 gauge. I thought he
had run out of ammunition. Thirty
years later, in Aug 1999, I met
Phil Greenwell at a BRO reunion
in Louisville, KY. One of the first
things I asked him was how come
he had run out of ammunition
so quickly on that date. He told
me that he didn’t run out; he had
dropped all the rounds on the
floor of the track and was trying
to retrieve them. We both thought
it was humorous 30 years later,
but on Aug 12, it was very serious.
CPT Greenwell maintained his
composure, rallied the company,
and repelled the enemy. On Aug
12, 1969, CPT Greenwell’s leadership throughout the action was
evident and had immense impact
o the ultimate favorable results
of the engagement. CPT Greenwell received a Silver Star for his
actions on that day.
I left the CO and looked out
across the field and saw all the
men firing. I remember one
sergeant, but cannot remember
his name. He was in the second
platoon and was just firing away.
The reason I recall this image is
because he was wearing a black
beret. I had tried to make all the
men wear their steel helmets, and
it was very clear that he was not.
I don’t fault him and never will
L-R: (?) and 1SG Alfredo G. Herrera.
We couldn’t have been on the
ground for more than two or three
minutes when another RPG round
exploded between Kalchik, Mackedanz, and myself. The second
round hit Kalchik and me. This
one hit us in the lower extremities,
somehow missing Mackedanz. By
then other men arrived to help us
and, since Kalchik couldn’t run,
four men got a litter and began
carrying him to the rear. I don’t
remember all of them, but two
of the four men carrying Kalchik
were SPC Melvin McElreath and
Mackedanz.
As the four men were carrying
Kalchik, McElreath was shot by
AK-47 automatic rifle and hit in
because he was exposing himself to
enemy fire and returning it as fast
as he could. I can still picture him.
In fact, I was very proud of him on
that day. I also saw the Battalion
CO, LTC Cassels. He was on the
ground, but I couldn’t tell what he
was doing. At a later BRO Reunion,
he told me that an AK-47 hit and
wounded his driver’s arm. The
driver could neither maneuver nor
stop the vehicle. The track began to
run erratically, causing LTC Cassels
to fall to the ground. LTC Cassels
also dropped his maps and was
picking them up, which is what
he was doing when I saw him. As
Battalion Commander he was the
instrumental officer, calling in fire,
Map from the book Blood and Sacrifice.
...Al Herrera’s Story Cont.
tracks). I was very upset and told
the XO that the company should
not have left without the water. I
found a track that was going north
to the company area and had them
hook up the water buffalo to their
track. In the meantime, I sent the
mail clerk, PFC Robert Dorris, to
get the company Jeep. Then in a
convoy of two we set out for the
company forward at An Loc. I did
not know it at the time, but the
company had been on 24-hour
alert because elements of the 272nd
and 273rd NVA Regiment were in
the area. We arrived to join the
company without incident. I told
Dorris to quickly return back to
the rear in Lai Khe. I was worried
about him but found out later that
he had made it back safely. I joined
my men and my 007 track. Most
of us remained on alert and awake
during the night.
In 2006, Herb McHenry and
Ken Cassels supplied me with
detailed information of an enemy
encounter that occurred on Aug
10, 1969, just two days before
Aug 12. 2LT George Perabo and
members of his 2nd Plt were
assigned to search and destroy a
reported NVA area. They boarded
choppers for an Eagle Flight and
traveled to the area where they
encountered and engaged in
enemy fire.
Some of the platoon members
participating were Herb McHenry,
Don Lane, Gary Hummer, Pat
Delaurie, John Hanrahan, Greg
Goldenstein, Ralph Rome, Melvin
McElreath, (Doc) Joe Gossett, and
Platoon SGT Marion Culbertson.
As the enemy fire began, the men
of the 2nd Plt returned fire, killing
several enemy soldiers and capturing four prisoners. They brought
the prisoners to the rear for
interrogation, where the prisoners provided extremely valuable
and accurate information covering
projected enemy activities.
The operation in which we
were participating was designated
Operation Kentucky Cougar.
Very early in the morning of
Tuesday, Aug 12, 1969, we joined
the Battalion Commander, LTC
Cassels and assorted battalion staff,
Alpha Co, 1/16th and elements of
Delta Co, 5/7th Cav for a combined
search-and-destroy mission. We
formed our tracks at the departure
point and proceeded to begin the
operation. We reached an area
where there were Soldiers from an
engineer unit with an AVLB (Assault
Vehicle Landing Bridge). I can’t
recall whether it was emplaced, but
CPT Greenwell told me to remain
with my track and crew of SGT
Richard Burkardt, SPC Massey, and
SPC Hill, and secure the AVLB and
the engineers. I thought this might
be boring, so I had Burkardt radio
to the command track and ask
CPT Greenwell if I could come and
ride on his track for the operation. CPT Greenwell assented, and
I ran to his track at the head of the
company column.
We were traveling on an access
road following Alpha Co when we
etc., and the maps were extremely
important. The enemy drew us in
perfectly; we could not fire flares
nor smoke through the rubber tree
canopies. We had no way of telling
the artillery and air where we were
located. It was obvious that the
North Vietnamese were very well
prepared for this engagement.
I began running to the rear. I
couldn’t hold my rifle, so I just had
my .45 cal pistol in my left hand. I
doubt if I could have hit anything,
but that was all the firepower I
had. My right arm was completely
useless. At the time I didn’t know
how much damage had been done
to my lower extremities. As I was
running to the rear, the enemy
was firing their AK-47s at us. I
could hear the rounds whistling all
around me. I would stop behind
a tree for a rest, and the rounds
would hit the trees. It was very
scary because I could hear the
rounds flying past my ears (it
certainly wasn’t like the movies). I
felt very threatened and wasn’t sure
I could make it out on my own. I
finally did and reached the area
where the wounded were being
loaded on to a track to be transported to the dust-off helicopter.
I was trying to get everyone
loaded onto the track and had
to order some of the men to get
aboard. A few wanted to stay, but
most were severely wounded and
could not have been much use
on the battlefield. Mackedanz
recalls this very well as he said I
ordered him to “get on the damned
track.” I then got on myself. I
was surprised to see my TC, SGT
Burkardt, Hill, and Massey. It was
my #007 track that was transporting the wounded! They had come
forward when they heard all the
weapons firing. They loaded and
carried us to the dust-off area
where we were boarding the choppers. I made a feeble attempt, as I
was extremely weak, to direct the
loading of the wounded. About that
time SPC McElreath got a hold of
me and lifted me into the chopper.
I didn’t, nor could I, resist. What
made me feel worse at the time
was that McElreath had been shot
in the stomach. He was seriously
wounded and still managed to
lift me onto the chopper next to
the door gunner. He was a very
heroic man on that day, and I feel
that he should be recognized for
what he did carrying Kalchik and
placing me on the chopper when
he himself was severely wounded.
For their actions I feel that both
Mackedanz and McElreath should
have been awarded a valorous
medal or citation.
Before I was placed on the
chopper, I gave Burkardt my situation book (which has been very
instrumental with dates and names
of my time in Bandido Charlie), my
pen and pencils, address book, my
holster, pistol, and my strobe light.
I asked him to send everything
home to me. He said he would.
However, I never received my pistol
or strobe. But I really didn’t think
the military would allow him to
mail these two items. I am grateful
for him and for the items he did
manage to send.
When the chopper lifted off,
they made a circle around the
ground area. I waved at my crew
and they waved back. Hill even
waved a “V for peace” sign.
What happened next was
related to me by SGT Don Baum,
also a patient, while we were at
Letterman Army Hospital at the
Presidio of San Francisco. SGT
Baum told me that Burkardt and
crew were returning to pick up
more wounded when the track
came under heavy RPG fire. They
returned fire with Hill on the .50
cal machine gun, Massey was
driving, and Burkardt was in my
place as NCOIC of the track. Hill
was hit and knocked off the track.
Massey jumped up to begin firing
the .50 and was also shot off the
track. At that time Burkardt got
off the track, picked up each man
and placed them on the track, got
in, and drove the track away as
RPG rounds were firing all around
them. SGT Burkardt received a
Bridgehead Sentinel
Ron Mackedanz’s Story
Excerpt from his online
memoir as related to and
written by Jon Lindstrand
Around the first week of
August, Bandido Charlie saddled
up and headed up Highway 13
toward An Loc and Loc Ninh. These
two areas were receiving a lot of
activity from the North Vietnamese
Army (NVA) and the Vietcong (VC).
On 12 Aug 1969 Bandido
Charlie, along with Alpha Co, and
a company from the 5/7th Cavalry,
went to bring the Cavalrymen out
toward the Cambodian Boarder.
The convoy consisted of Charlie Co
with 20 APC’s, Alpha Co with 20,
and Battalion Headquarters with
about six APC’s. There were also
about 150 men on foot with them.
They were moving through the
rubber plantations west of An Loc.
As they were going through the
plantation a couple of NVA soldiers
ran across the road in front of the
column. The Battalion Commander
(LTC Cassels) ordered four tracks
to pursue the enemy. The NVA led
them straight into an ambush. They
all turned to the right, heading
toward the ambush to provide
support for the four tracks.
Suddenly they started to take heavy
fire from the left flank. They swung
around and proceeded up a hill in
the direction it was coming from.
They were up against the 272nd
NVA Regiment with reinforcements
from the 273rd NVA Regiment. They
were dug in and ready for action.
The U.S. soldiers were outnumbered two to one.
The battle in Ron’s words; “As
we moved into the ambush site,
Alpha Co on the left, LTC Cassels in
the middle, and Bandido Charlie
on the right, we charged ahead.
The cavalry troops had dropped off
to cover our right flank and rear.
The NVA were dug in, tied up in
rubber trees, and firing at us from
every possible position. With the
Photo courtesy of Ron Mackedanz.
Photo courtesy of Al Herrera.
1SG Al Herrera and CO, CPT Sherwood D. Goldberg,
at FSB Huertgen, January 1969.
Ron Mackedanz.
Summer 2009
Photo courtesy of Phil Greenwell.
Silver Star for his quick and heroic
actions.
I didn’t know of this action
because at the time we were flying
to the aid station. We circled the
aid station area, and I saw many
enemy bodies on the wire. The NVA
had almost overrun the aid station.
Fortunately they were repelled,
but many were still on the wire,
dead. When we landed, the medics
rushed us in. Almost everyone but
me was on a litter being treated.
I was standing, leaning on a crate
or something when I began to feel
very weak. I called a medic over
and he saw my legs covered in
blood. He tore my trousers and
saw my leg was messed up and had
me lay down on a litter. I found out
then how much damage had been
done to my left leg. I was bleeding
very badly from those wounds. I
was laying there, it could not have
been more than 10 minutes, and
looked up to see Hill and Massey
being brought into the aid station!
I was very surprised and disappointed because they were both
hurt pretty bad. I looked at Hill
and called his name. All he could
manage to say was that they were
ambushed. I did not have opportunity to ask more of Hill as the
medics picked up my litter, and I
was taken to another helicopter
and transported to the 121st Evacuation Hospital and home of the 25th
Inf Div in Cu Chi.
Initial assault by Bandido Charlie on 12 Aug 1969.
Bandido Charlie Command track
leading the way, we let ‘em have
everything we had. The NVA knew
what they wanted to accomplish.
Within the first half hour of the
firefight, they took out the Battalion commanders track and both
Company Command tracks. I guess
they knew how to count radio
antennas.”
“Driving for CPT Greenwall,
I saw the first RPG go right over
my head. We were within 20 to 30
yards of where the NVA were dug
in. I didn’t see the next RPG. It hit
the front of our track, destroying
the engine. The service door in
the driver’s compartment blew
out and hit me in the shoulder. At
that point, I must have developed
tunnel vision, because all I remember seeing was little brown guys
all over in front of me. I grabbed
my M-79 thump gun (grenade
launcher) and started firing from
the driver’s hatch. I didn’t realize
at the time that there was no one
left on my track. They had all been
blown off when the RPG hit.”
“After what seemed like forever,
I crawled out of the top of the
driver’s hatch. Al Kalchik, my 50
gunner, told me just a couple of
years ago that he ran up and told
me to get the hell out of there.”
“When I got to the rear of
our track, Al Kalchick and 1SG Al
Herrera were both there. I didn’t
realize that they were both already
wounded from the initial RPG
hit. As we hunkered down for a
minute, another round came in
from somewhere. Although we
were all very close to each other,
I was not hit but Kalchick and
Herrera were both hit seriously. I
was hollering for a medic while I
was cutting Kalchick’s pant leg off
and bandaging up his wounds as
best I could. 1SG Herrera was hit
in the main artery near his arm pit.
He had shoved his thumb in the
wound to stop the bleeding.”
“Finally a medic got there and
took over. Not knowing what to
do next, but realizing that we had
nobody on our 50, I went through
the back hatch, into the track, and
up on the 50. Believe me, this was
no hero thing. It was survival.”
“Inside the track CPT Greenwell was trying to coordinate the
support. At that point he believed
that LTC Cassels was out of the
fight. After getting on the 50, I
started firing at the NVA positions.
Unfortunately the barrel on the
50 was burned out and rounds
were going all over the place.
Tracer rounds were going in six
foot circles. I got off about 100
rounds or so and CPT Greenwell
was handing me more ammo when
another RPG with my name on
it hit in the trees just behind me
on my right side. I took multiple
shrapnel hits in my right hand,
right shoulder, back, face, and the
most serious ones in the neck. The
biggest one just missed my jugular
by about a quarter of an inch.”
“I remember dropping down
inside the track saying, ‘I’m hit, I’m
hit.’ CPT Greenwell took one look
at me and said, “You’re alright
Mack, get out of here.” Years
later he told me, “You looked
pretty tough Mack, I didn’t think
you were going to make it.” I was
covered pretty heavy with blood,
some mine, some Kalchick’s.”
“When I baled out of the track,
the medic was still there working
on Kalchick and 1SG Herrera.
He bandaged my neck and hand
wounds and told me to get the
litter out of the track so we could
get Kalchick out of there. I got
the litter and we loaded Kalchick
on it. Then with 1SG Herrera
running along side barking out
orders, Mel McEldridge, I and two
other guys grabbed the litter and
started running down the hill with
Kalchick on it.”
“We hadn’t made it very far
when McEldridge took a round
thru his side that exited by his
navel. He fell, and I stumbled and
fell on him and Kalchick. We got
up, grabbed the litter again, and
took off for the medevac track at
the bottom of the hill.”
In the end Ron and the others
were medevac’d out. Ron was
choppered to the 12th Evacuation hospital at Cu Chi where they
removed most of the shrapnel from
him. “I spent a few days there and
then was sent to a convalescent
hospital in Cam Rahn Bay for a few
weeks.” Around the second week
of Sept he returned to Lai Khe and
Bandido Charlie. He had less than
a month left in Vietnam. Ron has
little recollection off his remaining time in Vietnam. A new first
sergeant tried to make Ron go out
into the field but CPT Greenwell
stood up and said “No.” Ron never
had to go back out. Ron went up
for promotion and was promoted
to the rank of sergeant just before
his tour of duty ended in Vietnam.
He left Vietnam 11 Oct 1969 and
arrived back in the U.S. on 13 Oct.
When he awoke on the morning of
the 14th there was three inches of
snow on the ground, a big change
from the jungles of Vietnam.
Phil Greenwell’s Story
Excerpt from Phil Greenwell’s
video oral history done by Ball
State University as part of the
Cantigny First Division Oral
Histories project.
Excerpt from Interview day
#2, beginning at 1:16:00
The first major gunfight was
on the 12th of Aug 1969. This was
more or less a counterattack.
We knew that the Ninth NVA
[North Vietnamese Army] Div
had come into country and were
operating and trying to attack the
province capitals, and our goal was
to interdict them and try to catch
them trying to get back out. We had
pretty good intelligence because on
Aug 10, a helicopter had spotted
a large group of North Vietnamese
soldiers. The Battalion Commander
took my 2nd Plt and air assaulted
in. I was not there; I had gone to
Quan Loi. The battalion was going
to stand down there several days
in the future; I was supposed to go
there and find out where we would
go, what the facilities were, what
we could expect, what we needed
and all that.
As we were going back, we
started picking up radio transmissions, and that’s how I found out
that my platoon had been hauled
off by the Battalion Commander.
And he air assaulted them,
captured some prisoners. The
prisoners talked freely, and that’s
where he got the intelligence information of where we might be able
to find some other guys fairly soon.
Turned out it was correct, although
we weren’t quite as prepared for
it as we thought. In analyzing it
today, I think I understand more
about what had happened but
it was a very sizable unit, probably 600, 900 North Vietnamese
soldiers. They were dug in….with
heavy weapons, anti-tank weapons,
Continued on Page 8...
7
Battle of Binh Long Province ...CONTINUED from page 7
8
find another radio and a ride to get
back in the fight.
We maneuvered up and
took the pressure off, and Alpha
Co—the bulk of their force, came
behind us…And as we got to the
top of the little rise there, that’s
when the North Vietnamese really
opened up. They knocked four of
our tracks out; mine was the first,
almost instantly. It was kind of
funny; they were shooting RPGs,
hand, shooting at the enemy. The
second RPG hit us, and it severely
wounded our gunner, Al Kalchick,
on the back on his legs, so the gun
stopped. I was on the radio by that
time trying to get air and artillery
support and talking to MAJ Harris
trying to find out why I couldn’t
talk to COL Cassels, and trying to
maneuver the company.
Mack jumped out of the track,
ran around behind, got Al down
Army a long time, and this was
his second tour. He knew things
were going to get bad pretty quick
loosing this much blood, so he
stuck his thumb in the hole, and
had the medic tape his arm so his
thumb wouldn’t come out. Saved
his own life. Stayed conscious and
directed the evacuation of all these
guys. Remarkable, remarkable.
Anyhow, they got down the hill
and the other wounded got down.
Bandido Charlie Co Command Track. July 1969.
L-R: Ron Mackedanz, guy in glasses (?), Al Kalchik,
CPT Phil Greenwell, Dennis Daughdrill, SPC Siegel.
Photo courtesy of Ron Mackedanz.
...Phil Greenwell’s Story Cont.
RPGs [rocket-propelled grenade],
recoilless rifles, heavy machine
guns. I believe their goal was to
make sure that when they attacked
Quan Loi, that reinforcements
couldn’t come down Highway 13
and couldn’t take this backroad to
come in.
Alpha Co was in the lead, and
they came to a bridge. We had
an armored-vehicular launched
bridge, which is a tank chassis with
a bridge that scissors out. They
had used this ’cause we knew we
had a stream crossing to make.
And apparently, they were having
a little trouble getting across the
bridge. Battalion Commander went
forward to hurry things up—this
is early in the morning, about 6:30
or 7 o’clock—then they got across
the bridge. Well he stayed up in
the front. When we got to this T [in
the road], the North Vietnamese
opened up, cause it’s a slight hill
going up both ways—not a real
valley now—but a very slight rise
either way. On the other side of
this road, the terrain dropped off
pretty seriously. So they opened up
and knocked out the first track—
actually it wasn’t the first track, we
thought it was the first track at the
time, turns out it was the second
track of Alpha Co. Set it on fire.
Alpha Co in the meantime had
run in here and they were bunched
up, and they were fully engaged
now from both sides and couldn’t
maneuver. I remember COL Cassels
just calling me, said, “Phil, get up
here.”
We were in rubber, but …
right here to the north there was
a clear area in the rubber. Why, I
don’t know, it was clear—about
the size of a football field or so. It
was obvious that Alpha Co was fully
engaged and unable to maneuver,
they were too close together.
I had a rifle company from
the 1st Cav Div, Delta Co, 5/7th
Cav riding on my tracks with my
company, so I asked them to
dismount. We turned, dropped
these guys off, and I maneuvered
my folks up the hill and then
turned, wheeled a little bit left—
the idea being to come here, and
take the pressure off of Alpha Co
so they could get out, and to give
the North Vietnamese a real worry
that they were going to be flanked.
And it worked; Alpha Co was able
to get out.
They pulled back. Well, in the
meantime the Battalion Commander’s track had been hit, and his
driver jerked the controls, track
went back, hit a tree, knocked
everybody off. Battalion Commander’s maps went one way, he went
another way, they had to get the
driver evacuated, and then it got
hit again I think. So, I couldn’t call
the Battalion Commander on the
radio, there was nobody in—I got
no answer at all. I could talk to
battalion S-3, MAJ Jim Harris; he
was in the air in a helicopter. He
didn’t know what had happened
to the Colonel, so I assumed the
Colonel was dead. Turns out, he
was just on the ground trying to
and I remember one going right
over my head. My driver thought
it’d hit me, but it went right over
my head.
Then we got hit once, then
again. The first one blew the motor.
The second one blew the inside
out. Course it knocked us off the
track.
Learned a valuable lesson that
day. I carried a shotgun—I figured
when it was time for me to start
shooting a shotgun was about
right—but I had my web gear on
the back of my seat instead of on
my body. And of course, when I
went off, the web gear was still up
there with all my ammunition in
it. So, I was going to get that, and
a machine gun from the North
Vietnamese stitched the seat and
knocked all the shotgun shells
everywhere. I looked like a squirrel trying to gather acorns, trying to
pick shells up off the ground.
My First Sergeant, Al Herrera,
had been on R&R. He’d just got
back, and his track remained
behind to guard the bridge that we
had left to go across the stream.
And I called him up and said,
“First Sergeant, why don’t you get
up here and ride with me? And
tell me about R&R, I’m gonna go
someday.” So he was sitting right
here next to me. Well, he got hit,
an RPG hit the track beside us
and splashed out. He was trying to
help some wounded soldiers, and
it splashed out and got him pretty
good. My driver, Ron Mackedanz,
when the first one hit, it caved the
side of the APC on his right side in,
and crushed his arm a little bit.
He’s sitting on the left front,
down in the hatch. He couldn’t
come back through the track, he
was going to have to go out the top
to the front where the enemy was.
He had an M-79 grenade launcher,
and he was using that with one
out of the gun hole. And got him
back and they were working on
him. Another RPG hit that wounded
Al again—both Als, Al Kalchik
and Al Herrera—medic came,
Mack got up on the gun. Al had
shot the riflings out of the barrel
so he couldn’t hit anything with it,
but I handed him some ammunition anyhow. Another RPG hit and
splashed Mack all down the side
up here, and he dropped out of
the hatch, screaming, “I’m hit! I’m
hit!” I grabbed him, and I looked
at him and said, “Mack, you’re all
right.”
He said, “Oh.” He was fine
then. He wasn’t all right, but, he
helped get the wounded down the
hill. I told First Sergeant, “You get
these guys down the hill.” I didn’t
realize the First Sergeant was
wounded as bad as he was; it didn’t
show exactly.
Actually what had happened,
the second RPG that had hit
had sent shrapnel up under Al’s
arm and cut this artery, and the
medic couldn’t stop the bleeding.
And Al knew—course he’s First
Sergeant—he’d been around this
Forward Observer and I finally
got down, but I was down to one
shot left, and he was about out of
ammunition. He got shot in the leg.
I had gone forward and thrown
a couple of grenades, ’cause I
needed to see a little more of what
was in front. And, moved forward
in front of the track—stupid,
stupid amateur, stupid mistake.
Rubber plantations—every tree
has its own water trap; it’s just
on one side of it. Well there was
this North Vietnamese soldier. He
was just right in front of us, right
behind this tree, and I walked
right past him. And he stabbed
me just barely, I didn’t even know
he’d done it. I knew he’d came at
me, and I shot him. I didn’t know
for two days that I had a cut here
cause it didn’t hurt. But anyhow,
got back behind the tracks after
that. That was a really stupid move.
But I did see what I needed to see,
and I knew that we were not going
to be able to hold right here where
we were, and we needed some air
and artillery.
Was not allowed, I had talked
to MAJ Harris on the radio, was
not allowed to fire air artillery, gun
ships, nothing, no fire support.
They said that one of Alpha
Co’s tracks was missing, and we
couldn’t shoot for fear of harming
our own soldiers. Well, as soon
as I heard that, I got hold of my
Weapons Plt, my mortars, and
instructed them to start knocking
trees down. If nobody else was
going to let me shoot their stuff I
was going to shoot mine. ’Cause I
could see, and there was no Alpha
Co track where I was going to
shoot. But we couldn’t knock the
trees down, and we didn’t have
enough plastic explosives to blow
it, so that didn’t work either.
Anyhow, FO got shot in the leg,
I grabbed him, put him on my back
and we went down the hill. Stupid
soldier’s humor. We kept falling
down, was trying to go down a hill,
you know, bullets are whizzing by,
and he says, “You know, the only
reason you’re carrying me is cause
that way I’m behind you, and they’ll
shoot me first.” And then we kept
falling down and he says, “You’re
going to kill me! You just keep
falling down!”
And then we got most of the
way down, and it dawned on both
of us at the same time, it was just
like a revelation, because Alpha
Co had reformed on the road,
and the 5/7th Cav soldiers were
interspersed in between the Alpha
Co tracks. And he said, “You know
Sir, if just one of those guys thinks
we’re VC they’re going to chew us
alive. Everybody’s going to shoot at
us.” So we were just, “Oh please,
don’t mistake us for the bad guys.”
But turned out everything was okay,
they didn’t.
For more of their stories
Watch or read the entire interview with Phil Greenwell and other
1st Division veterans at the Cantigny
First Division Oral Histories
section on the Ball State University
web site at http://libx.bsu.edu/
collection.php?CISOROOT=/CtgnyOrHis. Read Ron Mackedanz’s
memoir online at www.usmhc.org/
biographies/Ron_Mackedanz.pdf.
To order a copy of Al Herrera’s
book, Reaching An Loc, see the
BRO Books section on page 15.
- All three stories were edited by
staff for space and content.
After action sweep of the battlefield, 13 Aug 1969.
Photo by Norm Hardin courtesy of Ron Mackedanz.
Bridgehead Sentinel
We thank all who have responded to our requests
for support of our Scholarship FundS. Your
generosity will enable us to fulfill our obligation to
the children of all Big Red One soldiers who lose
their lives in combat—over 180 children to date.
Following is a list of contributors to the 1st Infantry Division Foundation Scholarship Fund from
1 February 2009 – 15 May 2009. Duplicate names
indicate additional contributions.
1st Infantry Division Foundation
Scholarship Funds
Melvin Lewis
Cecil W. Hallock
COL John M. Spiszer
LTC Gilbert N. Conforti
Albert N. Pike
MAJ Howard S. Stanfield
Rafael C. Trevino
LTG Orwin C. Talbott
MAJ Joseph Batistoni
BG John R.Gallagher, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. William Bruce
Vernon Torkelson
United Health Group
Alfred Clausen
Charles R. Bockes
Albert H. Pike
Office of the Division
Command Sergeant Major
MAJ Joseph M. Batistoni
JC Realty Group, LLC
CPT Wilmer K. Benson
Mrs. Claire B. Hathaway
Richard K. Grubbs
Kenneth L. Whitson
Bill W. Mielke
LTG Ronald L. Watts
BG John R. Gallagher, Jr.
Arthur Mark Lee
COL Mark Slominski, Ret.
LTC Lionel V. Wilburn
Fred A. Crane
Dick E. Harman
COL Max L. Waldrop, Ret.
United Health Group
MAJ Joseph M. Batistoni, Ret.
Wallace E. Chapla
Larry Blair
LTC Gil Conforti
Thomas P. Jordan
Mark E. Scott
Joel Quinn
Fort Riley Officer and Civilian
Spouses’ Club
E. Lawrence Adams, Jr.
BG John R. Gallagher, Jr.
COL James B. Carvey, Ret.
MAJ Joseph M. Batistoni, Ret.
LTC Charles R. Thomas
SGM Albert N. Pike
Ted Tragarz
Louis Marsico, Jr.
SFC Dennis Laliberte
James A. Krucas
Joseph D. DeRossi
In Memory of
Beverly Deaton
John B. Deaton
John B. Deaton, Jr.
Marc H. Deaton
In Honor of COL Karl
W. Robinson, Ret.
Stuart A. Deaton
In Memory of
Matthew Hirsch
New York/Fort Dix Branch
In Memory of
Chester Karwinski
New York/Fort Dix Branch
In Memory of Stuart
Quigg in the name of
Robert DeSilva, Speaker
of the Year for 2008
Society for International
Affairs
In Memory of Fred
Mager, Joe Devine,
Paul Mencinskas &
Gilbert Pizano
Ray Albin
In Memory of
Mrs. Gene Kling
Mr. & Mrs. William C. Maher
In Memory of
Lena Douglass
Robert C. Douglass
DePuy Scholarship Presentations
In Memory of
Charles Stimmel
New York/Fort Dix Branch
Certficates of Award of Scholarship were presented to the children of MSG Anthony Davis on 17 April
2009 in Dumphries, VA by COL (Ret) Ed Burke, Society Excecutive Director. (L to R: Marc Davis, Ed
Burke, Diana Davis, Kayla Davis and Mrs. Anna Davis). SGT Davis was killed in Iraq on 25 Nov 2008
while serving in the Military Transition Team, 1st Bde.

Mrs. Dena Yllescas accepts the Certificate of Award of Scholarship for her
daughters, Julia and Eva Yllescas, at a ceremony at Fort Hood, TX in Dec
2008. The certificate was presented by BG Mark McDonald. Her husband,
CPT Robert J. Yllescas, lost his life on 1 Dec 2008 in Afghanistan while
assigned to the 6th Sqdn, 4th Cav, 3rd BCT.
Mrs. Starlia Dawson accepts the Certificate of Award of Scholarship
from MAJ Gregory Stokes on behalf of her daughter, Diamond Diggs at a
presentation ceremony in North Las Vegas, NV in March 2009. Her husband,
SGT Ezra Dawson, lost his life in Afghanistan on 17 Jan 2009. At the time of
his death, SGT Dawson was serving in 1-26 Inf, 3rd BCT.
Scholarship Fund
Yes . . . I want to help the children of our BIG RED ONE Soldiers! Here is
my TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution to the Scholarship Fund!
$15
$30
$60
$100
$150
Other$
Name
Address
City
Phone(
)
State
Zip
E-Mail
Please make your check payable to: 1st Infantry Division Foundation.
Mark it “Scholarship Fund” and mail it to:
1st Infantry Division Foundation, 1933 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422.
Mrs. Melinda Wilkey and her children, Blayke Wilkey and Christian Wilkey,
receive Certificates of Award of Scholarship from MAJ (Ret) Ed Bensman
at their home in Elkhart, IN on 21 March 2009. Their sister, Alexea, was
napping at the time of the presentation. Her husband, PFC David Wilkey,
was serving in 1-28 Inf, 4th BCT at the time of his death on 18 June 2007.
Summer 2009
Your contribution is 100% deductible for income tax purposes.
NOW Contribute online! Visit www.1stID.org and click
on “Foundation” then “Contributions.”
9
U.S. Army Photo.
Commemorating
D-Day, June 6, 1944
By BG Vincent K. Brooks
CG, 1st Infantry Division
6:30 a.m. June 6, 1944. Omaha
Beach. A 16-year-old Soldier who
falsified his birth certificate so he
could join the Army is anxiously
awaiting his landing on the beach
head. The ramp lowers. Soldiers
of the 16th Infantry Regiment
courageously move forward, as
they have trained many months to
do. Many die on the first step.
PVT Joe Argenzio follows
Memories of D-Day
By Stephen Kellman
I enlisted in the summer of
1942. I took the ferry across New
York harbor to Ft. Jay (Governors
Island). Little did I know that after
Basic Training that I would be
assigned to L Co, 3rd Bn, 16th Inf,
1st Div.
12 thousand of us were on
the Queen Mary. I was on D-deck
below the water line. It only
took us three and a half days to
make port on the River Clyde in
Scotland. After a long train ride,
I arrived at L Co. It was just one
company in a Hamlet called Long
Bredy.
We trained for the rest of the
year and into 1944 for the assault
on the Normandy Beaches. We
were trained in all the special
jobs—putting together the Bangalore Torpedoes, using the flame
thrower, and placing the satchel
charge in the aperture in the pill
box we were to attack. The RAF
had supplied excellent photos of
the beach we were to land on. In
addition, I had an 8 ft. aluminum
ladder in 2 sections that we were
to use getting across the tank
ditch.
We left Long Bredy for the
Marshalling Area in the woods
near Weymouth (where we
boarded the Empire Anvil a
British ship). Originally we were
set to hit the beach on June 5th
but the weather was so bad it was
called off before we were getting
prepared for the assault. On June
the 6th we were called on deck
and ordered over the side to the
landing nets at about 3:30 in the
morning. The weather was terrible
and the English Channel was very
rough. You learned very quickly
that you didn’t grab the horizon-
10
the advice shouted by a fellow
Soldier and bails over the side of
his landing craft, since the open
ramp of the landing craft seems
to have been replaced by a wall
of machine gun bullets trained
accurately on everyone in the boat.
The water is over his head. His
comrades are falling all around
him. His helmet, rifle and ammunition are lost in the cold, choppy
waters of the English Channel.
Joe Argenzio, fighting by not
quitting, survives the bullets and
the water and makes his way
ashore. He takes cover behind
obstacles on the beach, then
scrambles to the relative safety
of a sea wall that provides some
relief from the constant barrage
of bullets from German machine
guns. Argenzio grabs a weapon
and ammo from a dead Soldier
and after some inspiring words
from the 16th Infantry’s regimental
commander COL George Taylor,
the men of what would later be
called the “Rangers” begin to
make their way inland. When they
secure a German blockhouse on a
hill overlooking the beach, a sign,
hastily created, points the way
ahead with the words—“Danger
Forward.”
For the Division there had
been other “D-Day” assaults—
North Africa, Sicily. But this one
was unlike any other, before or
since. The veterans—sergeants
and officers—taught newly
arrived Soldiers how to fight and
how to get the advantage over
the enemy, no matter the odds.
Many sacrificed their lives but the
Division accomplished nearly an
impossible mission while heroes
felt they were only doing their duty.
Another chapter was added, not
only to the Division history, but to
human history.
Those Soldiers of yesterday
are not unlike our Soldiers of
today. They come from diverse
backgrounds and blend together
as exceptionally capable units.
They train to accomplish a variety
of missions and are extremely
creative in the process. They are
guided and trained by a cadre
of seasoned combat veterans.
They persevere against all odds
and make the impossible happen
routinely. The Big Red One
Soldiers of today are engaged in
battles for freedom far from the
comforts of home. They are some
of the best this generation has to
offer. And they serve honorably,
as heroes, just as those who have
gone before them have done. It is
a legacy our Soldiers build upon
and will continue to build upon,
adding their stories to those of the
Big Red One who have gone before
them.
Though our war fighting
capabilities have changed dramatically in the past 65 years, one
thing about this division has not
changed—the heart, the spirit, the
camaraderie, the professionalism
and the bravery of its Soldiers. The
warriors who stormed the beaches
of Normandy on D-Day lived by the
same motto our Soldiers serving
in Iraq and Afghanistan live by
now and sang the same song we
sing today. As we reflect on the
honorable service and sacrifices
this June 6th, let us also rededicate
ourselves to the legacy passed to
us and carry on the heritage in our
service—No Mission too Difficult.
No Sacrifice too Great.
Duty First!
tal rope because the man above
you would be stepping on your
hand. Also the little landing craft
was bobbing up and down in the
water, while the landing nets were
banging against the side of the
ship. That combination, plus all
the equipment we were carrying,
made it more difficult.
Our British Coxswain did a
great job in getting us to the beach
(although it was the wrong one).
When we got into the landing craft
we had to assemble with the other
landing craft, so we went around
in circles until all the craft were
ready for the run to the beach. Our
craft and two others made it to
the beach. I learned later that the
other two were sunk. I believe they
were swamped by heavy seas.
I zigzagged across the beach to
the safety of a small cliff. I got rid
of the ladder because we were not
on the right beach, and the ladder
was not needed. We were pounded
by the German 88’s and machine
gun fire from the machine guns
in pill boxes above the beach.
After some time the 88’s landed
very close to me and killed the
man next to me. It knocked me
down but otherwise I felt fine. Our
Executive Officer came along and
said we were moving inland up a
draw that had been opened. When
I stood up to follow LT Cutler,
I fell down. I had no feeling in
my right leg. I tried standing up
again, and I fell again. LT Cutler
said, “take your legging off.” I
did, and that is when I saw blood
and the wound. LT Cutler said to
stay put and wait for an Aid Man
to look at my wound. At that time
LT Jimmie Monteith was directing
a tank to fire at the strong point
that was holding up our advance.
LT Monteith was killed and was
awarded the Medal of Honor.
There were only 79 member of L
Co that made it across the beach
alive. Many of those who
didn’t make it
were part of
the L Co that
invaded North
Africa and Sicily.
Later that day
an Aid Man put
me on his back
and ran down to
the waters’ edge
where an LCVP
took me out to an
LST that had an
operating room.
We pulled along
side and then
lowered four ropes
that were put
around the handles
of the stretcher.
The only problem
was that the sailors
on one side pulled
faster than the
other sailors, and
I almost slipped off
(circa 1943).
the stretcher into the
Stephen Kellman in England
English Channel.
Once safely on board
It was then that he offered
they cut all the clothing I was
to shave me. I was too groggy to
wearing off, and I went into the
operating room. When the doctors refuse him, but when he took out a
straight razor, I began to doubt my
were done, I was taken below to a
answer. He did a wonderful job,
seaman’s bunk. I learned that the
and I complimented him asking
crew was at General Quarters, so
that I wasn’t denying the seaman of if he had been a barber before
joining the Navy. He said that he
his bunk.
had worked for his uncle, and I
I then found that the LST
asked if his uncle was a barber.
had not off loaded the tanks that
He said no and mumbled somewere on board. As a result the
thing that I couldn’t hear. When
off loading didn’t take place until
I pressed him he told me that his
D-Day +3 and we didn’t get back
uncle was the town’s mortician, he
to England until D-Day +5. The
had learned to use a straight razor
seaman also brought me someshaving the corpses.
thing to eat. A bowl of cold peas
After about six weeks in the
was all he could find. I didn’t like
hospital I returned to France and
peas, but I ate every last one. He
rejoined L Co.
also brought me a basin of warm
water to wash my hands and face.
D-Day 65th Anniversary
in Normandy
By Bill Ryan
At 1730 hours on the 5th of
June 2009, a Memorial Service
was conducted at the 1st Infantry
Division Memorial overlooking Omaha Beach, Normandy,
France.
This Memorial Service was
arranged by Patrick Thomines,
the mayor of Colleville-surMer. Because President Obama
was going to be present at the
American Military Cemetery
located at Colleville-sur-Mer, all
of the memorial services that we
had organized were cancelled.
Mayor Thomines invited all of
the local French dignitaries
and the local civilians to attend
the services at the 1st Division’s
Memorial.
As a result of this invitation a
large crowd of French civilians
were present at the Division’s
Memorial. Also present was a
detachment from the 1st Infantry
Division, under the command of
LTC West and CSM John Jones.
Mayor Thomines gave a
short opening speech that was
translated by Fred Castier, our
French liaison. I was then asked
to say a few words.
After a short period of
silence, the mayor laid the
traditional French wreath. The
wreath from the Society of the
1st Infantry Division was laid by
CSM John Jones, Charles Shay,
Fred Castier, and CSM Bill Ryan.
After the wreath laying
ceremony, we proceeded down
the hill, to a large bunker that
was the first Command Post for
the 16th Inf and the 1st Div. On
top of this bunker a memorial
has been constructed, dedicated
to the men of the Amphibious
Engineers and the U.S. Navy
Beach Masters. After a short
prayer a wreath was laid at the
memorial.
We then proceeded to the
garden behind the Town Hall
where a short Champagne
reception was held. Once
again the Mayor gave a short
speech and then he presented
the new pin commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the
D-Day Landing to the D-Day
Veterans. He also presented a
bottle of Calvados that had been
prepared for the 65th Anniversary. As always I had to tell the
mayor about the very bad Calvados that we were given as soon
as we landed on Omaha Beach.
Epilogue: Once again the
French people showed that they
will never forget what we Americans did for them. The old folks
have passed on to the youth all
the information on what we did.
That was evident by the large
number of young people who
attended the Memorial Service.
See next page for photos of
the Normany France event!
Bridgehead Sentinel
The Corporal
By LTC Al Alvarez,
U.S. Army (Ret.)
His raucous assertion every
dark morning as he roused us
from our bunks was: “I’m your
Red-Leg Corporal! The lowest Arty
non-commissioned officer in this
cotton-picking Army! But to you,
these two chevrons mean I’m the
rat of God! If you don’t believe
that—you better be right! I ain’t
no gypsy fortuneteller, and I ain’t
promising you no tomorrow! So
get on the stick, today!”
Thus would dawn another
exhausting day of toil under this
unrelenting despot.
At night, his wheezing snores
amid the aroma of imbibed vanilla
extract emanating from his end
of the Nissen hut kept us vividly
conscious of his drunken presence. Yet no one dared awaken
him during these 6 hectic months
of a 1944 spring training period in
Dorchester, England. We marveled
every morning how that “old
sweat” could be the first up and
ready at reveille with the tightest
bunk and ODs crispy-creased. It’s
still enthralling to remember his
ironing his trousers the evening
before on his foot locker with a
heated mess pan. Then his tattooed
arms moved in continuous motion
as he spit shined his boots.
Those two stripes on his sleeve
and his two hash-marks at his
wrist fully denoted his authoritative
6 years plus of hard-bitten service.
But it was the ETO ribbon with 3
battle stars added to the red, white
and blue Silver Star for the Gela
assault in Sicily that slack-jawed us
with awe.
Here we were, newly arrived
replacements assigned to the
premier fighting division in the
whole U.S. Army; the U.S. 1st Infantry Division! This famous fighting
unit had just returned to England
from the bloody Mediterranean
battlefields of Algeria/Morocco,
Tunisia, and Sicily. The First was
one of the only battle-tested units
available for the coming invasion.
Obviously, this crusty corporal
fully comprehended what was in
store for us and what he had to do
to prepare us.
There he stood erect, hands
on his hips, epitomizing all the old
soldiers who had worn campaign
hats as they soldiered in Hawaii
and the Philippines—sporting
his red-and-green Foureguerre
our Arty Bn, The Lucky 7th, had
gloriously earned on the blooddrenched fields of France in WWI.
Next to that French cord coiled
around his left shoulder was the
Big Red One insignia, respected
throughout all armies, both American and foreign, as the The Fighting First! Displayed, it portrayed
to us and the military world that he
was the warrior that we and they
aspired to be.
His constant rowdy belching
at our many mistakes during his
battery recruit school were always
loud, irreverent, and profane, yet
invariably hilarious. “If I’d wanted
to send a stupid SOB, I’d gone
myself!” For those who hailed
from the great Lone Star State,
it was, “Texas, where more men
needed killin’ than horses needed
stealin’!” As for me specifically,
he savored this gem: “You’re a
lucky SOB. Your name begins with
‘A’, so it’ll be inscribed high on
top of the War Memorial in your
hometown—and the dogs won’t
be able to pee on it!”
On the other hand, amid these
churlish admonitions, he included
truisms I’ve always respected,
remembered, and now repeat:
“Never, ever forget you’re The
First—and nobody in the hell,
German, British, or Chinaman will
ever stop us!”
Always the boss, which he
gutturally explained meant
“Double S, OB spelt backwards,”
as he indelicately pounded in sage
combat wisdom, “It’s ‘duty first’
and for us cannon-cockers, it’s ‘we
support the doughs!’”
As a newly minted PFC, a
fresh product of a comprehensive
stateside communications school,
he honed in on my manual-correct
military craftsmanship with verbal
flames to my posterior: “Dig your
commo pit hole deeper! Protect
your radio, carry too many batteries—commo is more important
than you!” We absorbed his basic
tenets of battle soldiering: “Carry
two full canteens! Wear 3 first-aid
packets, and one with morphine
syrettes on your helmet! Tape
wound-powder packets on your
equipment!” Believing he was the
noblest creation of the devil—our
War God— we incessantly strived
to learn.
Not only this infernal corporal, but most of all, the other
accursed Battery NCOs, came
across as exclusive, eccentric,
and maybe arrogant buggers,
“but they had smelled the smoke
and seen the elephant!” Surely
they were narrow-minded, rigid,
one-way, and harsh in their crude,
incessant discipline, yet they all
oozed a distinct professionalism. Certainly, they were “old
Army” and therefore permitted
no evasion of orders. Seemingly
always, they were inflexible as they
maintained the strict application
of their rules. Yet in some strange
way, they formulated in John-ass
recruits “the rule of the bunky.”
These old NCOs would look out for
us by teaching us the hard truths.
We then would learn to look out
for our section buddies, then
as platoon mates, and finally as
Battery members. Thus we bonded
and became a military family!
Our unseasoned, fuzzy
uniforms devoid of any mementos of battle probably typified to
these old codgers the new Army of
civilians arriving on the scene—
stupid, young healthy, whippersnappers who had devoured an
extra portion of smart pills! We
required squaring away, so we
endured the brunt of these many
months of their intensive “red leg”
preparation training.
First it was “cannoneers’ hop”
where we maddeningly exchanged
gunner positions while continuously dry-firing. Then “closestation and march-ordered,” we
manually emplaced the 105mm
Howitzer. Our now-calloused
hands dug the gun pits, then
administratively refilled them,
leaving a neat area for the British
landowners! For some of us, the
high scores on our aptitude tests
channeled us to fire direction
procedures and forward-observation methods training. There,
we absorbed the intricacies of
shooting. All of these readiness
days, however, invariably ended
with dirty-fingernail-maintenance
of equipment. These unforgiving NCOs oversaw as we washed,
cleaned, saddle-soaped, Neat’sfoot-oiled, greased, oiled, painted,
and eventually the mammoth
demand—waterproofed! We
continued on page 18...
y
The Big Red One
Commemorates D-Day
on
at
rain S Cerem
t
y
k
S
K
C47 bilene,
A
the
Normandy, France
O Ft. Riley.
ackmon, US
ril Bl
Photo by Ap
The Big Red One sent contingents of soldiers to the First Division
Museum, to the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and to
ceremonies in Normandy, France to do its part to honor and remember
not only 1st Division soldiers but all who contributed that fateful day.
Photo by Frederic Castier.
Normandy, France
Photo by Frederic Castier.
Wheaton, Illinois
The 1st Division Memorial Ceremony
at the 1st Infantry Division Memorial
in Normandy, France on June 5.
CSM Bill Ryan (Ret.) and active duty 1st Division Soldiers
attended the June 6, ceremony in Normandy.
Abeline, Kansas
Abeline, Kansas
Courtesty of the Eisenhower Center.
Collection’s Manager Chris Zielinski speaks with veterans
attending the Memorial Ceremony at the First Division Museum.
Wheaton, Illinois
Courtesty of the Eisenhower Center.
Representative veterans from the branches of the Armed Forces
unveil the LCVP during the ceremony.
1st Division CG and CSM heading up the Fort Riley
component of the parade in Abeline, Kansas.
SSG Walt Ehlers (Ret.), who earned his
Medal of Honor during the Normandy
Campaigns of WWII, spoke during the
Abilene, Kansas Commemoration.
Normandy to VE Day:
L-R: CPL Hougas (gunner),
Orey Cole (loader), Ed
Albracht, (assistant driver),
Glenn Raffensparger
(driver), SGT Melton
(commander).
The 745th Experience of George Hougas
The French
Legion of
Honor
John Gembel of Johannesburg, Michigan
D Co, 26th Infantry Regiment 1940–45
was presented the Legion of Honor
in February 2007 at Union Hall in
Detroit, Michigan.
Arnold R.Lambert of West End, North Carolina
MED Detachment, 2/16th Infantry Regiment 1940–1945
was presented the Ligion of Honor
on 11 November 2008 at the Museum of History
in Raleigh, North Carolina.
William M. Lee of Mt. Vernon, Illinois
D Co, 26th Infantry Regiment 1942–45
was presented the Legion of Honor
on 24 May 2006 at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs
in St. Louis, Missouri.
Robert Miksa of Naples, Florida
745th Tank Bn & 18th Infantry Regt, 1944–1946
was presented the Ligion of Honor
on 6 June 2007
in Naples, Florida.
Robert B. Piner of Panama City, Florida
B Company, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1944–1945
was presented the Ligion of Honor
on 26 February 2009 at the French Consulate
in Miami, Florida.
Hyrum Shumway of Richmond Heights, Missouri
18th Infantry Regiment
was presented the Ligion of Honor
on 24 May 2006 at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs
in St. Louis, Missouri.
If you’re a WWII veteran of the Big Red One, have
been honored with the French Legion of Honor and
haven’t yet had your presentation mentioned
in the Bridgehead Sentinel, please tell us
about it. Include your: name, hometown,
date and location of presentation,
1st Div unit and the years.
John Gembe
l
receiving his
French Legio
n
of Honor
medal.
12
I enjoyed “Memories of the
745th Tank Bn” in the Spring 2009
issue of the Bridgehead Sentinel
by Allen “Bud” Spencer.
Bud, and four others from
Marseilles, IL, came into the
745th at the same time: I became
part of assault Plt, HQ Co; Mario
Vangelisti became a member of
Recon Plt; Tom Lipsey wound up
in Mortar Plt; Clem Hicks became
mess sergeant in Service Co. We
were quite diverse with parts of
our battalion being distributed
throughout the Division.
Our Assualt Gun Plt was
attached to 16th Inf, Cannon Co
under the leadership of CPT
O’Brien and LT Golden. Our first
association with the 1st Div was
in Operation Fabius—debarking
an LST onto a “Rhino” Ferry and
coming ashore on the English
Coast. After a couple of days, we
returned to Beaminster tent city.
I came down with pneumonia
and spent a week in an Army
hospital, returning to the 745th
the day before we left for the
marshalling area. After several days
there, we received orders to go to
Bournemouth.
At Bournemouth we exchanged
our M-8 assault gun for medium
tanks and we were in the process
of waterproofing them when word
came that ships had taken off for
D-Day.
I was driver of the command
half-track of the Assault Plt, and
we landed in Normandy on Omaha
Beach on June 18th. I drove off
the top deck of the LST onto
Operation Mulberry. The dock was
constructed out into the channel.
After a night just off the beach,
a recon group led us to the
battalion which was just outside
Caumont.
We didn’t move very much for
the next three weeks. We were then
put in position for the breakout of
Normandy.
I recall the Air Force had a
huge amount of sorties, and the
ground was vibrating from all the
bombs. Before we took off across
France, we helped close the Falaise
Gap then headed for Belgium and
the Mons Pocket.
We were in convoy, and CPT
O’Brien hailed my half-track. He
said, “Head for that forest off to
the right.” Across a field, perhaps
a half-mile away, was a stand of
trees, and I saw several white
flags waving. We crossed the field
and reached the woods where we
rounded up 110 prisoners. We
lined them in formation ahead of
the half-track and marched them
back to the highway, and a short
time later we entered Mons.
We were pretty much on the
move thereafter, travelling many
miles some days, hauling Infantry
on our vehicles through Namur,
Leige, and Verviers toward the
German border.
We were along the German
border at a place called Brand
when late one afternoon we were
given orders to mount up. We
travelled several miles through
“dragonteeth” and “pillboxes”
into a valley outside Stolberg. This
turned out to be one of the worst
nights for us. Darkness set in, and
we were in a sort of “no man’s
land,” small arms fire all around.
There were six of us in my halftrack, and we set up a guard detail
for the night—one man in front of
the vehicle and one man behind
it. I pulled first duty, and when I
was relieved, I climbed into the
front seat of the half-track and laid
down across the seats to try and
get some rest. I was almost asleep
when I was lifted into the air by
the concussion of an artillery shell
that hit alongside the half-track,
and throughout the night we were
under mortar and artillery from
our own Long Toms as well as
Germany’s. It was a night I will
never forget.
About daybreak a couple of
infantrymen came by and asked if
we had any thing to eat. We gave
them some of our rations and
shortly thereafter some tanks came
by. They said they were to help the
infantry try and take Stolberg. Why
we were there I’ll never know, but
we decided to move out and return
to where we had vacated the day
before.
LT McCain, our CO, had a bed
roll in a rack on the back of my
half-track and the next time he
went to use it, he discovered it was
torn and full of shrapnel.
Several weeks later my crew
spent a day in Aachen at a forward
ammo station. The battle for
Aachen was tough, building to
building. After Aachen was taken,
we moved into the forest and set
up positions for mostly night firing
missions.
In early Nov ’44 the Assault
Plt had a big change in its operations. LT McCain left as our CO
to work as an artillery observer.
SGT Howard was promoted to
CO with a battlefield commission. SGT Barille, #1 Assault Gun
Commander, had acquired blood
poisoning in this shoulder and left
us for a field hospital. SGT Jennings
our ammunition sergeant was
promoted to SSG and CPL Melton
became #1 Gun Tank Commander.
I, CPL Hougas, become the gunner
for #1 Tank.
Then came the Hürtgen Forest
fighting where our infantry took a
beating from the tree bursts. We
ate thanksgiving dinner at the edge
of Hamich. Here I acquired my first
sleeping bag or bags. The woods
were littered with equipment, I
salvaged a couple of damaged bags
put them together—until that time
we just rolled up in a couple of
Army blankets. By now, winter was
setting in and it was snowing and
temperatures were changing.
Early in Dec we made a big
move to an area that was somewhat
calm. Where we were positioned
we could see flashes when the
Germans launched the buzz
bombs. On the 13th we were pulled
out of the line, and it was rumored
we were to practice for river
crossings. I received a pass back to
rest camp near Verviers, Belgium
for three days, only to return on
the 16th of Dec when the Germans
launched the Battle of the Bulge.
Our platoon had already taken
up positions at a place called Walk,
which was on the western edge
of the breakthrough. We became
limited at this time in the amount
of shells for our assault guns. Most
of our firing was harassing fire in
areas where concentrations of the
enemy were gathering.
On Christmas Eve we were
called for a firing mission. When
I fired the first round, there was
an odd explosion and flash in the
tank. We contacted the company
armorer. When he arrived, he told
us we have to go to Ordinance.
We left the next day, which was
Christmas. Ordinance had set up in
Verviers, in a factory with overhead
cranes.
We figured we might get a
little rest there, but we decided to
change our tracks. I’ll tell you that
is “bull” work. Our tank was fitted
with a new 105mm Howitzer and
we returned to the platoon on New
Year’s Eve.
After several days we moved up
to another area. We were assigned
to “Task Force Davisson.” It was
composed of units of the 634th
Tank Destroyer Bn and the assault
and mortar platoons of HQ Co,
745th Tank Bn, and D Co light
continued on page 18...
1st and 2nd Bn, 2nd Infantry Regiment combined reunion!
How does a unit reunion come
together? With the help of a few
dedicated folk, the 1/2nd Inf and
2/2nd Inf have combined their
reunions. For the past 16 years
Bob Fulps has been orchestrating reunions for the 2/2nd Inf in
Owensboro KY. A few years ago,
Don Rochat also began a 1/2nd
Inf reunion in Pigeon Forge, TN.
In early 2008, before Don passed
away, Bob and Don decided to
consolidate both reunions into a
regimental reunion. Though the
reunion was originally planned for
May 2008, Don became seriously
ill, other things happened and the
reunion was canceled.
Later that year Juan Santiago
decided that the reunion still
needed to happen and set
the first combined reunion for
October 2008. With a great deal
of work Juan and Carmen pulled
it off, and at that reunion they
decided to continue the combined
reunion.
With the help of Dominic
Mish and his wife, Diane, who
volunteered to organize this year’s
reunion with Juan and Carmen,
and the help of Larry and Kathy
Grzywinski, the reunion was held
on May 15-17
2009, in Pigeon
Forge.
This reunion
was one of the
best ever with a
grand total of 99
attendees with veterans and guests!
Everyone had such a fantastic time
that they decided to add an extra
day onto next year’s reunion.
Special guests included CPT
Joshua Buchanan, D Co CO of
1/2nd Inf Rear Detachment in
Schweinfurt. He came from
Germany with his wife, Angela, to
attend. MG Richard Anson (Ret),
Honorary Colonel of the 2nd Inf
and his wife Mary also
attended.
Bob Fulps and Ju
an Santiago. Bob
is presented with
a plaque of for al
l
the years he orga
nized the reunio
ns.
Charlie Co reunites, reflects on wartime service
A local paper covered the C/1/18th Inf reunion
on Apr 30–May 3. These excerpts were originally published on May 1, 2009 in the
Knoxville News Sentinel.
By Fred Brown
A majority of the men of Charlie
Co, 1st Bn, 18th Inf, 1st Div, have
not seen each other since those
dangerous days in fall 1967.
Some 38 former members
of Charlie Co began gathering
Thursday for a weekend reunion
in Gatlinburg’s Glenstone Lodge.
They’ll look back, sometimes tearfully, and enjoy the tranquil mountains. The meeting was put together
by Tom Mercer of Seymour, who
was awarded a Silver Star and two
Bronze Stars.
A special treat for the veterans
was meeting Ben Franklin of Knoxville, a WWII veteran of the Big Red
One who landed at Omaha Beach
on D-Day with the 16th Inf.
Mercer, who saw a great deal
of combat, as did most of Charlie
Co, says he is beginning to have
more and more trouble with
post-traumatic stress disorder,
but getting together with his old
buddies helps.
He charged a group of Vietnamese soldiers manning a Russian
rocket launch area, taking out
some enemy soldiers as he ran. He
brought in a wounded soldier with
one hand while firing his rifle with
the other.
Dave “Doc” Simpson, an
Army medic from Prosperity, S.C.,
recalled one battle around Loc
Ninh when SP4 John Willett was
severely wounded after an AK-47
round hit him in the head. Simpson
ran to the irrigation ditch where
Willett fell and “started putting his
brains back in his head. I didn’t
think he would live.” He did and is
alive today, but unable to attend the
reunion.
Just as Simpson began working
on Willett, a Vietnamese soldier
popped up to shoot him. Johnny
O’Connor, or “O.C.,” took out
the enemy soldier with a hand
grenade.
“It all happened so fast,” says
O’Connor of Hollywood, FL, also a
Silver Star recipient, who now is on
100 percent disability for posttraumatic stress disorder.
Below: (L to R) D-Day veteran Ben Franklin, Medic Dave Simpson,
and Tom Mercer at the C Co, 18th Inf Reunion in Gatlinburg.
The day the medals died
By Patric Guy, 26th Inf, Vietnam
Maybe it’s December because
of Christmas. It might be November
because of Thanksgiving. Most
people tend to have a favorite
month and, likewise, a not-sofavorite month.
October has always been a
bittersweet month for me. I was
born eight days before my mother’s
birthday in October, but I lost her
when I was only 12 years old. My
birthday has always been a sad
reminder of losing her and the
memories that could have been.
Knowing that, I will tell you why
Oct 28 always brings a little smile
to my face despite the sadness of
the month.
I had been in Vietnam for about
ten months and had spent my time
on line with November Plt, Co B,
1/26—Blue Spaders—of the Big
Red One. My main job was infantry
rifleman. Though, like most guys, I
had other titles including company
“demolition’s man.” Apparently
I was the only one who could
remember the demolition formula
for blowing things up, which for
the uninformed was P=Plenty; it
worked every time. I was also, at
times, known as “ammo man” for
carrying cans of M-60 machine gun
shells, and “point man” though I
did my best to avoid this task—it
seems I had a propensity to attract
Viet Cong ambushes.
Summer 2009
Photo by Fred Brown.
Larry
ywinski, l Richard
z
r
G
y
h
t
L-R) Ka
Genera
Above: ( , Dominic Mish, , Mary
ski
ago
Grzywin ), Carmen Santi ne Mish.
t
e
R
d Dia
Anson (
tiago, an
n
a
S
n
a
Anson, Ju
L to R: Emanuel
“Manny” Malende
z-Diaz, Gerald
Fahrenkopf, Jaco
b Colston, Matth
ew
Hayes, Jack
Paylor (WWII) an
d Captain Joshua
Buchanan.
I learned many lessons early
on about traveling with an infantry
company conducting search and
destroy missions. Specifically, one
must be quiet, build no fires and
keep your eyes wide open. You
may not have been the only one
looking to destroy or ambush. As
a result of a general disagreement
in how to conduct the war—not
foolishly with my life—with my
superiors, I transferred out of
this infantry line company into a
RECON platoon. RECON stand for
reconnaissance, in other words a
few men will travel about the jungle
attempting to locate the enemy so a
larger force can destroy them.
Now for those of you who have
never served in a line or recon
infantry platoon, let me highlight
the differences as I saw them in
1969 about 50 miles north of
Saigon. The line platoon was part
of a large company, composed
of roughly 90 men who usually
traveled as one; while the recon
platoon was made up of maybe
12 guys who traveled alone. As I
noted earlier, my infantry company
had tried to use the elements of
surprise and stealth to defeat the
emeny. My new recon platoon
seemed to be oblivious to the
dangers which lurked in the jungle
but instead enjoyed playing the
radio, smoking, and making as
much noise as they pleased while
traversing the jungle.
Needless to say, it did not
take long for me to realize that I
may have been wrong about the
conduct of the war and the comfort
of a large force when danger was
near. Nevertheless, on the night of
October 27, my recon comrades
and I set up an ambush in the
middle of the jungle. I had done
this many times in the past but
mainly along trails or streams or
some place where the emeny might
travel at night. But, this particular
ambush site was in the middle of
thick jungle with no apparent signs
of traffic. This was more than okay
with me because with all the radios
blaring and fires burning, I had a
hard time believing we would be
able to surprise anyone.
At about 2 o’clock in the
morning my gun position mate
woke me to take my turn watching
for the emeny. We had deployed a
series of claymore mines in front
of us and were lying in wait. At 6
o’clock I heard what I believed to
be something coming through the
jungle—I thought it was probably an animal, given there were
no trails created by humans. All
of a sudden I saw a flash of green
moving in front of me. I knew what
to do having been to this rodeo
before. I discharged the claymore
mines and started throwing fragment grenades as quickly as I
could. My fellow comrades soon
joined me in laying down heavy
fire. When the firing was over,
there laid two departed North Vietnamese soldiers (NVA) and a blood
trail off into the distance.
Upon searching these two
victims we found maps and other
important-looking documents.
In addition, one of the guys was
carrying a bag full of medals. There
were probably about 40 total,
but of only two types. One type of
medal had an NVA solider standing
with his AK-47 point downward
with the bayonet extended into
a helmet laying on the ground.
The helmet had the letters “US”
embossed on it. The other type of
medal had an NVA solider standing
next to a civilian peasant. Being
the drafted, enlisted man I was,
I immediately put about half the
medals in my pocket, an equal
number of both types, and turned
the remainder over to my platoon
lieutenant who was busily calling
in our achievements to battalion
headquarters on a field radio.
The battalion commander, COL
Harold Stone was so impressed
with our find, he immediately flew
to the scene in his LOH helicopter
(forerunner to the OH-58 Kiowa)
to investigate the emeny documents first hand. After congratulating us on a job well done, he
determined that the documents
must be rushed to G-2 for further
evaluation. During the assault, my
position mate awoke and fired his
M-16 rife. Unfortunately, it had
rained during the night and the
barrel of his rifle was full of water
causing the gun to explode. Other
than him no one noticed at the
time. But, during our post event
celebrations the exploded rifle was
noticed along with the fact that we
were now one gun too short or one
man too many. Needless to say I
immediately volunteered to solve
the problem by returning to FSB
Oklahoma with COL Stone in his
two-seater helicopter.
It was later determined that
the medals with the “US” helmet
emblazoned on them were to be
awarded to emeny soldiers who
had killed an American soldier.
The other type of medal was
awarded to the parents of an
emeny solider who had lost his life
in battle. Having lost many good
friends myself to emeny fire, you
now know why Oct 28, 1969 brings
a little smile to my face for medals
that did not make it home.
13
Panel 3-E
 I very much enjoyed reading
the article “Freedom Affirmed”
by John Parmeter in the Fall 2008
issue of the Bridgehead Sentinel.
President Kennedy’s visit to
Berlin in 1963 was indeed a very
memorable event. I took special
note of the comment about the
“spiffy 6th Infantry Honor Guard”
since I was the commander of the
Honor Guard at Tegel Airport for
President Kennedy’s arrival and
departure. To be spiffy for the
departure we returned to McNair
Barracks and changed uniforms.
I served with the 2nd Battle
Group, 6th Infantry from January
1960 until August 1963 and
this article brought back many
memories and reminded me
of several links between the 1st
Division and the Berlin Brigade.
As John Parmeter points out,
following the erection of The Wall,
battle groups were rotated into
Berlin to reinforce the two battle
groups of the 6th Infantry that were
assigned to the city. The first battle
group to reinforce us was the 1st
BG, 18th Vanguards, but because of
the Army reorganizations the battle
group was part of the 8th Division.
They trucked up the autobahn from
Mannheim to Berlin and we were
“saved.”
A good friend, Ed Szvetecz, was
XO, D/1/18th Inf. Ed and I were
together as instructors at the
Infantry School when Ed’s old CO
from D/1/18th Inf, Dave Hackworth,
called and said it was time to go
to Vietnam and suggested we go
to the 1st Div. We jumped at the
chance and in May ’66 we took the
same plane and truck to beautiful
downtown Bear Cat and the 2nd
Bde. Promotions came, and Ed was
S3, 1/18th Inf but moved to Discom
as S3. At Di An I was able to reunite
with now BG John R. Deane, Jr.
who had commanded 2/6 Inf when
The Wall was built. While I was in
Di An, another Berlin hand passed
thru on his way to 1/28th Inf. Sadly
Jim Rubio was mortally wounded
not many days later in an action for
which he was awarded the Medal
of Honor.
When COL Deane left Berlin
he was replaced by one of the
most unforgettable officers I ever
served under. That officer was COL
William R. Washington. He began
his career in 1940 with the 1st Div,
remained with them until 1947,
participated in the landing in North
Africa, Sicily, and, as XO 2/16th
Inf, he landed in the first wave at
Omaha Beach. I learned many
lessons from this man as well as
some insight into the “old ways”
of the 1st Div. When it came time
for annual weapons qualification,
I reminded him of his order that
everyone must fire. He told me
that the order didn’t include him
and that back in the 1st Div, if there
was any disagreement over an
order of his, he fought it out with
the complainer—but now he was
a little too old to fight, so I was to
assume he just knocked me down.
I am sure he got along very well
Terry Allen.
Finally, I learned that the 1st
Div does take care of its people.
Returning to Vietnam for a second
tour my orders were for MACV.
This was not my choice for an
assignment, but the “rule” said
no back-to-back tours with a U.S.
unit. When I got off the bus in Long
Binh a good old sergeant called
me over and asked if I wanted to
go back to the 1st Div. He knew my
answer when I tried to kiss him. I
told him my orders were to MACV.
He said that was not a problem; he
would see that they were changed.
He must have known how to work
Below: (L to R) James Buddo and his driver Sp4 Walter Davis.
14
the system because I spent the next
seven months in the 2nd Bde as S4
and only left the brigade when it
stood down to redeploy.
James S. Buddo Jr. LTC Ret.
 I just received my Bridgehead
Sentinel and on the last page you
show a picture of a book called
An Army at Dawn written by
Rick Atkinson, mostly about the
campaign in North Africa.
I entered WWII with the 1st
Infantry Division about seven
months before Pearl Harbor
and was first assigned to L Co of
the 3rd Bn, 18th Inf. We were the
first combat unit to go overseas
to Scotland on the Queen Mary
unescorted and the first to land in
Scotland. I was Bn S-2 when we
landed at Oran (in the first wave)
and continued with the 3rd Bn thru
all of the fighting in Tunisia with the
3rd Bn, 18th Inf. I became company
commander of K Co, 3rd Bn, one of
five company commanders of that
company—the only combat unit of
any branch of the services to win
the Presidential Unit Citation five
times!
My company led the invasion
of Sicily, landing in the first wave
at Gela, and we were the advance
company of the whole Division
until we were ordered to hold up.
I was badly wounded in the center
of Sicily near Villa Rosa—spent
over a year in Army hospitals and
ended up being on limited duty
training troop at Camp Croft. K
Company had five active company
commanders; three were killed
and two of us badly wounded.
I’m almost 93 years old, 95%
deaf in both ears, am blind in my
right eye with a damaged retina
and glaucoma, and have a very bad
heart. I had a stent operation of
my aorta artery and another one
directly under my heart.
CPT Edward R. Kuehn
 Back on Jan 9, 1968 when
I landed in Vietnam, I really had
no idea what I was in for. I had
been in Germany when word
came asking for volunteers. Myself
and six other guys did just that.
I took a “short” re-enlistment
for immediate reassignment to
Vietnam. Everyone in my life
thought I had totally lost my
mind. I admit that at certain
moments I thought the same thing.
Regardless, I went. I felt rather
safe, considering my MOS was
in supply. However, what I didn’t
count on was when I got to my
unit at Phu Loi, they changed my
MOS and made me unit armorer
specialist in charge of every aspect
of my company’s ammo and the
ammo driver/ammo run as well.
In the Iron Triangle area, the worst
roads you could wind up driving
ammo on was Route 13 and Hwy
1. Wouldn’t you know, that was the
path to and from Long Binh ammo
I went to see 7 of my army buddies today
I didn’t know what I would say
I stared into their faces, each I did see
I found them all on Panel 3-E
You see the Vietnam Travelling Wall
came to our town
And I saw them all wearing God’s crown
As I got in my car to drive home
I knew I was not alone
I sat and reflected on my day
I bowed my head and began to pray
I thank you God for them all
I only wish they were not on that wall
for all to seek and see
Those fine men on Panel 3-E
William Eaden, Earnest
Sears, Jackie McMillion,
Ramo Santilli, Benjamin
Lima Castillo, Morris
Jenkins and Joseph Dupere.
To Big Red One Brothers
& Sisters
In honor of the troopers of
A Trp, 1/4th Cavalry,
1st Infantry Division 1965‘66 Lai Khe, Vietnam
You guarded me in the front
You guarded me from the back
Danny Slaughter
“I walked with you”
“I was your Medic”
You didn’t like chlorinated water
I didn’t like dysentery
You disliked ambush patrol
I sat with you and took my watch
You cursed the heat-rash
I applied the salve
You took the rounds
I applied the bandages
We all heard the choppers
and some still do
Duane Kummer
1/28th Inf, ’67-‘68
dump? The man whose place I
took had a VC bullet hit his engine.
When he tried to get away, they
killed him. They retrieved the truck
after the VC pillaged it, put in a new
engine and gave it to me.
Getting ammo is like getting the
family groceries. Everyone expects
to eat, but gives little thought to
how the food got there, or what the
provider had to go through to get
it. I, let’s call me the “provider,”
had to head out into one of the
most VC saturated regions of
southern South Vietnam, all alone,
with the thought that the VC won’t
notice I’m an ammo truck, and if
they do, that the men in the field
will run to my aid. And, if I’m
lucky, and I guess I am, I’ll miss
thousands of landmines that were
up and down every which way
there was. Then, I had to hope a
well placed bullet didn’t hit my
load, which consisted of rockets,
mines, C-4, grenades and bullets.
Since my truck didn’t have a
canvas cover, the word, “rockets”
stamped all over the cases worried
me a bit, but I was continually
reminded that I would be “OK”.
You don’t have to convince me that
the most terrifying job in war is a
leg infantryman. I do realize this. I
ran into many a skirmish where I
drove right through the middle of
an engagement. I still live with the
words I heard many times, “I killed
a lot of VC for you, Bro!”
Sometimes those words haunt
me, because I realize as well
that while those VC were being
taken out so the ammo could
get through, so were wonderful
Americans dying, for that very same
reason. I cannot, nor do I want
to, forget them. I certainly am no
hero, but the trauma and stress
I went through has never since
been matched by any experience
since then. Ironically, when my
time came to go on a 3-day pass
in-country to Vung Tau, the VC hit
the place, and I never got the pass!
Then, later in my tour, when I got
my 7-day leave out of country, I
went to Taiwan, where I stepped
into a hotel and ran right into my
older brother who didn’t know I
was even in Vietnam! Unbe-freakinlievable! I got back to my unit more
confused then when I left!
Then, it was over. I did,
however, get to go to the Bob Hope
Christmas show at Long Binh. I
was the only one in my company
who went. As my “freedom bird”
barreled down the runway, VC
mortars started coming in. The
pilot pointed the nose of the
plane practically straight up and
floored it. It was like taking off in a
spaceship. The flames leaving the
engines were so long, you couldn’t
see the end of them. We were at
1000 feet before we left the end of
the runway.
Nathan C. Sollish
Bridgehead Sentinel
BRO Books
The following are either books about the Big Red One, its soldiers, or
are books by BRO veterans. The Bridgehead Sentinel does not endorse
these books but provides the information as a service to our readers.
Mont St. Michel,
Brittany, France.
Herrera, Alfredo G., Reaching An Loc (2006). Paperback. 105
pages, 20 pages photos, black and white. An account of Herrera’s time in
the military with a focus on his second tour in Vietnam as first sergeant of
Bandido Charlie Co (C/1/16th Inf) in 1969. See the cover story, “Battle of
Binh Long Province,” to read an excerpt. To purchase a copy of the book,
e-mail DangerForward@comcast.net or call 503-591-8638.
Gordon, David L., A Childs War: Memories of a child in London
during World War II (2008). ISBN: 978-0-578-00433-4 Hardcover. 173 pages. In 1939, as an eight year old boy, David Gordon and
his younger brother were evacuated from London to the country and
remained there for the duration of WWII. The book is an account of his
time in Dorchester, Dorset including his experiences with the 1st Div at
Poundbury Camp in 1943-1944. If you’re interested in this book, visit
www.lulu.com and type “David L. Gordon” into the “Search” function at
the top of the page.
Big Red One
Battlefield Tour,
Normandy,
1–9 June 2010
Join us on our 2010 Battlefield Tour. The tour includes:
Normandy American
Cemetery and Visitors Center
June 6 D-Day Anniversary:
Omaha Beach, the 1ID Monument and the Danger Forward
bunker
Pointe du Hoc, Ste Mere Eglise
and Utah Beach
Monet’s Gardens in Giverny
and Mont Ste Michelle
Paris, the City of Lights
Additional information is
on the Society’s website, or call
Henry Williams at 708-4206779 or travelpro01@gmail.
com.
 Check out the rear fender on Tom Curtin’s
BRO Luggage Tags
Tags have name & address on one side with BRO Shield on the
reverse side. Tags are enclosed in plastic laminate with loop
fastener included.
The cost for tag #1 (includes postage & handling)
is 2 for $10 or 4 for 15$
Tag #1 (Please print clearly)
Name:______________________________________
Address:_____________________________________
Address:_____________________________________
City, State, Zip:_________________________________
BRO SUPPORT FUND
’98 Harley Softail! A BRO vet and proud of it.
The Bro Support Fund
The Big Red One Support Fund is the Society’s own fund that provides
assistance to serving 1st Infantry Division soldiers and their families in nonemergency situations—our 1st Infantry Division Foundation’s McCormick
Grants program handles the emergencies. As the Global War on Terror has
progressed, the number of needs and assistance programs have multiplied
dramatically, yet there are often needs that fall between the cracks. These situations are the reason the BRO Support Fund exists.
If you would like to donate to the BRO Support Fund, please use the
coupon below or the membership renewal application on page 18 to do so.
With your generosity, help and support, the Big Red One continues to take
care of its own!
CENTURY CLUB
Welcome to the new members of the Century Club! These are members
who have donated $100 or more toward the Big Red One Support Fund.
Thank you for partnering with us to support our division!
Robert Torres
Dick Harman
Carter Ham
Wilmer Benson
Ricardo Cantu
Frank Swinford
Franklin Bent
Vincent Brooks
Eston White –
In Memory of
Arthur Chaitt
Calvert Benedict
John Carty, Jr
Christopher Hoffman
Martha Gonzales
Scott MacPherson
Mark Pappal
John Brocato
Don Jenkins
Mahlon M. S. Hite
Elvis Carden
Pat DelloIacono
Dennis McCarthy
Jim Shelton
Thomas Clay
Robert Fuller
Brandon Caputa
Laurel Peake
Paul Geddry, Sr
Thomas Cagle
The cost for tag #2 is discounted at 2 for $8 or 4 for $12
If you would like to donate to the BRO Support Fund,
please use the coupon below or the membership renewal
application on page 18 to do so.
Tag #2 (Please print clearly)
Name:______________________________________
Address:_____________________________________
Address:_____________________________________
City, State, Zip:_________________________________
BRO Support Fund
Yes . . . I want to help our Society help the Soldiers of the BIG RED ONE!
Please provide your phone
number in case of a problem: (_______)_______________
Here is my TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution to the BRO Support Fund!
Tag #1: ____No. of Tags for __________$
Tag #2: ____No. of Tags for __________$
This form is good for 2009 only.
Unless otherwise specified, tags will be mailed
to the address listed for
tag #1.
Summer 2009
Make check/money order payable to:
Society of the First Infantry Division
Mail to:
Supply Sarge
Society of the First Infantry Division
1933 Morris Road
Blue Bell, PA 19422
$30
$60
$100
$150
Other$
Name

Subtotal: __________
PA Sales Tax: __________
Total Due: __________
$15
Address
City
Phone(
)
State
Zip
E-Mail
Please make your check payable to: Society of the First Infantry Division.
Mark it “BRO Support Fund” and mail it to:
Society of the First Infantry Division, 1933 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422.
Your contribution is 100% deductible for income tax purposes.
15
Our list this issue is more
extensive due to the increased
capabilities of our address
verification program and the
families of our members to notify
the passing of their loved ones.
Abbs, Garry of Henderson, NV
(VN, D/1st ENG)
Davies, Thomas of Lake Mills, WI
(VN, C/2/18th Inf)
Adamsky, Michael of Somerset,
PA (WWII, A/26th Inf)
Daly, Michael of Fairfield, CT on
25 July 2008 (WWII, I/18th Inf)
Addy, Larry of Killeen, TX (VN,
B/2/2nd Inf)
Deel, Gary of Matthews, NC (VN,
HHC/1/28th Inf)
Adkins, Thomas of Sharptown,
MD (Cold War, A/1/16th Inf)
Dege, Raymond of Brick, NJ
(WWII, I/18th Inf)
Alejandro, Victor of San Antonio,
TX (VN, 1st MP)
DeMartino, Alfred of Pittsburgh,
PA (WWII, B/18th Inf)
Armellino, John of West Palm
Beach, FL (WWII)
Dickens, Edward of Pennsville, NJ
(VN, HHC/2/2nd Inf)
Barrowclough, Charles of
Norwich, NY (WWII, M/3/16th Inf)
Dimasi, Frederick of Nokomis, FL
(WWII, G/2/18th Inf)
Barysh, Noah of Sudbury, MA
(WWII, 16th Inf)
Donaldson, Michael of
Anchorage, AK (VN, B/1/2nd Inf)
Beadenkopf, Carroll of
Baltimore, MD (WWII, F/16th Inf)
Doran, Roy of San Antonio, TX
(Cold War, HQ/16th Inf)
Bechtel, Harold of Fredricktown,
OH on 2 June 2009 (WWII, 7th FA)
Ellis, Milton of Sacramento, CA
(WWII, 1st ENG)
Bedway, John of Harrison, OH
(WWII, 16th Inf)
Elsner, Robert of Aliso Viejo, CA
(VN, B/2/2nd Inf)
Bowles, Thomas of Florence, AL
on 23 April 2009 (WWII, G/2/18th
Inf)
Erk, DeWitt of Albuquerque, NM
(Cold War)
Boyd, Joseph of Palm Harbor, Fl
(VN, HQ/1/2nd Inf)
Brady, Walter of Boynton Beach,
FL (WWII)
Brown, Jess of Sanford, FL (WWII,
16th Inf)
Brownfield, James of Lawton, OK
(VN, 1/5th FA)
Brownlee, William of Taylors, SC
(WWII, 5th FA)
Fernelius, James of Sandy, UT
(VN, I/18th Inf)
Finkral, Wayne of Sun City West,
AZ (VN, 2/16th Inf)
Keluche, Quentin of Fresno, CA
(VN, A/18th Inf)
O’Brien, Sanford of Pittsburg, NH
(CW, 2/28th Inf)
Ketterer, Urban of Buffalo, NY
(WWII, 18th Inf)
Ohme, William of Leesburg, FL
(WWII, HHC)
Kohler, Carl on 6 March 2009
(WWII, A/1/16th Inf)
Parsons, Alphonzo “Phil”, of
Dayton, OH on 3 April 2009 (VN,
C/2/16th Inf)
Komarek, Edward of Teaneck, NJ
(WWII, 1st MED)
Krucklin, Robert of Charleston,
WV (WWII, HHC/1st ENG)
Kuechler, James of Leawood, KS
(WWII, MED/16th Inf)
Lagani, Salvatore of Mamaroneck,
NY (Cold War, A/1/16th Inf)
Laurinas, Sylvester of Monee, IL
(WWII, C/83rd FA)
Leep, James of New Albany, IN
(VN, B/1/4th CV)
Leppo, Earl of Arlington, VA
(WWII, I/26th Inf)
Lewis, Melvin of Delray Beach, FL
(WWII, 745th TNK)
Lloyd, Lindsay of Los Angeles, CA
(WWII, G/18th Inf)
Gunder, Brad of Findlay, OH in
Dec 1994 (VN, C/1/16th Inf)
Centrella, Fiore of Jacksonville,
FL (WWII, 32nd FA)
Hajek, Erwin of Naperville, IL
(WWII, B/745th TK)
Clark, Stever of Berlin, NH (VN,
1st ENG)
Handy, John of Ansonia, CT
(WWII, 7th FA)
Clarke, Gerard of Pasadena, CA
(WWII, A/18th Inf)
Harrelson, Horace of Dadeville,
AL (WWII, 5th FA)
Clyde, Randall of Joplin, MO on
25 March 2008 (VN, HHC/1/18th
Inf)
Haslett, Donald of Dearborn, MI
(Cold War, 1/18th Inf)
Hatchell, Albert of Florence, SC
(VN, 1/2nd Inf)
Heidrick, Arthur of Lakewood, CA
(WWII, AT/26th Inf)
Hilaman, Bernard of Sealbeach,
CA (Cold War, 7th FA)
Horyczun, John of Ceadartown,
GA (WWII, HHC/16th Inf)
Ingley, Milton of Lubbock, TX
(VN, 1MP/2nd Inf)
Jenne, Norman of Orleans, VT
(WWII, 32nd FA)
Johnson, Elwood of Cape Coral,
FL (Cold War)
Juergens, Raymond of Cincinnati,
OH (WWII, K/3/16th Inf)
Manning, Vaughn of Bigfoot, TX
(WWII, E/26th Inf)
Marano, George of Alamo, TX
(WWII, 16th Inf)
Mariani, Alfonso of Brooklyn, NY
(WWII, HHC/16th Inf)
Marion, Arthur of Athol, MA
(Cold War, K/3/18th Inf)
Mathison, Jerrell of New Orleans,
LA (VN, HQ/1st MED)
McCaul, Joseph of Chatham, NJ
(WWII, HQ)
Spry, Kenneth of Waterford, MI
(WWII, 26th Inf)
Steinberg, Allan of Rochester, NY
(WWII, 5th FA)
Steinhauer, Samuel of
Escondido, CA (WWII, 701st MT)
Stimmel, Charles of Pueblo, CO
on 3 April 2009 (VN, B/2/28th Inf)
Partridge, John, Jr. of Waukesha,
WI (WWII, MED/16th Inf)
Stivers, Keith of Machesney Park,
IL (WWII, C/16th Inf)
Patrick, Philip of Gillette, WY (VN,
B/2/18th Inf)
Stowell, Lucien of Richmond, VA
(WWII, C/1/16th Inf)
Patterson, Harold of Ypsilanti, MI
(WWII, AT/16th Inf)
Swansiger, John of Windber,
PA on 16 March 2009 (WWII,
HHC/1/16th Inf)
Perry, Bill of Frisco, TX (VN,
2/18th Inf)
Tatro, Harland of Grand Isle, VT
(WWII, B/32nd FA)
Piglowski, Clemens of Depew, NY
(WWII, 5th FA)
Taylor, Guy of Lakewood, OH
(WWII, C/1/16th Inf)
Pistorius, Alvin of Spring, TX
(WWII, HHC/AG)
Thomas, Oscar of San Diego, CA
(WWII, F/16th Inf)
Points, Robert of Cincinnati, OH
(VN, HHC/2/2nd Inf)
Tierney, Michael of Las Vegas, NV
(VN, 1/18th Inf)
Prentiss, Robert of Pittsburgh, PA
(WWII)
Tipton, Harold of Clearwater, FL
(WWII)
Reynolds, Frank of Wellsburg, NY
(WWII)
Roethlisberger, Leo of Huff, ND
(WWII, 26th Inf)
Grass, Thomas of Mooresburg,
TN (VN, 1/28th Inf)
Songer, Herbert of Abilene, KS
(WWII, 26th Inf)
Nowak, John of Ludlow, MA
(WWII, 601st TD)
Mancha, Frank, Jr. of Del Rey
Oaks, CA on 11 April 2009 (VN,
C/1/16th Inf)
Canady, Robert of Starke, FL on
24 March 2009 (VN, C/2/16th Inf)
Dale, Floyd of Blue Springs, MO
(WWII, K/26th Inf)
Newcomer, Samuel of
Washington, DC (WWII, A/26th Inf)
Freeman, Ralph of Allegany, NY
(WWII, I/16th Inf)
Guist, Merle of Canton, OH
(WWII, H/16th Inf)
Curtin, Lawrence of Marshfield,
MA (Cold War, D/5th FA)
Solomon, Edward of West Palm
Beach, FL on 23 March 2009
(WWII, HQ/2/18th Inf)
Robinson, Donald of Alexandria,
VA (VN, HHC/1/16th Inf)
Burns, James of Reno, NV (VN,
HHC/1/18th Inf)
Crowley, Thomas of Marion, MA
(WWII)
Neuner, Clarence of Buffalo, NY
(WWII, 33rd FA)
Malanowski, John of South
Hadley, MA (WWII, H/2/26th Inf)
Gressang, William of Orange, FL
(WWII, 2/16th Inf)
Cowell, Dale of Grove City, OH on
31 Jan 2009 (VN, C/1/2nd Inf)
Smith, Fred of Deerfield Beach, FL
on 8 Jan 2008 (VN, L/8/6th FA)
Forman, Harold of S Burlington,
VT (WWII, 1st ENG)
Burch, Paul of Indianapolis, IN
(VN, 1st DA)
Cook, Walter of Glen Cove, NY on
30 March 2009 (WWII, H/2/16th
Inf)
Neil, Quinton on 13 May 2008
(VN B & D Co, 2/16th Inf)
Flory, Richard of Logansport, IN
(WWII, HHC)
Gray, Ralph of Suffern, NY (WWII,
L/3/18th Infth)
Comber, Charles of Sylmar, CA
(WWII, F/2/18th Inf)
Smith, Donald of Medford, MA
(WWII, 1/18th Inf)
Magee, Daniel of Oviedo, FL on
23 Feb 2008 (Gulf War, HHC/1st
BDE)
Bullin, Paul of Boonville, NC
on 28 Jan 2009 (Cold War,
HHC/1/16th Inf)
Collins, John of Franklin, PA
(WWII, A/26th Inf)
Karafelis, Arthur of Lowell, MA
on 4 May 2009 (WWII, C/1/16th
Inf)
Neier, Frank of Pemberville, OH
(Cold War, 1/28th Inf)
Tobey, Nelson of Las Cruces, NM
(WWII, 7th FA)
Roberts, George of Polo, IL
(WWII, 745th TNK)
Trunzo, Dominick of Apollo, PA
(WWII, 18th Inf)
Vandermeer, William of
Memphis, TN (WWII, L/18th Inf)
Veazey, Charles of Guntersville, AL
(Cold War, 1st MED)
Rozek, Stanley of Union, NJ
(WWII, 2/16th Inf)
Ruscitti, Elvidio of Beaver, PA
(WWII)
Vining, Evertt of Farmington,
ME on 27 Feb 2009 (Cold War,
HHT/26th Inf)
Russo, Peter of Mastic, NY (WWII,
C/1/16th Inf)
Warfield, Nelson of Aberdeen,
MD (VN, 2/28th Inf)
Scales, Joseph of Burlington, KY
(WWII)
Watkins, Ken (VN, C/1/16th Inf)
Scavone, Joseph of Parma, OH on
8 Jan 2009 (WWII, H/2/26th Inf)
Scherer, Milton of Walton, NY
(WWII, K/3/18th Inf)
Setlak, Joseph of Merrillville, IN
(VN, HHC/1st AVN)
Weaver, Fred of Warren, OH on
12 April 2009 (WWII, C/1/16th Inf)
Werkin, John of Blacklick, OH
(VN, A/2/33rd FA)
Whalen, Henry of Holyoke, MA
(VN, B/2/2nd Inf)
Seward, Frederick of Dryden, NY
(WWII, 5th FA)
Wheeler Paige, Edmund of
Monroe Township, NJ (WWII,
I/16th Inf)
McCormick, Perry of Serena
Park, MD (WWII, 1/26th Inf)
Sheetz, William of Bristol, PA
(WWII, D/1/26th Inf)
Wilson, George of Versailles, KY
(VN, B/1/2nd Inf)
McGrath, Lawrence of Suffern, NY
(WWII, B/18th Inf)
Sheridan, James of Wentworth,
NH (VN, D/1/2nd Inf)
Willmann, William of Coppell, TX
(Cold War, 16th Inf)
McZegle, Dyane of Clearwater, KS
(VN, HHC/2/2nd Inf)
Silipo, August of Ozone Park, NY
(WWII, H/2/16th Inf)
Wright, Albert of Alexandria, VA
(WWII, 1st QM)
McClain, Carl of Kansas City, MO
on 23 May 2009 (WWII, HQ/1/16th
Inf)
Medlin, Henry of Selma, NC
(WWII, F/2/16th Inf)
Moe, Wayne of New Brighton, MN
on 10 March 2009 (VN, A & D Co,
2/16th Inf)
Morse, Harold of North Vernon,
IN (VN, D/701st MT)
Morlan, Roy Petersburg, OH
(WWII, 26th Inf)
Moultrop, Kendall of West
Kingston, RI (WWII, K/1/26th Inf)
Murphy, John of Somerville, MA
(VN, B2/2nd Inf)
Business Memberships
The following
businesses in
the Ft. Riley
community area
are supporting your
Society. Encourage a
business you know
to join the Society!
v Briggsauto.com
v Mathis Lueker Real Estate
Unit News
745th
News
By Bud Spencer
The Fort Polk Military Museum
is looking for one of our lapel
insignia for their Museum. If any
of you have one to donate, please
let me know.
At the First Division Museum
on the 65th Anniversary observance
of D-Day, I met with Matt Osegard
and Dan Castelanetta, who 8 years
ago were 1st lieutenants in the
1st Bn, 63d Armor, our successor
outfit! Matt emailed me that he
had just checked out the 745th on
the internet, and, lo, and behold,
he came across a digital copy
of our History. It was done by a
son or daughter of Olin Garner
Johnston who was a Cpl in the
2nd Plt, A Co. Visit it yourself at
http://745tank.com.
I was as surprised as anyone
when I saw an article in the last
Bridgehead Sentinel attributed
to me. I got a couple of E-Mails
commenting on the article and had
not received my copy of the Sentinel. Contacted our good friend,
Becky Tharp, at the Museum and
so she came to our next breakfast
and hand delivered a copy. Now,
that is “service above self.”
The story behind the article
is that last summer the Museum
people gave my name to LTC Jim
Bradford, CO of the 1st Bn, 63rd
Armor at Ft Riley, Kansas. He
invited us to be the guests of honor
at their Battalion Ball on Aug 22nd
and, in preceding days, to talk to
the Officers and NCO’s about the
745th and how life in the Army was
during WWII. (This Bn takes their
lineage from our A Co, and at the
time we were there, were preparing for deployment to Iraq where
they are now located and are over
half way through their tour).
At her request, I sent Becky a
copy of the talk. Unbeknownst to
me she edited the speech down to
create the article. She did a darned
good job, and I thank her for that.
However, it was written originally
as a speech. At the time of delivery
I had examples of V-Mail to show,
and even Kraft paper to show for
the toilet paper we had in England.
The written copy also doesn’t
show the ending, at one of the
talks-where I praised the current
Army and even saluted them with a
“snappy” salute, and as I brought
my arm down I knocked over a
bottle of water, soaking my cap.
Brought down the house, though.
I want to publicly thank and
commend Becky for the fine job
she did in condensing my speech.
She should have shared a by-line
with me, she surely earned it.
Before some critics point it
out and question my memory, let
the record show that the 191st did
not come out of the 192nd-they
were sister battalions; I was buck
Sgt, not a Staff Sgt when I went
into “D” Co., and that I was not
President of the 745th Tank Bn
Assn—I was, for the 42 years of
its existence, the Secty/Treas and
Newsletter editor.
Obituaries: the widow
of Erwin Hajek, Anne, died the
first week of June, 2009. Did
you notice in the last Bridgehead Sentinel that Shirley “Ben”
Marshall died on July 25, 2008?
He was part of the cadre and was
out of Danville VA. He served in
both Sv & D Companies.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES: Mark
your calendars for these dates: 1st
Tuesday of the month, at 9:30 am,
breakfast at Loves Park, Illinois
(Sheri’s Place Family Eatery, 5859
Forrest Hills Road).
4th Thursday in April, lunch
in the Lodge at Starved Rock
State Park, and the 4th Thursday
in October it is lunch at Starved
Rock. RSVP 815/220-1558, or
send E-Mail to: Bud745@ivnet.
com.
4th Thursday in August lunch
at the First Division Museum at
Cantigny in Wheaton, IL. RSVP
815/220-1558, or send E-Mail to:
Bud745@ivnet.com
BIG CHANGE: 3rd Tuesday
of the month, breakfast at Palos
Heights, Illinois Royalberry
Waffle House, 6417 W. 127th St
at Ridgeland Ave, in Indian Trails
Shopping Mall will be no more.
It will now be an 11:30 lunch
(or late breakfast) at Bob Evans
Restaurant on the 3rd Thursday.
It is located on the west side of
Joliet just off of I-80 at mile post
130. Exit North on Larkin, at the
first traffic light turn right, then
right into their parking lot. It is
diagonally across the street from
Sam’s and only 2 or 3 miles from
the Empress gambling boat. We
hope to increase the attendance.
How about you?
Can you make it?
Who:1st Engineer Combat Bn
When: 13–16 Sept 2009
Where: Landmark Resort
Myrtle Beach, SC
Contact: Bob Brink
7642 Botting Road
Racine, WI 53402
262-639-4405
rbrink1@wi.rr.com
Summer 2009
Society HQ Mailing Address:
Society of the First
Infantry Division
1933 Morris Road
Blue Bell, PA 19422-1422
E-Mail:
Soc1ID@aol.com
Society Web Site:
http://www.1stID.org
President:
Thomas G. Rhame
Executive Director:
Edward J. Burke
Administrative Staff:
Jennifer Sanford
Nancy Freeston
Phone:
215.661.1969 (direct)
888.324.4733 (toll free)
BRIDGEHEAD SENTINEL PRODUCTION
Staff: Rebecca Tharp
Bridgehead Mailing Address:
Dave Blake
Bridgehead Sentinel
Paul Herbert
c/o First Division Museum at Cantigny
1s151 Winfield Road
Steve Hawkins
E-Mail:
Wheaton, IL 60189-3353
Phone:
Bridgehead@
630.260.8256
FirstDivisionMuseum.org
Fax:
630.260.9298
Editorial Policy
Send your stories to the
Bridgehead Production address above.
Come to the oldest and largest all-era veteran reunion in the nation. Find new friends and old buddies
you served with at Kokomo! Don’t forget to stop by the 1st Div Hospitality tent and register as a BRO Vet.
Make sure you say “hi” to KC. For more information visit www.hcvvo.org or call 675-628-0297.
N
SOCIETY OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION
Reunion will include fish fry, golf outing
and tour of Pittsfield Battle Grounds.
Veterans from
the 2008
Reunion in
Kokomo, IN
pose for a
group photo.
U
Please send DUES and ADDRESS CHANGES to:
Society of the First Infantry Division
1933 Morris Road
Blue Bell, PA 19422
Who: B Co, 1/26th Inf, 3rd Bde,
1968–1970 Vietnam
When: 18–20 Sept 2009
Where: Ft. Scott, Kansas
Contact: Patrick Guy
1108 Saint Charles Avenue
Saint Charles, MO 63301
636-947-8521
pguysmile@aol.com
17-20 Sept 2009
Kokomo, IN
E
Address Changes and Dues
The purpose of the Bridgehead Sentinel is to serve the
needs of the Society and the interests of its members by:
-Disseminating information from the Society to its members;
-Publishing articles and items of interest to Society members;
-Promoting the history and heritage of the Big Red One.
The Bridgehead Sentinel will publish three issues per year
to be mailed out 1 March, 15 June, and 15 Oct. To be considered for publication in a particular issue of the Bridgehead,
articles must be received by the following dates:
-For the Spring issue, received by 15 Jan;
-For the Summer issue, received by 1 May;
-For the Fall/Winter issue, received by 1 Sept.
Submissions received after these dates will normally be
considered for publication in a subsequent issue.
The Bridgehead Sentinel encourages members to send
stories they have written about their time spent with the division.
Feature articles should not be longer than 6 pages, typed. The
Bridgehead Sentinel staff reserves the right to edit all articles
for length, grammar, and content.
The Bridgehead Sentinel does not publish material relating to political issues or campaigns, paid advertisements or
solicitations, or material that may be considered defamatory or
libelous. Because of issues involved in securing permissions for
articles and original copies of photos, the Bridgehead Sentinel
does not typically re-publish articles that appeared previously in
other newspapers, journals and magazines.
The Bridgehead Sentinel reserves the right to publish or not
publish any article or item sent for its review.
All stories, photos and other items sent to the Bridgehead
Sentinel will be automatically considered for donation to the
First Division Museum in Wheaton, Illinois, unless otherwise
requested.
KOKOMO
2009!
R
Summer 2009, #2; ISSN 1092-4892
Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved..
The Bridgehead Sentinel is published in accordance with the terms of
the 1957 agreement between the Society of the First Infantry Division
and the Cantigny First Division Foundation.
I
O
N
S
17
The Corporal
George Hougas 745th Tank Bn ...CONTINUED from page 12
tanks. We were used a couple of
times at outposts and covered main
intersections.
In Feb we were called on to
cross a field supposedly mined, to
meet up with another U.S. Army
Group. This was near Houffalize.
Shortly thereafter the battle of the
Bulge was over, and we returned
to Cologne Plains near the Rhine
River.
In March 7th late at night we
were assigned to a combat unit
going to attack Bonn. We took off
in the early morning hours, arriving at the outskirts without much
action. I do recall an anti-tank gun
unmanned as we started into town.
We travelled without incident until
we got a couple of blocks from the
Rhine River. We made a left turn
on a side street and went about ¾
of a block when we came upon
a German supply truck that had
been knocked over by the infantry.
There was other debris lying across
the street, and our medics were
tending to a couple of wounded
men in the street. Our driver pulled
to the right side of the street, and
our tank commander got out to go
check with the officer in charge to
see where he wanted to position
our assault gun. There was a lot of
small arms fire at the end of the
street from which we had entered.
It was just starting to break day
when suddenly I spotted a German
self-propelled tank come around
the corner headed in my direction.
As I cranked the turret, I told the
loader to grab an armored piercing
shell to put in the chamber, figuring we might have to blast some
building I had a HE shell in the
gun. The turret hung up about ¾ of
the way around. I backed off and
tried again. It released, and I got a
shot off and hit the self-propelled
tank. It exploded and fire came
out it must have been fully loaded
as the ammunition exploded for
several minutes. I estimate the
distance was about 50 yards away.
I found out later the reason the
turret hung up was because the
driver got out of the tank and left
his hatch open. A .50 cal ammo
box attached to the turret caught
on the hatch.
Some time later, while looking
up the street above the wall, a
barrel of a gun was slowly coming
from behind a building and
angling in our direction. I could
see about half the silhouette of a
tank. I fired at it, saw an explosion
and someone jump off the tank in
flames.
The next day I walked down the
street to view the damage. It was
then I realized the tank was on the
University of Bonn. The tank could
not get between the buildings with
the gun pointed in our direction.
“Thank God.”
We departed Bonn the next day
when we got word the Remagen
Bridge had been captured.
The following day before
daylight, we crossed the railroad
bridge. Thereafter we did not
see too much action. The Harz
Mountains was the last real combat
for us, we ended up in the Zwodau,
Czechoslovakia when we received
word a truce had been reached.
Many German prisoners came
into our area, and for a couple
of days, we served as a blockade
around a large field where they
were interrogated and taken to
various places.
After several days in Eger
(Cheb) we had orders to move to
Rothenburg. We had a long road
march there and served as Army of
Occupation until Sept ’45.
We had a good relationship
with 16th Inf, Cannon Co and had a
great admiration for their CO and
1SG Harold and SGT Peterson the
mess sergeant. They made sure we
had plenty of rations whenever we
were dispatched to reinforce other
units in various battles.
I recall times when CPT
O’Brien spent all night in Forward
Observation of our artillery and in
the next morning he would greet
us in the chow line and might even
serve us coffee.
I feel fortunate that we were
assigned to a unit that had previous
combat experience.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / RENEWAL Effective For 2009
line!
n
o
n
i
Jo
g
tID.or
s
1
.
w
ww
Society of the First Infantry Division
1933 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422-1422
DATE:______________
TITLE: _______ NAME: __________________________ _________ _______________________ _________
(Rank or
Mr/Mrs/Ms)
(First)
(Initial)
(Last)
(Suffix–
MD, RET, etc.)
l If you do not want your contact information (name, address, email, era, unit)
LAST 4 DIGITS OF SSN: ___ ___ ___ ___
listed in the Members Only online directory on our website, please check here.
(Required)
Complete this section to apply for membership or to update our records
Mailing Address (All Members)
_____________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________
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__________________
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Phone (__ __ __) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __
EMail: _________________________________________________________
Your service with the big Red One (assigned, attached or in support–eligible; please check all that apply)
l WWII
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UNIT: Company:_______ Battalion:________ Regiment:________BCT_________ Years of Service: __________ to__________
Have you served in combat with another unit? l Yes
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Select a Membership Type (please check only one)

...continued from page 11
filled every crevice and covered
every opening with a smelly,
oozing black, sticky waterproofing
compound. Then we proved this
blackening endeavor by driving
our vehicles through and operating in water-filled trenches.
It was an unusual sunny
May day when finally the B.C.
determined that all the battery
armament and equipment were
waterproofed and ready for
amphibious assault. His NCOs
had prepared us, and we were
groomed for what was to be the
most incredible immersion in
the world’s troubled waters—the
Invasion of Normandy! Fortunately for us young soldiers, the
Corporal’s extensive supervisory months of comprehensive,
common-sense, combat-survival
skills training transformed us technically proficient craftsmen into
battle-wise, energetic, enthusiastic,
dirty-underwear, hot-to-trot field
soldiers. We could shoot, scoot,
and communicate! We were The
Lucky 7th.
Thank God—for that 6th of
June in ’44, we, as part of the 16th
Regimental Combat Team, the
assault regiment of the 1st Division, staggered, but then slogged
through that blood-foamed surf.
It was our longest damn morning,
afternoon, and night at “Easy Red”
on Omaha Beach. We were fortunate, however; we survived.
Sadly, the law of averages
was against this corporal and
his dinosaur cohorts. He got his
German marksmanship medal,
the Purple Heart somewhere
around Caumont, France. He left
us on a warm June afternoon on a
stretcher, laughing uproariously at
some joke. We didn’t join in as the
medic nodded forebodingly. We
remained silent, saddened at our
family loss, curiously feeling that
we had come too late to share this
war with him…
We’d seen him as an ordinary
loudmouth corporal, the unit’s
lowest level noncommissioned
officer, yet he had cared only
about our welfare and subtlety or
brutally energized our potential.
In the end, it was not what he did
that made him unique, but what
he eventually caused us to do. We
never knew whether we liked him
or disliked him, but we sure never
could ignore him! He, as he avidly
proclaimed, was our master or
disaster!
Somebody said he died of his
wounds that night in lonely obscurity in a medical tent back of the
lines, still calling out obscenities
on the doc and his medics…but I
don’t accept that. No sir, I believe
he’s ensconced on the right seat
of that throne in Valhalla, greeting
the newly-arrived warrior angels,
his raucous assertions still occasionally mixed with nettled harassments persisting! Then, above it
all, another voice, cautioning with
these soft words: “Heads up, men,
listen up…
that’s my rat speaking.”
All Membership types include a subscription to the Bridgehead Sentinel and the Annual Calendar
ANNUAL Membership
Active Duty
VeteranS
l Regular ($30 per year)
l Executive ($60 per year)
Currently serving with the BRO
Associates
Family and Friends of the Big Red One
l Regular ($30 per year)
l Executive ($60 per year)
l Business ($100 per year)
Life Membership veterans
l E-8 & above, 01 & above ($30 per year)
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($25 per year)
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($20 per year)
PCS: Mo_____ Day_____ Year_____
RANK (Required): _________________
l Widow(er)s of BRO Vets (FREE)
l Under 39 ($400)
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l 60 - 69 ($250)
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Life - Active Duty
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Contributions
l I would like to make a tax deductible contribution of $_____________, beyond my regular dues to be used for the:
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(Note: Donations of $100 or more will be recognized as CENTURY CLUB members in the Bridgehead Sentinel.)
Payment (for “Membership Type” and “Contributions”)
l Enclosed is my check payable to the SOCIETY OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION in the amount of $___________
l Please charge my (circle one): Visa / Mastercard / American Express / Discover
Card #: ___________________________________________
EXP DATE: _____/_____
(month / year)
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orders must
be $25.00 or
more**
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Signature: ___________________________________________ CVC# and signature are required.
18
Return this form and your check, if applicable, to the address at the top of the form. If paying by credit card, you may fax this form to 215-661-1934.
For your convenience, you may also join online on our website at www.1stID.org by clicking on the “Membership” link.
OLD SUPPLY SARGE
Or order online at www.1stID.org
6Blazer
Patch 9-Coffee Mug
Drawing by
Alban B. Butler
© Cantigny
First Division
Foundation
5-Billed Cap
(White, Khaki,
Desert Camo)
31-Shoulder Patch
44-Window Decal
39-Travel
Mug
8-Can Holder 4-Baseball Cap
(White, Black)
27-Pub Glass 33-Teddy Bear
30-Shotglass
42-Visor
New!
10-Coin
28-SandwichBilled Hat
(black)
3-Auto Tag
13-DooRag
42-Window Cling (clear)
26-Pocket
Knife
19-Navy Golf
Shirt w/out pocket
16-Dbl. Rocks
36-Tee Shirt
Long Sleeve Glasses (Set of 4)
29-Shaving
Kit (Navy)
2- Auto
Licence
Plate
Holder
7-Bumper Stickers
A
17-Knit Golf
Shirt w/pocket,
(White or Black)
40- The True
Story of the Big
Red One (DVD)
B
C
34-Tee Shirt
25-Pillbox, 7 Day
w/pocket
3½” Diameter
(White or Black)
35-CIB Tee
Shirt, no
pocket
1-“1” Charm,
Sterling Silver
23-Mini Badge
CIB, CMB, CAB
D
38Tie
Tac or
Lapel Pin
E
44-Wind
Shirt,
(Navy) 18-Knit Golf Shirt
no pocket
21-Ladies
Charm
24-Neck Tie
(Blue or Red) 37-Throw,
Fleece
(Gray)
15Garden
Flag/
Pennant
22-Lapel Pin
King Size or Regular
45-Woven Throw
14-Nylon Flag
20-Jacket
(3 Season)
32-Sweatshirt,
Rib Fleece
12-Denim Shirt, Long (stone only)
Sleeve (Blue or Khaki)
Order Form
11-Denim Shirt
Short Sleeved
(Blue only)
Mail to: Supply Sarge, Society of the 1st Inf Division, 1933 Morris Rd, Blue Bell, PA 19422-1422
NameAddress
CityStateZipPhoneE-mail
No. Item
Cost
1 “1” Charm, Sterling Silver
$11.00
2 Auto Licence Holder
9.00
3 Auto Tag - Society 9.00
4 Baseball Cap
20.00
5 Billed Cap
20.00
6 Blazer Patch
13.00
7 Bumper Sticker
5.00
8 Can Holder - Coolie
6.00
9 NEW Coffee Mug
18.00
10 Coin, Commemorative
11.00
11 Denim Shirt, Short Sleeve
39.00
12 Denim Shirt, Long Sleeve
41.00
13 Doo-Rag (head cover)
13.00
14 Flag / banner (nylon) 85.00
15 Garden Flag / Pennant
26.00
16 Glasses, Dbl. Rocks (4)
30.00
17 Golf Shirt w/ Pocket
41.00
18 Golf Shirt no pocket
41.00
19 Golf Shirt w/out pocket
50.00
20 Jacket, 3 Season
110.00
21 Ladies Charm
10.00
22 Lapel Pin
13.00
23 Miniature Badge
10.00
24 Necktie 30.00
25 Pill Box
6.00
26 Pocket Knife
10.00
27 Pub Glass, BRO
15.00
28 Sandwich Cap
20.00
29 Shave/Toiletry Kit
20.00
30 Shot Glass, BRO
10.00
31 Shoulder Patch
4.00
32 Sweatshirt - Rib Fleece
53.00
Qty
Circle
Circle
Size/type
Color
Blk/Wht
Wht/Khaki
/DesertCamo/
A/B/C/D/E
Red only
M L XL XXL
M L XL XXL
Blue only
Blue / Khaki
Black only
Total
No. Item
33 Teddy Bear, BRO
34 Tee Shirt w/pocket
35 Tee Shirt, CIB no pocket
36 Tee Shirt, Long Sleeve
37 Throw, Fleece (Gray)
38 Tie-tac/Lapel Pin
39 Travel Mug (Insulated)
40 “True Story of the BRO”
41 Visor
42 Window Cling (LG-Inside)
43 Window Decal
44 Wind Shirt, Navy
45 Woven Throw
Cost
15.00
23.00
25.00
28.00
35.00
10.00
26.00
30.00
20.00
6.00
2.00
46.00
62.00
Qty
Size/type
Color
M L XL XXL
M L XL XXL
M L XL XXL
Black / White
Lt. Blue only
Black only
Total
DVD
Stone only
Blank or VN
Inside/Outside
M L XL XXL
Navy only
This order form is valid through 2009 only!
M L XL XXL
M L XL XXL
M L XL XXL
L XL
Black / White
Moss / Tan
Navy only
Black only
Kingsize / Reg
CAB/CIB/CMB
SHIRTS & JACKETS – nonstock sizes are available on special order for the following premiums:
Small and Medium +$5 each
XXL +$10
XXXL +$12 each
(Please indicate the size required at the item line) Nonstock note: 4-6 weeks for delivery.
SUB-TOTAL
*All prices
include shipping
and handling.
Shirt/Jacket Special Order Premium
PA Residents ADD 6% for state sales tax +(x .06)
Overseas Orders ADD 10% +(x .10)
TOTAL
Red / Navy
Make Checks payable to: Society of the First Infantry Division
Payment method (circle one): Cash, Check, Visa, MC, Amex, Discover
Black only
Navy only
M L XL XXL
Stone only
**Credit Card orders must be $25.00 or more**
Card Number
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Expiration Date: Month________ Year________ (e.g. 08 10)
Security Code ____ ____ ____
(Back of card)
Signature__________________________________________________
19
1s151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189-3353  Phone: 630.260.8185  Fax: 630.260.9298  E-mail: Info@FirstDivisionMuseum.org  www.FirstDivisionMuseum.org
Part of the McCormick Foundation
F I R ST D I V I S I O N M U S E U M AT c A N t I G N Y
McCormick Research Center
65th Anniversary of D-Day and LCVP dedication ceremony
The First Division Museum
commemorated the 65th anniversary of D-Day on June 6th by
holding ceremonies to honor
those who made the historic
assault that day as well as all
World War II veterans. Approximately 470 World War II veterans attended, of whom 88 were
D-Day veterans. All services were
represented: Army, Navy, Air
Corps, Marines, Coast Guard, and
Merchant Marine. Some served in
the Pacific Theater; others served
stateside; while others served
in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and
Europe. Some landed at Omaha
Beach; some at Utah Beach, and
others landed at a half-dozen
“D-Days” on beaches throughout
the Pacific.
“Their sacrifices helped free
us from the terrible dangers of
that time and shaped the world we
live in today,” said Paul Herbert,
executive director of the Cantigny
First Division Foundation. “We
want them to know their legacy
will not be forgotten.”
More than 6,100 people
came to the special events that
day, which included a memorial service and a commemoration service where the museum
dedicated its recently acquired,
rare World War II Landing Craft,
Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP).
Also known as a “Higgins boat”
after its designer, Andrew Higgins,
Cantigny’s LCVP is the same type
used to deliver soldiers onto the
beach in Normandy on D-Day in
1944. About 22,000 LCVPs were
manufactured during World War
II but fewer than a dozen still
exist. The First Division Museum’s
LCVP will be out on limited display
throughout 2009. Please call
ahead or check our Web site for
days and times.
Active-duty 1st Infantry Division
soldiers from Ft. Riley, Kansas, also
participated in the June 6 events.
The soldiers arrived aboard three
Armed Forces Day celebration 2009!
Over 2,300 visitors came to the
First Division Museum at Cantigny
this year on May 16 to celebrate
Armed Forces Day with displays of
military aircraft, vehicles, equipment, live music, Living History
re-enactors, and crafts for kids.
In attendance this year were
about 20 active-duty 1st Division
Soldiers from Fort Riley, Kansas
who brought a variety of military
vehicles and equipment.
1st Combat Aviation Brigade
Soldiers flew an AH-64 Apache ,
CH-47 Chinook, and UH-60 Black
Hawk helicopters to Cantigny Park
and landed in the parade field
while other 1st Division Soldiers
brought up-armored HMMWVs
(Humvees) and an
Armored Security
Vehicle (ASV) for the
public to see up close.
The latest in military technology such
as an IED (improvised explosive
device) robot, biometric security
equipment and a sniper in full
gear were on display to demonstrate all the new equipment
soldiers have in today’s battlefield.
Children’s activities included
writing thank you letters and
folding a pocket flag for deploying soldiers, as well as painting
camouflage “boonie hats.”
different military helicopters
and an M1117 Armored Security
Vehicle (ASV) and an M-1151
Up-armored Humvee. Some of the
soldiers served as the Color Guard
for the day’s events. Park visitors
were able to meet the troops and
see the aircraft and vehicles up
close. Historic vehicles from the
First Division Museum’s collection
were displayed as well. Brigadier
General David L. Grange, U.S.
Army (Ret.) and former Danger
Six, was the guest speaker at the
ceremony. Other events for the day
included World War II re-enactors,
two bands performing, crafts for
the children, and an actor portraying Colonel Robert R. McCormick
delivering his radio talk on the
D-Day landings.
Former 1st ID Senior Officers lay a wreath at the Museum’s M1 Abrams.
1st Division Desert Shield/Desert Storm workshop
Top left: Visitors look inside
of the Apache helicopter.
Top: Visitors got a look at the
latest technology like
this IED Robot.
Above: Snipers showcased
new rifles and camouflage
techniques.
Former BRO CG LTG (Ret)
Thomas Rhame and senior officers
of the 1st Infantry Division who
served in Operation Desert Shield
and Desert Storm were invited
to the First Division Museum at
Cantigny for a workshop on May
16 that detailed the Division’s
involvement in the 1990–1991
Persian Gulf War.
The workshop was aimed
at telling the story of the first
Gulf War from the commanders’
perspectives including specific
At Left:
Senior
Officers
aboard the
Museum’s
newly
restored
WWII LCVP.
1st Division commanders visits the Museum!
In preparation for deployment,
MG Brooks, CSM Champagne,
senior officers and other staff of
the 1st Infantry Division visited the
First Division Museum at Cantigny
in early May for a hands-on
experience with the Division’s
historic past. The Museum’s staff
led the Division Command through
the main exhibit hall where they
walked through the footsteps of
1st Division soldiers from the
formation of the Division in 1917
to Operation Desert Storm.
After the ceremony staff and volunteers escorted the veterans onto the
LCVP. Some of the them had not seen an LCVP up close in 65 years.
The tour also included access
to the Museum’s collections
department, which houses over
10,000 artifacts pertaining to the
1st Division and a walk through
Cantigny Park, Robert R. McCormick’s expansive 500 acre estate.
The day concluded with a formal
1st Division punch bowl ceremony
that was attended by former
1st Division Commanding General
David L. Grange U.S. Army (Ret.),
the President and CEO of the
McCormick Foundation.
At Left: Big Red
One officers
test the punch
during the
Formal Punch
Bowl Ceremony.
Photo by Teri Bianchi.
details of events they experienced
and their recommendations for
future research. The Museum
collected notes and other input
from the workshop to use in future
exhibits on Operation Desert
Shield & Desert Storm.
The Senior Officers also participated in a memorial ceremony
held in front of the Museum’s
M1 Abrams Tank in honor of the
fallen Soldiers of Operation Desert
Shield and Desert Storm.
Museum awards
research fellow
The Cantigny First Division
Foundation has selected its first
ever Cantigny Research Fellow:
Michael Dolski. Dolski was
awarded a $5,000 sponsorship
toward completion of his Ph. D.
dissertation on “D-Day in American Consciousness.”
As a component of his
research, Dolski will utilize
the extensive archives at the
McCormick Research Center at
the Museum to investigate how
the actions of D-Day have been
portrayed in popular culture
since June 6, 1944.