Big Red One Reunion Returns to the First Division Museum at

Transcription

Winter 2014
A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E 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
Big Red One Reunion Returns to the
First Division Museum at Cantigny
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 !
1s151 Winfield Rd.
Wheaton, IL 60189
First Division Museum at Cantigny Park
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 6080
Carol Stream, IL
60188
Spring 2014, #2; ISSN 1092-4892
Copyright © 2014 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.
ADDRESS CHANGES AND DUES
Please send DUES and ADDRESS CHANGES to:
Society of the First Infantry Division
PO Box 1127
Junction City, KS 66441
SOCIETY OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION
Society HQ Mailing Address:
Society of the
First Infantry Division
PO Box 607
Ambler, PA 19002
http://www.1stID.org
President:
Robert E. Durbin
Executive Director:
Darrell “Buddy” Wallace
([email protected])
BRIDGEHEAD SENTINEL
PRODUCTION
Administrative Staff:
Jennifer Sanford
([email protected])
Ruth Dupree ([email protected])
Quartermaster
([email protected])
Phone:
215.654.1969 (PA)
215.654.0392 (Fax)
785.579.6761 (KS)
785.579.6762 (Fax)
855.235.7076 (Toll Free)
Staff: Dave Blake
Bridgehead Mailing Address:
Paul Herbert
Bridgehead Sentinel
Gayln Piper
c/o First Division Museum at Cantigny
1s151 Winfield Road
E-Mail:
Wheaton, IL 60189-3353
dblake@
Phone:
FirstDivisionMuseum.org
630.260.8234
Fax:
630.260.9298
EDITORIAL POLICY
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 April,
1 August, and 1 December. 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 1 March;
-For the Summer issue, received by 1 July;
-For the Winter issue, received by 1 November.
Submissions received after these dates will normally be considered for publication in
a subsequent issue.
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.
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.
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Bridgehead Sentinel
In This Issue
“A Long Time Coming”.............................24
2015 Reunion Info...................................12-17
3rd BDE in OEF..........................................25-26
SOCIETY NEWS
Unit News.................................................6
BRO Books...............................................7
Scholarship News.....................................21-23
Looking For/Mail Call...............................23
FEATURES
Letter from the Executive Director...........4
WWII Soldier in Sicily..............................15-16
Quartermaster..........................................28
MUSEUM
ACTIVE DUTY
Letter from the CG....................................8
Summer 2014
Keeping Up with
The 1st Division........................................11
1st ID HQ Deploys.....................................9
1nd BDE In Kuwait.....................................10
94th Engineers Case Colors.......................11
Donating to the BRO Museum...................30
LT’s Interviewed at Reunion.....................31
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Society News
Letter from the Executive Director
CSM (Ret) Darrell “Buddy” Wallace
Executive Director, Society of the 1st Infantry Division
As we approach the holiday
season we want to thank each of
you for your continued support
for the Society of the First Infantry
Division, our soldiers and their
families. We hope you have a
wonderful holiday season. From
now until 2020 there will be many
special dates acknowledged by the
1st Infantry Division community.
2015 will mark the 50-year
anniversary of the 1st Infantry
Division’s deployment to Vietnam,
there will be a large-scale exhibit
commemorating this at the First
Division Museum at Cantigny
during the BRO Reunion.
In 2016 we will remember the
25-year anniversary of our deployment to Operation Desert Shield/
Storm. Moving into 2017 and
beyond, our historic division will
celebrate the 100-year anniversary of its creation, its return from
World War I, the 70th Anniversary
of VE Day, actions in Bosnia and
Kosovo and the 15-year anniversary of our deployment to Iraq.
For more information on these
commemorations, visit the First
Division Museum’s website at
firstdivisionmuseum.org, as well
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as upcoming issues of the Bridgehead Sentinel.
Attending a BRO reunion is
a great way to be a part of these
events, as well as reconnect with
those you have served with in the
BIG RED ONE!
Paul Herbert and his team
have many great events planned to
highlight each one of these anniversaries. Having served in the
1st Infantry Division, there will be
an anniversary for each of you to
reflect on and your contribution
to the history of our great division.
I am currently compiling
information that will provide you
with insight on the process of
choosing reunion locations. The
Society is working on different
ways to help keep your cost down
and I would like to share with you
the steps we are taking to do so.
One of the things we have
undertaken has been a partnership with USAA, and obtaining
the 1ID USAA credit card. A small
percentage of your purchases
made with this card will be
refunded to the Society. Most of
you may have received a letter
in the mail. If you do not have
internet access, and would like to
partake in this offer, you can call
844-266-SFID(7343) and request
your USAA Society of the 1st Infantry Division BRO card. You wore
the BRO patch now carry the BRO
patch and show your support. To
view this offer there is a link to it
on our web page. Please click on
it and take a look at this offer and
how it works to assist the Society.
We are now a 501-c(3)
tax-exempt organization. All
donations made to the Society are
fully deductible under this status.
This will go a long way in assisting
the society helping soldiers and
their families when the need
arises. Every donation made to
the Society of the First Infantry
Division, large or small, is greatly
appreciated.
As you may have noticed, our
e-mail addresses have changed.
We have migrated from AOL to
G-mail our new email address can
be found on the bottom of our
web page www.1stid.org. We are
still checking our AOL account
until the migration is complete.
We are looking forward to
another great year in the SFID,
and look forward to seeing and
reconnecting many first time
attendees at our 2015 reunion.
The museum has gone all out as
you will see when you read over
the reunion information. This
reunion is one you won’t want to
miss. If you never had the chance
to see your museum you are really
in for a wonderful experience. We
hope to have a record turnout.
Calendar correction; I over
looked the date of the picture
for the month of August. The
caption should have read. SGT
Walter Witherspoon and LT
Thomas P. Galvin, B., Co., 1/26,
photo was taken in Bong Trang
Vietnam 1966 just prior to them
being injured. This error rests
completely on me. I’m sorry and
will ensure our history is captured
in a manner that is befitting our
proud legacy for future generations for our soldiers.
No Mission Too Difficult,
No Sacrifice Too Great,
Duty FIRST!
Buddy Wallace
Bridgehead Sentinel
THE BIG RED ONE IS RETURNING
TO OUR MUSEUM AND CHICAGO
Our hotel, the Westin Lombard.
The Big Red One’s 97th annual
reunion is taking place at the
Westin Lombard, Lombard, IL,
June 17-21, 2015. It has been a
decade since our last reunion in
the Chicago area. We are excitied
to be heading back to visit our
amazing museum.
The museum will be hosting
our visit starting Thursday and
continuing through Saturday. They
have completed many improvements and upgrades to each
Summer 2014
display, including cases, graphics
and other additions. The museum
will also include tours of the
Robert R. McCormick Museum
and Cantigny’s gardens (schedule
and details in this issue). They
will also have historic vehicles on
display.
The museum will be offering
a BBQ lunch to all who visit and
the nominal fee for transportation will be donated back to the
Foundation’s Memorial Fund.
The museum has also graciously
provided the Chicago Brass Band
for your enjoyment at the banquet.
Paul Herbert and his staff have
gone all-out for our visit. If you
last saw your museum back in
2004 you won’t want to miss this
trip.
We have also chosen a few
other places for you to visit while
we are in the area. Chicago has
plenty to offer and the experience
wouldn’t be complete without
spending some time in the city.
The most important reason for
joining us is to see all your old
friends and meet some new ones.
Don’t forget to join us for the
Welcome Party where you will
have a chance to mix and mingle.
It is free and everyone, of course,
is WELCOME!
We are looking forward to
seeing everyone!
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Unit News
745th
News
By Bud Spencer
Obituaries
The only one that I know of is
Veda Mae Cole, widow of Merritt
(Bob) Cole, who passed away on
July 29th, 2014.
Either our men are living
longer or I don’t get word of their
demise, let’s hope that we are
living longer as our numbers are
getting smaller!
Social Activities
First Tuesday of the month at
9:30 am, breakfast at Loves Park,
IL. Sheri’s Place Family Eatery,
5859 Forest Hills Road. For more
information contact Paul Grupp at
815-637-1630 to make sure they
are meeting that week. Attendance
has gotten pretty low..
Third Thursday of the month,
11:30 is the luncheon at the Big
Apple in Joliet, IL. Is is North of
Jefferson (US 52) on the East side
of Larkin (IL 7) Exit 130 N on
I-80.
Call Bud Spencer at 815-2201558 to confirm the meeting.
Here, also, attendance if getting
small.
Fourth Thursday in August will
most likely be a luncheon at the
First Division Museum. Look for a
special mailing from them telling
of it. The luncheon this year had
a total attendance of 17, only 3 of
whom were with the 745th.
history as source material. At this
point I highly recommend it. If
I feel otherwise when I finish it,
I’ll try to get this report changed.
The author goes by the pen name
of Adrian Doyle. The book is,
Return to La Roche-en-Ardenne,
and is dedicated to the 745th Tank
Battalion. At the end, it has a copy
of our history book, Captain Sullivan’s talk at our final reunion and
the talk I gave to our successor
outfit: the lst Battalion, 63rd Armor
Battalion. If you try to get a copy,
it is for sale on Amazon.com. The
ISBN-13 is: 978-1484176818.
Book Report
Right now (Nov. 3rd) I’m
reading a book that is fiction, but
centered on the 745th–using our
2014 Kokomo, Indiana Vietnam Veterans Reunion
Society Fort Dix Branch
Who:
When:
Where:
Contact:
Society Ft. Dix Branch (Spring Brunch)
March 8th 2015 - 10:30 am
Sebastian’s Schnitzelhaus,
Wrightstown, NJ
Antonio Maria
[email protected]
Above: Group photo of Recon Platoon, 16th Infantry Regiment veterans at the
Kokomo Reunion. Contact Bob “Turkey” Youngberg (Third row, far right) if
you are interested in meeting up with the BRO at Kokomo in 2015. E-mail:
[email protected] for more information.
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Bridgehead Sentinel
BRO Books
The books in this section are not published by the Society of the First Infantry
Division, but they are BRO-related or may be of interest to members of the Society.
If you have written a book about 1st Division, and would like it in the BRO Books
section, mail a copy of the book to:
First Division Museum at Cantigny
ATTN: BRO BOOKS
1s151 Winfield Rd
Wheaton, IL 60189
Keeping Time
By Fred Randall
The Troy Book Makers
(2014)
The life story of 98-year-old
drummer and 1st Infantry Division
World War II veteran, Fred
Randall. Randall performed in
Army club bands and later for big
bands, concert orchestras and
more.
Available on Amazon.com
$19.99 plus $3.99 shipping.
Grease Balls and
Lima Beans
By Stephen Rabourn
Self-published (2014)
Taking place in Vietnam in 196869, this is the true story of an
infantry sergeant’s combat tour
with the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry
Regiment.
$16.95 plus shipping.
E-mail: [email protected]
The Fastest Gun in
the Big Red One
By Walt Cross
Dire Wolf Books (2012)
A memoir of MSG (Ret) Walt
Cross and unit history of the 1st
Battalion, 7th Artillery in Vietnam
1965-70.
To order, contact Author at:
[email protected]
or visit lulu.com/greenpheon7
$19.95 plus $4.00 shipping.
The Lost Sketchbooks
By Rex Passion with drawings by Edward Shenton
Komatik Press (2014)
Author Rex Passion follows the World War I history of illustrator
Edward Shenton through sketches he made in the field. Shenton served
with Company B, 103rd Engineers, 28th Infantry Division, capturing many
of the battlefields and sights common to all doughboys of the AEF.
To order visit: thelostsketchbooks.com
$21.95 plus shipping.
Summer 2014
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Active Duty
U.S. Army Photo
A Veterans Day Message from the CG
Paul E. Funk, II
Major General,
Commanding
“Danger 6”
Big Red One Soldiers past
and present, joint team members
of the Coalition Forces Land
Component Command – Iraq, our
interagency partners from across
the government, family members
and friends of the Division –
thank you for honoring the great
Americans, past and present, that
serve our great Nation.
I am honored and humbled
serving as the commanding
general of the Combined Land
Forces Component CommandIraq and the 1st Infantry Division,
consisting of service members
who are part of the most elite
military the world has ever
known.
On the 11th hour of November
11, 1918, an armistice signed
between the Allied nations and
Germany went into effect, marking
the cessation of hostilities on the
Western front of World War I. In
1954, “Armistice” was replaced
with “Veterans,” and since
then, November 11th has been
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recognized as Veterans Day in
the United States, and observed
as Remembrance Day by the
Commonwealth of Nations.
Today is NOT a day focused
on mourning those who made
the ultimate sacrifice; instead
it celebrates and honors those
who served and continue to
serve in the United States armed
forces. We take a moment to
remember their achievement,
their courage, and their dedication to duty, honor, and country.
Service members come from all
walks of life, but we share several
fundamental qualities, we possess
strength, pride, determination,
selflessness, and integrity – all
qualities needed to serve for a
cause larger than one’s self.
Millions of Americans have
fought on battlefields across the
globe to defend those oppressed.
Today, we continue to make the
sacrifices necessary to bring
hope around the world. Let us
remember the generations of fine
Americans who have served and
continue to serve.
January 1991 marked the
beginning of US involvement in
Iraq - 12 years later, our nation
called upon us again to return.
The war ended after 8 years, 9
months, and 12 days of fighting.
We continued to display professionalism and stayed vigilant as
the war slowly came to an end. It
was a war where multiple deployments were common, most who
served within the past 12 years
can attest to that.
After the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
New Dawn, we did not rest - we
continued to train. We instilled
the expeditionary mindset into
all troops and focused on being
regionally aligned and globally
available in preparation to fight
for America’s freedom and the
freedom of others.
This is evident as we look
and see where we stand this very
moment. Service members from
all branches and interagency partners have received the call once
again – and have joined together
to accomplish two goals; to
enable the Government of Iraq to
defeat ISIL and allow this country
to protect its own.
I am privileged to be here this
Veterans Day. But let us not forget
that this day represents more than
just honoring those who served.
It recognizes the hardship those
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines
and their families endured during
the time spent away.
On this 11th hour, of the 11th
day, of the 11th month, I can tell
you that I am truly proud to be
a veteran! I challenge you to
continue being brave, responsible
and on point for your brothers
and sisters to your left and right.
Bridgehead Sentinel
“Big Red One” Headquarters Cases Colors
By Amanda Kim Stairrett, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs
U.S. Army Photo
MG Paul E. Funk II, commanding general, 1st Infantry Division
and Fort Riley, and 1st Inf. Div.
CSM Michael A. Grinston cased
the “Big Red One’s” colors during
a ceremony Oct. 8 at Victory
Park. Colors for the division’s
Headquarters and Headquarters
Battalion were also cased in front
of post and state leaders and
community members.
The casing ceremony was the
first step in the division’s upcoming deployment to Iraq as advisors
to counter the Islamic State of
Iraq and the Levant’s aggression.
The casing ceremony comes
as soldiers with the 1st Inf.
Div. headquarters prepare for
a yearlong deployment to the
U.S. Central Command area of
operations. The Department of
Defense announced Sept. 25 the
Big Red One, led by Funk and
Grinston, would advise and assist
Iraqi security forces “to help them
go on the offense against ISIL and
conduct intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance flights,”
according to information from the
Pentagon. The 1st Inf. Div. troops
will also increase the U.S.’ ability
to target ISIL and coordinate the
U.S. military’s activities across
Iraq.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback,
who attended the casing ceremony, said the task was critically
important as the region must be
stabilized.
Funk, who will soon embark
upon his fifth deployment, called
ISIL “an evil that has to be dealt
with.” Brownback said it was a
momentous fight.
“We’re all behind them,” the
governor said of the deploying
Summer 2014
MG Paul E. Funk II, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general, and CSM Michael
A. Grinston, 1st Inf. Div. senior enlisted leader, conduct a casing ceremony Oct. 8 at Fort Riley.
Approximately 200 Soldiers will deploy from the division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion to
the Central Command area of responsibility.
soldiers. “The nation’s behind
them in this incredibly big,
important task that needs to be
done in Syria and Iraq and in that
region.”
Brownback said Kansans
would do everything they could
to be helpful to the Big Red One
force remaining at home.
Funk and Grinston leave the
division at Fort Riley in the hands
of Brig. Gen. Eric J. Wesley and
Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice
Jackson. Wesley, a former
commander with the 1st Armored
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf.
Div., is the 1st Inf. Div. deputy
commanding general for support
and will take on the title of senior
mission commander while the Big
Red One headquarters is downrange.
Funk said there are family
readiness programs and infrastructure in place to help prepare
Soldiers’ families. The organizations weren’t created in preparation for the deployment, but exist
year-round.
The division has seldom been
busier, Funk said. While the 1st
ABCT is serving as the CENTCOM
theater reserve in Kuwait and
the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat
Team has units engaged across
Africa, the 2nd Armored Brigade
Combat Team and 1st Combat
Aviation Brigade are at Fort Riley
preparing for a rotation to the
National Training Center, Fort
Irwin, California, and recovering
from a deployment to Afghanistan,
respectively. The 4th Maneuver
Enhancement Brigade at Fort
Leonard Wood, Missouri, and
the 75th Fires Brigade at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, are reorganizing.
Funk said the units at home
would continue to be brave,
responsible and on point for the
nation. Division leaders have a
plan and training guidance, he
said. They understand the stepping stones to get where they will
continue to build readiness.
9
Active Duty
‘Guardians’ Hook It Up in Kuwait
Story by Staff Sgt. Bernhard Lashleyleidner
U.S. Army Photo
Pictured: Soldiers with HHC, 101st BSB brace themselves as sand
and rocks are kicked up from the rotor wash of a Black Hawk
helicopter as it moves into position to establish the sling load
Oct. 9 at Udari Airfield, Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
More than 35 Soldiers with the
101st Brigade Support Battalion,
1st Armored Brigade Combat
Team, 1st Infantry Division teamed
with the 2nd Battalion, 147th
General Support Aviation Battalion, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade
to conduct sling-load training Oct.
9 at Udari Airfield.
The training familiarized
Soldiers with the ground crew
fundamentals of hand and arm
signals, proper rigging and
hookup and release procedures.
First Lt. Justin Peterson,
platoon leader, Company C, 2nd
Bn., 147th GSAB, 34th CAB, and
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a native of Boone, Iowa, said
sling-load training involved
externally loading cargo underneath an aircraft by a cargo hook,
and lifting and maneuvering the
equipment.
“Having a confident and
competent ground crew is very
important in ensuring loads are
properly hooked up,” Peterson
said. “It minimizes our hovering
time in an area, which reduces
our vulnerability of being a
target.”
Sgt. Jared Higgins, ammunition specialist, Company A, 101st
BSB, and a native of Bakersfield,
Calif., said Soldiers learned how
to properly rig and configure
loads for different aircraft and
how to inspect loads for proper
link count during the three-day
course.
“The classroom portion of
the training was very intense,”
said Spc. Tauheedah Muhammad,
supply clerk, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 101st
BSB. “This was an awesome
opportunity to get some hands-on
experience.”
Muhammad, a native of
Clearwater, Florida, said the best
part of the hands-on training was
properly rigging equipment and
watching it fly away.
The day began with the
hands-on portion of the training. Soldiers prepared and
rigged a cargo trailer, SURE-Pak,
400-gallon water trailer and
inspected equipment before it
was transported by a Black Hawk
helicopter.
“We enjoyed the opportunity
to increase 101st BSB Soldiers’
knowledge of sling-load operations,” Peterson said. “We look
forward to follow-on training
opportunities.”
Bridgehead Sentinel
94th Engineer Battalion Cases Colors
By SSG Mark Patton
U.S. Army Photo
Keeping up with the 1st Division
Headquarters (DEPLOYED) The 1st Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (DHHB) deployed on
October 8th for yearlong assignment to the U.S. Central Command
area of operations in Iraq.
1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (DEPLOYED)
The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team officially cased its colors
for deployment to Kuwait on June 18th, 2014. The 9-month “Devil
Brigade” deployment is in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
The wheelchair-bound former
sergeant settled into the spot
reserved for the distinguished
guest as he watched his former
battalion march onto Fort Leonard
Wood’s Gammon Field one last
time.
The bill of SGT Erik Schei’s
Operation Iraqi Freedom cap
couldn’t disguise his smile.
On Oct. 26, 2005, then SPC
Schei’s life changed forever as
a sniper’s armor-piercing bullet
entered his skull above his left
ear and exited above the right
one while he was in the turret of a
Humvee on the outskirts of Mosul,
Iraq.
Schei once again joined his
beloved 94th Engineer Battalion for one more hooah as he
witnessed the storied “Wolverines” case their colors during an
inactivation ceremony.
LTC Samuel Volkman,
commander of the 94th Engineer
Battalion, which is part of the 4th
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade,
1st Infantry Division, said Schei
will always be a Wolverine.
As the narrator recited a
laundry list of 94th Engineer
Battalion accomplishments
over the 81 years of unit existence, it wasn’t the World War II
Summer 2014
campaigns, the deployments to
Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo that provided
the essence of being a Wolverine.
It wasn’t even the unit’s work
with security road construction
at the U.S.-Mexican border or
the countless improvements the
battalion has made to their home
communities.
Soldiers and leaders say it
was, however, the common thread
that unites the Wolverines’ success
throughout the years, the Soldiers
who reported to work each
morning with the motto “Cohortibus Auxilia - aid to any division”
etched in their mind.
Volkman said his proudest
moment serving at the battalion’s
helm was the sense of pride and
accomplishment his troops took
in completing a task, whether
completing a landing strip at Fort
Riley, Kansas, or passing an Army
Physical Fitness Test.
Although the day was bittersweet for attendees as they
watched the cased colors make
their way off the field, many
thought about the future and a
day where the Army may once
again awaken the Wolverines to
dominate the battlefield.
2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (DEPLOYED)
The 2nd Brigade is regionally aligned with AFRICOM, these
elements of the brigade are deployed to seven different
African countries.
3rd Brigade Combat Team (INACTIVATED)
The 3rd Brigade cased its colors on May 14, 2013 at Ft. Knox, KY
for their deployment to Afghanistan. Elements of the brigade have
already began their redeployment to Ft. Knox, with the rest of the
brigade returning throughout the next few months.
4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (REDEPLOYED)
4th Brigade recently returned from the JRTC, the 4th brigade is
slated to take the reins from 2nd BDE with AFRICOM later this
year.
1st Combat Aviation Brigade (REDEPLOYED)
The Combat Aviation Brigade returned from their 9-month
deployment to Afghanistan on May 3, 2014.
1st Sustainment Brigade (REDEPLOYED)
The brigade’s 165th Movement Control Team returned to Fort
Riley after a 9- month deployment to Romania on November 6th.
75th Fires Brigade (REDEPLOYED)
The 75th Fire Brigade continues to assist with fire support at the
NTC and JRTC.
4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (REDPLOYED)
The 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade continues to deploy key
enablers, such as military working-dog teams, to Afghanistan.
11
2015 BRO REUNION
Admin and Logistics (Details)
Our Hotel
Parking
Westin Lombard is the setting
for our 97th annual reunion, June
17-21, 2015. Check-in will be
at 4:00 pm and checkout 11:00
am. As usual, you can stay 3
days before and after the reunion
at our rate. The hotel is located
at 70 Yorktown Ctr, Lombard,
IL 60148. The phone number
is 630-719-8000. Included is a
coupon to enter into a raffle to
have your room upgraded to a
suite for the same price as your
regular room. Fill out the coupon
and include the $5.00 donation
to be entered in the raffle for the
suite upgrade. Our Director will
draw the winner on Monday, June
15, 2015 at the hotel.
Self-parking at the hotel is
complimentary.
Transportation from
Airport
Windy City is offering a shared
ride price for each day from
6:00am-8:00pm except Saturday.
Here is how this works. It’s $31
each way from O’Hara or Midway.
If you are traveling with someone
their rate will be $10 more each
way. So a party of 2 traveling
together will pay $40 each way
and a party of 4 will pay $60 each
way. The regular rate is $55.65
from either airport and will be
applied from 8:00pm-6:00am
each day and from Friday at
8:00pm until Sunday at 6:00am.
(These are the times the shared
rate isn’t in effect) The link to the
shuttle will be on our website or
you can call 847-916-9399 or
1-866-949-4639 to schedule your
pickup. Just tell them you are
with our group.
12
Schedule
If there is a reason that makes
it impossible for you to arrive at
the reunion on Wednesday, don’t
worry. The core of reunion events
take place on Friday and Saturday.
If you can’t attend the entire event,
please feel free to join us whenever you can. You won’t be sorry!
Spread The Word!
You can help to spread the
word about our reunion by
sending our News Release to the
editor or pressroom of your local
media. Please make copies and
mail or fax it to all of the newspapers, magazines, TV and radio
stations that you can. TIP: If you
hand-deliver it, they may ask to
interview you.
Unit Command Posts
As is our custom the 2nd,
16 , 18th, 26th and 28th Infantries,
Artillery, Cavalry/Armor/Recon,
Headquarters and Support Units
will operate Command Posts
(Hospitality Rooms) for their
units. Veterans from units not
listed are welcome in any CP. The
size of your CP room will be based
on the number of members from
your unit attending. Don’t forget
the CP’s competition judging takes
place Friday.
th
Handicapped Rooms
Please do not request a
handicapped room unless you
absolutely need one. If you have
any disabilities we should be
aware of, please indicate them
on your reservation form and
we will do everything in our
power to assist you. Please be
considerate of your fellow 1st
Division veterans. Any special
requests should be coordinated
through the hotel.
Cutoff Date
The cutoff date for hotel
room reservations is May 21,
2015. Please try to get your
registration form to us well
before that date. After May
21, 2015, hotel rooms will
be based on space and rate
availability and you will have to
contact the reservation desk at
the hotel directly at 1-630-7198000.
Hotel Cancellation/
Refunds
If you make reservations
and then have to cancel them,
we will refund your full amount
minus the registration fee, as
long as you cancel 24 hours
before your arrival. Cancellations made less than 24
hours from the arrival date
will be charged for one night’s
hotel stay including tax and
the registration fee. Please
check with us if you have any
questions. Cancellations, made
before noon EST on June 12,
2015 should be directed to the
Society office at 1-215-6541969. After that time all cancellations must be made through
the hotel as the Society staff
will be in transit. Please call
the hotel at 1-630-719-8000 to
notify them of your cancellation
and to leave a message for Jen
Sanford as well.
Tour Cancellation/
Refunds
If you cancel by May 15, 2015
you will receive a full refund.
After that date there are no
refunds.
Weather
The average temperatures
are in the 80’s during the day
and the 60’s at night. Please wear
comfortable clothes for all tours
as well as good walking shoes.
Casual clothing is appropriate for
most restaurants.
Confirmation
As usual, we will send you
a written confirmation. Please
check it over carefully and make
sure you are signed up for all
of the activities and functions
you are interested in, as there is
limited seating. The banquet is a
very popular function, so please
sign up early, as we can only sell
tickets to registered attendees
of our reunion. If any extra
activities are not listed on
your confirmation letter, then
you have not paid for them
and must call headquarters
immediately to make corrections or additions to your
registration.
Bridgehead Sentinel
Tours and Special Events
Along with our visits to the museum we have also arranged a variety of tours to complete
your visit to Lombard, Illinois. Don’t forget your cameras and your comfortable shoes. The
tours are integrated into the program so they won’t conflict with other reunion activities.
These are optional events and require pre-registration. The tours have limited seating, so,
to avoid disappointment, it is best to sign up for your tours when you register rather than
waiting until you arrive at the reunion. All buses for tours will load from the Grand Foyer.
Please, if you are interested in the tours sign up early as seats will be limited. There may be
some spaces open so check with the Quartermaster if you decide you would like to take one of
our tours after you have arrived. The museum tours will be ticketed.
First Division Museum
and Cantigny Park
$5 per person
(Free BBQ lunch)
On Thursday, Friday and
Saturday, scheduled buses will
be making round trips from the
hotel to Cantigny Park from 9
am to 4 pm. Reunion attendees
will enjoy Cantigny Park, the First
Division Museum, the McCormick
Research Center (archived 1st
Infantry Division photographs and
documents), and our Collections
Department (where we store our
artifacts). Come see the museum’s historic military vehicles
on display including Jeeps, a
half-track, M37 Cargo Truck and
more.
Cantigny Park Gardens and
Robert R. McCormick Museum
Tours will also be available free
of charge. Tours start at 10am
and 1pm on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. More details will be
available at registration.
A free BBQ lunch will also be
available at Cantigny park for all
reunion attendees. Tickets and
information will be available in
your registration packet.
Summer 2014
Chicago Sports Stadiums
with Soldier Field
$53.00 per person
(Lunch on your own
before the tour please.)
Drive by historic Wrigley
Field, which was built in 1914.
The Friendly Confines is the
second-oldest ballpark in the
majors behind Boston’s Fenway
Park (1912) and is home to the
“Lovable Losers, the Chicago
Cubs. See the famous sign and
stands on top of apartment buildings. Have a special inside tour of
historic Soldier Field, home to the
Bears football team. Originally
opened in 1924, Soldier Field was
dedicated to soldiers who died in
WWI and now is a memorial to all
veterans. This behind the scenes
tour includes the Field, South
Courtyard, Doughboy Statue,
Grand Concourse, the United
Club, Colonnades, Skyline Suite
and Visitors Locker Room. See
the home of the world champion
Chicago White Sox, US Cellular
Field. You will learn about the
storied history of one of the oldest
teams in the American League and
see their state-of-the-art stadium,
which opened in1991 and
recently underwent an upgrade
and renovation. Tour the United
Center, where the Blackhawks
and Bulls play. You will also see
the iconic Michael Jordon, Bobby
Hull and Stan Mikita statues in the
Center’s northeast plaza.
Anchors Aweigh and
Miniature Marvels Tour
$70 per person
(Lunch on your own.)
Tour the captured German
U505 submarine on this informative trip to the Museum of Science
and Industry. The submarine,
which was only built to last
four years, was moved from an
outdoor exhibit to a spectacular
underground interactive exhibit
space. The German submarine,
the only one located in the United
States, is now a memorial to
American sailors who gave their
lives during war. You will drive
along Chicago’s magnificent
lake shore and learn how the
submarine came to Chicago in
the early 50’s and how it was
transported from Lake Michigan
to the museum. You will have an
on-board tour of the submarine
and find out what is was like to
be one of the crew. Also at the
museum, be enchanted by an
exquisite fairy’s dream home
when you see Colleen Moore’s
miniature castle and one of
the smallest complete railroad
systems in the Great Train Story
exhibit.
Golf Outing at Cantigny
Golf– FREE ($5 for bus
ride to Cantigny. Lunch is
on your own.)
The Cantigny golf course is an
exceptional facility. Check it out
at cantignygolf.com
The course and the First Division Museum have teamed to host
our outing at a special rate.
Are you ready for this? Up to
50 golfers who are paid-up registered attendees of our reunion
will pay only $10 to play this great
course. You can play either 18
or 9 holes, but the first tee time is
7:00 a.m. so it’s an early rise. We
will assemble in the hotel lobby at
6:15 a.m. Volunteer drivers will
take us to the course which is 8
miles from the hotel.
When you receive your
Reunion registration acknowledgement, there will be further
instructions and a questionnaire.
You must send the completed
questionnaire in the enclosed
return envelope before May 30.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE
WILL BE NO LATE REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED FOR THE
GOLF OUTING.
Club rental is $50 on a firstcome/first-served basis. Contact
Rachel Heichele, events coordinator at the golf course (630-2608134) to reserve a set of clubs if
you need them.
Continued on Page 17...
13
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / RENEWAL Effective For 2015
nline!
Join o ID.org
.1st
www
PO Box 1127, Junction City, KS 66441
DATE:______________
TITLE: _______ NAME: __________________________ _________ _______________________ _________
(Rank or
Mr/Mrs/Ms)
(First)
LAST 4 DIGITS OF SSN: ___ ___ ___ ___
(Required)
(Initial)
(Last)
(Suffix–
MD, RET, etc.)
l If you do not want your contact information (name, address, email, era, unit)
listed in the Members Only online directory on our website, please check here.
COMPLETE THIS SECTION TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP OR TO UPDATE OUR RECORDS
MAILING ADDRESS (All Members)
_____________________________________________________________________
(Street or Unit/CMR)
_________________________________________________
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__________________________
__________________
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(Suite #, Apartment # or Box #)
__ __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __
(Zip Code + 4)
PERMANENT/BILLING ADDRESS (Active Duty Soldiers Only)
________________________________________ _________________________ ________ _______________
(Street, Apt #)
(City)
(State)
(Zip Code + 4)
Your phone # will not be released for any reason including the website..
PHONE (__ __ __) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ EMAIL: _________________________________________________________
YOUR SERVICE WITH THE BIG RED ONE (assigned, attached or in support–eligible; please check all that apply)
l WWII l Vietnam l Cold War l Peacetime l Gulf War l Balkans l Iraq l Afghanistan
UNIT: Company:_______ Battalion:________ Regiment:________BCT_________ Years of Service: __________ to__________
Have you served in combat with another unit? l Yes l No
SELECT A MEMBERSHIP TYPE (please check only one)
All Membership types include a subscription to the Bridgehead Sentinel and the Annual Calendar
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
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l Regular ($30 per year)
l Executive ($60 per year)
Currently serving with the Big Red One
ANNUAL ASSOCIATES
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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)
l E-4 & under
($20 per year)
PCS: Mo_____ Day_____ Year_____
RANK (Required): _________________
l WIDOW(ER)S OF BRO VETS (FREE)
l Under 39 ($400)
l 40 - 49 ($350)
l 50 - 59 ($300)
l 60 - 69 ($250)
l 70 - 79 ($200)
l over 80 ($100)
LIFE - ACTIVE DUTY
l Currently serving w/ BRO ($100)
CONTRIBUTIONS
l I would like to make a tax deductible contribution of $_____________, beyond my regular dues to be used for the:
SOCIETY’S GENERAL FUND ________ or the BRO SUPPORT FUND _________ that supports active duty soldiers and their families.
(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: _____/_____ CVC: ___________
(month / year)
(code on back of card)
Signature: ___________________________________________ CVC# and signature are required.
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 785.579.6762.
For your convenience, you may also join online on our website at www.1stID.org by clicking on the “Membership” link.
14
Bridgehead Sentinel
World War II
COL (Ret) David E. Milotta
By Rev. David S. Milotta
The following stories are
from my father, COL (Ret)
David E. Milotta from his
service with the 1st Infantry Division in Sicily. The
first story is a letter he sent
home, followed by some
recollections of his service.
Dear Father and Mother,
Mother writes that I don’t give
many details. Maybe so, I have
avoided speaking of the horrors,
the brutality, the suffering of
armed combat.
But since you asked for some
details I’ll tell you about my part
of the landing in Sicily. I believe
I told you before that I claim
to be the first person ashore in
the African landing. There was
a mix-up and my boat was put
ashore one hour early.
In the Sicilian campaign the
situation was much the same. It
was my job to go ashore before
the troops started in to shore
and post guides for them. Our
plan was to crawl under the wire
entanglements, sneak through
the pillboxes and push inland
about one-half mile to a trail that
paralleled the beach. I had twelve
men and I was to post them at
about 100 yard intervals. Then as
our men came ashore (each man
is on his own in getting across
the fire-swept beach) and pushed
inland to the trail, the guides
would pick them up and show
them where our assembly area
was. From there we would attack
as an organized unit.
Everything went well until
we were about one-half mile off
Summer 2014
shore.
Then a
searchlight
picked us
up. It kept
its cold
blue light
on us until
we were
within
range
of their
machine
Above: Germans, while retreating, dynamited this bridge between Misretta and
guns.
San Stefano, Sicily. August 2, 1943.
This light
did it with our heavy equipment,
my pocket and get my knife. I
was later knocked out, but not
but
we
crawled
up
those
six
feet
slashed the preserver and cut it
until after we were ashore. They
only to drop eight feet into about
off. The pocketknife saved the day.
opened up on us with their
two feet of water.
I got across the beach safely and
machine guns and 50mm and
The
men
dashed
for
the
shore,
met my men at the rendezvous.
75mm canons. They had a point
made it safely and got into our
From there I pushed on and
blank field of fire that covered
pre-arranged rendezvous. But I
got my guides posted and then I
seventy-five yards of the beachhad some tough luck. On assault
went to the assembly area. Here
head right in front of our landing
landings we wear a deflated
I marked the area with white
craft.
rubber life preserver, which is,
luminous tape so that when the
The machine gun bullets
wore as a belt called a “Mae
troops succeeded in clearing up
sparked off the sides, but the
West”.
There
are
two
cartridges
the beaches they would not miss
bigger shells took hold. The surf
of compressed carbon dioxide
the assembly area. By this time
was very rough and just as we
were about to beach it then threw near the buckle. In an emergency there was very heavy fighting on
the beach for the assault had
us up broadside so that our ramp you press a little lever and this
releases the compressed gas. The already begun.
was useless. I suspect it was the
belt has a large fold in it held in
I was alone all this time and
surf but it may have been a hit in
place
by
two
snaps,
which
are
while
I was tying a piece of tape to
the rear where the motors and
crew are. At any rate when I yelled supposed to unsnap automatically a tree, two Italian soldiers passed
by so close that I had to jump into
from the front to lower the ramp I when the gas is released. This
allows for the expansion, othera bush. It was here I lost my knife.
got no results. I noticed no effort
wise
you
would
be
strangled.
These two soldiers had been
was being made to right the boat,
As I crawled over the gunwale asleep in a house and come out
so maybe the crew and engines
of the boat after climbing up the
to go to their battle stations when
got knocked out.
side
I
accidentally
pressed
this
they heard the firing. But later
Several searchlights were on
lever which released the gas.
I found out that these soldiers
us by now and the fire was heavy.
walked right smack into one of my
The only answer was to get ashore But the snaps wouldn’t work the
way
they
were
supposed
to
so
guides who took them prisoner.
quickly. The feeling was that of
the gradual process of getting
being trapped. The sides of the
strangled started. The belt was so
boat were six feet high with no
tight it was impossible to release
way of crawling up. The boats
were made to go out the front, not the buckle. Luckily I was able to
Continued on page 16...
reach around the preserver into
the sides. I don’t know how we
15
World War II
“Milotta” Continued
from page 15...
The guides worked beautifully and the reorganization was
carried out ahead of schedule
except for a couple units who
were still held up on the beach.
We pushed on without them.
These units finally cleaned up all
the resistance left and joined us
later.
We pushed on, only to experience fighting much fiercer battles
than any we had in Tunisia. But I’ll
give some dope on those at a later
time. But there were many close
calls. Sleeping in the minefield
was only one of them.
Sincerely,
Dave
doned ship.
As Lt. Milotta looked around,
he saw the torn up deck, the
empty lifeboat stations, and the
weary red eyes of the last Italian
guard staring at him. His German
allies had left him in command
of the shattered craft with the
stern command, “If anybody tries
to escape they are to be shot on
sight.” Private Bernardo Antolini had
been drafted into Mussolini’s army
and had no love for these German
commanders who had looted the
food locker, unceremoniously
fled, and left him to guard all
these prisoners by himself. “Fine,”
he said out loud as he gathered
the few remaining food supplies,
“I’ll take as much as I can carry
while I wait for the Germans to
come back.” He opened up a tin
of Vienna sausages and kept watch
on the open deck hatch.
Lt. Milotta had just experienced the worst two weeks of his
life. After the First Army Division
landed in Algeria they engaged
Rommel’s Afrika Corps and
fought across Northern Africa to
Tunisia. Here he led the assault
platoon that spearheaded A
Company’s capture of Hill 324
from the Germans during a night
attack. Unfortunately, the other
two attacking companies failed to
achieve their objectives of taking
the two surrounding taller hills.
This resulted in Lt. Milotta’s unit
being surrounded by Germans
who had reinforced their position
at first light with paratroopers
from the eastern front. The American’s fought until they ran out of
ammunition, were over run and
captured or killed.
The successful German counterattack destroyed an infantry
battalion and resulted in over one
thousand allied Prisoners of War
(P.O.W.) who were transported
“Sausage Truce”
“Any prisoner who tries to
leave the ship will be shot.”
Remembering the warning
from the harsh German guard,
Second Lieutenant David E.
Milotta cautiously raised his
head above the recently opened
hatch cover. A lot had changed
overnight when the allies bombed
Tunis harbor and sank several
ships, including his. A 250 lb.
bomb had crashed through the
deck, failed to detonate, and now
rolled around the hull where
the 236 prisoners from the First
Division now huddled in fear. The
numerous strafing runs from the
B-24 Liberators riddled the hull
below the waterline. During the
night the 180-foot tanker sank
on a shallow, sandy, shoal and
Lt. Milotta had heard the sounds
of lifeboats being lowered as the
German crew and soldiers aban-
16
to Tunis to await shipment to
German P.O.W. camps. Their only
food for twelve days was moldy
black bread. Once, the Tunisian
Red Cross was allowed to feed
the prisoners vegetable soup with
weevils. Then they were herded
into the hull of a rusty tanker
bound for Italy.
As Lt. Milotta’s hungry eyes
met Private Antolini’s there was
an unspoken agreement. When
the Italian private looked over the
burning harbor he realized the
Germans weren’t coming back
and he was alone on a ship full
of hungry P.O.W.’s. He carefully
pushed the tin of sausages to the
ravenous American officer who
ate one and passed the tin down
to the hungry men below. Soon
Lt. Milotta was sitting on the deck
and Private Antolini was opening
his backpack to share his looted
food with the prisoners in the
hull.
That night the French
Resistance came out in a small
motorboat and after numerous
trips safely evacuated everybody
on board. Lt. Milotta vouched for
Private Antolini who was allowed
to “disappear” into the night.
The Germans who abandoned
ship reported that the ship was
destroyed with all souls lost.
Private Bernardo Antolini made
his way back home to Naples and
never fought in the war again.
Lt. Milotta rejoined his unit and
went on to win the Distinguished
Service Cross during the allied
landings at Gella, Sicily, where
he captured the division’s first
Tiger tank. He landed with the
First Division on Omaha Beach at
D-Day.
After the war Lt. Col. Milotta
was stationed in Naples where his
two children were born. Their
nurse was Carmen Antolini, niece
of Bernardo.
Milotta is honored in the
Hall of Heroes at Ft. DeRussey in
Waikiki. This citation is included
with his photo.
The Nazi Prisoner
“In my experiences in combat
I have captured quite a few
prisoners but this isn’t the story
of one that I captured. In Sicily
I was the Battalion S-2 (Intelligence Officer) and part of my
work called for interrogating and
processing the prisoners before
sending them to the rear. A patrol
from A company was out about
three miles in front of our forward
elements and they radioed back
to me that they had just had a
nice tough firefight and captured
15 prisoners. One man from the
patrol was wounded very seriously. Briefly that was the situation
when the leading character of our
story entered. He was the most
rabid type of Nazi and I thought
I’d tell you about him.
Lt. Dillon was the leader of the
patrol and following the firefight
he became separated from the
rest of his patrol because he
went forward to reconnoiter the
next route of advance while the
patrol reorganized. As he went
past some bushes he was jumped
from behind by the Nazi who had
been hiding while the fighting
was going on. He tried to grab
Lt. Dillon’s carbine and in the
course of the struggle the carbine
was discharged. They fell to the
ground and fought there until Lt.
Dillon was able to grab a fist-sized
rock and tap the Nazi on the head
a few times.
He was still very obstinate and
sultry, so to make sure that the
fight would be thoroughly taken
out of him we gave him the task
Bridgehead Sentinel
2015 BRO REUNION
Summer 2014
…Tours and Special Events Continued From Page 13
©City of Chicago
of carrying one end of the litter
for the wounded man. (Idea
received from the Germans who
made us carry their wounded
when we were prisoners) The
four-mile march up and down the
rocky Sicilian hillsides in the hot
July sun carrying a heavy litter
soon tamed down the Nazi. When
I got him back to the battalion
command post he was pretty quiet
and seemed glad to sit down and
take things easy.
From his papers I learned that
our prisoner had been affiliated
with several Nazi youth organization before he joined the army. He
was only 18 years old, but the first
card had showed he had started
in at the age of nine and included
in the organizations he belonged
to were the “Jungvolk” and the
“Hitler Jugend.” By the time I
had examined his papers to my
satisfaction the Nazi had renewed
his pouting, arrogant, obstinate
attitude. When the interpreter
asked him my first question, he
spit in the interpreter’s face. That
was going just a little bit too far,
so I grabbed the prisoner by the
front of the shirt and forcing him
to look me in the eye I barked at
him “Don’t you think you should
be killed for attacking an officer
and spitting in this man’s face?”
He must have understood
English for big tears welled up
in his eyes and rolled down his
cheeks. I let go of him and in a
few seconds he was sobbing like a
baby. The master race!
It is a military axiom of any
army that it is absolutely inexcusable to be surprised.
Our Nazi was caught asleep
150 yards away from his rifle and
he couldn’t run over the sharp
rocky ground to get it when they
were fighting started because his
shoes were there too! The master
race!
Chicago Architecture
Tour with Observatory
$60 per person
First stop will be a visit to
Skydeck Chicago on the 103rd
floor and 1353 feet above the
street level in Willis Tower, until
recently the country’s tallest building. Skydeck Chicago will give
you the best view of the city and
on a clear day you will enjoy 360
degree views spanning four states.
The Ledge brings an exhilarating
new experience to the skyscraper’s Skydeck. The glass boxes of
the Ledge extend 4.3 feet from the
skyscraper’s kydeck and provide a
thrilling, once in a lifetime experience. Downtown Chicago is home
to more than 100 pieces of public
art, sculptures, mosaics and paintings in lobbies and plazas. Enjoy
a tour of outdoor art including the
untitled Picasso in Daley Plaza,
the whimsical Miro’s Chicago and
Calder’s colorful Flamingo. Learn
about how Chicago became the
cradle of modern architecture.
You will drive along Dearborn
Street, the most important street
for architecture in the city. Here
you will see examples of structures by architectural greats as
Sullivan, Burnham, Root, van
der Rohe, Holabird and Roche.
You will learn about the Chicago
School of Architecture and see
examples of the Chicago Window.
Harness Some Fun at
Maywood Park
$70 per person
(Dinner included and
drinks on your own)
Experience the excitement of
live harness racing at the historic
Maywood park Racetrack. From
the Winner’s Circle dining room,
which overlooks the fastest halfmile track in the country, enjoy an
evening of fine dining and harness
racing. Your evening includes
a delicious buffet dinner, a race
program and a race dedicated to
our group. So get ready to palce
your bets during this fun and
exciting evening. Who will be the
big winner!
Chicago River Cruise
and Driving Tour
$70 per person
Enjoy a narrated driving tour
of the City of Big Shoulders. Yor
tour guide will point out the
historic and significant sights.
You will then enjoy a cruise on
the Chicago River from Navy Pier
to learn about the awe-inspiring
architecture of Chicago. This is
one of the top things to do in the
city. See outdoor art, the Magnificent Mile, stunning Millennium
Park, and the landmark Water
Tower that survived the great fire.
It will be a day to remember.
17
NEWS RELEASE
Famous “Big Red One” To Hold
2015 Reunion in Lombard, IL
Lombard, IL– Veterans of the army’s renowned 1st Infantry Division, the “Big Red One,” will hold their 97th Annual
Reunion in Lombard, IL from June 17–21, at the Westin
Lombard. The reunion will be conducted by the veterans’
organization, the Society of the First Infantry Division, headquartered in Junction City, Kansas.
Formed on June 8, 1917, the 1st Infantry Division is the
oldest, continuously serving division in the U.S. Army. It served
with great distinction in World War I, World War II, Vietnam,
Operation Desert Shield/Storm as well as in Germany and the
U.S. during the Cold War. Currently, the 1st Infantry Division’s
Headquarters is deployed to Iraq in support of U.S. Central
Command.
Over 700 1st Infantry Division veterans and their guests
attended the 96th Annual Reunion recently held in Orange
County, CA. The active Commanding General of the division and
a solid contingent of leaders and young soldiers serving in the
division added a fresh and exciting dimension to the reunion.
Everyone who ever served in the 1st Infantry Division or any
unit attached to it is cordially invited to attend the reunion.
Details and reservation forms are available in the Winter
2014 issue of the Society’s newspaper, The Bridgehead Sentinel or after December 2014 on our website: www.1stID.org, or
by mail, fax or phone from:
Po Box 607
Ambler, PA 19002
Phone: (215) 654-1969
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.1stID.org
2015 Tentative
Reunion Program
Wednesday, June 17
9:00am–8:00pm..............Registration
9–12am, 1-5pm...............Quartermaster Open
9–12am, 1-5pm...............First Division Museum Open
12:00pm..........................Chicago Sports Stadium Tour
1:30pm............................Unit Rep Meeting w/Society Staff
Thursday, June 18
6:15am.............................Golf-Meet in Lobby
9–12am, 1–5pm..............Quartermaster Open
9–12am, 1–5pm..............First Division Museum Open
9am–4pm........................Museum Tours
9am–4pm........................Anchors Aweigh and Mini Marvels Tour
8–11pm...........................Welcome Party (Everyone is welcome)
Friday, June 19
7:30am–8:30am...............Conflict Breakfast
9:00am.............................Unit Meetings in CP
9–12am, 1–5pm..............Quartermaster Open
9–12am, 1–5pm..............First Division Museum Open
9am–4pm........................Museum Tours
10am–4:00pm.................Chicago Architecture Tour
2:00pm............................Board Meeting
5:30–9:30pm...................Harness Some Fun at Maywood Park
Saturday June 20
9:00am.............................Memorial Service
10:00am...........................General Business Meeting
10–12am, 1–3pm............Quartermaster Open
10–12am, 1–3pm............First Division Museum Open
11am–3pm......................Museum Tours
11am–5pm......................Chicago River Cruise and Driving Tour
6:00 pm...........................Cocktails/Reception
7:00 pm...........................97th Annual Reunion Banquet
Sunday, June 21
Hope you had a wonderful time. Farewell ‘til next year!
2016 Reunion
Hilton Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
June 8-12, 2016
Summer 2014
19
)
Unit: _______________________ War: ________________
Is this your first Reunion? (circle one): Yes / No
Name on badge: ____________________________________
Guest Name Badge
Unit: _______________________ War: ________________
Name on badge: ____________________________________
Guest Name Badge
Unit: _______________________ War: ________________
Name on badge: ____________________________________
Spouse/Guest Name Badge
Unit: ________________________ War: _______________
Name on badge: ____________________________________
REUNION NAME BADGE (PLEASE PRINT)
Your Name Badge
Balkans / Peacetime / Iraq / Afghanistan
I served in (circle one): WWII / Vietnam / Cold War / Desert Storm /
MY ERA WHILE SERVING WITH THE BIG RED ONE
_________
You will receive a letter from us confirming all activities
and accommodations for which you have paid.
NOTE: Accommodations are assigned by the hotel—NOT by
the Society—and are subject to availability.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Do you require a HANDICAPPED ROOM? ______
Do you use a WHEELCHAIR? ______
Do you need a room near an ELEVATOR? ______
Are you using OXYGEN? ______
It is not possible to make a hotel reservation without this
information. After May 21 all reservations are subject to
availability of rooms by the hotel.
ROOMS
Write the # of each type of room you’ll need
1 Person/1 Bed ______ 1 Person/2 Beds ______
2 People/1 Bed ______ 2 People/2 Beds ______
3 People/2 Beds ______ 4 People/2 Beds ______
All rooms begin at $139 (plus tax) per night.
An advance deposit is required to reserve each room,
you will pay the balance of your bill at the hotel. This rate is
good for 3 days before and after the reunion. NO HOTEL
RESERVATION CAN BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT YOUR
REGISTRATION FEE. Children under 18 stay free when
sharing room with parents or grandparents.
RATES
Hotel Reservation cut-off date: 21 May 2015
ZIP
Is your 2015 membership paid up? If not, please include your
dues now. Dues are $30 regular or $60 executive.
Last four digits of your
Social Security number:
(1) DUES TOTAL: $ _________
E-MAIL
STATE
HOTEL RESERVATIONS–WESTIN LOMBARD
PHONE NUMBER
(
CITY
ADDRESS
NAME (Please Print)
MEMBERSHIP DUES
2015 REUNION
WESTIN LOMBARD
LOMBARD, IL
17–21 JUNE
____@ $139 =$ ____
____@ $154 =$ ____
____@ $169 =$ ____
PAYMENT ENCLOSED: $ __________
GRAND TOTAL: Add lines (1) + (2) + (3) + (4):
(4) REGISTRATION FEE TOTAL: $_______
Non-members: #___adults @$70/ea = $______
Society members & families: #___adults @$40/ea = $______
Number of people in your party: Adults _____ Children ______
All adults (age 18 and over) MUST pay the registration fee.
REUNION REGISTRATION FEE
(3) SIDE B SUBTOTAL: $ ________
SIDE B SUBTOTAL (TOURS & EVENTS)
(2) HOTEL SUBTOTAL: $ ________
# of rooms with 1-2 people
# of rooms for 3 people
# of rooms for 4 people
Here is my first night’s deposit for the rooms I’ve requested:
FIRST NIGHT ROOM DEPOSIT
I will arrive at the hotel on (date) ___________.
I will leave the hotel on (date)______________.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES (REQUIRED)
Please reserve the following accommodations for me at the
Westin Lombard:
Expiration Date: Month_____ Year _____ (e.g. 11 14)
Card Number
Paying by Credit Card:
(circle one): Visa / Master Card / American Express / Discover
Paying by Check: Please make checks payable to:
SOCIETY OF THE FIRST INFANTRY DIVISION
PO BOX 607, AMBLER, PA 19002-0607
Phone: 215-654-1969
METHOD OF PAYMENT
2015 BRO Reunion Registration Form Side A
Wednesday, 17 June
Chicago Stadiums Tour
2015 BRO Reunion Registration Form Side B
#______ adults @ $45/ea = $__________
Vegetarian: Penne Pasta
Primavera Grilled Vegetables
in Pomodoro Sauce
Fish: Seared Salmon Filet
with Teriyaki Glaze
#______ adults @ $45/ea = $__________
#______ adults @ $45/ea = $__________
Chicken: Herb Grilled Chicken Breast #______ adults @ $45/ea = $__________
with Roasted Fennel Demi-Glaze
Beef: Braised Short Ribs with
Rosemary Pan Au Jus
All adult meals include: Salad, Caramel Apple Pie, Coffee or Tea.
97TH ANNUAL REUNION BANQUET
TOURS & EVENTS
#______people @ $53/ea = $__________
#______people @ (FREE) = $__________
WEDNESDAY TOTAL: $ __________
Golf Outing
#______people @ $70/ea = $__________
Thursday, 18 June
Anchors Aweigh and
Mini Marvels
#______people @ $5/ea = $__________
THURSDAY TOTAL: $ __________
First Division Museum and
Cantigny Park
Friday, 19 June
#______ adults @ $45/ea = $__________
BANQUET TOTAL: $__________
#____ children @ $20/ea = $__________
Plain Chicken:
Chicken fingers, fries, celery and c
arrots with ranch dressing fruit salad
and dessert.
#______people @ $18/ea = $__________
#______people @ $60/ea = $__________
BANQUET SEATING
Kids Meal (12 & under):
Chicago Architecture Tour
#______people @ $5/ea = $__________
Conflict Breakfast
Includes: Scrambled eggs, bacon,
potatoes, pastries, juice, coffee or tea.
Everyone will be in one room.
Cantigny Park
#______people @ $70/ea = $__________
18th
Other________
28th
CAV/Recon/Armor
16th
HQ/Support Units
26th
2nd
Avn/Engrs
$ ___________
Now carry “Side B Subtotal” to line (3) on the front side of this Registration Form.
SIDE B SUBTOTAL:
Add up your Wednesday + Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Banquet Totals below.
SIDE B SUBTOTAL
Artillery
Special seating areas will be provided for the larger units. Smaller units will be seated with
their Host CP Unit. Please circle your seating preference below:
Maywood Park Racetrack
#______people @ $70/ea = $__________
FRIDAY TOTAL: $ __________
Chicago River Cruise and
Driving tour
#______people @ $5/ea = $__________
Saturday, 20 June
Cantigny Park
SATURDAY TOTAL: $ _________
Bridgehead Sentinel
20
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 have lost their lives in combat—
over 180 children to date—and to the children and grandchildren of our
1st Infantry Division veterans.
Following is a list of contributors to the 1st Infantry Division Foundation
Scholarship Fund since 1 August 2014. Duplicate names indicate
additional contributions.
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Neal F. Siebert
Philip B. Nielsen
The UPS Store, Fort Riley, KS
The UPS Store, Fort Riley, KS
Neal F. Siebert
Joseph S. Ochal
Robert M. Riggie
In Honor of Nikki &
Wynne Beers Wedding
Melanie Coulter
Tricia Walsh
D. C. MONUMENT
FUND
16th Infantry Regiment Association
Paul Herbert
LTC James Tucker
Robert A. Foy
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Fred N. Calenda Memorial Gifting
Fund
Jim Jensen
In Memory of David
SPS David Gregory,
KIA 1/24/67
Richard B. Dahlseid
In Memory of Ben Gabbard
Frank Swinford
On behalf of Alliance Francais
Paul Herbert
SOCIETY DONATIONS
In Memory of Billy Murphy
Frank Swinfod
OIF/OEF D.C. Monument Fund
At the present time, over 12,000 Big Red One soldiers have their names inscribed on this
monument from past conflicts. But, once again, we’re asking for your help. Much preliminary
work needs to be done, and that takes money. Please help honor our Big Red One Soldiers
who gave so much and are still giving!
Here’s my contribution of $ _______ to help honor our men and women of the
Big Red One who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Name____________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________
City ______________________ State _________ Zip ________________ Phone (
)_______________________
E-Mail____________________________
Please make your check payable to: 1st Infantry Division Foundation.
Mark it “DC MONUMENT FUND” and mail it to:
1st Infantry Division Foundation, PO Box 607, Ambler, PA 19002.
Summer 2014
21
The following letters are from recent
recipients of the 1st Infantry Division
Foundation’s Huebner Scholarships.
Dear 1st Infantry
Division Foundation:
Dear 1st Infantry
Division Foundation:
After receiving the second
part of my 1st Infantry Division Foundation scholarship,
I would like to once again
thank the Foundation for
this award. I just started my
second year at Kansas State
University studying architectural engineering. My first
year was challenging, but I
was able to pass everything
with flying colors! I am
very happy with my current
major and I enjoy all of m
classes within the department. Because architectural
engineering is a five-year
major, I will be paying tuition
another year more than most
other majors. Because of
this, your scholarship has
been a blessing. I am able
to continue on in my major
without the financial burdens
I might have otherwise faced.
Thank you again for helping
me fund my education.
Please allow me to
express my deep appreciation for the 1st Infantry Division Foundation’s generous
support of my education
through its Huebner Scholarship program. I am now
entering my junior year at
Georgia Institute of Technology where I am majoring in
mechanical engineering. I
have been very fortunate in
my studies and currently have
a 3.85 GPA. In addition, I
am heavily involved in other
campus activities. Currently,
I am the VP of Finance for
Georgia Tech’s Interfraternity
Council. Also, I am an active
racer on the Georgia Tech
Cycling Team and served as
the organization’s treasurer
last year.
Please pass on my sincere
gratitude to the entire 1st
Infantry Division Foundation’s organization and
membership for its continued
assistance.
Sincerely,
Anna Salvatorelli
22
Sincerely,
John Hooie
Dear 1st Infantry
Division Foundation,
Thank you so much for
awarding me a Heubner Scholarship. I am honored to have
been recognized by an organization with such a long history
of service to our country.
I would like to express my
gratitude to those who read my
application, those who donated
to and fundraised for the scholarship, and all of the men and
women who have served with
the Big Red One. Your generosity will be of huge assistance to
me and my family as we finance
my education at the University
of Notre Dame. I will be grateful
for this wonderful gift for the
next four years, and beyond.
My grandfather, Brigadier
General (Retired) Thomas E.
O’Donovan, of the Big Red
One, brought this scholarship
to my attention. For as long
as I can remember, he has
been a role model of mine.
In my life, I want to emulate
his commitment to serving
others, a quality that he has
taken far beyond his exemplary
military service, and into his
family. It is my hope that my
future education will give me
the skills necessary to be of
greater service to those around
me. I greatly appreciate the 1st
Infantry Division’s contribution
to my education.
To my grandfather, I would
like to say: Drampy, thanks
for all of the support, and for
this opportunity. I have always
been proud of your service, and
of the respect you instilled in
all of your grandchildren for
the sacrifices of our nation’s
soldiers.
In closing, I want to offer
my thanks to the 1st Infantry
Division for its service, and
for its tremendous generosity
toward myself and others. I will
always remember and appreciate what the Big Red One has
done for me, well beyond this
scholarship.
Sincerely,
Garrett Schwartz
Bridgehead Sentinel
Dear 1st Infantry
Thank you so much for
awarding me the Big Red One
scholarship. This will be a great
help to me and will be used
for college at the University of
Nebraska at Lincoln. There I
will be majoring in Veterinary
Science.
Thank you again for the
scholarship,
Taylor Bequette
On 6 June 2014, the 16th
Infantry and its members participated in a number of D-Day
observances to commemorate this
important date in Big Red One
history. The largest event was that
held by the 16th Infantry Regiment Association at its Fort Riley
reunion. At that commemoration,
LTC (Ret.) Joe Calhoun, for the
first time ever in public, read the
collected names of all 223 men of
the 16th Infantry who were killed
in action on D-Day. The town of
Lyme Regis, England (where the
regiment’s WWII 1st Battalion was
billeted) asked the Association
to participate in their 70th D-Day
Anniversary commemoration.
Due to the Association’s reunion
at Fort Riley at that time, they
had to decline. The Regiment did
commit to assisting with the event
by donating a plaque. The plaque
recalls the alliance between the
United States and Great Britain
during the war.
Bill Ryan, a 16th Infantry D-day
participant, and Distinguished
Member John Hohman participated in the wreath laying ceremonies at the 1st Infantry Division
monument at Omaha Beach along
with a contingent of active duty
Soldiers of the division from Fort
Riley.
Distinguished Member John
Bistrica, who also landed with C
Company on D-Day, participated
in the First Division Museum event
at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL.
The museum flew John from his
home in Youngstown, OH, free of
charge to pour a container filled
with sand from Omaha Beach into
the soil at Cantigny.
Duty First!
Steven E. Clay, President
16th Inf. Reg. Association
[email protected]
Dear 1st Infantry
Thank you for awarding
me with the Dale R. Pelletier
Scholarship. I am honored that
you thought me worthy of this
scholarship and I appreciate your
generosity. This scholarship will
help me tremendously as I pursue
a degree in Broadcasting while
attending Northeastern Oklahoma
A & M College. Once again, thank
you for this honor.
Sincerely,
Pierce Spead
Summer 2014
VIETNAM

My husband was with the
1 Infantry in Vietnam. He served
from December 1969 to November 1970. I been searching in vain
for other members who might
have served with him. He was a
helicopter machine gunner, on
graves registration and then a
supply clerk. His name was Frank
Moleski.
st
I was wondering if you have
any resources that might help me
connect with some of his fellow
soldiers. Any information you can
provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Debbie Moleski
[email protected]
23
Vietnam
A Long Time Coming
By Patrick Guy
September 21, 2014 two old
friends met up at the Vietnam
Memorial in Washington, DC; as
part of the 3rd Reunion of Bravo
Company, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry
Division, Vietnam. It was the first
time these two guys had met since
they had left the battlefields of
Vietnam in 1969. Then, one was a
platoon sergeant and the other a
machine gunner. They had fought
alongside their buddies in Lima
Platoon for over six months and
in their year of combat would
see twenty-five of their company
comrades pay the ultimate price.
Included in that sad number
was Captain Russell E. Reinel,
who was killed walking point
for his Company. A task seldom
preformed by a senior officer. As
life would have it, the Captain’s
wife, Pattie, was serving as a nurse
in the battalion headquarters’
hospital in Lai Khe, Vietnam.
When the medic-vac chopper
brought her husband body in.
They were Bravo Company’s
Camelot couple and the Captain
was greatly loved by his men for
his bravery and kindness.
Russell was replaced in
combat leadership by Captain
William “the Pink Panther”
Hoover, who was a West Point
grad and knew officers did not
walk point (fiery red hair). The
Pink Panther could have been
God himself and the men would
still have been reluctance to serve
under his command. The solution
to this impasse was the reassignment of several “ring leaders” to
other Big Red One outfits; and
Captain Hoover went on to lead
the men of Bravo Company in
24
many successful missions and
deeds of noted heroism.
Among those reassigned, was
Sgt. Harold Jones, of Richmond,
Virginia, platoon leader, Lima
Platoon. Harold and the Pink
Panther had a differing opinion
on how to assault and kill the
enemy. Today they both look back
on those days of disagreement
with sadness and compassion
for each other’s point of view. At
the recent Washington reunion,
Harold said “it was too bad
more of his comrades from Lima
Platoon weren’t in attendance.”
Like all Big Red One vets, he and
machine gunner, Bill “Teach”
Bryan, decided to do something
about it. They are currently
searching old orders and GI
rosters trying to locate more of
their long misplaced buddies of
Lima Platoon. If you would like to
contact them, please do so at Bill
Bryan, 802-375-6411 or Harold
Jones at [email protected] .
Another veteran, who made
an appearance at the DC Reunion,
was Sgt. Skinner, of the Bronx,
New York, who regaled the
veterans gather with stories of
the original landing of the Big
Red One in Vietnam in 1965. The
some of the boys found the idea of
taking a troop transport to War an
interesting and preferred method
of transportation to their “Big
White Bird” rides courtesy of the
airlines. Bobby “Fox” Neathery
said, “shoot, I rather had been
on a da gum ship for 3 weeks
than humping the boonies.” Sgt.
Montez agreed. It was interesting
too hear the men tell of their
differing “levels of combat”
Above: Veterans of B Company, 1st Bn., 26th Inf. Rgt. at the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
depending on the year they served
in Vietnam. The fighting went
from NVA battalion confrontations
to Viet Cong search and destroy
missions over the six years Bravo
Company was station in Vietnam,
mainly in the Iron Triangle battle
field area.
A highlight for the Neathery’s,
Mary Jo and Bobby, was the
happen chance sighting of the
President’s motorcade roaring
down 14th Street. They were
unable to see the President, given
the widows were blacked out and
the speed of the motorcade, but
Mary Jo said “It is impressive just
to see how our Commander and
Chief travels around town.”
Other highlights of the reunion
were a walking tour of Arlington
National Commentary, viewing
the play “Shear Madness” at the
Kennedy Center, a tour of Ford’s
theater, and more museums and
monuments than some of the boys
could walk—they had to take a
taxi back to hotel.
The people were very friendly
and the troops concluded their
stay with a Sunday memorial
service at the Capitol Hill Baptist
Church, along with a brunch at
Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home.
The Bravo Company’s next
reunion is schedule for March
2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
in conjunction with Mardi Gras
celebrations in Baker Louisiana.
Watch the Big Red One’s website
and the Bridgehead Sentinel for
more details.
Bridgehead Sentinel
OEF
U.S. Army Photo
With the deactivation of the 1 Division’s 3 Brigade,
we would like to reflect on the contributions our “Duke
Brigade” soldiers have added to Big Red One history.
st
rd
The following article is from the 3rd Brigade’s 2008-2009
deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Troops Spend Christmas Eve
Donating Supplies to Afghan School
By Air Force Capt. Dustin Hart
Published December 26, 2008
While people around the
world made their final Christmas
preparations, members of the
Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team, and Chaparhar Police
Mentor Team, visited a school in
the Terelay Village, of the Chaparhar District, Nangarhar province,
Dec. 24, to distribute clothes and
school supplies.
The teams first met with
several elders from the village
allowing the elders to discuss
the current conditions in Terelay,
the surrounding villages and the
district.
“One of the PRT’s goals is to
bolster education and healthcare
within the Nangarhar province,”
said Maj. Gary Knoer, Nangarhar
PRT, Civil Affairs team leader.
“Our visit today helped us assess
the village, school and the needs
of the students. By building a
school facility that can accommodate the students indoors instead
of their current outdoor classrooms, children will be able to
attend regardless of weather.”
Knoer continued on, to say
that improving the conditions in
which Afghan children receive a
Summer 2014
quality education is vital to the
long-term stability of the area.
“The education of this generation is very important for the
future of the country,” he said.
“The elders in every village I have
visited have expressed this need.”
If the project is approved for
funding, the PRT hopes to build
more classroom facilities and
a security wall for the existing
school.
Following the meeting, the
teams donated several boxes
of school supplies, clothes and
radios to the elders and school’s
administrators. The troops also
visited a few of the outdoor
classes in session to personally
hand out some of the supplies.
“These missions have a
profound impact on the overall
operation here,” Knoer said.
“The people here are like parents
anywhere in the world; they
have one priority and that is the
needs of their children. When we
show them that we care for their
children, the same as we would
our own, it means more to them
than any other thing we could give
them.”
Knoer said that conducting
this mission during the holiday
season made it that much more
special for the teams.
“There is an extra special
feeling doing things this time of
year, because it’s the time of year
we are suppose to be giving,” said
Knoer, who spent last Christmas
serving in Iraq. “I am sure that all
of us here would rather be home
with our families on Christmas.
However, when we look back
at our lives in 20-30 years, this
will probably be the Christmas
that will come to mind before all
others.”
The Nangarhar Provincial
Reconstruction Team is responsible for assisting the provincial,
district and local governments
in Nangarhar province with
their governance, security and
reconstruction efforts. The team
is currently working on approximately 60 projects worth more
than $75.3 million in the province.
Did You Serve with the 3rd Brigade
in Operation Enduring Freedom?
The Bridgehead Sentinel would like to publish more stories
and photos from the 3rd Brigade’s deployments to Afghanistan. If
you have any personal snapshots, stories, or even if you are just
looking to locate an old “battle buddy,” contact us! We welcome
the Big Red One’s younger generation of veterans to fill these pages
with their history as well.
Please send your stories and photos to Dave Blake at dblake@
firstdivisionmuseum.org or call 630-260-8234 if you have any
questions about submission guidelines.
25
OEF
Snapshots from 3 Brigade’s 2008-9 Deployment to Afghanistan
rd
Submitted by Staff Sergeant Worrell
Group photo from Forward Operating Base Fortress
Firing-off Rounds at Forward Operating Base Khogyani
Upgrade Your Room at the Reunion to a Suite!
For only $5.00 you can enter our raffle to upgrade your room to a suite!
Please make check out to: Society of the First Infantry Division.
Drawing will be held on June 15, in Lombard, IL. Entries must be received by June 10.
Mail check & entry form to:
PO Box 607
Ambler, PA 19002
Name_____________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________
City ______________________ State ________ Zip ________________ Phone(
26
)________________ E-Mail____________________________
Bridgehead Sentinel
Boyd, Robert of Hershey, PA on
3 September 2014 (WWII)
Keith, Robert of Plano, TX (28th
INF)
Clark, Jeffrey of Saratoga
Springs, NY (1AVN)
Leighton, Richard of North
Andover, MA (1/16, CW)
Debelak, Sr. John of Oak Lawn,
IL on 10 April 2014 (745TNK)
Murphy, Billy of Lenexa, KS on
21 October 2014 (C/2/28, VN)
Eye, Richard of Colorado
Springs, CO on 1 August 2014
(2/2, VN)
Nicholson, Robert of Kansas
City, MO
Grogan, Edward of Annadale, VA
on 21 October 2013 (F/2/18,
CW)
Prosperi, Jr., David of Corpus
Christie, TX on 9 September
2014 (AT/16, WWII)
Hayes, Floyd of Palmdale, CA on
1 August 2014 (HHC/16, CW)
Samardzia, Peter of Aliquippa,
PA on 22 October 2014
(D/1/16,WWII)
Horant, John of Willards, MD
on 6 July 2014 (C/48AAA, CW)
Hudnall, Ernest of Tyler, TX on
9 August 2014 (D/5FA, WWII)
Pionk, Jerry (2nd INF)
Topie, Carl on 3 October 2014
BRO SUPPORT FUND
The Bro Support Fund
AmVets Post #2
Briggs Auto
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!
Philip Nielsen
Lawrence Phelan
Randall Hoffman
Frank Swinford
Zukowski, Edward of Shirley,
MA (F/2/16, WWII)
BUSINESS MEMBERSHIPS
1st Infantry Division WWII
Reenactment Group
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 non-emergency
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!
BRO SUPPORT FUND
Hutton Construction
Yes . . . I want to help our Society help the Soldiers of the BIG RED ONE!
Junction City-Fort
Riley-Manhattan
Transportation Co., Inc.
$15 $30 $60 $100 $150 Other $

Century 21 Gold Team Real- Junghans Agency
tors
K’s Beauty Lounge
Here is my TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution to the BRO Support Fund!
Name
City Cycle Sales
Little Apple Toyota Honda
Address
Del Motors
Dick Edwards Auto Plaza
Montgomery
Communications, Inc.
City
First Class Vinyl Designs
Peking Restaurant
First National Bank
Picerne Military Housing
Godfrey’s Indoor Shooting
Ranges
Pioneer Services
Griffith Lumber Co.
The Daily Union
H&R Block
Tindall Orthodontics
Sheila M. Burdett Agency
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, PO Box 1127, Junction City, KS 66441.
Your contribution is 100% deductible for income tax purposes.
Hi-Tech Interiors, Inc.
Walters-Morgan
Holm Automotive Center Co. Construction, Inc.
White Glove Cleaning
Hoover Law Firm
Summer 2014
27
QUARTERMASTER
37-Window Decal
Order online at 1stID.org/Shop
26-Shoulder Patch
30-Thermal
Cup
3-Baseball Cap
(Camouflage)
32- Three Season Jacket
10-Coin
20-Lapel Pin
King Size
or Reg.
34-Tee Shirt
Long Sleeve
5-Billed Caps
(Black, White,
Khaki)
2-Baseball Cap
(White, Black, Khaki)
12-Fairway Cap
18-Jacket,
Multi-Task
36-Window Cling - Clear
(Blank, VN or Member)
6-Billed Cap
(Graphite)
11-Cordial
Shooter
(2 oz.)
9-Coffee
Mug
28Sports
Bottle
20 oz.
7-Bumper
Stickers
(Blank / VN)
16-Knit Golf
Shirt w/pocket
21-Mini Badge
CIB, CIB 2nd,
24-Pocket
Knife
8-Bumper
Stickers
(DS / Iraq /
Afghanistan)
35-Tee Shirt
w/pocket
22-Mini Badge CAB
19-Lady Victory
Necklace
31Tie Tac
14-Big Red One
Football Jersey
1- Auto License
Plate Holder
29-Sweat Shirt
27-Shopping Bag
4-Belt Buckle
17-Hoodies
25-Power Decal
28
23-Necktie
15-Garden Flag/
Pennant
33-Travel Mate
Toiletry Kit
13- Flag/Banner
Bridgehead Sentinel
WINTER 2014 ORDER FORM
Mail to: Quartermaster Society of the 1st Inf Division
PO Box 1127, Junction City, KS 66441
PLEASE NOTE: Previous order forms no longer valid.
Please use this form only until next issue.
*All prices include shipping and handling.
Name:__________________________________________ Street:____________________________________________ City:____________________________
State:________ Zip:__________________Phone:____________________________ Email:_________________________________________________________
Circle
Circle
Item #
Cost
Qty
Size/type Color
Total
1 Auto License Holder
9.00
2 Baseball Cap
20.00
Blk / Wht / Khaki
3 Baseball Cap (Camouflage)
Woodland / Desert / BDU / ACU
20.00
4 Belt Buckle 40.00
5 Billed Cap
20.00
Blk / Wht / Khaki
6 Billed Cap
21.00
Graphite
7 Bumper Sticker
5.00
Blank / VN
8 Bumper Sticker
5.00 DS / Iraq / Afghanistan
9 Coffee Mug
18.00
11.00
10 Coin, Commemorative
11 Cordial Shooter
10.00
12 Fairway Cap
20.00
85.00
13Flag/Banner
14 Football Jersey
60.00
M L XL XXL
15 Garden Flag / Pennant
26.00
16 Golf Shirt w/ Pocket
41.00
M L XL XXL Black / White
38.00
M L XL XXL Green / Blue
17 Hoodies
90.00
L XL XXL
Stone
18 Jacket, Multi Task
19 Lady Victory Necklace
15.00
20 Lapel Pin ($13 King / $10 Reg)
21 Miniature Badge
10.00
CIB/CIB 2nd
22 Miniature Badge
10.00
CAB
23 Necktie
28.00Black / Gray / Navy / Red / Royal Blue
24 Pocket Knife
10.00
25 Power Decal
25.00 Plastic, Lights up
26 Shoulder Patch
4.00
Red / Subdued
27 Shopping Bag 4.00
28 Sports Bottle
15.00
29 Sweat Shirt
43.00
M L XL XXL
30 Thermal Cup
15.00
13 oz.
31 Tie Tac
10.00
32 Three Season Jacket
110.00
L / XL
33 Travel Mate Toiletry Kit
34.00
10”x3.5”x9” Black Leather
34 T-Shirt Long Sleeve 28.00
M L XL XXL
Black
35 T-Shirt w/Pocket
23.00
M L XL XXL Black / White
36 Window Cling (LG-Inside)
6.00 Blank, VN, or Member
37 Window Decal (Small-Inside)2.00
Make Checks payable to: Society of the First Infantry Division
ing to Our
New Items Com
it out:
eb Store! Check
Quartermaster W
g/Shop
http://www.1stID.or
SUB-TOTAL
KS Residents Only ADD 6.15%
for state sales tax +(x .0615)
Overseas Orders ADD 10% +(x .10)
Payment method (circle one): Cash, Check, Visa, MC, Amex, Discover
Card Number
   
Expiration Date: Month________ Year________ (e.g. 08 12)
Security Code ____ ____ ____
(Back of card)
Signature__________________________________________________
TOTAL
1s151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL 60189-3353  www.FirstDivisionMuseum.org
PART OF THE MCCORMICK FOUNDATIONS
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
Big Red One Veterans,
Help Us Preserve Your History!
It’s that time of year when we
at the First Division Museum are
busy preparing for the Society’s
annual reunion and we need
YOUR help. The museum collections department is interested
in knowing what you have from
your time with the 1st Infantry
Division, and it doesn’t just have
to be the uniform you wore or
the pack you carried. It could be
the baseball cap from home you
wore at base camp during a break
from the field or a folded photo
of a loved one carried in a back
pocket. A pocket patch you and
your platoon mates wore on a
uniform or the jacket you brought
home as a reminder of your tour
in Vietnam. Your items and most
importantly, your experiences,
are what we strive to capture and
preserve in the museum’s permanent collection.
The last two Society reunions
saw some great items come into
the museum and that was made
possible by you. In 2013, Big Red
One Vietnam veteran Anthony
“Doc” Tardugno donated an
amazing collection of captured
Viet Cong and souvenir items he
brought home from Vietnam,
including a U.S. M1917 bolt-action rifle taken from a VC
30
weapons cache. Tardugno served
in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion,
18th Infantry Regiment as a medic
from May 1966 thru May 1967.
He returned in 2014 with some
great photographs taken in-country that complement his earlier
donation.
2014 also brought artillery
officer and Vietnam veteran
Michael L. Weinstein of Battery C,
1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery into
the museum’s Command Post.
Weinstein donated the large map
he carried as an aerial artillery
observer for the division, still
folded and encased in plastic just
as he carried it in Vietnam. We
also interviewed him about his
experiences flying and directing
artillery support for the division
and it’s that story that really brings
the map to life. His map, Tardugno’s souvenirs, and many other
items from Big Red One veterans
will be on display at the museum
during the 2015 Society reunion.
If you think you may have something that may be of interest to
the museum, please stop by the
collections department during
your visit. We’d be eager to talk
with you about your items.
Contact curator Bill Brewster
with any items you wish to donate:
bbrewster@firstdivisionmuseum.
org or 630-260-8220
Left: Beret hat
donated by Michael
Weinstein of C
Battery, 1st Battalion,
7th Field Artillery.
Weinstein also
donated his unique
in-country laminated
field map.
Right: Souvenir
jacket made for
Anthony “Doc”
Tardugno in Vietnam
at the end of his tour.
Below: U.S. M1917
bolt-action rifle
taken from a VC
weapons cache,
donated by Anthony
“Doc” Tardugno.
Bridgehead Sentinel
Museum
Museum Interviews First Big Red One
Engineers to Deploy to Vietnam
Left: Nine of the
Lieutenants from the 1st
Engineers Battalion that
deployed to Vietnam in
1965 with the Big Red
One being interviewed
by Research Historian,
Andrew Woods (offcamera), at the 1st
Engineers Reunion in
Alexandria, VA.
Below: The captured
Nazi banner is officially
handed off from the 1st
Engineers to the First
Division Museum at the
Reunion Banquet.
In September, staff from the
First Division Museum attended
the 1st Engineers Reunion in
Alexandria, Virginia to capture the
history of a unique group of BRO
veterans: the 1st Engineer Battalion’s first Lieutenants to deploy
with the 1st Infantry Division to
Vietnam in 1965. Interviewed
were Joseph Coppolo, Chad Covey,
Ronald Danielson, Jay Dunkleberger, Richard Field, Charles
Humphrey, Thomas Jennings,
Dennis O’Dea and Blair Smoulder.
The former Big Red One Engineers explained their stories from
training at the Engineer School
at Fort Belvoir, their assignment
to the 1st Infantry Division, how
they got their orders to deploy to
Vietnam and what their individual missions were when they
arrived. With 2015 marking
Summer 2014
the 50th Anniversary of their
deployments, it was important to
record these veterans and their
personal accounts of building the
infrastructure in a warzone that
would become the home of the 1st
Infantry Division for the next four
years.
During the Reunion Banquet,
the Engineers also donated a
Nazi banner captured by World
War II veteran Donald Bergreen.
Bergreen landed with the 1st Division on D-Day +6 in Normandy,
France and found the banner
hanging from a building in a town
called Falaise. After the banner
was captured, Bergreen packed it
in a box and sent it home where it
stayed in the box until he decided
he wanted to donate it to the
museum.
Record Your History with the 1st Infantry Division
If you would like to record your service with the Big Red
One, look for the McCormick Research Center’s Oral History
sign-up sheet at the Museum CP at the 2015 BRO Reunion in
Lombard, IL!
If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Woods at
[email protected] or call 630-260-8223.
31
DIV
ILEY, KA
R
T
R
NS
FO
AS
Y
TR
•
F THE 1S
O
Y
T
T I
E
I
NF
C
O
AN
S
•
ISION • FI
R
S
T
SEUM AT CAN
T
I
They
PFC Charles Thomas
16th Infantry Regiment (WWII, D-Day)
MU
G
N
Y
lot of combat experience.
I
ON
SI
he said it was the best division.
thought so too, it was great.
weren’t going to run, they were going to
DI
V
I
“Ernie Pyle,
You trust guys that had a
fight, and that’s what we did.”

Big Red One Reunion Returns to the First Division Museum at

Transcription

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