Vol. 2 No. 1

July 1976

• Front page article recalled the weekend celebration starting on 2 July at Down Barracks in conjunction with the 200^th Birthday of the United States. Among the activities were a joint US and Bundeswehr torch light parade, picnic - barbeque hosted by the 1/11 ACR Mess, and a musical program, “American Odyssey and Music 76“ featuring the 3^rd Armor Division Ceremonial Salute Battery and Band.
   
• RCO Ballantyne presented awards to troopers at Hersfeld to include the MSM to Major Kremer, SXO, and Doctor Major Georgitis, Regimental Surgeon. On behalf of the 3^rd Squadron, CSM Odenbaugh received the Regimental Award for squadron high scores during Blackhorse Organizational Day in May.
   
• Troopers of 1/11 ACR HHT were noted for assuming the border observation mission at Op Alpha. Fast paced training requirements required the “cooks and medics“ to step forward at the border and they did a superior job under Lt James Hairston, Troop XO.

• An article discussed the Quarterly Review of Military Compensation currently underway in the Army.
   
• 3/11 ACR rolled out a new border orientation program for newly assigned personnel that featured a tour of the squadron border area and tour of the Zoll Museum at Philippstal.
   
•  A group of sixteen individuals led by Ambassador John E. Reinhardt, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, toured the 1/11 ACR border area and camp. RCO Ballantyne briefed the group that is NATO on a fact finding mission.

• Three images of bicentennial festivities at Downs Barracks.
• Image of RCO Ballantyne presenting Best Mess Award to SFC Bobby Starr, 1/11 ACR, for 2^nd Quarter 1976.
• Image of RCO presenting awards at Hersfeld ceremony.
• Two images of HHT personnel 1 /11 ACR performing border observation mission at OP Alpha.

Participation in the Nihmegen International Marches can be a very tiring, but rewarding experience as members of the two 11^th ACR teams found out.

Both teams, one from Troop F, 2^nd Squadron and the other from Howitzer Battery, 3^rd Squadron, competed the four day Marches with any major injuries.

Approximately 200 international teams were entered in the Marches which covered about 100 miles in four days. Forty - six American teams participated in the grueling Nijmegen Marches.

Second Lieutenant Anthony D. Marley, platoon leader of the 2^nd platoon, Troop F, was the OIC of the 2^nd Squadron squad, while SGT Joseph Thomas of 3^rd Howitzer Battery was the team leader of the 3^rd Squadron entry.

The teams which participated in the Marches were lodged at Camp Heumensoord, about a 30 minute walk from downtown Nijmegen. They slept in GP medium tents on cots and sleeping bags during their stay in Nijmegen.

Over 17, 000 marchers participated in the final day activities which included marching in review before high ranking military and civilian officials from various NATO member nations and some 300, 000 spectators from all over Europe.

According to 2^nd Lt Marley, “The atmosphere prevalent in Nijmegen was very much like that which is apparent in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. There’s lots of dancing and singing and everyone has a good time.

“The marches provide an opportunity for American troops to interact with their European allies, gather information about different military units, and exchange mementos of the occasion. I was most favorably impressed by the organization of the Marches and the experiences gained from being an active participant.“

Members of the Troop F squad who participated in the Marches besides the Lieutenant included: SSG Michael R. Santos, SGT Fredrick W. Wood, SGT William T. Gates, CPL Maurice P. Karmen, Sp 4 ’ s Mark S. Sager and Robert F. Mark and PFC’s Glen A. Greenwade, Estevan Garcia, Robert Barrios, James A. Hill, Larry L. Hatchel, Douglas G. Jett and Gary M. Granger. The 3^rd Squadron contingent besides SGT Thomas included: SGT’s Craig Lee and Richard Malden,Sp 4 Maquester Harris, PFC’s Hock C. Hwan, James L. Tyson, Saw S. Shio, Carl Clemons, Joe S. Cordova, Thomas Walker and Issac Belton, and PVT’s George Krause, Kelly Shain, Harry Davis and John C. Gantt.

Stated Lieutenant Marley, “I am definitely going back next year, either as a team leader or as an individual. Even if I have to use annual leave time, I’ll be there because of the rewarding experiences of my first Nijmegen.“

PHOTO 1

By Robert Quimby

The 2^nd Squadron is host to four West Point Cadets who have arrived in Germany for a month of training in one of the US Army Europe’s most combat ready units.

The program under which the four cadets were assigned to the 2^nd Squadron is called Cadet Troop Leader Training ( CTLT) by the Military Academy at West Point and according to 1LT Ernest Chachere, the Eaglehorse Squadron’s CTCL project officer, that’s exactly what the cadets are getting.

The primary objective of the program is to provide the cadets with a realistic leadership experience while assigned to units of the active Army and performing those duties normally given newly assigned second lieutenants.

West Point senior Charles Harris and juniors Gerald Pina, Jim Jogerst and William Taylor, jumped into the demanding roles of Armored Cavalry platoon leaders and are turning out superior results, according to Chachere. He explained, “They’ve been tasked with managing 20 to 40 men and a million dollars worth of equipment. Their performance is great. I’m impressed by their common sense and guts. They’ll get out and work hard with their crews and pick the brains of their experienced NCOs.”

As Cadet Taylor from Los Angles admitted, “This is our first real chance to work with enlisted men in a line combat unit. It’s different from working with just my classmates and I’m making the most of the experience.“

Senior Chuck Harris, from Monroe, LA., finds that experience is helpful both ways. “The men ask a lot of serious questions about the Academy, life as a cadet and officer, and about me personal interests. I know that we all profit and learn from working together. They are superior - quality troops, proud of their accomplishments and capable of first rate performance.“

The 2^nd Squadron is running border surveillance operations, undergoing a MET inspection, preparing for annual gunnery tests and training jointly with German and French Army units. Also, the squadron has been running a round -the - clock relief effort to bring water to six towns along the border who have been suffering the worst drought in that area in 240 years. The combination of all these things help give the visiting cadets a high sense of purpose and they’ve actively risen to the challenge.

The cadets gain first hand knowledge of duties, responsibilities and living conditions in a line combat unit. The CTLT objective is probably nowhere better accomplished than by giving the cadets operational border surveillance missions. Cadet Jerry Pina spent the majority of his four week tour in the squadron’s border sector. He actively sought responsibilities and contributed to the unit’s accomplishment of its mission, according to CPT Craig R. Lind, G Troop commander. CPT Lind explained, “They’re aggressive and can handle the many complex jobs of a platoon leader.“

Some of those jobs include preparing and training Sheridan crews for gunnery qualification, training mortar sections and infantry squads in their missions and instructing their men in a wide range of military topics. In performing the duty of platoon leader, the individual must stay constantly informed and abreast of all requirements and be able to adapt quickly to fast changing situations. The platoon leader must constantly direct his efforts and those of his platoon toward the accomplishment of the mission and still be responsive to the needs of his men.

A tour with the Blackhorse regiment on the East West German border provides the cadets with the ultimate in getting it all together. Myriad responsibilities keep the cadets going long hours under difficult conditions which demand high professional standards.

Leading tracked armored vehicles across the countryside provide a novel experience for the cadets. They participated in a readiness alert which involved an all night march, culminating in a simulated attack the next morning. The cadets rated this alert exercise as one of their most valuable learning experiences. “You get to see the end result of all your hard work and training. When everything clicks just right it’s a great feeling of accomplishment,“ said Cadet Taylor, after leading his platoon through the attack.

Cadet Taylor had prior enlisted service in the US Navy before making the transition to Army Armor. Incidentally, Taylor retains his sea legs as all of his tracks have amphibious capabilities.

The cadets and the squadron both reap benefits from the CLLT program as the cadets pull their load, gaining valuable experience and presenting new ideas to the training concept at 2^nd Squadron.

( A lengthy article recalled the annual meeting of the Blackhorse Association at Fort Knox in May 1976. RCO Ballantyne attended, briefed the attendees on the current state of the Regiment and accepted scholarship funds to be dispersed in Germany. Selected excerpts from the article appear below. )

Major General John W. McEnery, US Army Armor Center and Fort Knox post commander asked COL Ballantyne to join him for the presentation of the special $1, 000 Blackhorse Scholarship. The scholarship was presented to Col Ballantyne for presentation to David Kellar, son of the late SFC Millard L. Keller, who died while serving with Troop F, 2^nd Squadron in July 1975. David and his mother, Mrs. Sophie Kellar, reside in the Bad Kissingen area and were unable to attend the Reunion. The Blackhorse Scholarship will be presented to David during a command formation at Daley Barracks in Bad Kissingen on August 16.

Staff Sergeant Terry J. Sperry, president of the Eaglehorse chapter, explained, “our chapter in Bad Kissingen has 28 new members on its rolls. However, because of our heavy training calendar, we haven’t been as active in the community as in the past. A general membership meeting will be held during the month of September.“