July 2001

Born 15 July 1930, Colonel Tronsrue was raised in Long Prairie, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard in 1947, and the next year received an appointment to attend West Point. He graduated USMA in 1952 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry. After completing Airborne and Ranger training, he served with the 1st Cavalry Division in Japan from 1953-1957. Following a one-year assignment in Brazil, he taught Portuguese at West Point from 1957-1960 and then served with the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Benning from 1961-1962. His first Vietnam Combat Tour was as a Civil Guard Battalion advisor in the Mekong Delta during 1962-1963. Then followed a series of student assignments at CGSC, Princeton University, and AFSC, and a tour with Infantry Branch personnel operations on the Army special staff in Washington DC.

In December 1967, he assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, in Vietnam. He commanded 1-18 INF during the 1968 Tet Offensive and on 4 May 1968 directed the battalion's engagement in the Battle of Tan Hiep, for which 1-18 INF later received it's second Valorous Unit Award for combat action in Vietnam. In 1968-1969 he attended the Army War College and was then assigned to the Vietnam Task Force in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division in 1971-1972 and as Chief of Staff, 4th Infantry Division in 1972-1974. From 1974-1976, he commanded the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson. Then he became Commander, Western Regional Recruiting Command, Fort Baker, California until retirement in 1977. Since then, he has been a personal financial consultant, currently in independent practice in Seattle, Washington. He is married to Judith French Tronsrue and maintains an active involvement in community and military organizations.

Colonel Tronsrue becomes the fifth Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, following in the proud and distinguished tradition of Colonel McGregor (89-92), General McChrystal (92-94), Colonel Jones (94-97) and Colonel Pryor (97-01).
 
 

Addendum -- BG Eric T. Olson

Since my article appeared in the last 18th Infantry Newsletter, it has come to my attention that some may have interpreted my description of 2-18 IN combat action on the night of 26-27 February 1991 as defaming the superb record of the 1-18 IN in that fight. Specific reference has been made to this passage:

"At the time I was receiving reports from 1-18 IN, our sister battalion on the right, that they were making relatively good progress towards the Euphrates River Valley. They had stopped prior to the final assault to allow the Brigade's DS artillery battalion the time to get into position to provide supporting fires for the assault. Just as I was receiving  this report, word came back to me from the TF 2-1 8 Scouts that conditions on our trail were deteriorating. I myself had noticed that my command vehicle, an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, was laboring to make its way through the thickening mud. Time had come for a decision about continuing to make our way along this trail, or turning the TF around and trying an alternate route.

"At this precise moment I monitored a report that the TF 1-18 Scouts were under fire. They had gone out ahead of TF 1-18 into the river valley to find a good approach and had made contact. Two men were wounded. The TF commander, my West Point classmate LTC Bill Chamberlain, was calling for artillery fire to support them, but the DS battalion was not yet set. He felt that it would be impossible to continue to advance his TF without artillery support. For me, turning the TF around at this critical time was no longer an option since it would leave the 1-18 Scouts -- the only US forces in the Euphrates River Valley for miles -- alone without hope of protection or reinforcement should their situation worsen. I gave my executive officer the order to take command of the portion of the TF that was behind me, about 3 companies, and to find an alternate route into the valley. The TF Scouts, Team Delta, and I continued to work our way north towards the Euphrates."

Some have read this passage as implying that my good friend and classmate Bill Chamberlain did not act rapidly or decisively to relieve his scouts who were under fire. In no way was this my intent, nor was this the case. The point of this passage was to describe why I chose to split my Task Force and continue forward. Bill's TF was in contact -- mine was not. Knowing his Scouts were in the Valley and under fire, it became clear to me that we needed to continue the attack to ensure that the enemy couldn't focus on TF 1-18 as the sole attacking force. The fact that the DS battalion was still setting in to provide supporting fires for our TF's (as described, they ended up firing for 2-18) made
it ever more clear to me that the TF not in contact (2-18 IN) must continue the attack.

My article was not intended to describe the combat actions of TF 1-18 on that evening, but they fought bravely and successfully. Bill Chamberlain can provide more details, but in the end he too had to split his Task Force. With Bill personally leading the forward element, TF 1-18 continued the attack (and did so without artillery support, since 4-41 FA was firing for me), extricated his scouts and successfully defeated all enemy in sector, taking many prisoners and no further casualties -- actions for which he was awarded the Bronze Star medal with "V" device for Valor.

[Editor's note: General Olson's account accurately portrays the hours of tedious hard work and boredom, punctuated by those few moments of desperate terror, experienced in combat -- an experience shared by all the 18th Infantry  battalions. It offers an insightful glimpse into the commander's view of a combat operation. He recorded the actions of TF 2-18 as they occurred, and in a typical infantryman matter-of-fact manner. In my opinion, somewhat understated, given the credit the "left hook" was later given for the success of the entire operation. All 18th Infantry battalions (1-18, 2-18, 4-18, 5-18) engaged the enemy bravely and courageously during the 100 hours of Desert Storm. Hopefully, the full story of TF 1-18 will appear soon on this page.]
  

LTC "Butch" and Cindy Botters

Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Division Commander for Operations.  In 1988, he was assigned to the 197th Infantry Brigade (Separate) at Fort Benning, and joined the Regiment when the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, was reactivated in

His next assignment was as an intern with the Joint Staff, J-5 Directorate, European Command Central and East European Branch, and then as a student at the US Army Command and General Staff College (CSCG) and the School for Advanced Military Studies (SAMS).

After CSCG, LTC Botters returned to the 101st Airborne for a series of assignments, followed by assignment with the US Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM), where he served as the Lieutenant Colonel assignment officer, Infantry Branch, and Chief, Command Branch.

LTC Botters is married to his bride of 16 years, Cindy Botters, and they are accompanied by their son, Tyler. The 18th Infantry Regiment Association is pleased to welcome the Botters back to the 18th Infantry Family.
  

It is time for 18th Infantry Regiment Association election of officers. The election will be held at our annual meeting on 18 August. Our constitution and By-laws are posted on-line at our web site's Organization page, along with a listing of current officers. If you wish to run for an office, or have a nomination, please contact Louis Johnson, 3664 Wallfield Rd, Houlka, MS 38850. Tel: 662-568-7726. Louis will present a slate of nominees at the meeting from those recommended to him. Nominations will be accepted from the floor. However, the nominee must be present to accept the nomination or a signed acceptance presented with the nomination.
 
 

The Annual Combat Officer's Dinner, held on the last Saturday in April each year, was well attended. However, the decline in numbers of our WWII contingent becomes more noticeable each year. We had the honor of meeting and dining with the new 1-18 INF commander and his wife. It is good to see an 18th Infantry combat veteran return years later to assume command of the battalion. We also had the pleasure of meeting the new Commanding General of the Big Red One, MG John Craddock, who visited the CP and chatted with those present. It would be good to see more of the Vietnam combat officers in attendance. Mark your calendars for next year and plan to attend.

The recipients of the 2001 Iron Mike Awards were selected and the awards presented during the change of command celebrations 12-17 May 2001. Each received their name on a plaque displayed at battalion headquarters, an individual replica "Iron Mike" statue, a \$100 cash award, and an invitation to attend the annual reunion.  It appears that all three will be present in Nashville. Be there to meet them personally!

Reservations for this year's Big Red One (BRO) Reunion can still be made. For information, please contact Jennifer Sanford at the Society Office: 1933 Morris Rd, Blue Bell, PA 19422. Ph: 1-888-324-4733 (Toll free), or  E-mail: soclID@aol.com
 

The new owner of Ilsington House (now called "The Old Manor") would like to hear from anyone who served with the 18th Infantry Regiment at the house in 1943-44. He has restored the house and although he knows quite a lot about its history, he knows nothing about the time when the US Army was there. Can you help?

Please contact me at: 1 Down Road, Mosterton, Beaminster, Dorset, DT8 3JF, England or by e-mail at robin.pearce1@virgin.net  and I shall send the owner all
correspondence. Thank you. Robin T. Pearce
 

A limited number of 18th Infantry golf shirts, long-sleeve T-shirts, baseball hats, unit crests and miniature unit crests are still available. See our Photo Gallery page for details. Get yours now (please allow up to 30 days for delivery). Place your order with Larry Van Kuran, 6378 Jamieson Ave, Encino, CA 91316.
 
 

The proposed change will create an Associate Member, without voting privileges, intended for relatives and friends of those eligible for regular membership who support our goals and objectives and wish to receive the newsletter. It would also create a category known as "Friend of the Regiment", likewise, intended for individuals and organizations who support our goals and objectives and make a significant financial contribution to the Association. Associate Members would receive appropriate membership cards and Friends of the Regiment would be listed prominently in an issue of the newsletter and/or otherwise recognized.

If you support or object to the above proposed changes, please make your opinion known to one of the officers or the Honorary Colonel/ Honorary Sergeant Major, or in writing to George Gentry at the address listed below.
  

Robert Baumer, the author of Before Taps Sounded, the Story of a 1st Division Infantryman during World War II, is working on a new book focused on the exploits of the 18th Infantry. He is the nephew, and namesake, of PFC Robert A. Baumer, Company H, KIA 7 Jun 44, about whom the above book was written.

Like many veterans he has spoken with, Baumer feels that the 18th Infantry's accomplishments have been overlooked by recent historians. While the Army historical record gave the Second Battalion credit for bringing the most substantial improvement off the beach when they forced the E-1 Draw beneath Coleville just before noon on D-Day, some records have not even put any elements of the 18th Infantry ashore until later in the afternoon. Baumer intends to change that with his new work, tentatively entitled The Unfinished Story of D-Day.

Baumer attended the Combat Officer's Dinner in late April, where he met several WWII veterans who have offered their histories in helping him complete this book, planned for publication (with the help of the Cantigny Military History Series and the 1ID Museum) in 2003 to celebrate the upcoming 60th Anniversary of D-Day.

Baumer's late uncle, Pfc. Robert A. Baumer, was a mortar man in heavy weapons Company H, under the command of then Captain Robert E. Murphy. The author is interested in hearing from any 18th Infantry veteran officer, enlisted man, or their relatives about their experiences during the war, especially surrounding D-Day. The book will focus primarily on D-Day events, but Baumer plans to support the regiment's stellar performance that day by describing prior engagements in North Africa, Tunisia, and Sicily.

The 18th Infantry Regiment Association is urging cooperation with Baumer in the production of this work which promotes the history and distinguished service of the 18th Infantry Regiment.

Robert Baumer can be contacted at 1121 Old Clinton Road, Westbrook, CT 06498, by phone at (860) 399-6600, or by email at rbaumer@snet.net.
  

Events such as these are open to our members (at your own expense), and are an experience well worth the effort and expense. The battalion has a strong sense of it's history and tradition, and welcomes it's veteran members to visit. If you would like to visit the battalion, please contact George Gentry for information.
  

Born June 30, 1937, Sergeant Major Carter was raised in Illinois, where he graduated High School and enrolled at the University of Illinois. He enlisted in the Army on 10 February 1960. Upon completion of Basic and AIT Training, he was assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment, Berlin Brigade. He progressed through a variety of assignments and infantry leadership positions until his retirement at Fort Sam Houston on 31 March 1987.

Sergeant Major Carter served with the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, in Vietnam from June 1967 to March 1968 as a staff sergeant and assistant operations sergeant (S3) under LTC Cavazos and LTC Tronsrue. He also served tours with the 2nd Infantry Division, 8th Infantry Division, 2nd Armored Division, 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), and as Chief Instructor, 5th US Army NCO Academy. The 18th Infantry was his affiliation when CARS was implemented. CSM Carter completed his BA in History at Park College in 1971 and his MS in Counseling Psychology from American Technological University in 1983.

CSM Carter began attending the 1st Infantry Division and 18th Infantry Regiment annual reunions in 1980. He attended all reunions while on active duty except when assigned overseas. Since retirement, he has attended all reunions except one. As the 18th Infantry Regiment Association began developing close ties with the Society of the 1st Division's annual reunion, CSM Carter was the driving force in establishing an 18th Infantry CP at each event. He has been named as a Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR) and has served as the vice-president of the Association. Sergeant Major Carter is married and lives in San Antonio, Texas. He continues to be an active, enthusiastic member and advocate of the 18th Infantry Regiment.
  

The soldiers, from privates to field grade, are an inspiration to older ones like CSM Carter and me. There had been more turnover of people than I had expected, but the newer soldiers seemed to have picked right up on the "do it right" attitudes so obvious in March of 2000. The Battalion rented a large, nearly new Sports Hall in Schweinfurt for the "Dining Out" on May 12, and upwards of 550 soldiers and guests filled the place. COL Phil Pryor's farewell speech, highlighting the history of the Regiment, was the main event of that evening. The Vanguards' recognition of his contributions as Honorary Colonel was heartwarming. CSM Forest's Punch Bowl Ceremony will long be remembered! His soldierly leadership is a joy to watch.

For the change of Command on May 15, the weather was ideal, and the Vanguards did themselves proud. Thereafter, just how LTC Botters found time to get so much done so smoothly during the rest of the week, I don't know, but he did, including a half-day recon trip to Hohenfels. Thanks to him and the CG, I was privileged to go along: web gear, Kevlar pot and all! Just days later, the whole Battalion was to be off to Hohenfels for unit maneuvers, then on to Grafenwoehr for gunnery. All in all it was an unforgettable time, topped off for me by 14 hours in the air back to Seattle. That last part was forgettable.

As my tenure as Honorary Colonel begins in earnest, I look forward to the reunion in Nashville and the opportunity to meet and associate with other members of this great Regiment. See you there!