18^th Infantry World War II Book

The rough draft is expected to be finished by the time of our reunion in Reno. However, the author is requesting some specific remembrances from those of you who were present for duty on 8 May 1945 -- the end of the war. He would like to know: Where and how did you hear about the German surrender? How did you feel and react to the news? How did those around you feel and react to the news? How did the Germans react to you when they found out? He is requesting this information for the book ending, which will be written in early August.

Please write this up and send it to: Robert Baumer, 1033 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT 06475. Email: rbaumer@snet.net with "18th Infantry" in subject line.

1-18 INF Soldier/NCO of the Year

As is our custom, we sponsor a cash award for the Soldier and NCO of the Year named by our 1st Battalion. This year, at ceremonies in Schweinfurt, the Honorary Colonel and Honorary Sergeant Major presented a $100 cash award to:

Soldier of the Year: PFC Rickie Lee Hollon Jr.

NCO of the Year: SGT Alexander Emmett Ambroz

We are proud to report that SGT Ambroz is also the 1st Infantry Division Soldier of the Year! Both soldiers are from C-1-18 and both are scheduled to attend the reunion, where we will present their Iron Mike awards. Congratulations for a job well done.

18^th INFANTRY REGIMENT REUNION -- 30 JULY - 3 AUGUST -- RENO, NEVADA

1943 *** Operation HUSKY *** 2003

The Invasion of Sicily - 10 July 1943

Even before final victory in North Africa, the Allies were already planning their next move against the Axis powers. The invasion of Sicily was decided upon. It was determined that the British Eighth Army (Montgomery) and the US Seventh Army (Patton) would be landed on the East and Southeast coasts of Sicily in the biggest amphibious operation of the war to date. The main effort was assigned to Montgomery, who was to push north up the east coast and seize Messina. Patton was to secure Montgomery's left flank, driving through the mountainous middle of the island. The US Seventh Army would land three divisions abreast on the south coast: the 45th Division on the right, nearest the British; the 1st Division in the center, at Gela; and the 3rd Division on the left, near Licata. In addition, the 82nd Airborne would parachute onto the island and the 2nd Armored Division would be a floating reserve, to land when and where needed. The 18th Infantry Regimental Combat Team was attached to the floating reserve force for the planned invasion landings.

The opposing forces in Sicily in July 1943 did not seem formidable. The Italian Sixth Army (Guzzioni) had two Italian infantry divisions, several static coastal divisions, various other Italian units, and two newly formed German divisions to defend Sicily. Sicily had been used as a staging area for troop movement to North Africa. When North Africa was lost, most of the German soldiers still in Sicily were formed into the Division Sizilien, which was soon designated as the 15th Panzer-Grenadier Division, and stationed in the western portion of the island. In addition, the Luftwaffe Herman Goering Division was being reconstituted in Sicily under command of Generaloberst Paul Conrath, who had escaped his division's surrender in North Africa. This unit was given the name Panzer Division Herman Goering, since the new formation contained significant Panzer elements. The Herman Goering Division was headquartered at Caltagirone, in the mountains behind Gela. Also, nearer to Gela, was the Italian 4th "Livorno" Division. Along the coast were units of the Italian 206th Coastal Division, mostly coastal artillery. The Italian and German General Staffs did not consider Sicily any more likely than several other locations for the expected Allied invasion and, therefore, they did not dispatch significant reinforcements to strengthen its defenses.

D-day was 10 July 1943. The Fighting First landed on the beaches near Gela relatively unopposed. Two Ranger battalions were assigned the direct assault on Gela and the capture of its harbor. The 1st Division's 16th RCT and 26th RCT quickly moved inland toward their objectives. The Italian "Livorno" Division launched a counterattack toward Gela, but was repulsed by the Rangers and the 26th RCT. Things seemed to be going well. At 1700 hours, the 18^th RCT was released from Army reserve and ordered to land on the beaches of the 1st Division. In the meantime, Generaloberst Conrath was organizing his forces for a powerful counterattack. He divided the Herman Goering Division into two battle groups, one heavy in infantry and one heavy in Panzers. However, he could not get his units organized and assembled for movement until the early morning of 11 July. He sent the infantry heavy Kampfgruppe Smalz toward the east coast, where it became a major obstacle to Montgomery's drive north to Messina. He sent the panzer heavy battle group, under his personal control, directly down the Gela Plain toward the 1st Division.

The Herman Goering Division panzers proceeded down the Piano Lupo road and smashed into the 16th RCT. The 16^th Infantry resisted courageously, but were overmatched against panzers. Nevertheless, the 16^th Infantry eliminated the supporting German infantry and even managed to knock out several of the tanks. The remaining panzers continued on down the Gela Plain and right into the still landing 18th RCT. The 18th Infantry fought bravely, disabling and destroying some, but not all, of the attacking panzers. The lead panzers were almost on the beach, where they could have had devastating effect upon the success of the invasion. Battery B of the 32nd Field Artillery had just been able to set up in an olive grove at the edge of the beach when the tanks burst upon them. They lowered their tubes and took the panzers under direct fire with their 105mm howitzers. Fortunately, the artillery observers had established contact with Navy ships off shore and soon accurate naval gunfire was brought to bear on the few panzers that threatened the beach. The 18th RCT continued to attack the panzers with all means available. The Herman Goering Division had enough and the German panzers that remained were soon in full retreat. The 1st Division had held again against German panzers. The fight for Sicily was not over, many difficult days and hard battles remained, especially at Troina, but the 18th Infantry and the 1st Division experienced victory, defeating the Axis forces on Sicily.

NO MISSION TOO DIFFICULT, NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT, DUTY FIRST!

18^th INFANTRY NEWS

1st Battalion Change of Command

24 June 2003

In ceremonies at Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt, Germany on 24 June 2003, LTC Jeffrey A. Sinclair assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, vice LTC Botters. The 18th Infantry Regiment Association welcomes LTC Sinclair, his wife Rebecca, and his sons, Cole and Finn, to the 18th Infantry family. Our thanks to LTC Butch Botters, his wife Cindy and son Tyler, for a great tour of duty in command of our Battalion, and our congratulations on his new assignment with V Corps, which should see him in Iraq very soon. Please keep Butch and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he takes on this new assignment in harms way.

We are also pleased to welcome CSM Douglas O. Pallister, vice Calpena. CSM Calpena has moved on to Dagger Brigade CSM, which keeps him in close association with our battalion. We welcome CSM Pallister, his wife Tina and son Travis, to the 18th Infantry family. As is the Army way, we have a new command team, whose hands are more than full with a rotation to CMTC Hohenfels underway as you read this. In addition, congratulations are in order for our battalion liaison, who has been promoted to 1st Sergeant of Company B. We will miss our frequent contacts with 1SG Matt Cloyd as he assumes his new duties and prepares our soldiers for the missions that lay ahead.

LTC Jeffrey A. Sinclair

LTC Jeffrey A. Sinclair received his commission in 1986 as a distinguished military graduate of the ROTC program at West Virginia University.

LTC Sinclair's first assignment was with 1st Battalion 15th Infantry, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer. In 1990, he was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm and served as a G3 Training Officer, Assistant S3 and Company C Commander in 2nd Battalion 7th Infantry. His next assignment was with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as a battalion S4 and Company Commander. Following Command and General Staff College, LTC Sinclair returned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as an LNO and battalion S3. In 1999 LTC Sinclair was assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg where he served in Current Operations and as Chief of Plans and Training. Following this assignment LTC Sinclair served as the Brigade Executive Officer in 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, and as the Task Force Executive Officer in Task Force Panther in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. LTC Sinclair is a graduate of Command and General Staff College, the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Course, the Field Artillery Advanced Course, the Airborne and Jumpmaster Course, Ranger Course, SERE (High Risk) and Bradley Vehicle Commander Course.

He is accompanied by his wife Rebecca and their two Sons; Cole and Finn. Welcome to the 18th Infantry!

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18^th INFANTRY REGIMENT REUNION -- 30 JULY - 3 AUGUST -- RENO, NEVADA

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18th Infantry Command Sergeant Major

CSM Douglas O. Pallister

CSM Pallister was born in Exeter, Rhode Island in December 1965. He enlisted in the Army in September 1983. After completion of Basic and Advanced Infantry Training, and Jump School at Ft Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, where he served as an Ammo Bearer, Machine Gunner, M203 Gunner, Team Leader and Squad Leader. In May 1989 he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne, Vincenza, Italy, where he served as a Squad Leader. During this time he participated in Operation Dessert Storm as well as multiple NATO exercises.

In July 1992, CSM Pallister was assigned to Company B, 2 Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served as a Squad leader and Platoon Sergeant. While serving as a Platoon Sergeant he was committed to action during Operation Restore Democracy in the Republic of Haiti. In October 1997 he was assigned to 75th Ranger Headquarters and served as the Ranger Liaison to Department of the Army. In August of 1999 he returned to the 2nd Battalion, 75^th Ranger Regiment and served as the 1st Sergeant of Company C. In August 2001 he attended the United Army Sergeant Majors Academy, Ft Bliss, Texas, following which he was assigned as the Operations Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, Ft. Lewis, Washington. In June 2003 he was selected to become Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

CSM Pallister's schools include all the NCOES's, 1SG Course, Ranger School, and Jumpmaster School. His awards include MSM w/ 5 OLC's, ARCOM w/4 OLC's, AAM w/ 5 OLC's, Humanitarian Service Medal w/ Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, MFO Medal, NCO Professional Service Ribbon w/ number 4. He has earned the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Belgian, French, and Honduran Parachute wings. He also holds a Bachelor's Degree from Excelsior University.

He is married to the former Tina Brink and they have one son Travis, who is eight. We look forward to an excellent tour of duty with CSM Pallister and his family. Welcome to the 18th Infantry.

In Omnia Paratus!

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2002 Soldier Programs Report

Our major soldier program occurs at Thanksgiving/Christmas, when we provide funds (usually about $1000) to our active battalion for our soldiers and their families. In 2002 we received $1500 in donations. However, because of deployment to Kosovo, block leave, and the circumstances created by the situation in Iraq, the funds could not be effectively disbursed and were not used. We asked the battalion for guidance, and they requested funding support to help subsidize an Organization Day and the bi-annual "All Ranks Ball." The Army provides the food for Organization Day, except that each family member is charged cash for a "Mess Hall" meal. That can be a burden, especially for soldiers with children. In addition, a break on the Ball ticket price is a great help for lower ranking soldiers (read "low paid"). Our funds were carefully utilized and well spent, with lots of wives and kids at Organization Day and nearly 800 in attendance at the Ball. We are already in contact with Chaplain Wake and CSM Pallister about our traditional help at Thanksgiving/Christmas, so please keep that in mind for later this year.

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NO MISSION TOO DIFFICULT, NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT, DUTY FIRST!

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2003-2005 Elections at Annual Meeting

Our 2003 Annual Meeting of the 18^th Infantry Regiment Association is scheduled for 9:30am on Friday, 1 August, at the Circus Circus Hotel in Reno, Nevada. Agenda items include election of 2003-2005 Association Officers and recognition of 2003 DMORs and HMORs.

It is time for the bi-annual 18^th Infantry Regiment Association election of officers. The election will be held at our annual meeting. Our constitution and By-laws are posted on-line at our web site: <www.18inf.org>, along with a listing of current officers. If you wish to run for an office, or have a nomination, please contact Naman Carter, 8502 Quail Tree Road, San Antonio, TX 78250-6517. Tel/Res: (210) 680-0264. Naman is the Honorary Sergeant Major. He will present a slate of nominees at the meeting from those recommended to him and additional 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. We are looking for new blood.

The 18th Infantry Regiment Association reunion is held in conjunction with the Big Red One (BRO) Reunion from 30 July to 3 August. It is a Wednesday to Sunday schedule. Our CP (command post/hospitality room) is organized by VP Ed Fedrick and operated most hours of the reunion, where you can meet old foxhole buddies or make new ones. Please make hotel reservations through the Society of the 1st Infantry Division. For information, please contact Jennifer Sanford, 1933 Morris Rd, Blue Bell, PA 19422. Ph: 1-888-324-4733. E-mail: <soc1ID@aol.com> or make reservations on-line at < www.bigredone.org>

DMOR and HMOR Recognition

Distinguished Member and Honorary Member of the Regiment is an official US Army program contained in AR 600-82. In the 18th Infantry, nominations are given to the Honorary Colonel, who then recommends to the commander of the Color Battalion (1-18 INF). The commander then submits his list to the Chief of Infantry, who, on behalf of the Secretary of the Army, authorizes the recognition. To my knowledge, everyone for whom we have received a written nomination has been so recognized. Anyone may nominate, but we do need basic information and vital statistics for the nominee. Written nominations should be submitted to the HCOR or the Association President, preferably before April 15th.

Victory at Mortain

One of the authors of our WWII history, Mark Reardon, has just published another book on the subject of WWII that might be of interest to our members. Mark has thoroughly researched the German counter-attack at Mortain and written a solid and gripping account of the intense battle fought there.

As the exploitation force for Operation COBRA, the 1st Division broke out from the Normandy beachhead and took Mortain. Immediately, the 30th Division was brought up to relieve the 1st Division in place, so that the 1st Division could be sent even deeper into France. Little did anyone suspect that German forces were building for a major counter-attack, beginning at Mortain and designed to push to the channel coast, contain the lodgement and cut off the US divisions deep within France. The 18th Infantry receives its share of coverage, but, of course, the emphasis is upon the 30th Division that bore the brunt of this fierce German offensive.

If you would like to obtain a copy of the book, please contact Mark by email: <wahkita@worldnet.net>. Please put "18th Infantry" in the subject line, or call George Gentry at 562-596-8097.

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2003 DMOR and HMOR

Distinguished Members of the Regiment (DMOR)

LTC Robert Botters, Jr.

1SGT Matthew Cloyd

1SGT Allan Y Janssen

CSM John R. Calpena

James ("Ma") Green

Frank Gaysek

Ray Klawiter

Herman Smith

Phil Nielsen

Richard "Jake" Jacobs

Mose L. Johnson

Honorary Members of the Regiment (HMOR)

Cindy Botters

Jennifer Wake

Jan Carter

Louise Fedrick

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18^th INFANTRY REGIMENT REUNION -- 30 JULY - 3 AUGUST -- RENO, NEVADA

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HONORARY COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT

COL. George M. Tronsrue, Jr. USA/Ret.

Your Battalion in Germany is standing tall and looking proud! CSM Carter and I found this past week, June 19 - 26, to be more than busy. He and I rolled separately into Conn Barracks, just west of Schweinfurt, and found things already moving at a fast pace. We had chosen to bring our wives along, so they too were caught up in the swing of things. The biennial "All-Ranks Ball" was the first major event on the schedule, and nearly 800 people chose to attend. It seemed that most of them came through the receiving line, so we had a chance to tell many of our Vanguards and their ladies, face-to-face, how honored we felt to be included. The Vanguard punchbowl ceremony was something to be remembered!

The next major event was the transfer of authority between CSM John Calpena and CSM Douglas Pallister. This ceremony showed "pride" from every angle, and your soldiers really stood tall. Following this transfer by several hours came a brigade formation, with detachments present from each of the 2nd Brigade's current units, at which CSM Calpena took over as the Brigade CSM. In his four-sentence speech, appreciated for its length by all those standing in the sun, he told the soldiers on the field he would "meet them on the high ground!"

Our Battalion change of command took place on the following morning. The snap and precision, impressive on the field from Adjutant's Call to the Pass in Review, were first-rate. Even when looked at through CSM Carter's "Third-Herd-calibrated eyeballs," and even remembering that these were combat-ready soldiers unaccustomed to parade grounds, those troops were sharp! This ceremony was the capstone of LTC Butch Botters' soldier-oriented, incredibly effective two years of dedicated leadership,

as well as a respectful welcome to LTC Sinclair, himself a distinguished combat leader.

You would have stood straighter, as we did, just watching your soldiers, if you could have been there with us. Throughout the week, Naman and I did our best to represent you well (in BDUs, boots and berets for the two ceremony days!). On your behalf, we presented certificates naming LTC Botters, CSM Calpena, MSG(P) Janssen, and 1SG Cloyd as Distinguished Members of the Regiment, and Mrs. Botters and Mrs Wake as Honorary Members of the Regiment in recognition of their dedicated leadership of the Battalion's Family Readiness Groups. This was an inspiring week that was! I look forward to the reunion in Reno and the opportunity to meet and associate with other members of this great Regiment. Duty First! See you there!