www.18inf.org JULY 2005 www.18inf.org

In Accordance with AR 600-82, Colonel (Retired) E. W. "Bill" Chamberlain, III was selected to become the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment. On 20 June 2005, a change of responsibility ceremony was conducted by the active duty commander of the 18th Infantry Regiment Color Battalion at Battalion Headquarters on Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt, Germany. The 18th Infantry Regiment Association welcomes Colonel Chamberlain as our new Honorary Colonel, following in the tradition of service established by Colonel MacGregor, Major General McCrystal, Colonel Jones, Colonel Pryor, and Colonel Tronsrue.

Colonel Chamberlain is a respected soldier and combat commander of the 1st Battalion, which he commanded in 1990/91 during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He writes by way of introduction, "I want to take this opportunity to thank Colonel Tronsrue for nominating me to become the 6th Honorary Colonel of the 18th Infantry Regiment. When I relinquished command of the 1st Battalion on 22 July 1992, I told the soldiers assembled on that very hot and dusty field in Georgia that there was no greater honor and no greater glory that I would be able to achieve in my life than having commanded that battalion and serving with those soldiers in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. That is still true today. Being the Honorary Colonel of such a great Regiment filled with such great people humbles me yet again, as it did on that day. My promise to all of you is that I am committed to serving the Regiment and each of you in every way that I can. May God bless each of you and our soldiers and their families, past and present."

Colonel Chamberlain has a long personal history connected with the 18th Infantry. He will be at the Annual Meeting of the 18th Infantry Regiment Association and the BRO reunion in Washington DC on 22 July 2005. He looks forward to the opportunity to meet each of you in person. Please introduce yourself to him and get to know this great soldier. We look forward to serving together with him during his tour of duty as our Honorary Colonel. See his military resume on Page 4 and his Honorary Colonel's comments on Page 5 - "Status of the Regiment".

The bi-annual election of Association officers is scheduled for the 18th Infantry Regiment Association Annual Meeting on July 22 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel. There are four officers to be elected: President, Vice-President Treasurer, and Membership Secretary. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at the meeting. However, if you would like to be a candidate or to nominate someone, you may contact the Honorary Sergeant Major, SGM(R) Mike Binkley, 8190 West State Rd. Elida, Ohio 45807. Telephone: 419-339-0978. Mike will verify that candidates know the duties of office and are willing to serve the term of office, and will announce the list of candidates at the meeting. For more information on the duties and responsibilities of officers, please review the Constitution and By-laws posted on the web page at <www.18inf.org>

This year the BRO Reunion is scheduled at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott, in the Washington DC area, for July 20-24. As usual, the 18th Infantry Annual Meeting will be held on Friday morning, and the grand banquet on Saturday night. The new Honorary Colonel and Honorary Sergeant Major will be there, along with the active duty 1-18 INF Soldier and NCO of the year. Many special 18th Infantry small group events are being planned. The 2-18 RVN group reports over 75 signed up for their special lunch together. Don't miss it.

For information, please contact Jennifer Sanford, 1933 Morris Rd, Blue Bell, PA 19422. Ph: 1-888-324-4733.

E-mail: soc1ID@aol.com or www.bigredone.org

In January 1964 the Pentomic experiment ended and Battle Groups were reorganized as Battalions to adapt to the new Army force structure known as the ROAD design. Henceforth, the highest ranking officer in the Regiment is a Lieutenant Colonel commanding a Battalion that is designated 18th Infantry. The lowest numbered Battalion on active duty is designated the Color Battalion and represents Regimental Headquarters, maintaining the Regimental Colors. As a result, the 18th Infantry Battle Group in Germany was reassigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Ft Riley, Kansas, reorganized and redesignated the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry. The Colors were transferred from Germany, but not the men. LTC Jere O. Whittington assumed command of the 1st Battalion at Ft Riley. The 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry, was reactivated and assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Ft Riley. The 3rd Battle Group was reorganized as the 3rd Battalion, 18th Infantry, and remained assigned to the Army Reserve. In addition, a 4th Battalion, 18th Infantry, was activated in the Berlin Brigade, a tribute to the 18th Infantry relief of Berlin during the 1961 Berlin Crisis.

During the Summer of 1964, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, along with the rest of the 1st Division, deployed to Elgin AFB in Florida to engage in exercises INDIAN RIVER I, II, & III. They returned briefly to Ft Riley and then deployed to Ft Leonard Wood in Missouri for field training exercise GOLD FIRE. The situation in the Republic of Vietnam was rapidly deteriorating and the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution in August caused training to be intensified with the anticipation of a combat deployment. It was not long before warning orders were received and preparations were underway for that deployment. Of course, the Fighting First would be the first Army division to deploy, and the 2nd "Dagger" Brigade was selected to lead that deployment. 20 years after the close of World War II, the Big Red One would again be sent in harm's way in faithful service to the United States of America. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 18th Infantry embarked from the Oakland Army Base on board the USNS GORDON and sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge on June 25, 1965. It was fitting that the 18th Infantry was on board the GORDON, a ship named after MG Walter H. Gordon. Walter H. Gordon served the majority of his Army career in the 18th Infantry, progressing from the rank of Lieutenant, commanding a platoon, to Major, commanding a battalion, and achieving fame during the Philippine Insurrection as commander of "Gordon's Scouts", a mounted infantry unit of the 18th Infantry Regiment on Panay. Unfortunately, few of the 18th Infantry soldiers on board were aware of this connection to the glorious past combat adventures of their unit. While en route, LTC Norman J. Salisbury assumed command of the 1st Battalion and LTC Edgar N. Glotzbach assumed command of the 2nd Battalion. (Editor's note: Lee Baniki has written an excellent account of the ocean voyage and landing in his book about Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry.)

On July 12, the GORDON stood just off shore of the Republic of Vietnam at Cam Rahn Bay. On that day, the 1st Battalion disembarked in order to provide security for the construction of a port facility at this location - it eventually became a most important and famous installation. The Battalion was conveyed ashore in landing craft, and Company B, commanded by Captain Philip A. Pryor, had the distinction of being the first 18th Infantry unit to execute an amphibious landing on hostile shores since D-Day. The landing was unopposed and uneventful, except for the journalists and TV reporters who were ever present recording this historic event. (Editor's note: Phil Pryor has a video tape of the landing recorded by Morley Safer, of CBS fame.) The GORDON then proceeded south along the coast to a location opposite Vung Tau, a Vietnamese resort area. On July 14, the 2nd Battalion disembarked at Vung Tau and was immediately airlifted inland to Bien Hoa Air Base to provide perimeter security for that installation. While some accounts vary as to who was shot at first, the 2nd Battalion heavy mortar platoon is reported to have received sniper fire from VC infiltrators on July 17at Bien Hoa and is reckoned to be the first Big Red One unit to come under enemy fire since WWII. By mid-July, both the Duchess (later Dogface) and the Darkness Battalions were firmly established and operating against Viet Cong forces in the Republic of Vietnam. It was the beginning of a five year tour of duty, which would see much combat and many casualties before it was over - if it will ever be really over in the hearts and minds of many of the soldiers whose courage and sacrifice were required on these fields of combat.

The 18th Infantry has a long and distinguished history. The deployment to Vietnam is just one of a series of combat missions accomplished by this great regiment - from the Civil War to Iraq. That deployment began just 40 years ago, but remains fresh in the memory of those who served there. Let us remember the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam. Please review the 18th Infantry Honor Roll for Vietnam that is posted on our web page, <www.18inf.org>, and honor these soldiers with a moment of thoughtful reflection and your earnest prayers for them and their loved ones. Our next issue will attempt to recount the "October Ambush", in which the 1st Battalion engaged in it's first major combat experience. If you have recollections of this event, please contact me. By email at: HQ18INF@aol.com (please put October Ambush in the subject line), or by telephone at 562-596-8097 (after August 15). In Omnia Paratus! Duty First!

LTC George A. Glaze, Commanding 1-18 INF

On 21 June, LTC Sinclair relinquished command of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, to LTC George A. Glaze. LTC Sinclair becomes G-3 for the 1st Infantry Division in Wurzburg. We wish LTC Sinclair, his wife Rebecca, and their two children all the best in their new assignment.

The philosophy we are taking here is to rebuild the Warrior Spirit in the Vanguards. This is not to say that it is gone or isn't here. But the soldiers have returned from a year long deployment, refit with their families and now are refocusing their efforts to honing the basics of soldiering to prepare for any potential deployments. Those basics are physical training, marksmanship, individual skills, especially first aid, and live fire training, with the emphasis on the building blocks - the squad and fire team. Once those fundamentals are mastered, the Vanguards will be prepared to handle any mission given. The next few months will get after those individual skills with the Expert Infantryman Badge training and testing, which gives the soldier confidence in himself. After that, the Basic Rifle Marksmanship and Advanced Rifle Marksmanship programs will give the soldier confidence in his weapon systems. And the training after that will pick up teams and squads to get the soldier's confidence in his buddies under live fire conditions. And of course, physical training will occur throughout - with highlighted events like the 18 mile road march, the pugglestick smackdown and possibly a boxing smoker. Bottom line, the Vanguard soldier will continue the tradition of being able to handle any situation given to him with the tenacity of a tiger, the lethality of a viper, and the poise of an eagle. As Colonel Denson said to BG Bisbee on the Parade field in May 1941, "Those of us to whom the future is entrusted will see that the Regiment is always ready, and that we will not fail those who have gone before us." In Omnia Paratus!

LTC George A. Glaze, CDR, TF 1-18IN, VANGUARDS!

LTC George A. Glaze received his commission in 1987 from the United States Military Academy at West Point. LTC Glaze's first assignment was with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) and includes service in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following his assignment to Fort Campbell, LTC Glaze was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Mech) in Fort Riley, Kansas where he took command of C-1-16 Infantry and HHC-2-34 Armor. LTC Glaze then transferred to the Joint Readiness Training Center where he served as the Light Heavy Live Fire O/C, Brigade C2 O/C, and senior MOUT O/C at Shughart-Gordon MOUT complex. Following the Command and General Staff College and school of Advanced Military Studies, LTC Glaze was assigned as Chief of Plans in the 25th Infantry Division (Light), Battalion XO for 1-27 Infantry, and the 2BCT S3. During OIF 2, LTC Glaze once again linked up with the 1st Infantry Division with the 2-25ID(L) attached to Task Force Danger in the Kirkuk and As Sulymaniha Provinces.

LTC Glaze is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Course, the Airborne Course, Air Assault Course, Ranger Course, and the Bradley Vehicle Commander Course.

The 18th Infantry Regiment Association welcomes LTC Glaze, his wife Valerie, and their two children Joshua and Amanda to the 18th Infantry family. Our active duty battalion remains in good hands.

Graduated and commissioned in the Infantry, USMA, 1972. Rifle Platoon Leader, Co C, 3d Bn (Abn) 325th Infantry, 1972-1973. Support Platoon Leader, 3d Bn (Abn) 325th Infantry, 1973-1974. Rifle Company Executive Officer, Company C, 3d Bn (Abn) 325th Infantry, 1974-1975. Aide-de-Camp to the CG, and ADC-S, 82d Airborne Division, 1975-1976. Adjutant, 1^st Bn (Abn) 504th Airborne Infantry, 1976-1977. Airborne Rifle Company Commander, A Co. 1st Bn (Abn) 504th Airborne Infantry and Battalion Operations Officer, 1st Bn (Abn) 504th Airborne Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC, 1977-1978. Infantry Officer's Advanced Course, 1978-1979. Graduate Student, Duke University, 1979-1980. Tactical Officer for a Cadet Company and Discipline Officer for the Corps of Cadets, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1980-83. G3 Training and G3, 1^st Infantry Division (Forward), 1983-1984. Battalion Executive Officer, 1^st Bn (Mech) 16th Infantry, 1st ID (Fwd) Federal Republic of Germany, 1984-1986.

Naval College of Command and Staff, Newport, RI 1986-1987. Training and Education Officer, OPMD PERSCOM, 1987-1988. Infantry Officer Assignment Officer and Branch Chief, US Army Personnel Command, Alexandria, VA 1988-1990.

Mechanized Infantry Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 197th Infantry Brigade (Seperate), Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, 1990-1991. Mechanized Infantry Battalion Commander, 1st Bn (Mech) 18th  Infantry, 24th ID, Fort Benning, GA 1991-1992.

US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA 1992-1993. Division Operations Officer, G3, 2d Infantry Division, Korea, 1993-1994. Operations Officer, G3, 8th US Army; Deputy J3, US Forces Korea; Assistant Deputy C3, Combined Forces Command, Korea, 1994-1995.

Commander, 3d Brigade Combat Team (Mech), 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO 1996-1998. Inspector General, US Central Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL 1998-2000. Director, Center for Army Tactics, US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS 2000-2002. Retired Colonel, US Army, 1 July 2002.

Awards and decorations include EIB, CIB, Master Parachutist, AAM, Arcom w/OLC, MSM w/6 OLC, Legion of Merit w/OLC, DSSM and DSM, BSM w/V and oak leaf cluster.

1st Infantry Division: On 20 June, MG John R.S. Batiste relinquished command to MG Kenneth W. Hunzeker. Batiste's next assignment will be as V Corps deputy commanding general. We welcome our new 1ID CG, MG Hunzeker, and wish John and Michelle Batiste the best in their new assignment.

2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division: Dagger Brigade changed on June 22. COL Randal A. Dragon relinquished command to COL James B. Burton.

It is reported that MG Eric T. Olson (2-18, Gulf War) has been assigned to command the US Army Pacific.

A group of Vietnam veterans of the 2nd Battalion have been actively pursuing the formation of a reunion group. They held their first reunion in April 2004 and are planning a second reunion in conjunction with the 18th Infantry Annual Meeting and BRO Reunion in Washington DC in July 2005. Contact persons are: Roger Lyons (A-2-18), 320 David Circle, Sandy, Utah 84070. Tel: 801-523-8465. Email: <utlyonsden@aol.com> And, Brian "Smitty" Smith (A-2-18). Tel: 541-863-956. Email: <bsmith@pioneer-net.com>

A-1-18 RVN group is planning a reunion this Fall at Pigeon Forge, TN. Contact person is C.P. Pedersen. Telephone: 717-634-3929. Email: <cppeder@cheqnet.net>

C-1-18 RVN Reunion scheduled for September 2005 in Colorado Springs. Contact: Stan Hill. Tel: 303-750-4140. Email: <shill3972@aol.com>

Written by Robert W. Baumer, with Mark J. Reardon. This is an outstanding book about the exploits and achievements of the 18th Infantry Regiment during WWII. We have a few copies available from Larry Paul, phone 419-332-5782 or email: LFP18INF@aol.com. Orders may be placed directly with the publisher, Aberjona Press, on-line via the link on our web site, or directly by telephone at 866-265-9063. If you do not have one, get one. If you have one, buy a copy for your local public or high school library. This story should be read by every American.

I am pleased to report in my first official communication with the Regiment that "Posts and Orders Remain the Same" for both the 18th Infantry Regiment and our active duty battalion. We have now transitioned to our new Honorary Sergeant Major as SGM (Ret) Mike Binkley assumed the mantle from CSM (Ret) Naman Carter in the beginning of May in front of the assembled soldiers of the 1st Battalion at Schweinfurt. On 20 June 2005, Colonel (Ret) Tronsrue and I had our change of responsibility ceremony in front of the Officers and Senior NCO's of the Battalion, also in Schweinfurt. LTC Jeff Sinclair had many accolades for the outstanding job Colonel Tronsrue and CSM Carter did as the Honorary Colonel and Honorary Sergeant Major respectively, through two deployments of the battalion, to include one to combat duty in Iraq, over the last four years. All of us were well served by these two great soldiers, and Mike Binkley and I know we have big shoes to fill.

The trip in late April to be with the Battalion for their Combat Banquet/Ball was a huge success. The pace of events provided an opportunity for the veterans in attendance to not only interact with the soldiers of the battalion but also with each other. The veterans group, headed by George Gentry included such notables as Walter Ehlers, Dan Rogers, Mike Binkley, Naman Carter, Wes Geary, Ed Fedrick, Jim Stone, Larry Van Kuran, Patrick Mclaughlin, and Jake Jacobs, and four of the great ladies of the Regiment. We had a great time and I think all were glad to have attended. The battalion as usual went out of its way to ensure that all of us were well taken care of. I can safely say that the mini-reunion and the opportunity to interact with the battalion was great fun for all concerned. LTC Jeff Sinclair promised a unique event in the Combat Dinner and it truly was unique and well worth the long flight to Germany to attend!

1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, changed command on the parade field at Conn Barracks on 21 June 2005. It was uncharacteristically hot for Germany, but the troops held up well and were magnificent! After the Honorary Colonel Change of Responsibility the afternoon before, there was a battalion formation to have CSM Chauddri take over as the new Command Sergeant Major for the 1st Battalion. CSM Chauddri and his wife Dianna are a super addition to what is already a strong command team as the colors passed from LTC Jeff and Rebecca Sinclair to LTC George and Valerie Glaze. We had a dinner that night with the company commanders and senior NCO's at the Brauhaus in Schweinfurt. All four of the companies of the Battalion have also changed out commanders since the battalion returned from OIF II. Fortunately, most of the company First Sergeants have remained the same.

As Colonel Tronsrue, his wife Judy and I talked with many of the soldiers, it was evident that the 18th Infantry is as strong and committed to high standards of performance as ever. The soldiers were sharp and motivated and proud of their unit. The officers and NCO's were clearly proud of their soldiers and the unit. Although there have been many changes in the Battalion in the last few months, all concerned seemed to be taking it all in stride.

The 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, will now enter into a period of intense training this fall to hone their Bradley gunnery skills, their dismounted infantry skills and become reacquainted with Hohenfels and Grafenwoer once again. Hopefully, they will also have sufficient time to get equally reacquainted with their families! Mike Binkley and I will endeavor to visit the soldiers in the field sometime this fall.

As I said in the beginning, even with all the changes, it is obvious that "Posts and Orders Remain the Same" in the Regiment -- "No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great, Duty First!" See you at the Reunion in Washington!

In Omnia Paratus!

E. W. Chamberlain III

Honorary Colonel, 18th US Infantry

A group of twelve 18th Infantry combat veterans and four ladies of the Regiment flew to Germany to welcome home the new generation of 18th Infantry combat veterans from Iraq. The veteran contingent was met by the battalion at the Frankfurt Airport and transported to the Bradley Inn in Schweinfurt. That afternoon there was a reception with 1-18 officer and NCO leaders in the Regimental history room at Battalion headquarters. What a treat it was to meet these great soldiers! It is amazing how similar many experiences were between combat in Vietnam and combat in Iraq, and a powerful bond between combat soldiers of different generations was evident. The visiting veterans were each presented with a special Iraq combat commander's coin. The soldiers recognized us as part of the "team" and expressed their appreciation for the support and encouragement shown them during their combat tour. The next day was free for individual interaction until the evening when we gathered for dinner at a local restaurant. At dinner, CSM(Ret) Naman Carter was honored for his service as Honorary Sergeant Major, and the ladies were recognized with a bouquet of flowers each. Next door, Alpha Company was hosting a farewell party, and a few of us drifted over to greet the soldiers there. Sunday morning we gathered for Chapel Service. Chaplain Seth George preached the sermon, following a powerful prayer by our own Wes Geary. LTC Sinclair, his wife Rebecca, and their 2 sons were present, along with a sizeable group of soldiers and their families. Following chapel service, various groups disbursed for lunch and time to enjoy being with soldiers, with more of the same on Monday until the evening Banquet/Ball. What an outstanding affair! Altogether, there were over 1200 people in attendance in dress uniforms and formal evening attire. Of course, there was the Regimental Punch Bowl ceremony. The various beverages for each combat period were sampled and added to the brew until toward the end a soldier entered, in field battle dress, with rifle and a big box. Inside the box was a cobra snake, which was wrestled into submission, then decapitated and the contents emptied into the punch bowl. This, of course, was the new "beverage" for Iraq combat. Then, another unusual event, as a representative of the ladies support group (FRG) sampled and poured into the punch bowl some Chai Tea (Iraq tea) to acknowledge the importance of family support to the combat efforts of the deployed soldiers - Very unique, and very fitting. Once the brew was mixed, it was used to drink to the many traditional toasts that were offered. We had a wonderful dinner, with a moving powerpoint presentation of the tour in Iraq, rather than speeches. Wednesday morning there was a battalion formation, where the change of Honorary Sergeants Major was made and Naman delivered a "few" words to the troops. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Thank you Jeff Sinclair, and your great soldiers of the 18th Infantry!