18th INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING REPORT

The 18^th Infantry Regiment Association held it=s Annual Meeting in New Orleans on August 16, 2002.

The meeting began with welcome and introductions. We were honored to introduce SFC Matthew Cloyd, representing the 1^st Battalion from Schweinfurt, and Walter D. Ehlers, who received the Medal of Honor for actions in Normandy in June 1944. Unfortunately, we were unable to introduce the 18^th Infantry Soldier and NCO of the Year because they are deployed in Kosovo and were rather busy with their duties representing us in that part of the world.

Next the Honorary Colonel and the Honorary Sergeant Major reported on their visit in March to our active-duty battalion for the Mission Readiness Exercise at Hohenfels just prior to the deployment to Kosovo. Colonel Tronsrue read a Kosovo update from LTC Botters that summarized recent events of our active duty Battalion. Then SFC Cloyd gave a brief report on the battalion=s current activities and confirmed the excellent esprit de corps of our soldiers.

(Continued on Page 5 ... Annual Mtg Report)

CSM(R) Carter, SFC Cloyd, COL(R) Tronsrue at Reunion Banquet

SOCIETY of the FIRST DIVISION

ANNUAL REUNION REPORT

The 2002 Big Red One Reunion was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The reunion format reverted to the Wednesday thru Saturday schedule and a great time was had by all who attended. Next year it will be in Reno, Nevada.

(Continued on Page 5... BRO Reunion)

18^TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION

ROSTERS POSTED ON WEB PAGE!

We now have two rosters posted on our web page – our 18^th Infantry Contact Roster and our Vietnam KIA Roster. Our 18^th Infantry Contact Roster contains a listing of all Association members, plus everyone else we know that has served a tour of duty in the 18^th Infantry and with whom we have had contact. Please check it out to see if you are listed correctly. If not, get us the correct information.

The 18^th Infantry contact roster currently is in alphabetical order and includes, 1) name, 2) rank when in unit or when retired (if we know it), 3) unit, 4) year, 5) era, and 6) e-mail address (if we know it). Please check your individual listing and verify for us that we got it right. We are missing a lot of information on individuals, especially about unit(s) served in and dates when you served in the Regiment. Please help us get this roster up to date by sending your personal information to: ROSTER18INF@aol.com.

Review our Vietnam KIA Roster as well, and please inform us if we have any of the information wrong. You knew the guys and we want to get it right in their honor. They deserve to have their information listed correctly.

We also want to post these rosters by service era/period and battalion units in order to make searching the roster for foxhole buddies that much easier. If you have contact with or know someone who has served a tour of duty with the 18^th Infantry, or any of it’s battalions, at any time, peace time or war time, please send us their information.

1942 -- OPERATION TORCH -- 2002

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the United States was ill prepared to go to war. The First Division had just been reorganized into a triangular division with three infantry combat teams – 16 RCT, 18 RCT, and 26 RCT – and the “Fighting First” trained hard to get ready for combat. During this time, their reliable 1903 Springfield Rifles were exchanged for the new M1 Garand Rifle, and, in place of their flat WWI helmets, they received what became known affectionately as the “Steel Pot”. In August 1942 they boarded HMS 250 (in civilian life known as Cunard’s Queen Mary) and sailed for the British Isles. There they continued to prepare for their first combat assignment.

Great Britain had already persevered through three years of war against Germany. It had been a hard struggle and the “Brits” welcomed the coming of the “Yanks”. By now, German Armies controlled France and had invaded Russia, where they were experiencing considerable success, having driven deep into the USSR. The Desert Fox’s Africa Corps was threatening the Suez Canal and the Arabian oil fields, being held up in Egypt by a stubborn but besieged British Eighth Army. It was imperative that the Americans get into the fray. The location of American entry into the European war was decided upon. It would be a three-pronged invasion of North Africa. It would be called, OPERATION TORCH, and it would happen on November 8, 1942. The First Division was selected to lead the Center Group by landing on Arzew Beach near Oran, Algeria. This was Vichy French territory, and it was not known whether the French forces would allow the landing or resist.

The First Division objective was the city of Oran. In the early hours of November 8, 18 RCT landed on Zebra Green Beach with two landing teams abreast, the 1^st Battalion and the 3^rd Battalion. The 3^rd Battalion, along with the 1^st Ranger Battalion, was tasked with taking the town of Arzew and silencing coastal defenses. The 1^st Battalion was tasked with moving inland to secure the town of St Cloud on the main road to Oran. The landing was uneventful. Negotiations with the French were on-going, but the French had not yet surrendered. French authorities were in a quandary. They did not want to resist the Americans, who had overwhelming forces, but if they did not resist, they were afraid the Germans would seek retribution on their family and friends in France.

The 3^rd Battalion, with the 1^st Ranger Battalion, secured its objective with light resistance. The 1^st Battalion moved across country toward St Cloud, eight miles distant. A member of the US Counsel General’s office in Oran was detailed to drive through St Cloud and meet the advancing American soldiers. When he reached the lead elements of 18 RCT, at a cross roads just outside St Cloud, he reported that St Cloud was “all clear” and that the French were not resisting. However, what he did not know was that elements of the famous French Foreign Legion, including a battery of French 75s, had moved into St Cloud behind him. The Foreign Legion officers were angry that their territory had been attacked. After all, they were “neutrals” in this war. In addition, the Foreign Legion did not care who they fought, they just liked to fight. Since they had no orders to the contrary, the Foreign Legion decided to resist. In the meantime, units of the 1^st Battalion were approaching the edge of town. They were not expecting any resistance and they did not know that St Cloud was now occupied by forces of the French Foreign Legion that were preparing to resist and attack.

Suddenly, the 1^st Battalion found itself unexpectedly under fire. Confusion reigned. Everyone was surprised. Some soldiers were pinned down, while other soldiers threw down their weapons and ran. When the battery of French 75s opened up, it was obvious that they were zeroed in on the cross roads where Regimental headquarters was located. Colonel Greer immediately recognized the danger, and shouted, “Get away from the cross roads.” This added to the confusion, but soon platoon leaders and platoon sergeants had seized control of the situation and had gotten their units reorganized and into defensive positions, beginning to take the fight to the enemy. Colonel Greer requested supporting artillery fires from Division, but his request was denied. Too many civilian casualties would result, was the excuse. Major General Terry Allen, Commanding General of the First Division, seemed to know that the French would soon surrender. General Allen called off the 18 RCT attack and ordered the First Division to by-pass St Cloud, leaving only enough soldiers to contain the French forces there. The next morning, after their token resistance to save face, the French surrendered.

Unfortunately, the battle for St Cloud cost 18 RCT dearly. Several good officers and men had been killed or wounded in an unnecessary fight. 18 RCT had experienced its first taste of combat, its “baptism by fire”, and it did not like it. Yet, there would be other fights, and more lessons learned before 18 RCT would be considered a seasoned combat unit. Following Operation Torch, the First Division was sent into Tunisia, where 18 RCT was separated from the Big Red One and assigned to the British 78^th Division near Medjez El Bab. Read about that terrible learning episode in the next newsletter – the Battle of Longstop Hill, Christmas 1942.

1861 C 18^th INFANTRY REGIMENT C 2002

141 years of service to America!

Greetings from Kosovo. Mirdita, & Dobra Dom, We send our Greetings to the Association Family in Albanian and Serbian for Good Day from Kosovo! To date, the soldiers of Task Force 1-18 IN, Vanguards, have conducted over 4933 mounted and dismounted patrols in the Vitina Municipality. We have also conducted 8 local MEDCAPS treating over 760 civilian patients. Overall, I suggest our operations have proved successful in maintaining the safe and secure environment for the citizens of the Vitina Municipality. These operations have resulted in the detention of 31 people for illegal activities including suspicion of extremist activity, illegal weapons possession, or with interfering with KFOR (Kosovo Force Operations). These individuals are interviewed before they are returned to their homes. We have yet to meet a former detainee who did not comment that our soldiers performed their duties in a professional and courteous manner. When we return the detainee they are warned not to participate in future activities or we will meet again. This may sound simple and too trusting, but we have had no returnees on our watch. We also cooperate with our civil police and judicial system where we transfer individuals we find conducting illegal activities which do not violate our mission to maintain a safe and secure environment. These operations include but are not confined to, illegal motor vehicle operation detected at our Traffic Control Points, or illegal wood harvesting which violates local civil ordinance. These operations are supported by UN Security Council Resolutions and are considered an effective measure in establishing our emerging municipal entities in sector.

This month we have closed 4 of our 5 satellite base camps. We are proud to report that we no longer live in the towns of Klokot, Vrbovac, Mogila, or Zintinje. This is very good news since it allows us to focus more on patrolling and less on securing our multiple camps in sector. This also supports our intent to reduce the number of fixed security sites. Multi-National Brigade East (US KFOR and the 1st Infantry Division (Fwd)) has taken the lead in the “Unfixing” strategy and we are recognizing both public and international support for our operations to return this municipality to a pattern of normal life. In preparation for our transition to KFOR 4B, the soldiers of A/1-77 Armor have moved to Camp Bondsteel to accommodate the reduction of four of our satellite camps. B/54 Engineer has completed the transition to Camp Bondsteel, while B/1-18 is finally occupying Camp Magrath. Camp Rock is our last satellite camp in sector.

On 31 July 2002, we experienced a series of explosions in the town of Klokot that injured two soldiers from our B/54th Engineer Company. This event remains under investigation as a criminal act and as we may have mentioned before, resulted in the first KFOR and United Nations Joint Investigative Task Force. The Vanguards are active members in the investigation and continue to develop leads for the task force.

Other activities at this time include HHC 1-18 Infantry completing the Expert Field Medical Badge test with 5 soldiers receiving the coveted EFMB. Congratulations go forward to 2LT Schmidt, SGT Woodmansee, SGT Obinani, SPC Lehmann, and SPC Hollowell. This was the first KFOR EFMB test, and we were well represented.

We also have over 170 soldiers testing for the Expert Infantryman’s Badge at Camp Monteith, Home of the 1-26 Infantry and 1-77 Armor battalions. That is our main effort this week. The soldiers of A/1-77 Armor are preparing to conduct combined arms live fire training with B/1-18 on our maneuver range, while the soldiers of B/54th Engineers have just completed the second of their road crater missions to destroy routes which support wheeled vehicle movement through the forest along the Kosovo-FRYOM border. The Vth Corps command team of LTG Wallace and CSM Preston participated in the mission with the Pitbulls.

This past week our Mortar platoon fired two Bright Skies Missions to support C/1-18 & Scout Platoon operations along the border of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. A/1-18 Infantry continues to conduct outstanding platoon training and has been relieved of their mission with the challenges of their multi-ethnic community Cernica. This has allowed them to spend time as a company on Camp Monteith to focus on training their warfighting skills.

The second college term is still going strong and we have some soldiers who have completed, or will have completed, 5 classes this mission.

At the command and staff level, we continue to emphasize the transition of KFOR functions to the emerging Civil Authorities and UN agencies in the Vitina Municipality. We have also witnessed the continued return of refugees from the Vitina municipality to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the preparation for a reintegration of displaced families within the Vitina Municipality.

This is a great team of soldiers and leaders. As always we are kept on track with CSM Calpena & the First Sergeants continuing to keep us trained, focused, and ready in Kosovo. We could not do this without CPT Arends and 1SG Cloyd to keep us updated on operations in Schweinfurt, and our deepest thanks goes to the Family Readiness Groups in Schweinfurt. We really appreciate this effort of our D Company team and ladies in Schweinfurt, and look forward to our next opportunity to meet.

First to Battle! LTC Butch Botters

Vanguard 6

1-18 web page: www.schweinfurt.army.mil/118/website.htm

THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS PROJECT

Relying on your generous support, the 18^th Infantry Regiment Association has again made the commitment to provide assistance for our soldiers during this time of year. However, this year will be different. After returning from Kosovo on November 21, our soldiers will be granted block leave, which means that many of our soldier families will not be there. We have been advised that assistance with “family days” during the difficult training period at Graf in January would probably reach more soldiers and be more appreciated. Therefore, we will provide any assistance at Thanksgiving/Christmas that is needed, but we will concentrate on the January training period as our main soldier project this year.

Naturally we will rely on Mrs. Cindy Botters, Mrs. Calpena, and Chaplain Wake to keep us informed of any Thanksgiving and Christmas needs, as well as LTC Botters, CSM Calpena, and the 1^st Sergeants. The 18^th Infantry is known for looking after its soldiers, and we appreciate the efforts of the leadership team on our behalf, and especially on behalf of our soldier families who make such great sacrifices in service to our Country.

Again this year, we need your help to cover the expenditure, and we ask you to please contribute generously toward our soldier project this year. You may send your donation directly to our Treasurer: Jim Stone, 258 Pells Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572. Please make your check out to A18^th Inf Regt Assoc@ and mark the memo line on your check: XMAS PROJECT.

SOLDIER/NCO OF YEAR

The 18^th Infantry Soldier of the Year is Specialist Alexander Emmett Ambroz, Company C. The 18^th Infantry NCO of the Year is Sergeant Mack Ray Reagan, Company A (to see a picture of SGT Reagan receiving recognition as Division NCO of the Quarter, please visit the 1-18 IN web page and click on “newsletter”).

LTC Botters wrote of these two soldiers, “These soldiers are quite simply great soldiers and not only represent themselves and their companies well, they are recognized leaders by soldiers in two separate Task Forces. CSM Calpena & The First Sergeants are very proud of these soldiers.”

Iron Mike statues and a check for $100 were presented to SPC Ambroz and SGT Reagan by COL Tronsrue and CSM Carter during their recent visit to the battalion in Kosovo. We are sad that the 18^th Infantry Soldier and NCO of the Year could not be present with us at our reunion in New Orleans, but we understand what “duty” means. Congratulations to these two fine young soldiers!

VETERAN=S DAY CEREMONIES

Washington D.C.

Veteran=s Day ceremonies are held each year in Washington DC. Always moving events and well worth attending. This year, in addition to normal Veteran’s Day events, there are special ceremonies planned to recognize the 60^th Anniversary of OPERATION TORCH, which took place on November 8, 1942. Jim Stone (RVN, C-2-18) is coordinating 18th Infantry activities at these events. Volunteers are needed. If you plan to be in Washington DC between November 8 - 11, please call Jim at 914-876-7676.

GEORGE GENTRY ROAD

“It is a great honor to have the battalion name a street after me in Kosovo. However, since my connection to 1-18 INF has always been as the 18^th Infantry Regiment Association's representative, I must consider this honor as an acknowledgment by our soldiers of the Association’s support for our battalion and an honor given to the entire Association. On behalf of all association members, I gratefully accept this honor and thank you with the deepest sincerity.” – George Gentry, President

LTC Botters (Cdr, 1-18 IN) and BG Lutz (ADCS, 1ID)

Camp McGrath, Kosovo

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 2003!

The 18^th Infantry Regiment Association will conduct it=s 2003 Annual Meeting during the Big Red One Reunion scheduled for July 30 - August 3 in Reno, Nevada. Plan now to be there!

(BRO Reunion … continued from Page 1)

Wednesday was registration and CP set-up. Ed Fedrick and his crew of dedicated 18^th Infantry wives outdid themselves by decorating our large CP in a Mardi Gras theme, complete with masks and beads, and what an array of snacks, drinks, and other treats.

Thursday was set aside mostly for tours: D-Day Museum, Swamp & Bayou Tour, New Orleans City Tour (including the French Quarter), Steamboat cruise, Plantation tour, and a golf outing. The privilege of visiting the D-Day Museum with guys who made the D-Day landing was unique and awesome. The evening was given over to the Reunion Welcome Social, where entertainment was festive in the local Mardi Gras tradition.

Friday began with group breakfasts, held according to one=s era C WWII, Vietnam, Cold War/Desert Storm. Breakfast was followed by Regimental meetings (see Annual Mtg Report). The afternoon was free for tours and informal socializing in unit CPs.

Saturday morning the Society of the 1^st Infantry Division held it=s memorial service at the hotel. Our own Jack Streeter (18^th Infantry, WWII) gave the keynote address. For those of you who know Jack, you know that he is a reserved and quiet man. However, his address was passionately logical and forcefully presented, if not exactly “politically correct”. Jack spoke of the sacrifice soldiers make, especially the ultimate sacrifice made by too many of our comrade in arms, and of the responsibility we have to see that this sacrifice is not required unless absolutely necessary – reminding us that we should not place our soldiers in harms way unless the defense and security of our Nation absolutely requires it. The memorial service is always one of the highlights of the reunion, and this was no exception.

The memorial service was followed by the Society=s annual meeting and an update on First Division activities by the Division Chief of Staff – General Craddock being otherwise occupied in Kosovo and with an impending change of command. Saturday evening was the Reunion Banquet and Dance. Sunday featured repeats of tours – for me a walking tour of the French Quarter and Beignets at Café du Mond in the old French Market. The rest of the day was for good-bye and farewells.

A good time was had by all. Next year the reunion is scheduled for July 30 – August 3 at Circus Circus in Reno, NV. For information on the reunion, contact the Society Office: 1933 Morris Rd, Blue Bell, PA 19422. Ph: 1-888-324-4733 or E-mail: soc1ID@aol.com

ANNUAL REUNION * JULY 30 – AUGUST 3

(Annual Mtg Report ... continued from Page 1)

Discussion of Association business followed. Minutes of the August 2001 annual meeting were accepted by acclamation. The Secretary, Larry Van Kuran, gave the membership report C 207 paid veteran members and 201 delinquent veteran members, for a total of 408 veteran members, with 107 veteran members needing to renew by December 31. We also need to encourage our delinquent members to renew and increase efforts to make new contacts via the Internet. Our goal remains 500 paid veteran members. With the Kosovo deployment this year, we need to consider a renewed campaign to Are‑up@ our active duty soldiers.

Jim Stone, Treasurer, presented our financial report and requested approval of the proposed 2002-2003 Budget categories. The Budget was approved by acclamation. Our basic budget includes $1800 for newsletter printing and postage, $1000 for our Holiday projects and $500 for the Iron Mike awards and other soldier projects. An additional $2000 was allocated to bring our soldiers from Germany to the reunion. Remember that all Association Officers are unpaid volunteers. The Shirt Project was successful, but the stock is depleted. Shirts are still available by special order, and continuation of the Shirt Project is under consideration.

Donations for our soldier projects have covered the costs. Thank you for your generous support. We have modified our soldier project goals this year (see elsewhere), but still expect to commit our normal amount to soldier families in Germany and to bring our soldiers to the 2003 reunion in Reno. Projected expenses for projects will not be made unless the projected revenue is received.

Everyone was reminded to visit our web page and sign in. Our web page is <www.18inf.org> Jim Stone is our webmaster. The meeting adjourned. See you next year in Reno!

CIRCUS CIRCUS * RENO, NEVEDA

Subj:HCOR Comments - Next Newsletter

Date:9/24/2002 10:12:28 PM Pacific Standard Time

From:gtron@serv.net

To:HQ18INF@aol.com

Sent from the Internet (Details)

Colonel’s Comments

Our Reunion in New Orleans went well. Even the weather was reasonably cooperative! Thanks to advance planning and careful attention to prior arrangements, as well as to some great volunteer service, our Regimental CP operated like a well-oiled clock. Ed and Louise Fedrick were the prime organizers, and many others, especially the Ladies, pitched in to keep things going smoothly.

More of our younger veterans are now attending these Reunions, but we hope to see their numbers rise faster. It really is uplifting to talk at length with people who share a common bond of Vanguard service--whether in combat or in peacetime, and whenever. If you haven't yet experienced that feeling, mark your calendar for Reno, Nevada in 2003, and give our Reunion a try. You'll be welcome!

A special note: elsewhere in this Newsletter, you will already have seen the picture of our active Battalion's commander, LTC Butch Botters and the First Infantry Division's senior officer on the ground in Kosovo, BG Lutes, standing near a new street sign on the busiest road in Camp Magrath, our Battalion's Kosovo home: GEORGE GENTRY ROAD! I know you'll join me in applauding this recognition by today's Vanguards of a deserving soldier who is unique among the Vanguards of our times!

CSM Carter and I start for Kosovo on Tuesday, October 1. We'll be back with our Battalion for a week, and hope to spend some time on the ground with each of our companies. We'll report on our visit in the next Newsletter. Among other important info, we'll bring back our soldiers' latest thinking on the Family Sponsorship Program idea.

In the meantime, God Bless! Duty First! George M. Tronsrue, Jr., Colonel, USA Retired; Honorary Colonel, 18th Infantry Regiment