Troopers of the 3/4 Cavalry Facebook Page

The unit I served with in Vietnam now has a Facebook page.  It is a gathering place where we can share our experiences.  Go to url: https://www.facebook.com/groups/53219715921/ This is a "closed group" in order to keep politics and other non-veteran or non-association stuff off of the pages. If you use Facebook and want to be a group member just click on the request to join on the upper right hand corner of the page, answer the questions and the page administrator, Ruppert Baird, or I will add you to the group. Once a group member you can use the add friends link to add your 3/4 Cavalry friends to the group. Anyone who has ever served in the 3/4 Cavalry from any era can join the group. Currently we have over 1400 former 3/4 Cavalry troopers in the group. It is an interactive way for you connect with your former comrades from the 3/4 Cavalry. Pass the link on to your 3/4 Cavalry email contacts and post on your own web or Facebook pages. A special thanks goes to Ruppert for setting up the facebook page. Thanks!

Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall

Jerry Brownfield, B Trp & HHT 69/70, 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry visited the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall when it was in Des Moines, Iowa on September 17, 2011. The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is a three-quarter-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Created by the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers in 1990, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is dedicated to all Americans who served in Vietnam and honors all veterans of the U.S. military. Here are some of Jerry's photos: Jerry points out some of our fallen troopers' names on the Wall.

Thanks Jerry for providing these photos. John,

25th Infantry Division Association Reunion 2011

Fifteen 3/4 Cavalry Chapter members attended the 62nd 25th Infantry Division Association Reunion 25 September to 2 October held at Waikiki, Hawaii. 177 25th IDA members were in attendance.  Including spouses, children, and grandchildren 410 were in attendance.  All of us had a great time.

     The keynote speaker at the banquet was LTG Robert Foley, Ret.  General Foley is a Medal of Honor recipient.  He was awarded the MOH for actions as a company commander in the 25th Infantry Division's 27th Infantry Regiment, Wolfhounds, during the Vietnam War.

     The 25th Division at Scholfield Barracks hosted Tropic Lightning Day to honor the veterans in attendance and to dedicate the General Weyand Parade Field.  Tropic Lightning Day included a tour of facilities at Schofield Barracks and a division review in honor of the 70th anniversary of the division's activation. See video of the division review below.



     A memorial service was held on the last day of the reunion at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. Names were read of casualties from the WOT and members who have passed since the last reunion.  See video of ceremony below.



Thanks,  See you in Nashville.

John,

4th Cavalry Regiment Medal of Honor Recipients

The unit I served with in Vietnam, The 4th Cavalry Regiment, is one of the most famous and most decorated regiments in the United States Army. Since its activation in 1855, twenty-nine of the regiment's soldiers have been awarded the Medal of Honor during the the Civil War, Indian Wars, the Philippine Insurrection, & Vietnam.  

VIETNAM: 1LT RUSSELL A. STEINDAM Rank: First Lieutenant Organization: Troop B, 3rdSquadron, 4thCavalry, 25thInfantry Divsion Place and date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 1 February 1970 Entered Service at: Austin, TX Birth: Austin, TX Date of Issue: Unknown Medal of Honor Citation:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Steindam, Troop B, while serving as a platoon leader, led members of his platoon on a night ambush operation. On the way to the ambush site, suspected enemy movement was detected on 1 flank and the platoon's temporary position was subjected to intense small arms and automatic weapons fire as well as a fusillade of hand and rocket-propelled grenades. After the initial barrage, 1st Lt. Steindam ordered fire placed on the enemy position and the wounded men to be moved to a shallow bomb crater. As he directed the return fire against the enemy from his exposed position, a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the site occupied by his command group. Instantly realizing the extreme gravity of the situation, 1st Lt. Steindam shouted a warning to alert his fellow soldiers in the immediate vicinity. Then, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Steindam deliberately threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full and fatal force of the explosion as it detonated. By his gallant action and self-sacrifice, he was able to save the lives of the nearby members of his command group. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by 1st Lt. Steindam were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.  

SGT DONALD RUSSELL LONG Rank: Sergeant Organization: Troop C, 1stSquadron, 4thCavalry, 1stInfantry Division Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 June 1966 Entered Service at: Ashland, KY Birth: Blackfork, OH Date of Issue: 4 April 1968 Medal of Honor Citation:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Troops B and C, while conducting a reconnaissance mission along a road were suddenly attacked by a Viet Cong regiment, supported by mortars, recoilless rifles and machine guns, from concealed positions astride the road. Sgt. Long abandoned the relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and braved a withering hail of enemy fire to carry wounded men to evacuation helicopters. As the platoon fought its way forward to resupply advanced elements, Sgt. Long repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire at point blank range to provide the needed supplies. While assaulting the Viet Cong position, Sgt. Long inspired his comrades by fearlessly standing unprotected to repel the enemy with rifle fire and grenades as they attempted to mount his carrier. When the enemy threatened to overrun a disabled carrier nearby, Sgt. Long again disregarded his own safety to help the severely wounded crew to safety. As he was handing arms to the less seriously wounded and reorganizing them to press the attack, an enemy grenade was hurled onto the carrier deck. Immediately recognizing the imminent danger, he instinctively shouted a warning to the crew and pushed to safety one man who had not heard his warning over the roar of battle. Realizing that these actions would not fully protect the exposed crewmen from the deadly explosion, he threw himself over the grenade to absorb the blast and thereby saved the lives of 8 of his comrades at the expense of his life. Throughout the battle, Sgt. Long's extraordinary heroism, courage and supreme devotion to his men were in the finest tradition of the military service, and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.  

PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION: 1LT MATHEW A. BATSON Rank: First Lieutenant Organization: 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 26 July 1899 Entered Service at: Carbondale, IL Birth: Anna, IL Date of Issue: 8 March 1902 Medal of Honor Citation: Swam the San Juan River in the face of the enemy's fire and drove him from his entrenchments. CPT HUGH J. McGRATH Rank: Captain Organization: 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 26 July 1899 Entered Service at: Eau Claire, WI Birth: Fond du Lac, WI Date of Issue: 29 April 1902 Medal of Honor Citation: Swam the San Juan River in the face of the enemy's fire and drove him from his entrenchments. PVT PETER H. QUINN Rank: Private Organization: 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At San Miguel de Mayumo, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 13 May 1899. Entered Service at: San Francisco, CA Birth: San Francisco, CA Date of Issue: 6 June 1906 Medal of Honor Citation: With 11 other scouts without waiting for the supporting battalion to aid them or to get into a position to do so, charged over a distance of about 150 yards and completely routed about 300 of the enemy who were in line and in a position that could only be carried by a frontal attack.  

INDIAN WARS: PVT FREDERICK BERGERNDAHL Rank: Private Organization: 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Staked Plains, Texas, 8 December 1874 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Sweden Date of Issue: 13 October 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in a long chase after Indians. PVT EDWARD BRANAGAN Rank: Private Organization: Company F, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date:At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: UnknownBirth: Ireland Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in action. 2LT ROBERT G. CARTER Rank: Second Lieutenant Organization: 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: On Brazos River, Texas, 10 October 1871 Entered Service at: Bradford, MA Birth: Bridgeport, ME Date of Issue: 27 February 1900 Medal of Honor Citation: Held the left of the line with a few men during the charge of a large body of Indians, after the right of the line had retreated, and by delivering a rapid fire succeeded in checking the enemy until other troops came to the rescue. CPL JOHN W. COMFORT Rank: Corporal Organization: Company A, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Staked Plains, Texas, 5 November 1874 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Philadelphia, PA Date of Issue: 13 October 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Ran down and killed an Indian. SGT SAMUEL H. CRAIG Rank: Sergeant Organization:Company D, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date:At Santa Cruz Mountains, Mexico, 15 May 1886 Entered Service at:Unknown Birth: New Market, NH Date of Issue: 27 April 1887 Medal of Honor Citation: Conspicuous gallantry during an attack on a hostile Apache Indian Camp; seriously wounded. SGT JAMES T. DANIELS Rank: Sergeant Organization: Company L, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: Arizona, 7 March 1890 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Richland County, IL Date of Issue: 15 May 1890 Medal of Honor Citation:Untiring energy and cool gallantry under fire in an engagement with Apache Indians. 1SG THOMAS H. FORSYTH Rank: First Sergeant Organization: Company M, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Powder River, Wyoming, 25 November 1876 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Hartford, CT Date of Issue: 14 July 1891 Medal of Honor Citation: Though dangerously wounded, he maintained his ground with a small party against a largely superior force after his commanding officer had been shot down during a sudden attack and rescued that officer and a comrade from the enemy. SGT WILLIAM FOSTER Rank: Sergeant Organization: Company F, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: England Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in action. Farrier DAVID LARKIN Rank: Farrier Organization: Company F, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Ireland Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in action. PVT GREGORY MAHONEY Rank: Private Organization: Company E, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: Near Red River, Texas, 26-28 September 1874 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: South Wales Date of Issue: 13 October 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in attack on a large party of Cheyennes. PVT WILLIAM McCABE Rank: Private Organization: Company E, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: Near Red River, Texas, 26-28 September 1874 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Ireland Date of Issue: 13 October 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in attack on a large party of Cheyennes. CPL HENRY A. McMASTERS Rank: Corporal Organization: Company A, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Augusta, ME Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in action. 1SG WILLIAM McNAMARA Rank: First Sergeant Organization: Company F, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth:Ireland Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in action. CPL WILLIAM O'NEILL Rank: Corporal Organization: Company I, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Tariffville, CT Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: Bravery in action. PVT JOHN O'SULLIVAN Rank: Private Organization: Company I, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Staked Plains, Texas, 8 December 1874 Entered Service at: New York, N.Y. Birth:Ireland Date of Issue: 13 October 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in a long chase after Indians. CPL EDWIN PHOENIX Rank: Corporal Organization: Company E, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: Near Red River, Texas, 26-28 September 1874 Entered Service at: Kentucky Birth: St. Louis, MO Date of Issue: 13 October 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in action. Blacksmith JAMES PRATT Rank: Blacksmith Organization: Company I, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: Bellefontaine, OH Birth: Bellefontaine, OH Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation :Gallantry in action. PVT WILLIAM RANKIN Rank: Private Organization: Company F, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Red River, Texas, 29 September 1872 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Lewistown, PA Date of Issue: 19 November 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in action with Indians. Wagoner JOHN SCHNITZER Rank: Wagoner Organization: Troop G, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Horseshoe Canyon, New Mexico, 23 April 1882 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Bavaria, Germany Date of Issue: 17 August 1896 Medal of Honor Citation: Assisted, under a heavy fire, to rescue a wounded comrade. Farrier ERNEST VEUVE Rank: Farrier Organization: Company A, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Staked Plains, Texas, 3 November 1874 Entered Service at: Unknown Birth: Switzerland Date of Issue: 13 October 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallant manner in which he faced a desperate Indian. 1LT LEWIS WARRINGTON Rank: First Lieutenant Organization: 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Muchague Valley, Texas, 8 December 1874 Entered Service at: Washington, D.C. Birth: Washington, D.C. Date of Issue: 12 April 1875 Medal of Honor Citation: Gallantry in a combat with 5 Indians. 1LT WILBER E. WILDER Rank: First Lieutenant Organization: 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Horseshoe Canyon, New Mexico, 23 April 1882 Entered Service at: Detroit, MI Birth: Atlas, MI Date of Issue: 17 August 1896 Medal of Honor Citation: Assisted, under heavy fire, to rescue a wounded comrade. SGT WILLIAM WILSON Rank: Sergeant Organization: Company I, 4thU.S. Cavalry Place and date: At Colorado Valley, Texas, 28 March 1872 Entered Service at: Philadelphia, PA Birth: Philadelphia, PA Date of Issue: 27 April 1872 Medal of Honor Citation: In pursuit of a band of cattle thieves from New Mexico.  

CIVIL WAR: 1LT JOSEPH HEDGES Rank:First Lieutenant Organization:4th U.S. Cavalry Place and date:Near Harpeth River, Tennessee, 17 December 1864 Entered service at:Ohio Birth:Ohio Date of issue:5 April 1898 Medal of Honor Citation: At the head of his regiment charged a field battery with strong infantry supports, broke the enemy's line and, with other mounted troops, captured 3 guns and many prisoners. Thank you, 4th Cavalry Troopers for your service and sacrifice. John,

Wreath Laying at Washington's Tomb

 Jerry Brownfield, B Troop 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry 1969/1970 recently participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of President George Washington on Jun 25th 2011. Jerry indicates it was a great honor for him and his fellow veterans to lay the wreath at the tomb of our first President.

Thanks Jerry,

 

John

A Troop Vets Support Apache Troop's Deployment

The current A Troop will deploy to Afghanistan next month. For some background the troop commander, Cpt Adam McCombs has made contact with us and desires to connect the current troop members to those from the past. He recently held a pre-deployment dining-in dinner for the troops and their families. He ask a few of us to make video comments about the troop's time in Vietnam. Several of us (Mel Moss, Art Ryan, and I) did that for him. Art Bonevich donated his A troop guidon from 1966 that was displayed at the dinner and will accompany the squadron to Afghanistan. Cpt McCombs has provided us with the names of the troopers going on the deployment to Afghanistan. He has troopers in the troop from PV1s to 1LTs. What we would like to do is have enough of us to sponsor one of the troopers during the deployment so that each one will have at least one of us to communicate with. At a minimum you would need to write the trooper a couple of times a month. Later on we might need you to send a goodies package, calling card, or other items that Cpt McCombs feels the troop needs. I think we all remember how important contact with home was during our tours and hope you can sponsor one Apache Trooper. If we end up with more than what is needed then some troopers will have a couple of sponsors. This will not start right away. Once the deployment to Afghanistan is completed, Cpt McCombs will send the APO address to us. Former A Troopers please contact me if you are willing to sponsor a current Apache Trooper during his deployment. 

Thanks, Mel & John

Historic A Troop Guidon to go to Afghanistan

Art Bonevich recently donated his A Troop guidon from 1966 to the 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry in Hawaii. The Squadron Command Sergeant Major, Mark Kiefer, has notified Art that the guidon is being taken to Afghanistan with the squadron. 

Here is CSM Kiefer's letter to Art: "I just received the A Troop guidon you sent. With your permission, I want to take it to Afghanistan and use it as a historic item of display. I will photograph it in various ceremonies giving it a service life of over 45 years. I have inspected it and have deemed it serviceable for the mission. At the conclusion of the deployment, I will frame the guidon and use your photos and those that I take to illustrate its long 46 year history to the Squadron. Please inform your former brethren, that the A Troop colors of 1966 have been called to action in Afghanistan. Thanks for sending these items, we will be honored to have them for posterity." Regards and Respect, CSM Mark A Kiefer 3-4 CAV CSM "Raiders"

This is a great honor for all of us that served with A Troop 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry in the past. We appreciate the squadron's efforts to reach out and connect to former troopers. Thank you CSM Kiefer. Best wishes for a safe deployment, return to your loved ones and do great things. You are in our prayers. Thank you all for what you do. 

John,

Crisp Family Super Bowl Party for Veterans & Active Duty.

For the super bowl this year the Crisp family of Cota de Coza, CA hosted a super bowl party for Veterans & active duty Marines.  We posted an article on this previously.  This is a follow-up video of the event.  Manny Montanez, A Trp 68/69 helped plan and host the party. Manny makes some comments during the video. Several A Troopers from 1968/1969 attended as Manny's guests.



Don't think Manny chose the music for this video.  So just turn your speakers off if not your style.  :-)

John,

Cavalry Troop Photo from 1880s

The 3rd Squadron 4th Cavalry traces its direct lineage to C Troop 4th Cavalry which was constituted 3 March 1855 in the Regular Army as Company C, 1st Cavalry organized 17 June 1855 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.  The troop was redesignated 3 August 1861 as Company C, 4th Cavalry.  C Troop was reorganized and re-designated 29 July 1963 as the 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry.

 Bingo Bingham, B Trp 68/69, recently received a photograph of C Troop, our squadron's ancestor organization, taken in the 1880s at Ft. Huachuca, AZ.  The photograph is from the J.H. Dorst papers in the library of the USMA.  J.H. Dorst served in the 4th Cavalry and is in front of C Troop in this photo.

     The photo was taken by C.S. Fly. See the back of the photo below.  C.S. Fly ran a lodging house and photo studio in the mining town of Tombstone, Arizona in the 1880's. Doc Holliday lodged in C.S. Fly's lodging house. C.S Fly's studio was located next to the OK Corral.  Billy Clanton was shot in the alley next to Fly's Lodging House, where the Clanton's had gathered. Billy was relieved of his pistol by C. S. Fly after the gun fight.  In 1886, Fly accompanied General Crook to Canyon de Los Embudos for the negotiations with Geronimo.  His most famous photographs are of Geronimo, the negotiations, and the Apaches.

   Thought you all would enjoy this piece of history.  Photos provided by Bingo Bingham.  Thanks Bingo!


John,

Alpha Troop Veterans Watch Super Bowl in Style

A Troopers Manny Montanez, Steve Turner, and David Olsen attended the super bowl party hosted by Jerry & Julie Crisp at their estate in Cota de Coza, California. The couple opened their home to 100 Marines from Camp Pendelton and 75 other area veterans.

The guests were entertained by the USC Marching Band, The San Diego Charger Cheerleaders, and a Rolling Stones tribute band. The super bowl was shown on large screen TV's throughout the estate. The event took the couple 3 months of planning and cost about $100,000 dollars. This is the first year the Crisp's hosted area veterans and the fourth year for the Marines at their home for the super bowl. Manny Montanez, 1st platoon 68/69, assisted the Crisp's with the planning.

SSG Manny Montanez and SGT Steve Turner get re-acquainted for the first time after 42 years. Manny was the Tank Commander on A16 a M48 Tank, in A troop, 3/4 Cav in Cu Chi, South Vietnam. Steve was the loader on the same tank. On 8 Jan 69 the tank was hit by an RPG through the left side of the tank. Manny's legs took the full force of the blast. Steve was standing next to him inside and received a small wound.

The USC Marching Band welcomes the veterans to the party.

During the event the Marine and Veteran guests were treated to the super bowl on Multiple Big-Screen TVs, use of the Swimming Pool & Spa, Cigars, greeting by NFL Cheerleaders, mingling with Pro Football Players & Celebrities, Therapeutic Massages, Boxing, a riding bull, Opportunity Drawings, Giveaways, and abundant Food and Drinks. L.A. based singer Leah Turner performed for the guests.



The San Diego Charger Cheerleaders and the Rolling Stones tribute band pose for photos.













The American Eagle was a fitting entrance to this 2011 Super Bowl Party honoring United States Veterans. The party was hosted by Gary and Julie Crisp, who opened their home and hearts to Marines from Camp Pendleton and many Veterans of all ages from a variety of Units.

Kudos to Gary & Julie Crisp for this wonderful event for our veterans.

Thanks to Manny for inviting Alpha Troopers to the party.

John,