Unofficial 1st Infantry Division Magazine of Soldiers and Families | www.riley.army.mil
 Duty First! June 2010 

|1

TEAMWORK is the foundation of the Big Red One. I shall

never fail my team, for I maintain the standard. My conduct and 

self-discipline set the example for others to follow.

HONOR is what I stand for–an American Soldier on duty

for my country. My loyalty is intense. I display care for

my fellow Soldiers and my chain of command through courage, 

respect, integrity and compassion.

I have learned to ENDURE

, to thrive in adversity. 

The harsh reality of combat gives me the enthusiasm for

realistic training. I am physically and mentally strong to

meet the demanding situations my unit encounters.

We are one in the Big Red One. Our BROTHERHOOD

gives us strength to fight on to any objective and accomplish the 

mission as our veterans have done before us. I live the legacy of my division.

READINESS is my priority. To be ready for any mission,

anytime, anywhere. My business is first-class training and living high 

standards of care and equipment, weaponry and tactical and 

technical competence.

My ORGANIZATION is my strength. The BRO is bigger 

than any one individual. It gives me purpose, self-confidence, 

competitive spirit, intestinal fortitude and the desire to fight 

with all my heart.

Duty First!

The Duty First is an unofficial publication pro-

duced under the provisions of AR 360-1, pub-

lished by Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division. 

Editorial views and opinions expressed are not 

necessarily those of the Department of Defense, 

the Army or the 1st Infantry Division. All photos 

are Army photos unless otherwise noted. Circu-

lation is 6,000 per issue, printed monthly. Story 

and photos submissions are welcome and should 

be sent to: 

1st Infantry Division

Public Affairs Office 

ATTN: Editor 

Bldg. 580

RM 317

Fort Riley, KS 66442 

Telephone number

COM 785-239-6821 

 DSN 856-6821 

or visit Duty First online at www.riley.army.mil.

1st Infantry Division Commander

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks

1st Infantry Division CSM

Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne

1st Infantry Division PAO

Lt. Col. Matt Hackathorn

Editor

Anna Staatz

Staff Writers

Jordan Chapman

Stephanie Hoff

Illustrator

Justin Angeles

Photo by jordan chapman, duty first! magazine 

No Mission too Difficult. No Sacrifice too Great.

June 2010 | www.riley.army.mil

Cover: The National Anthem plays during the start 

of the 1st Sustainment Brigade deployment cere-

mony March 15 at King Field House.

CONTENTS

Departments

Features

Danger 6

Battle streamers mark 

illustrious history Danger 7

Famous patch means 

honor and bravery

Evolution of a cavalry

Regiment goes from 

hooves to helicopters 

Regiment proud of history

Battery traces its start 

back to Revolutionary War

Playing a key role

Rangers pivotal in Gela 

assault, Battle of Troina Adding some muscle

Tank batallion joined 

team on Omaha Beach 

Difficult terrain no obstacle

‘Quarterhorse’ squadron no 

stranger to livestock

A battle with no winners

‘Black Lions’ Battalion saw 

no shortage of courage On point

Sustainment Brigade takes 

lead in Kuwait

3

64

10

14

18

26
For one unit, history begins at 

the very beginning of our 

country—“Hamilton’s Own” 

1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, traces its ancestry to 1776. 

For other 1st Infantry Division units, 

history was made on the ground of this 

very country during the Civil War, on 

European beaches in World War II, in 

the heat of the jungles of Vietnam, in 

the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq and on 

the mountains of Afghanistan. 

For 93 years, the 1st Infantry Division’s Soldiers have paved the way in 

combat, kept our country safe and defended the defenseless. The individual 

acts of Big Red One Soldiers over the 

past decades have shaped the course of 

history as the world knows it. Those 

acts have defined the words bravery, 

heroism and sacrifice—and all were 

carried out by a Soldier wearing the audacious, hard-to-miss Big Red One 

patch on their sleeve. 

June marks the birthday of the Big 

Red One. The division was first called 

to service in 1917, and that was when 

the now-famous patch was created. 

There are two stories about the patch’s 

history. One says that during World 

War I, division supply trucks were 

from an English manufacturer, so the 

drivers painted a large “1” on the 

trucks to distinguish their vehicles 

from others among the Allied ranks. 

Later, division engineers carried this 

idea further by sewing a red patch on 

their sleeve with a “1” on it.

The second story says the patch was 

devised when a general officer decided 

he needed a shoulder-sleeve insignia. 

He cut a “1” from a suit of flannel underwear. When a young lieutenant saw 

it, he shouted “the general’s underwear 

is showing!” The general told the young 

lieutenant to come up with something 

better and the lieutenant produced a 

patch, grey in color, from the uniform 

of a captured soldier, on which was 

placed the red “1.”

Regardless of how the patch came to 

be, it has been worn with pride on the 

shoulders of generations of Soldiers. It 

has changed a little over the years, but 

little has changed in the meaning it carries with it. The Soldiers who have 

worn it before us are forever bound 

with the Soldiers who wear it today. 

The Big Red One—first into the fight 

on many fronts, has always lived true 

to its motto, “No mission too difficult, 

no sacrifice too great, Duty First!”

Now, get after it!

I

t’s no secret that the 1st Infantry 

Division has a long, storied and illustrious history. On the division’s 

colors you will find the campaigns 

streamers of Meuse-Argonne, Lorraine 

and Picardy from the Great War, marking the first chapter of our division’s illustrious 93-year history. You also will 

find the streamers of Tunisia, Normandy 

and Ardennes-Alsace from World War 

II, the Tet Counteroffensive in Vietnam, 

the Liberation of Kuwait from the Gulf 

War and most recently, Iraq.

The streamers are awarded for the 

courageous actions of the regiments, 

brigades and our division. They illuminate the tumultuous history of our nation and the price of freedom. Some 

battles you might recognize, some are 

long forgotten. But the legacy of the Big 

Red One veterans who fought in those 

battles—and all veterans—can be seen 

in the continuing freedoms of Americans, in the position America holds as 

the leader of the free world, and in the 

stable and prospering democracies 

throughout our world.

These Soldiers fought for independence and defended America’s shores. 

They have toppled tyrants and fanatical 

regimes, confronted and defeated the 

communist empire, and spread the universal ideals of freedom and democracy 

throughout the world. They achieved 

victory as liberators, not conquerors, and 

shaped a better world, a more peaceful 

world. The current generation of 1st Inf. 

Div. heroes are securing our victory and 

hard-earned peace in a sovereign and 

free Iraq and resolutely battling Al Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan. 

Today’s Big Red One Soldiers are at 

the tip of the spear in an Army that has 

been at war for nearly nine years. Just 

as our predecessors led the fight in the 

two World Wars, Vietnam and Desert 

Storm, we too lead the way into battle.

We stand on the shoulders of giants 

and have a remarkable legacy to live up 

to. Yet we are all bonded by this patch 

on our left shoulders. This patch stands 

for words like duty, courage and sacrifice—words that you live and breathe 

on a daily basis. This patch represents 

pride, history, esprit de corps—and the 

blood shed by our brothers and sisters 

in arms. 

Men and women of the 1st Inf. Div., 

you represent an elite group. You are 

part of the storied history of the Big Red 

One. Embrace the legacy of our predecessors which you will read about in 

the following pages. But I also encourage you to forge your own legacy and 

write your own pages in our colorful 

history. And as always, live our division motto. No Mission too Difficult. 

No Sacrifice too Great. 

Duty First!

2| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |3

Commanding General DANGER 6 Command Sergeant Major DANGER 7

A history like no other Patch brings pride, duty

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks Division Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne
First Bn., 5th FA Regt., 1st Heavy 

Brigade Combat Team, holds the distinction of being the oldest active unit 

in the U.S. Army. The battalion can 

link its ancestry back to 1776 and the 

creation of the Provincial Company of 

Artillery of the Colony of New York by 

Alexander Hamilton. The company 

created by Hamilton is credited with 

firing the first rounds at the British at 

Fort George in defense of Manhattan 

Island during the Revolutionary War. 

The artillery unit’s first shots were 

fired from the southern tip of Manhattan at two British ships in the harbor. 

“Delta Battery traces its lineage 

back to Alexander Hamilton and the 

Provincial Company of Artillery of the 

Colony of New York that fought in the 

Revolutionary War,” said Lt. Col. 

Keith Casey, battalion commander. 

“This battalion and this battery just 

celebrated its 234th birthday.”

The battalion's first recognized battle is the Battle of Long Island, which 

took place in August 1776. The Continental Army eventually would have to 

withdraw, making the battle a British 

victory. The Soldiers of what is now 

known as “Hamilton’s Own,” would 

still be acknowledged for their artillery 

expertise during the battle that provided sufficient security for the Continental Army to retreat. 

The Revolutionary War began to 

turn for the artillery Soldiers and the 

Continental Army following a surprise 

attack Dec. 25, 1776, by the Continental 

troops at Trenton, New Jersey. Gen. 

George Washington and his men 

crossed the Delaware River during the 

night and defeated the British Army in 

the town, marking the American’s first 

victory in the war. 

The Soldiers of Hamilton’s artillery 

unit were recognized for their victorious efforts during the battle. The victory is noted with lifting the morale of 

the American Army and gaining support from the Continental population. 

The recruitment and reenlistment efforts received following the battle are 

additionally noted with providing the 

American Army the strength it required to eventually win the war and 

our country’s independence. 

The success of Hamilton and his 

Soldiers eventually would lead to a 

very successful political career for 

Hamilton and the 

unit later would become the only company not deactivated 

following the war. 

More than 200 

years later, the Soldier’s of “Hamilton’s 

Own” continue to recognize the unit’s 

rich history by firing their historical 

cannon during post ceremonies and 

nicknaming their M109A6 (paladin) 

howitzers by battles the unit has 

fought in. 

Soldiers of Battery D, 1st Bn., 5th FA 

Regt., conducted the battalion’s first 

live-fire exercise with a M109A6 (paladin) howitzer in more than four years 

on March 23 at Training Area 94. 

In recognition of the unit’s history, 

the paladin nicknamed “Long Island” 

fired the first live round. 

“Long Island was the first battle that 

Alexander Hamilton fought in as an 

artillery company,” said Capt. Jacob 

Moulin, the battery’s commander. “We 

thought it would be appropriate for 

“Long Island” of Delta battery to fire 

the first round in over four years for 

the battalion.” 

“This battalion has such a rich history and we try to instill that in the 

Soldiers in the unit today,” Casey 

said. 

4| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |5

By Stephanie Hoff | Duty First! Magazine

STORIED HISTORY

Courtesy Photo

Battery traces lineage back to Alexander Hamilton 

& the Revolutionary War

HAMILTON

1775–1783

The Revolutionary War

May 10, 1775

The Battle of Fort Ticonderoga (the 

action forwhich the Army was

awarded its first battle streamer).

June 14, 1775

The U.S. Army was created by the 

Second Continental Congress, and

the Infantry Branch was established.

July 3, 1775

George Washington became the 

first commander in chief of the 

Continental Army.

July 4, 1776

Declaration of Independence established.

1787

Constitution of the 

United Stateswritten. Oct. 13, 1775

U.S. Navy is founded.

1776

NewYork Provincial Artillery Company is organized under the direction of Capt. 

Alexander Hamilton. This organization later became 1st Battalion, 5th Field

Artillery Regiment. “Hamilton’s Own” foughtwith distinction during the 

Revolutionary War andwas the only unit not deactivated following the war. 

March 8, 1785

continental congress names henry knox first secretary 

of war under the articles of confederation.

TODAY’S SOLDIERS ARE CHARGED WITH PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY’S SHORES 

AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. FEW UNITS CAN TRACE THEIR ROOTS BACK TO THE BATTLE THAT DEFINED OUR NATION AND ESTABLISHED ITS FREEDOM, BUT 1ST BATTALION, 5TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT CAN DO JUST THAT.

Delta Battery traces its 

lineage back to Alexander 

Hamilton and the Provincial Company of Artillery of 

the Colony of New York ... .

This battalion and this 

battery just celebrated its 

234th birthday.”

— LT. COL. KEITH CASEY,

BATTALION COMMANDER

Nov. 27, 1787

Major Gen. Bennett C. Riley 

(who Fort Riley, Kan., is

named after) is born.
6| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |7

By Jordan Chapman | Duty First! Magazine

TAKING FLIGHT

Cavalry regiment moves from Civil War mounts 

to modern-day chariots in the sky 

Courtesy Photo

Soldiers of the 6th United States Cavalry tend to their horses while at Ft. Oglethorpe, 

Ga., in the 1930s. 

jordan chapman, duty first! magazine

Soldiers with E Troop, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment stand in formation next to an OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter at Marshall Army Airfield during a ceremony that joined the regiment with its parent headquarters, the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. 

AS THE WORLD GROWS MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, SO DOES WARFARE. 

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THE MACHINE GUN HAS REPLACED THE MUSKET, UNMANNED REMOTE AIRCRAFT AND SATELLITES HAVE TAKEN OVER SCOUTING, TANKS 

AND ARTILLERY HAVE MADE THE CANNON OBSOLETE AND HELICOPTERS CAN FLY 

FASTER THAN ANY HORSE COULD EVER DREAM. UNCHECKED ADVANCEMENT, THOUGH, 

DOESN’T MEAN WE FORGET THE GLORIES OF YEARS GONE BY. (continued on page 8)

1812–1815

War of 1812.

1790

Revenue Marine (later renamed revenue cutter service) createdwithin the trEasury 

department. This department later becomes the united states coast guard.

1789

Congress establishes U.S. Department of 

War. henry knox serves as first 

secretary of war in George washington’s

first cabinet.

April 30, 1798

department of navy established.

1808

The 2nd Infantry Regiment

is constituted as a 

company in the 6th 

Infantry. Today, this unit is

a part of the Big Red One’s

3rd Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team.

Jan. 29, 1813

The 28th Regiment is first

constituted.

April 27, 1798

1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment

is constituted as a company in the 3rd

Battalion, 2nd regiment of Artillerists

and Engineers. The unit is now part of the 

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Jan. 19, 1807

Robert E. Lee born in Virginia. during the 

mexican-american war, lee serves as

lieutenant in the 1st engineer battalion.

Feb. 12, 1809

Abraham lincoln 

was born in 

southeast kentucky.

Jan. 8, 1815

General andrewjackson 

and 5,000 troopswin a 

victory over the british in 

the battle of new orleans.
8| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |9

(continued from page 7)

The connotation of the word “cavalry” 

has changed a lot for the 1st Squadron, 6th 

Cavalry Regiment since the Civil War. 

The technology may have changed, but 

the valor and courage present in today’s 

Soldier was ever present in the minds and 

hearts of Union Soldiers long past.

Company A of the 6th Cavalry Regiment served in 16 campaigns during the 

Civil War and engaged frequently in bitter battles against Confederate troops. 

One of the unit’s most outstanding 

feats occurred in 1863 in Fairfield, Pa., 

where about 400 troopers assaulted two 

Confederate cavalry units in an effort to 

take back wagons full of Union supplies. 

Neither side was completely successful.

Events leading up to the battle began 

to transpire at noon July 3, when Brig. 

Gen. Wesley Merritt’s Reserve Brigade 

left Emmitsburg, Md., and headed for 

Gettysburg.

During a rest-stop on the road, Merritt took on an unofficial assignment after hearing reports from a Unionist citizen that a Confederate forage train seven 

miles to the northwest, near Fairfield, 

contained wagons bulging with provisions confiscated in Pennsylvania and 

was guarded by few men who seemed 

“unprepossessing.”*

Eager to reclaim some material and 

supplies looted from Union military or 

towns, he detached the 6th Cavalry with 

Maj. Paddy Starr at its head.

For eight miles the troopers rode unhindered, until Starr realized he was 

marching toward Gen. Robert E. Lee’s 

rear and rear guard, which also were on 

their way toward Gettysburg. 

Upon reaching Millerstown, the road 

to Gettysburg met a trail that cut sharply 

left into the mountains. Starr decided to 

split up his forces, sending two companies under the command of Capt. George 

Cram and Lt. Nicholas Nolan on the 

westward track while he took the northern road in hopes of flanking the wagons 

and their escort.

After splitting up, Starr’s advance 

squadron, commanded by Lt. Christian 

Balder moved to within a half mile of 

Fairfield and spotted a few forage wagons on which he “spurred” forward, but 

was caught unawares as he did so by the 

Confederate 7th Virginia Cavalry, the 

lead unit of Gen. William “Grumble” 

Jones brigade, who opened fire on Balder without delay.

A squadron of Regulars was able to 

come to Balder’s aid and push the Virginians back.

After learning of the situation, Starr 

did not lead his main force head-on 

into a force that he did not know the 

strength of, but rather pulled his men 

off the road, dismounted and set up 

quick battlements in an apple orchard 

and others behind a “post-and-rail 

fence from which they could not easily 

be dislodged. From these positions the 

squadrons opened fire on the head of 

the Rebel regiment, inflicting several 

casualties.”*

It is here noted that the confederate 

Lt. Col. Thomas Marshall, 7th Virginia 

Cavalry commander, admitted his outfit 

“did not at this place and time close up 

as promptly as it should ... making our 

loss greater than it would otherwise 

have been.”

Though the 7th took a hard hit, they 

still could have fought if they weren’t 

soon after routed by Cram and Nolan, 

who came charging with their own men 

from the westward path, effectively scattering the 7th cavalry.

It was only by the words of Jones himself that halted the 7th’s retreats. “Shall 

one damned regiment of Yankees whip 

my whole brigade,” he reportedly shouted as they were passing by the next regiment in his column, the 6th Virginia.

Civil War journals describe the Confederates 

answering back, “Let us 

try them!”

With Jones at their 

lead, the 7th Cavalry rebounded and charged 

ahead with such haste 

that they reached the regulars before they were 

ready, at which point 

Starr realized how badly 

outnumbered he truly 

was. However, he still remounted for a counterattack, effectively offering 

his force up to be cut to 

pieces.

“In minutes, the Virginians 

swarmed over it, hacking and slashing 

in wild abandon.”*

During the close quarters fighting, 

Starr’s right arm was mangled by a pistol ball, after which he was captured, 

and was later traded back to the Union. 

Balder was mortally wounded before he 

could free himself from the battle and 

died.

A total of 242 members of the 6th 

United States Cavalry were killed, 

wounded or taken prisoner.

Jones suffered 44 casualties, feeling 

he was successful in parrying a blow 

against Lee’s rear and in securing an 

emergency route for Lee in the event of a 

retreat.

Union forces felt they too had scored a 

victory, reasoning that they had prevented the Confederates from turning their 

Army’s southern flank as well as created 

havoc in its rear at a critical time.

The 6th Cavalry Regiment fashioned 

their Coat of Arms, at the time, from this 

particular battle. On the shield is pictured a Unicorn, symbolizing knightly 

virtues and, in the rampant position, a 

symbol of fighting aggressiveness, combined with speed and activity. The shield 

is blue, the color of the Federal uniform 

during the Civil War.

*Text taken from “The Cavalry at Gettysburg” A tactical Study of Mounted Operations during the Civil War’s Pivotal 

Campaign 9 June – 14 July 1863. Pages 19, 

235–237. C. 1986

Courtesy Photo

Soldiers of the 6th United States Cavalry hold ranks for a photo 

during or around the Civil War years.

Courtesy Photo

Soldiers of the 6th United States Cavalry attend a ceremony at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., in the 

1930s.

1816–1818

First Seminole War.

1835

second seminole war

in florida.

1846–1848

Mexican war.

May 15, 1846

A company of Miners, Sappers and Pontoniers is formed at West Point, NewYork. The 1st Engineer

Battalion, now part of the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, traces its lineage to this company. The 

unitjoined the Big Red One in 1917.

1848

the U.S. lifesaving service 

established.

June 27, 1853

Fort Riley, kan.(current

home to the 1st infantry 

division), established.

1855

E Troop, 4th Cavalry 

Regiment is organized. 

The current 5th 

Squadron, 4th Cav. Regt., 

2nd Heavy Brigade Combat 

Team, traces its’ lineage 

to this unit.

March 3, 1855

The 1st Cavalry Regiment is organized at 

Jefferson Barracks, Mo., under the command 

of Col. Edwin Voss Sumner. The unit was 

redesignated as the 4th Cavalry Regiment in 

1861, and several Big Red One cavalry 

squadrons trace their origins to this unit, 

including the 4th Squadron, of 1st Brigade, 

and the 1st Squadron of 4th Brigade.

1860

U.S. army major albertj. myer

establishes u.s. army signal corps.
10| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |11

By Anna Staatz | Duty First! Magazine

Leading the Charge

Rangers led way at Gela assault and helped 

turn tide at the Battle of Troina 

In between North Africa 

and combat in mainland Europe, was Sicily—an often 

glossed over 38-day campaign 

in the summer of 1943 which 

shaped strategy both within 

the Army and within Allied 

forces for the remainder of 

World War II.

In January 1943, Allied leaders began to plan for a campaign beyond North Africa, 

choosing Sicily as the point at 

which to pick. If they were able 

to take control of Sicily, then 

the island could serve as a 

launching point for further attacks on Axis forces in mainland Europe. Ultimately, however, Sicily became the rehearsal exercise for an amphibious 

assault at Normandy less than 

a year later.

The 16th Regiment was part 

of the Big Red One’s initial 

beach assault force at Gela. The 

regiment went ashore on the 

right side of the beach, with 

their fellow 1st Inf. Div. counterparts from the 26th Infantry 

Regiment on their left. The 

Rangers pushed ashore and inland, quickly encountering an 

armored counterattack from 

Axis forces. The unit fought 

through it, and continued to 

advance inward on the island. 

While the 16th Infantry Regiment fought many battles in 

the Sicily campaign, perhaps 

the most well-known for the 

entire 1st Infantry Division 

was the Battle of Troina—a 

battle that became a turning 

point in the campaign, ultimately forcing Axis forces to 

decide in favor of a retreat 

from the island.

The Battle of Troina raged 

for six days. From July 31-

Aug.6, 1943, 1st Infantry Division units, to include the 16th 

Infantry Regiment and the 26th 

Infantry Regiment, engaged 

the German 15th Panzer Grenadier Division and the Italian 

28th Infantry Division Aosta. 

The original plan by General 

Terry Allen was to take Troina 

with a two-pronged attack. 

However, when nearby Cerami was taken with relative 

ease, Allen decided to send the 

39th Regiment, attached to the 

Big Red One at that time, into 

Troina. The unit was stopped 

by small arms fire and a heavy 

artillery barrage.

Next, the 26th Regiment 

was sent north toward Monte 

Basilio to cut off the German 

(continued on page 12)

THE 16TH INFANTRY REGIMENT WAS CONSTITUTED IN 1861, AS PART OF THE 1ST BATTALION, 

11TH INFANTRY. THE “RANGERS” WERE TESTED IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND PROVEN 

IN WORLD WAR I, WHEN ON NOV. 3, 1917, IT BECAME THE FIRST U.S. REGIMENT TO FIGHT AND 

SUFFER CASUALTIES WHILE REPELLING A GERMAN NIGHT RAID. THE REGIMENT FOUGHT HONORABLY THROUGHOUT WORLD WAR I AND NEARLY 25 YEARS LATER WAS CALLED TO DUTY 

ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME IN NORTH AFRICA, AS WORLD WAR II SPUN TO A CRESCENDO.

photos courtesy of the 1st infantry division Museum

OPPOSITE: Members of the 16th Infantry Regiment make their way 

through Troina. ABOVE: Pvt. William Saloski, searching for snipers, at 

Troina in ruins caused by 1st Infantry Division artillery.

May 3, 1861

18th Infantry Regiment constituted 

in the Regular Army. The unit is 

officially organized on July 22, 1861, 

at Camp Thomas, Ohio.

1861–1865

Civil War.

July 12, 1862

The Medal of Honorwas established

by a Congressional Act.

1861

1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry 

Regiment Constituted 

as Company A, 6th Cavalry 

Regiment.

December 1861

A battalion of engineer troops is organized in Washington, DC. The 5th 

Engineer Battalion, currently part of the 4th Manuever Enhancement 

Brigade, traces its lineage to this unit.

May 3, 1861

The 16th Infantry Regiment is constituted in the 

Regular Army as 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry. 

April 1865

Gen. robert e. lee surrenders army of 

northern virginia to gen. ulysses s. grant

at appomattox.

Jan. 26, 1880

General of the army, Douglas MacArthur born in 

little rock, ark.

Dec. 31, 1880

George c.Marshall born in 

uniontown, penn.
12| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |13

(continued from page 11)

supply route to Cesaro. The 16th Regiment was sent up the middle of the 

“Blue Spaders” going north and the 

18th Regiment flanking Axis forces on 

the south side. Big Red One Soldiers 

were working over steep slopes, well exposed to a dug-in enemy, but still they 

continued to fight. For days it seemed 

there was little or no advancement in the 

midst of heavy fighting. However, the 

commander of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Div. realized on Aug. 5 that his men 

could not withstand another day of 

fighting the 1st Infantry Division, and 

the unit withdrew that night. 

The Soldiers of the16th Regiment realized resistance was weakening and in 

the early morning hours of August 16th, 

made their way towards town. Troina 

rested in the hands of the regiment’s 

third battalion by mid-morning.

 The victory at Troina came at a heavy 

cost to 1st Inf. Div. units. One such loss 

was Private Harry Wayne Nelson. Nelson was born April 22, 1911, in Jamestown, Kan. His family moved to Kansas 

City, Mo., when he was 4. Nelson enlisted in the Army on Nov. 28, 1942, at the 

age of 31. He fought with the 16th Infantry Regiment, first in North Africa, then 

in Sicily as part of the regiment’s invasion force onto the island. 

On August 4, 1943, during the fierce 

battle to claim Troina, Nelson crossed 

several hundred meters of fire-swept 

terrain to repair the remaining communication lines for his battalion. He repaired these lines under severe machine gun and mortar fire and was 

mortally wounded before he could 

reach a place of cover. For his actions, 

he was awarded the Silver Star and the 

Purple Heart medals.

Soon after Troina, the Big Red One 

went to England, where it trained with 

other elements of the Army, passing on 

lessons learned. The Rangers used their 

experience in Sicily to help them as they 

waded ashore on Omaha Beach in June 

1944. The regiment fought through vicious combat on the beach, often handto-hand, paving the way for the units 

that followed them onto the beach.

The regiment was commended for 

their actions in World War II by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who said, 

“You are the finest regiment in our 

Army. I know your record from the 

day you landed in North Africa, and 

through Sicily. I am beginning to think 

that your regiment is a sort of Praetorian Guard, which goes along with me 

and gives me luck.”

By Anna Staatz

Duty First! Magazine

To know where you’re going, you 

have to know where you’ve been. It’s 

an often repeated phrase when it 

comes to history, especially in the 

military.

About 15 students and soldiers 

spent eight days in Sicily doing just 

that—understanding where their 

armies had been. The group, composed of representatives from the 

United States and Canada, spent 

April 29-May 8 retracing the steps of 

Allied Forces’ soldiers across the battlefields that became a turning point 

in World War II.

The battlefield study has been an 

annual event since 2006, evolving out 

of a partnership between the Canadian Battlefield Foundation and the 

Cantigny First Division Foundation. 

Lee Windsor, deputy director of the 

Gregg Centre for the Study of War 

and Society at the University of New 

Brunswick, was tagged as the tour 

leader, because of his extensive background researching and writing 

about the Italian Campaign during 

World War II. In recent years, the U.S. 

Army Command and General Staff 

College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., 

also has become involved in the battlefield study.

Paul Herbert, executive director, 

Cantigny First Division Foundation, 

said that supporting battlefield tours 

such as this helps to preserve and to 

promote history.

“We use the history of the Big 

Red One for a broader purpose,” 

Herbert said. “To pass on to young 

citizens the knowledge of our military heritage and awareness of our 

responsibilities as citizens for the 

country’s defense. There’s no better 

way than to immerse young people 

in a great event like this. It can be 

life-changing.”

Windsor said the program and 

study questions focus on three areas: 

the current state of historical writing 

on the campaign, curriculum goals at 

the CGSC and Canadian Forces College—such as how Sicily is useful as 

a professional development case 

study for today’s militaries, and current research on World War II in Sicily and Italy—which often challenges 

and updates prior beliefs and understandings about how and why things 

happened during this part of the Allied campaign.

The study retraced the path of battle, from the Allied landings on the 

southern part of the island, to the 

Strait of Messina, where Axis forces 

retreated from the island. After each 

segment on the battlefield locations, 

students participated in discussion 

seminars pertinent to what they had 

seen and covered that day.

“Walking the ground and understanding how it influences decision 

making and event outcomes is part of 

our aim,” Windsor said. “That’s why 

we run this event in Sicily instead of 

a lecture hall in North America.”

Besides covering the details of the 

battles in Sicily, the study also covered such areas as the role of naval 

and air support, the role of civil affairs and how they were utilized during the Sicily Campaign, and the 

breakdown of Italy and why the 

country eventually joined the Allied 

Forces.

photo courtesy of the 1st infantry division museum

ABOVE: A 16th Infantry Regiment medic attends a wounded German prisoner. OPPOSITE: The 

tough hills around the city of Troina which the 1st Infantry Division fought over in the battle 

named after the city. The 16, 18th, and 26th Regiments fought in this battle, along with other 

units attached to the 1st Infantry Division at that time. 

Battlefield study serves broader purpose 

Anna Staatz, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

1883

the pendleton Civil service reform act established.

Nov. 11, 1885

GeN. George S. Patton born 

in California.

Nov. 24, 1888

Lieutenant general clarence r. 

huebner born in bushton, kan. 

Huebnerwould be commander of 

the big red one in WWII.

Oct. 14, 1890

dwight david eisenhower

born in denison, texas.

1898

Company A, 6th Cavalry 

Regiment sailed to Cuba for the 

Spanish-American War.

1899–1902

philippine-american war.

December 1900

the 1st Battalion, 26th 

Infantry Regiment is organized

as part of the 1st Provisional 

Battalion of Infantry. The unit

was consolidatedwith 

Company A, 26th Infantry in 

1901. Today the unit is a part of 

the 3rd Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team, 1stInf. Div.

February 1901

The present 28th Infantry 

Regiment is constituted. 

The “Black Lions” first saw

combat from December

1901 to January 1904 

during the Philippine 

Insurrection. 
14| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June2010 |15

By Jordan Chapman | Duty First! Magazine

PACKING A PUNCH

Tank battalion signed on with 1st Infantry Division to lend 

muscle for Omaha Beach landing

Courtesy Photo

ABOVE: Bill Moorland’s picture of a Sherman M4 tank coming off a landing craft 

mechanized (LCM) boat in England. OPPOSITE: A light Stuart tank of Company D, 

745th Tank Bn. This is the unit “Bud” Spencer was in before he was commissioned. Spencer is not in the picture.

ON APRIL 21, 1944, THE 745TH TANK BATTALION, NOW THE 1ST COMBINED ARMS BATTALION, 63RD ARMOR REGIMENT, WAS ATTACHED 

TO THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION. (continued on page 16) 

Aug. 16, 1903

First Chief of Staff of the Army, 

Samuel B. Young, took office.

July 1, 1916

1st Battalion, 7th Field

Artillery Regiment

(formerly 4th Battalion, 

1st Field Artillery 

Regiment) constituted.

1917

The United States enters

World War I.
16| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June2010 |17

(continued from page 15)

Just a month and a half later, on June 

6, 1944, the same men found themselves off the coast of Normandy within a mass of about 4,000 ships and landing craft carrying 176,000 troops heading straight for the sands of Omaha 

Beach under the protection of an armada of 600 warships, 7,000 fighters combing the area by air and 2,500 heavy 

bombers, the crews of which had previously carpet-bombed the terrain with 

10,000 tons of explosives.

From amid Company B of the 745th, 

floating on landing craft mechanized 

(LCM) boats within the mighty military 

force treading through the sea, peered a 

Cpl. Edgar G. “Eddie” Ireland from 

“Betty,” his waterproofed M4A3 tank, a 

variant of the M4A1 Sherman tank that 

featured a welded hull.

His unit’s mission was to work in 

conjunction with the 741st Tank Battalion to support the 16th Infantry Regiment upon landing on the beach.

“Turret high is where they would 

drop us off,” Ireland has said in oral 

history interviews conducted by the 1st 

Infantry Division Cantigny Museum. 

“They went right up the shore as far as 

they could go, but with the heavy tank 

on there they didn’t make the shoreline 

all the way. We had to ride through 

water quite a bit,” he said.

By the time the tanks of the 745th 

reached the shoreline they found they 

could not go any farther. The bodies of 

fallen Soldiers blocked their path.

After having to wait excruciating 

moments undergoing mortar fire so infantryman could move the bodies aside 

so the tanks wouldn’t run them over, a 

unit of engineers was able to make a 

roadway for Ireland's unit to make it to 

the top of the beach and start inland.

“At the top of the bluff, guides from 

the 16th Infantry led the tanks to positions from which they could engage 

German pillboxes. Company B was 

then attached to the 16th Inf. Regt. for 

the attack on Colleville-sur-Mer,” Ireland said. Ireland’s unit soon would be 

attached to the 18th Infantry. (On Point

magazine, Spring 2008, pg. 22)

The 745th was not yet done, though. 

In September of 1944, the battalion, 

along with the 1st Inf. Div., destroyed 

an enemy pocket at Mons, Belgium, 

capturing more than 5,000 prisoners, 

including the commander of the German 6th Airborne Division.

The victory forced the withdrawal of 

German forces and allowed Big Red 

One forces to move toward Aachen, 

Germany, to attempt to break through 

the Siegfried Line to Cologne of the 

Rhine, and also into the Roer valley.

Ireland and the 745th, still attached 

to the 18th Inf. Regt., joined 300,000 Allied Soldiers and added “Betty” to 750 

allied tanks on the field against an approximate 250,000 Axis soldiers and 500 

Axis tanks, with a mission to seize and 

secure Ravelsberg and Hill 231, a hilltop northeast of Aachen.

“Patrols penetrated a cordon of German pillboxes to link up with the 119th 

Infantry, 30th Infantry Division on 16 

October 1944, encircling Aachen and 

cutting the main highway that supplied 

the city.” (On Point magazine, Spring 

2008, pg. 23)

It was on Oct. 17, 1944, that Ireland’s 

company attacked pillboxes in an area 

defended by the 116th Panzer Division 

and the 3rd Panzer Grenadier Division 

to defend a fired upon company, whose 

mission it was to remain in contact with 

the 119th Infantry.

“We would drive up to the concrete 

boxes and empty about five rounds 

point blank into the doorway,” Ireland 

said. 

Ultimately, although breaches were 

affected in the Siegfried Line, the attempt to reach Cologne was abandoned 

after the failure of the U.S. First Army’s 

attempts to capture the Roer dams near 

Schmidt.

Casualties reached 85,000 for the Allies and 70,000 for Axis forces.

Ireland was honorably discharged 

from service after receiving injuries 

during a battle at Mellerhofen later in 

the war, just before his unit continued 

their attack toward the Rhine.

Ireland’s tank had been impacted by 

an 88 mm main gun round from a Tiger 

tank 300 yards across a field. He lost his 

right leg below the knee and had a badly burned left leg that was broken in 12 

places, but still managed to pull himself 

to safety in a watery ditch, which is 

where he was able to douse his fiery 

leg. He was soon discovered by medics 

from the 18th Inf. regt., who transported him to the rear.

Ireland was promoted to staff sergeant by the end of the war, and was 

presented with a Silver Star by Maj. 

Gen. Clarence Huebner, then commanding general of the 1st Infantry 

Division, for his valiant efforts under 

fire. 

Photo courtesy of Bill Moorland

Company B, 745th Tank Battalion, drills in landing maneuvers in England with a Sherman M4 

tank in a Landing Craft Mechanized. On April 21, 1944, the 745th Tank Battalion, now the 1st 

Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, was attached to the 1st Infantry Division. Courtesy Photo

Shown above is Sgt. Bill Moorland, Company 

B, 745th Tank Battalion.

June 29, 1917

Soldiers in Company K of the 

Black Lions become the first

American combat unitto set

foot on European soil at St. 

Nazaire, France.

May 1917

The 1stExpeditionary Division wasconstituted from unitsthen in service atthe Mexico 

border and atvarious posts aroundthe United States. The division was officially 

organized in NewYork on June 8, 1917 — the official birthday of the 1stInfantry Division.

May 24, 1917

1st and 3rd Brigades, 

1stInfantry Division 

are constituted.

June 14, 1917

The first units of the 1st

Expeditionary Division set

sail for Europe. Oct. 4, 1918

Soldiers of the 16th Infantry 

Regiment liberate the village 

of Fleville in the Argonne 

Forrest.

June 28, 1919

treaty of versailles ends state 

of war between germany and

the allied powers.

1936–1939

Spanish Civil War.

july 19, 1932

the secretary of war approved

the silver star to replace the 

citation star.
18| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |19

However, the memory of a herd of 

cows observed Nov. 11, 1965, nearly 35 

miles north of Saigon in North Vietnam, 

most likely will remain with Bill Baty. 

Baty, who served as the noncommissioned officer in charge for three 

mortar squads in Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, ponders if 

the first significant battle for the 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam 

War could have been prevented following a miscommunication with a 

Vietnamese cattleman. 

“Just prior to the sun setting, an old 

man attempting to penetrate our perimeter with a herd of cows, was ordered to 

stop several times. He either ignored or 

didn’t understand the situation and 

guards at that site opened up on him 

with an M60 machine gun not really trying to hit him but to stop him or scare 

him off,” Baty said during unit forums. 

“Unfortunately one of the rounds grazed 

his leg and he was promptly patched up 

by our medics and sent on his way. I 

have often wondered if we were attacked due to this action as retaliation.”

The 1st Squadron, 4th Cav. Regt., 

commonly known then as “Quarter 

Horse,” was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and arrived in Vietnam in 

October 1965. The squadron served as 

the division’s reconnaissance element 

and primarily utilized armored personnel carriers to conduct area and route 

clearances. With its vast amount of fire 

power, the “Quarter Horse” was recognized as the fire brigade for the division, moving from hot spot to hot spot.

On Nov. 11, 1965, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cav. Regt. departed its base 

camp at Lai Khe and proceeded up 

Highway 13 to the village of Bau Bang. 

“Once inside the village our personnel carriers provided security for medical personnel who tended to the sick of 

the village, mostly women and children. At about 5 p.m., we pulled back 

just south of the village and set up a perimeter in a peanut patch,” Baty recalls. 

“Most of the night was uneventful, although there was a very noisy din from 

the village until late that night, Children crying, dogs barking constantly. I 

posted my guards and since all the 

space inside the PC was taken up, I let 

down the splash guard in front of my 

PC and slept there. Sometime during 

the night I was awakened by gunfire 

across the perimeter from us and roused 

the mortar crews and prepared our 

mortars for action. The Battle of Ap Bau 

Bang had begun.”

(continued on page 20)

By Stephanie Hoff | Duty First! Magazine

THE BEATEN PATH

'Quarter Horse' Squadron has lasting memories 

of terrains spanning all over the world

Courtesy Photo

A damaged armored personnel carrier following the Battle of Ap Bau Bang on Nov. 12, 1965 in 

Vietnam. Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment lost a total of eight APCs during the sevenhour long battle. 

Photos courtesy of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Quarter Horse Association of Veterans

In this photo, taken one day after the Battle of Ap Bau Bang on Nov. 12, 1965, Lt. Col. Paul 

Fisher, back to the camera, the then commander of 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment shows 

an armored personnel carrier still in use after damaged by Viet Cong to Lt. Gen. Jean Engler, 

right, the then deputy commanding general of United States Army — Vietnam. 

FOR SOLDIERS OF AN ARMY UNIT ASSIGNED TO FORT RILEY, KAN., SEEING HERDS OF COWS ARE GENERALLY NOT A LIFELONG MEMORY. 

Sept. 1, 1939

World War II begins.

Oct. 1, 1940

The “Proud Americans” are 

redesignated as Battery B, 32nd

Field Artillery Regiment, and

activated at Fort Ethan Allen, 

Vermont, as an element of the 1st

Division. The 2nd Battalion, 32nd

FA Regt., is currently part of the 

division’s 4th Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team.

Oct. 1, 1941

34th Armor Regiment is formed at Fort Knox, Ky. The 

regiment’s second battalion, the “Dreadnaughts” is

currently part of the Big Red One’s 1st Heavy 

Brigade Combat Team.

1941

U.S. enters World War II.

May 3, 1942

1st Combined Arms Battalion, 

63rd Armor Regiment (formerly 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor

Regiment) is Constituted as the 

745th Tank Battalion at Camp 

Bowie, Texas.

Nov. 8, 1942

The 16th Infantry Regiment

lands in North Africa, and

duringthe nextthree days

helpsto capture Oran and

secure a permanent

presence forthe Army in 

North Africa.

1943–1945

1stInfantry Division Soldiers fight in North Africa and Sicily, 

are the first on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and the 

firstto capture a major German city — Aachen. 

July 10, 1943

The Big RedOne lands at Gela Beach.
20| www.riley.army.mil

(continued from page 19)

News reports at the time stated a 

conservative estimate was at least 400 

Viet Cong were killed in the seven-hour 

battle. By noon the following day, U.S. 

Soldiers had counted 196 Viet Cong 

bodies. Eight armored personnel carriers were destroyed, including Baty’s. 

A29, Baty’s personnel carrier which 

he refers to as ‘she,’ received numerous 

rounds from rifles but was not significantly damaged until a mortar round 

entered the hatch, exploded and ignited gunpowder charges. One member 

of Baty’s crew was killed during the explosion and he and one other Soldier 

were wounded. 

“Soon, a medic appeared, gave me a 

shot of morphine and began wrapping 

my wounds. He was crying and I probably was too. I told him to go look after 

my men and he left me laying there on 

my back. I didn’t feel scared; in fact the 

morphine gave me a sense of peace,” 

Baty said. 

Unbeknownst to Baty during the 

battle, an Army photographer was on 

the scene during the battle and captured 

on film the damage inflicted upon A29. 

Nearly 36 years later, Baty received the 

opportunity to view the damage inflicted on that unforgettable day. 

“I wasn’t aware there was a photographer along with us on this action and 

didn't find out that this series of photos 

even existed until they were handed to 

me by a friend at a 2001 reunion in 

Nashville,” he said. “These photos 

show my vehicle, A29, shortly after she 

was hit and subsequently blew up. I 

have to admit that it gave me a jolt 

when I first looked at (the photos).” 

Baty received his second Purple 

Heart for wounds he received. Troop A, 

1st Squadron, 4th Cav. Regt. also received a Valorous Unit Award for its actions at the battle of Ap Bau Bang.

I told him to go look after 

my men and he left me 

laying there on my back. I

didn’t feel scared; in fact 

the morphine gave me a 

sense of peace.”

— Billy Batty,

Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry 

Regiment

Photos courtesy of 1-4cav.com

TOP: Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment take a break near their armored personnel 

carriers to eat while in Vietnam. ABOVE: The sign for the headquarters of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 

4th Cavalry Regiment is shown in this undated photo from Vietnam. The unit received a received 

a Valorous Unit Award for its actions at the Battle Ap Bau Bang.

SEPARATING 

THE MEN 

FROM THE 

BOYS! VICTORY 

WEEK 2010 

AT FORT RILEY

JUNE 15–18

Take part in these and more activities

VOLLEYBALL

GOLF & SOCCER

DODGEBALL

BOXING 

WEIGHTLIFTING

COMBATIVES

10-MILE RUN 

111-MILE RELAY

FLAG FOOTBALL

BASKETBALL

TUG OF WAR

SOFTBALL 

For more information about Victory Week and to register for 

events, contact your unit command.

August 1945

World War II ends.

1945–1955

The 1stInfantry Division remained in 

Germany until 1955, first as occupational 

troops, then as partnerswith the new

Germany in the Northan Atlantic Treaty 

Organization. The Big Red One redeployed

to Fort Riley, Kan., in 1955.

Oct. 24, 1945

United Nations established.

July 26, 1947

National security act of 1947 

becomes law, creating the 

department of the air force.
22| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |23

By Anna Staatz | Duty First! Magazine

No Winners

No-win situation at Battle of Ong Thanh put 

`Black Lion ́ Battalion's heart and courage on display 

In October 1967, Soldiers from the 

2nd Battalion, 28th Inf. Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, had engaged in search 

and destroy missions in the area, encountering elements of the waiting 271st 

VC Regt. 

Oct. 16, the Black Lions engaged the 

Viet Cong, suffering few injuries and a 

solo casualty. The battalion commander, 

Lt. Col. Terry Allen, Jr., ordered units 

into a full attack the next day, believing 

he had the manpower to engage a small 

enemy force.

Ray Albin

Ray Albin enlisted in the Army in November 1966 at the age of 19, volunteering for the infantry.

“I don’t know why I did that,” he 

said. “I guess I was looking for a challenge. I was very athletic and thought 

I would do well at it. But I really had 

no concept of combat outside of movies.”

In May 1967, he went to Vietnam, 

where he was assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Bn., 28th Inf. Regt. In July, the 

battalion added Delta Co., to include a 

mortar platoon, and Albin was assigned 

to it.

Albin said he saw his “fair share” of 

combat in the four months he was in 

Vietnam before the Battle of Ong Thanh. 

Usually, much of his job was with the 

mortar platoon, providing indirect fire 

support to the infantry platoons.

Clark Welch

Clark Welch enlisted in the Army just 

days after graduating high school in 

Durham, N.H.

“I joined the Army to get into whatever was happening in the world outside my little town,” Welch said. “And 

to be a paratrooper and somehow participate in our president’s strategy to 

‘contain communism.’”

He worked his way up the enlisted 

ranks, becoming the top non-commissioned officer for a special-forces team 

deployed to several areas around the 

world. When he received orders to report to Vietnam in April 1967, he had 

nine years as an NCO and one year as 

an officer under his belt. He was supposed to report to a special-forces unit 

in Vietnam, but inexplicably was reassigned to 2nd Bn., 28th Inf. Regt., when 

he arrived in country. Welch was 

quickly told he would command the 

yet-to-be-formed fourth rifle company. 

He had one week to assemble a bare 

bones staff ahead of the arrival of about 

150 men.

After a few perimeter patrols, the 

company was declared ready and began 

conducting operations with the battalion. In early October, the battalion left 

Lai Khe, going west in its entirety except 

for one company. It set up at a night defensive position and conducted company-sized search and destroy patrols. 

Each day, Welch said there was more 

and more enemy contact. After several 

days, the battalion marched through 

hot, wet conditions to a new NDP near 

the small river of Ong Thanh. Through 

Oct. 16, Welch said that his company 

made contact every day.

“The feeling was that we were getting close to something big,” Welch said. 

“We knew that we and everyone else in 

Shenandoah II were looking for the 

famed 271st Viet Cong Regiment. We 

thought we might be getting closer to 

some of the smaller elements of that 

regiment.”

Oct. 16, 1967

The battle plan for Oct. 16 was for Delta 

Co. to lead, followed by Bravo Co., on a 

search and destroy mission. Albin and 

the mortar platoon stayed at the NDP, 

where they would wait for Welch and 

the platoon commander to call back coordinates.

The rifle companies left the NDP 

about 8 a.m., and after moving a few kilometers, sighted the enemy first. Welch 

said the company quickly gained fire 

superiority, dealing deep blows to the 

Viet Cong. They then moved into a fortified area where they found quite a bit 

of material and weapons. 

The units on the field that day lost 

one casualty, a captain, and had 13 

wounded. In terms of battle, everything 

had gone very well.

(continued on page 24)

IT WAS THE BATTLE THAT NO ONE WON. VIETNAM’S BATTLE OF ONG THANH DRAWS ITS NAME FROM 

A NEARBY RIVER. UNITS FIGHTING WITH THE 271ST VIET CONG REGIMENT — ABOUT 1,200 MEN AND 

ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED REGIMENTS IN VIETNAM, DUG INTO THE AREA DURING THE WEEK 

BEFORE THE BATTLE, WAITING FOR FOOD SUPPLIES BEFORE GOING ON TO A LARGER OPERATION.

Feb. 15, 1957

1st Attack Reconnaissance 

Battalion, 1st Aviation 

Regiment Constituted.

Dec. 12, 1957

Army announces “The Army 

Goes Rolling Along” as the 

official Army song. 

Originally known as the 

“Caisson Song,” itwas

composed by Lt. Edmund L. 

Gruber in 1908.

1950–1953

Korean War.

1955–1996

the 1st infantry division is

stationed at fort riley, kan.

June 14, 1956

Army flag is dedicated.

Feb. 15, 1957

2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 

1st Aviation Regiment Constituted.

Feb. 12, 1958

2-1 STB reconstituted in 

the Regular Army as

Headquarters and

Headquarters Company, 

2nd Infantry Brigade.

1963–1975

Vietnam War.
24| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |25

1965

The 1stInfantry Division is

the first division called to 

fight in Vietnam. 

April 1970

The colors of the 1stInfantry Division 

return from Vietnam to Fort Riley.

Jan. 2, 1964

1st Attack Reconnaissance 

Battalion, 1st Aviation 

Regiment Becomes one of the 

first aviation units to employ 

helicopter gunships and

reconnaissance helicopters

in unison to conduct search 

and destroy teams after

redesignating as

Headquarters and

Headquarters Detachment, 

1st Aviation Battalion.

1973

The Paris Peace Accords

are signed, ending u.s. military activity in vietnam.

March 23, 1966

299th Brigade Support

Battalion (formerly 125th 

Brigade Support Battalion) 

constituted.

(continued from page 23)

“We had contact, but that day, everything worked out,” Albin said. “It 

was a good day for us.”

That night, every man slept as he 

could, knowing the next day would 

most likely bring a difficult fight.

Oct. 17, 1967

A restless night gave way to an uneasy 

morning. Because of the contact with 

the Viet Cong the day before, Albin said 

everyone was apprehensive.

“Everyone knew it was going to be a 

very difficult day,” Albin said. “I remember one of the commanders saying 

‘bring all the ammo you can carry.’ That 

was the only time I ever heard someone 

reiterate that with such force right before a mission.”

At 8 a.m., Alpha Co. left the NDP, 

with Delta Co. following a few minutes 

later. The battalion’s command group, 

including Allen, was also on the ground 

with the two companies.

Shortly before 10 a.m., Alpha Co. reported seeing six Viet Cong running 

down the trail to the West. Welch said 

he ordered his Soldiers to get into defensive positions around the battalion 

command group.

“I knew if there was six, then there 

must be 60,” Welch said.

At 10 a.m., Viet Cong forces opened 

up with devastating fire on the two 

Black Lion companies. The first wave of 

fire was directed 

primarily at Alpha 

Co., Welch said. 

What he could see 

of the lead company 

“ d i d n o t l o o k 

good.”

“There were a lot 

of bodies on the 

ground and not 

much fire from the 

Americans,” he 

said.

Back at the NDP, 

Albin could hear the 

battle, both in the 

distance and over 

the radios, which 

were right next to 

him.

“It started out as 

a pop, pop, pop,” 

Albin said. “Then 

ratchet that up times 10, times 20, times 

30. It wasn’t very long before it reached 

a crescendo.”

Welch was ordered by Allen to go 

and find out what happened to Alpha 

Co. Running forward with one of his 

lieutenants, Welch quickly saw there 

was no more Alpha Co.

“I am able to get a few survivors and 

some weapons from A Co., but the enemy fire is very heavy and there didn’t 

seem to be anyone alive still in the 

area,” he said.

Welch returned to Allen to report on 

Alpha Co., and then told his men to dig 

in and fight, since maneuvering was 

out of the question with the large number of enemy and the need to protect 

the battalion command group. 

Welch also was frustrated because 

supporting artillery units had been told 

only to fire for the lead company and 

the battalion S3 ordered Albin’s mortar 

platoon to not fire for fear of hitting 

their own Soldiers.

“There were numerous examples of 

unbelievable courage and self-sacrifice 

shown by my men,” Welch said. “They 

gave each other their last bandage, their 

last water, their last ammo. Machine 

gunners, who were special targets, were 

quickly shot. But another man would 

crawl over to fire that machine gun until he, too, was shot.”

Welch crawled from platoon to platoon along the perimeter and then back 

to Allen to give reports. He was shot 

several times, and grew weaker and 

weaker.

“At one time, I knew I was going to 

pass out, so I told Lt. Stroup, the third 

platoon leader, to hold D Co. together 

and keep them safe,” Welch said.

The Viet Cong withdrew from the 

area about noon, with little remaining 

of the American forces.

After the Battle

Albin said volunteers were requested 

to go out to the battle location and bring 

back the wounded and dead.

“It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen 

in my life,” Albin said. “Just complete 

and total devastation. And the loss of 

vitality. I had just seen all those guys 

leave a couple hours ago, then I go out 

there, and there’s just nothing.”

Albin and other members of the 

Black Lions spent the rest of the day 

evacuating bodies. The next day, everyone who was left was flown out of the 

area and back to Lai Khe. 

Albin said after Oct. 17, he never expected to get out of Vietnam alive. He 

took a mid-tour leave and went to Australia, where he “ate steaks every day.” 

He spent the rest of his tour with the 

Black Lions’ Delta Co.

“Nothing, thank God, was ever like 

that day,” Albin said.

Welch said he does not remember 

getting out of the battle. He woke up 

once in Lai Khe, then he went on to a 

field hospital near Saigon and then to 

a general hospital in Yokohama, 

Japan. 

“There I became fully conscious, but 

was badly hurt,” Welch said. “I could 

not get any information about what had 

happened to my men – who died, who 

survived and what hospital they were 

in. That complete lack of information or 

contact with other Delta Co. survivors 

about killed me.”

Welch stayed in the Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel. After he 

recovered from the injuries he sustained 

during the Battle of Ong Thanh, he flew 

back to Vietnam and reported for duty 

with the 5th Special Forces Group. He 

worked with the group on a special 

project until he was assigned to the 

Ranger Camp in Florida.

“I always tried to fix things so an 

Oct. 17, 1967, would never happen 

again,” Welch said. “Gave me headaches. ... I still have headaches.”

Albin said since Vietnam, he’s been 

very thankful for life. He went back to 

college when he got out of the Army 

and obtained a master’s degree in history, which he taught in junior high and 

in junior college for 31 years. 

Albin, like Welch, had little to do 

with some of the battle decisions made 

above them the day of Oct. 17. But they 

both said they regretted the decisions 

that had cost so many lives.

“I loved those men,” Welch said. “I 

would give anything to have them back 

with us. Some say ‘they gave up their 

lives for their country.’ Not true. I saw 

them; they did not ‘give up their lives,’ 

they had their lives torn from them as 

they fought to protect themselves and 

their friends.”

Welch had the opportunity in 2002 

to return to Vietnam, where he met with 

Col. Vo Minh Triet, who commanded 

the 271st Viet Cong Regt. that the Black 

Lions battled that day. Triet told Welch 

how he had hid and dug in about 1,200 

members of the regiment between Oct. 

12 and 17th, about one kilometer away 

from the Black Lions’ NDP. Welch and 

Triet retraced their steps on the battlefield together.

“That day,” Triet told Welch, “no 

one won.”

Editor’s note: This story originally 

appeared in the October 2008 issue of Duty 

First. The battle is detailed in the book, “They 

Marched Into Sunlight,” by David Maraniss, 

and was also made into a film. 

Courtesy photo 

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 28th Inf. Regiment, 1st Infantry Division engaged the Viet Cong in Vietnam’s Battle of Ong Thanh in October 

of 1967.

1975

South Vietnam surrenders

to North Vietnam.

1981

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle, named after General 

Omar Bradley, entersU.S. Army Service in 1981.

Oct. 25, 1983

Grenada Operation begins.
26| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |27

By Jordan Chapman | Duty First! Magazine

TAKING THE LEAD

1st Sustainment Brigade off to Kuwait 

to usher in Operation New Dawn 

Courtesy Photo

Staff Sgt. Gregory Zemke keeps alert as his battle buddies, Staff Sgts. Jacob Hanson, right, and 

Kieshu Manning perform first aid on Staff Sgt. Christopher Hilton and Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Cole, all 

of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Sustainment Brigade, during an IED Lane Training exercise Feb. 5 at Fort Riley.

JAN. 16, 1991

Operation Desert Storm

begins.

Feb. 24, 1991

The Big Red One, under the direction of 

Maj. Gen. Thomas Rhame, spearhead the 

attack into Iraq, creating the 

all-important breach in Iraqi units that

allowed VII Corps to push on into Iraq.

1985

HUMVEE enters U.S. military 

service.

FROM THE MOMENT 1ST SUST. BDE. COMMANDER COL. DONNIE WALKER JR. AND COMMAND 

SGT. MAJ. MIGUEL RIVERA ROLLED UP THE COLORS OF THEIR BRIGADE AND SLIPPED THE GREEN 

COVER OVER ITS HANGING STREAMERS, EACH “DURABLE” SOLDIER WAS COMMITTED IN MIND 

AND BODY TO COMPLETE THEIR MISSION FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. (continued on page 28)

Jordan Chapman, Duty First! Magazine

1st Sustainment Brigade Commander Col. Donnie Walker Jr., left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Miguel Rivera, case 

their unit colors during a deployment ceremony in King 

Field House March 15. 

1985

Troop A, 6th Cavalry activated as a pioneerAH-64 

Apache unit in the Army.

Feb. 1, 1992

THe unitedstates and Russia 

sign a treaty officially 

endingthe Cold War.
and Fort Riley during the deployment 

ceremony.

Day in and day out Walker and his 

“Durables” assist in missions supporting units throughout Iraq, intent on 

success.

Their deployment does not mean 

sustainment operations on Fort Riley 

are at a standstill, though.

Task Force Durable continues to provide oversight for the brigade’s four 

battalions, command and control, and 

the brigade’s Sustainment Operation 

Center (SOC), the most advanced of its 

kind in the United States Army.

Becoming fully operational on Sept. 

10, 2009, the SOC synchronizes, optimizes and makes more efficient the sustainment network at Fort Riley and the 

1st Infantry Division battle rhythm at 

home while at the same time harboring 

capabilities of instantly relaying detailed information to deployed units 

overseas.

(continued from page 27)

Following the morning of March 15, 

the men and women of the 1st Sust. 

Brigade began their journey to Kuwait, 

where they would replace the 593rd 

Sustainment Brigade and set up shop 

to act as the lead brigade in that area 

for the responsible drawdown of coalition forces in Iraq, supporting the 

surge of troops into Afghanistan and 

to help usher in Operation New Dawn 

on Sept. 1.

“I’m operating out of Kuwait with 

transportation missions supporting the 

entire theatre,” Walker has said in previous interviews. “It is a lot of behind the 

scenes work that a lot of people don’t 

read about, but it is very important.”

Walker emphasized that his Soldiers 

would complete their missions because 

of the training they completed while at 

Fort Riley, some of which included the 

Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer 

(HEAT), Improvised Explosive Device 

(IED) Lane Training, the NBC Chamber 

and much more.

Where the NBC chamber allowed 

Soldiers to familiarize themselves with 

gas masks and “buddy” first aid when 

dealing with malicious respiratory 

chemicals, the HEAT and IED Lane 

training gave each trooper a hands-on 

experience with instances occurring in 

Iraq and Afghanistan on a more regular 

basis.

 “We’re training as we are about to 

go and fight. We want 

to do it realistically 

here and get our Soldiers the proper training so when they get 

down there, they 

won’t be surprised,” 

said 2nd Lt. Jimmy 

Plata, Headquarters 

and Headquarters 

Company, 1st Sust. 

Bde.

 “At any time a 

Soldier can be put on 

a convoy to fill a slot. 

H a v i n g a b a s i c 

knowledge of how 

convoys work is rudimentary to being 

able to plug in to a 

convoy,” said Capt. 

Thomas Kober, Headquarters and Headquarters Company. 

“Everyone needs 

to be prepared,” he 

continued, adding 

that finding difficult spots along the 

training mission can still happen even 

to veterans who have been deployed 

before, which only makes everyone 

more prepared when the time to take 

action comes. “Exercises like this are for 

building teamwork,” he said.

“We all know our mission is important. We have travelled a long road in 

preparing for this challenge and we are 

ready to execute,” Walker said during 

an uncasing ceremony held in Kuwait 

on April 29.

“There is no doubt in my mind that 

the men and women before you are 

up to this task,” said Brig. Gen. David 

Petersen, deputy commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division - Rear 

28| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! June 2010 |29

Jordan Chapman, Duty First! Magazine

TOP: Staff Sgt. Jorge Oyola, Headquarters and 

Headquarters Company, 1st Sustainment Brigade, apprehends a mock civilian after his 

convoy was struck by a mock Improvised Explosive Device during IED Lane Training Feb. 5 at 

Fort Riley. RIGHT: Oyola, front, and Malachi 

Bickle, both of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Sustainment Brigade, hook 

up a vehicle to be towed after it had been 

struck by a mock IED.

Jordan Chapman, Duty First! Magazine

Sgt. Corey Wood, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Sustainment Brigade, jumps out of the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer (HEAT) 

Feb. 5, training for his unit’s deployment in the coming months.

Nov. 10, 1996

1stInfantry Division 

assumes authority of Task 

Force Eagle in Bosnia.

June 12, 1999

Big Red One units deploy as

part of the Task Force 

Falcon peacekeeping

operation in Kosovo.

2001–present

1stInfantry Division brigades have deployed at various times

during the past 9 years in support of both Operation Iraqi 

Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Oct. 2001

Operation Enduring Freedom begins.

March 19, 2003

Operation Iraqi Freedom

begins.

August 2006

the big red one relocates

headquarters to fort riley, kan. 2008–2009

299th BSB serves in 

Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2010

1st inf. div. dhhb, combat

aviation brigade and

sustainment brigade 

deploy to iraq.

Jan. 12, 2006

The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat

Team is activated at Fort Riley, 

Kan., as part of the Army’s new

transformation and

modularization.

Oct. 16, 2008

The 4th Manuever Enhancement Brigade is activated

as part of the 1stInfantry Division at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Sept. 11, 2001

Terrorists attack the 

World Trade Center and

the Pentagon.
22| www.riley.army.mil

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