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Blackhorse E-Newsletter July 2009

President’s E-News, July 2009- FULDA REUNION
On behalf of of the Blackhorse Association and the 14th Cavalry Association I thank the many members of the Border Legion Regiments for all the work associated with such a great 2009 reunion.

Glenn Snodgrass, Tom Smart, Steve Steininger, Bob Sunell, Wes Walters, Bob Grossman, Dave Cowan, John Botts, Buddy Clark, Greg Wilcox, Hans Duerr, Bill Wray, Chris Conrad and others on the American side did a magnificent job.

Lord Mayor Moeller, Renate Stieber, the German-American Kontakt Club, the German-American Wives Club and the German-American Business and Cultural Association rolled out the red carpet for us at every event – volksmarches in Fulda, Bad Hersfeld and Bad Kissingen, visits to our old garrisons, visits to OP Alpha, Romeo and Camp Lee, terrain walks along the old border, enjoying the wonderful brew at the Kreuzburg, eating the wonderful wurst at Café Budenz, Bad Kissingen Tour, dedication of a Border Legion Monument at McPheeter’s Barracks, visiting the Blackhorse Museum at Sickles and even a wagon ride through the Eiterfeld Bowl. 1st Armored Division Band entertained us at OP Alpha, Stadtschloss and at our banquet. Great fun and a gracious reception at every venue.

I would be remiss if I did not give a special note of thanks to Renate Stieber, Rudi Karras, Winfried and Karin Jager and the many others on the German team.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this such a great event.

HOUSTON 2010 REUNION- Start planning now to join us in Houston from 9-13 June 2010. Watch the website for details and registration details.

Allons! and Blackhorse Forever!
John Sherman Crow
Pres. 2008-2009

BLACKHORSE FULDA REUNION
27 June, 2009

REMARKS BY GENERAL DONN A. STARRY, 41ST COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT. VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA, 1969-1970

LORD MAYOR MULLER, FRAU MULLER, MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE REGIMENT.

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS WE HAVE ENJOYED MEETING OLD FRIENDS AND COMRADES, RELIVING EXPERIENCES OF TIMES LONG PAST, AND HEARING ELOQUENTLY PROFOUND WORDS ABOUT THAT GLORIOUS PAST.

AS THE CABOOSE ON THIS TRAIN, MAY I JUST ADD A BRIEF BENEDICTION, HOPEFULLY EQUALLY AS PROFOUND, ABOUT THE FUTURE. FOR UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE IS DEEPLY DEPENDENT ON FULLY COMPREHENDING THE PAST.

MANY YEARS AGO THOMAS JEFFERSON WROTE THESE IMMORTAL LINES:

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT. THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

IN THE WAKE OF THAT ELOQUENT PRONOUNCEMENT SEVERAL TOUGH YEARS WERE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE FREEDOM SO GRANDLY DESCRIBED WAS NOT IN FACT FREE. THAT WHILE OUR SOCIETY REQUIRES VERY LITTLE OF MOST OF ITS’ CITIZENS, IT DEMANDS A GREAT DEAL OF A VERY SPECIAL FEW. SO IT IS THAT WHILE WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, WE DO SO ONLY BECAUSE THAT LAND WAS AT THE BEGINNING, AND HAS EVER SINCE REMAINED, THE HOME OF THE BRAVE-THE VERY SPECIAL FEW.

THOSE VERY SPECIAL FEW ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN-EVER THE BRAVE WARRIORS, WHO HAVE ANSWERED THEIR NATION’S CALL, GONE WHERE THEY WERE ASKED TO GO, DONE WHAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO. IN THE DOING SOME DIED. BUT THEY DIED FOR WHAT WARRIORS HAVE ALWAYS DIED FOR, THEY DIED FOR ONE ANOTHER, IN ACTS OF ENDURING LOVE, ACTS WHICH SHALL FOREVER ENRICH THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

LISTEN TO THE LONELY WINDS IN THE BEAUTIFUL HILLS OUTSIDE. ON THOSE WINDS ONE CAN HEAR THE VOICES OF THE BRAVE WARRIORS WHO HAVE DIED IN OUR NATION’S THREE CENTURIES OF WAR. THEY HAVE DIED IN MANY PLACES, MANY WITH STRANG AND UNFAMILIAR NAMES; IN A SUNKEN ROAD NEAR ANTIETAM, IN THE TANGLED UNDERBRUSH OF THE ARGONNE FOREST, IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVES OF IWO JIMA, IN THE DARK SKIES ABOVE AND ALONG THE DEEP SNOW COVERED RIDGES OF THE SNEE EIFEL, IN THE FROZEN WASTES OF THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR, ON THE BLOODY FLOOR OF THE IA DRANG VALLEY, AND NOW IN THE HOSTILE WASTE LANDS AND OTHER TERRORIST HANGOUTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL SO THAT WE, TOGETHER WITH OUR ALLIES, CAN ENJOY FREEDOM. FREEDOM FROM FEAR, FREEDOM FROM POVERTY, FREEDOM FROM THE MANIFOLD INJUSTICES THAT SEEM EVER TO CHARCTERIZE LIFE ON THIS TROUBLED PLANET.

WHILE WARS ARE FOUGHT FOR MANY CAUSES, MOST OFTEN THOSE OF US WHO HAVE FOUGHT COME TO BELIEVE THAT WAR’S MESSAGE IS LIKELY MORE DIVINE THAN IT IS PROFANE. THAT IN BATTLE’S EVER-PRESENT UNCERTAINTIES OF TERROR, AND DESTRUCTION, THE ONLY THINGS WORTH REMEMBERING ARE THE LEADERS, THE BRAVE WARRIORS WHO ARE OUR COMRADES IN ARMS. AND OUR BRAVE ALLIES WHO SHARE OUR RISKS.

FOR IF WAR HAS ANY REAL VALUE, IT MUST BE THAT IT FORCES ITS’ WARRIORS TO STRETCH THEMSELVES AS FAR AS THEIR CAPABILITIES WILL ALLOW IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH A MIRACLE-THE ABILITY TO LIFT THEMSELVES ABOVE THE COMMONPLACE BY THE MIGHT OF THEIR OWN WILL, TO FACE ANNIHILIATION, BASED SOLELY ON FAITH; FAITH IN THEIR GOD. FAITH IN THEIR LEADERS, FAITH IN THEIR FELLOW WARRIORS, FAITH IN THEIR ALLIES WHO EMBRACE THE SAME CAUSES AND FACE THE SAME THREATS AS DO THEY THEMSELVES.

TODAY’S PHALANX OF BRAVE WARRIORS HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE EXTENDED FAMILIES. FOREMOST AMONG MEMBERS OF THOSE EXTENDED FAMILIES ARE THE LOVELY LADIES WHO SEND US GUYS OFF TO WAR-EVER WITH A BIG KISS, EVER WITH A BEAUTTIFUL SMILE, ALWAYS WITH A QUIET ADMONITION TO, “PLEASE DO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.”

AND SO AWAY THEY SEND US, AND WITH LETTERS OF LOVE THEY SUSTAIN US WHILE WE ARE GONE. THEN THEY WELCOME US HOME; AGAIN WITH A BIG KISS, AGAIN WITH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE, BUT NOW WITH AN EVER-GROWING APPREHENSION DEEP IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS THAT ALL TOO SOON THEY MAY HAVE TO SEND US OFF TO WAR AGAIN. OF ALL THE BRAVE WARRIORS THOSE LOVELY LADIES ARE THE MOST BRAVE.

FOR THE STRUGGLES FOR FREEDOM, FOR SECURITY, FOR THE TRIUMPH OF HONOR OVER LIES, FOR VIABLE, STABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY LIFE, OVER CONFUSION, DARKNESS AND EVIL-THOSE STRUGGLES MAY NEVER END.

AND SO WE ASK GOD’S BLESSING ON OUR INTREPID WARRIORS AND OUR FAITHFUL ALLIES AS THEY STRIVE TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH THE NECESSARY CONSTANT VIGILANCE REQUIRED TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS . WE PRAY IN CHRIST’S NAME.

AMEN

Pictures From Fulda! PostingPosting of the Colors at OP Alpha Lila, Ted, and Daphne at the banquet

Trooper Requests: We have a Trooper searching a list of individuals who may have been stationed in Bad Hersfeld between 1990 – 1992 with I trp there around then – He would like to get in touch with an old roomate. Please contact John Sargent at opens in a new windowjsarg02@nullyahoo.comcreate new email if you can assist him. We have a Trooper searching for individuals who served in Desert Storm with the 11th ACR during 1990-1993. Please contact Miguel at miguelsantiago32@nullyahoo.com if you can assist him.

 

To all of you who came to the reunion,

The people who were the REAL HEROES of this reunion (behind the scenes) deserve recognition (and your thanks if you had a good time):

TOM SMART – registration (name tags, bags, materials), printing of programs and countless other things
STEVE STEININGER – all the European support – color guard, band, the entire OP Alpha event, and countless other things
DAVE COWAN (AND BEATE COWAN) – all the Bad Hersfeld activities
HELMUT SCHWARZAEGL, ERWIN RITTER, NORBERT RUECKEL, AND CHRIS CONRAD – all the Bad Kissingen activities
WES WALTERS – all publicity, the Fulda Mini-volksmarch, raffle support and many other things
ROGER CIRILLO – the GDP/Terrain Walk leader
BOB GROSSMAN – bus boss
DON SNEDEKER – banquet remarks help, dinner preparation
JOHN STEPHENS – commemorative wine procurement
THE FOUR GENERALS (STARRY, SUNELL, CROW AND WHITE) – were great and did everything we asked of them, and more.. . . . . .

11th Armored Cavalry Reunion 2010
June 9-13, 2010
Houston, Texas

Look for the registration form and other information on this event on the website, www.blackhorse.com or in the upcoming issues of the Blackhorse newsletter.
Rooms have been blocked off and a special reunion price negotiated ($110 ++) at

The Westin Oaks,
5011 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77056

The hotel is located in the Houston Galleria. You may make your reservations directly with the hotel at 713-960-8100; be sure to mention that this is for the Blackhorse Reunion 2010. You may also go online to http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/bhf07 and book, modify or cancel a reservation.

TENTATIVE AGENDA
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Early registration/hospitality suite
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Registration/hospitality suite/Blackhorse Store/golf outing, Galleria expeditions, local Houston area tours on a individual basis.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Registration/hospitality suite/Blackhorse Store. Visit to Space Center Houston (NASA). Additional optional tours in the area on an individual basis. BHA Motorcycle Rally.
1800 – 2000 – Social/Icebreaker. Guest Speaker MG (R) Jay Burns (3/11th – Bad Hersfeld 72-74).
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Late registration/hospitality suite/Blackhorse Store
0900 – 1000 – BHA Officers and Board of Directors Meeting.
1000 – 1130 – BHA General Membership Meeting and Election of New Officers and BODs.
1130 – 1230 – BHA Memorial Service – Chaplain Larry Haworth and/or the Regimental Chaplain.
Open Time, second BHA Motorcycle Rally.
1800 – 1900 – Social Hour
1900 – 2400 – Banquet. Guest speaker LTC (R) Hal Fritz, Recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, followed by dancing and raffle/silent auction.

GOLF
On Thursday, 10 June 2010, there will be a Reunion Golf Tournament. It will be held at
The Blackhorse Golf Club
12205 Fry Road
Cypress, TX 77433
281-304-1747
Charges for the tournament will be $110 per person; this covers the greens fee, golf cards, range balls, awards presentation, golf merchandise (bag tag and towel) plus the lunch and drinks. There is a limit of 40 golfers, so get your reservation in early. There will be a morning ceremony prior to the tournament, starting at 0700 hrs. The first tee time will be at 0800 hrs. To register for the golf, note it on the registration form and include the golf fee with your registration fee.

OTHER ACTIVITIES
For those wishing to participate, there will be a Blackhorse Motorcycle Rally to the San Jacinto Battleground and the Battleship Texas. Bikers will have to bring their own motorcycles or arrange to rent one in the Houston area.

There will also be the opportunity to visit Space Center Houston on Friday, as well as the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship Texas as time permits.

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