Troopers Down
Sergeant Major (Retired) John T. Hawk, H CO, 2nd SQDN, 11th ACR, 1967. September 21, 1937 – December 24, 2018. The Sergeant Major climbed aboard his tank for his final road march to Fiddler’s Green.
He was born in Los Angeles, California to George and Helen Hawk, and he was preceded in death by his wife Lieselotte, daughter Susie, and brother David.
While serving with the 35th Tank Battalion 4th Armored Division, he met the love of his life Lieselotte Harig – the Honey Bunny as he called her.
They married in Erlangen, Germany on May 5, 1959. He is survived by daughter Heide; son-in-law Don, whom he called “The golf nut!”; granddaughter Andrea and her husband Kevin; granddaughter Jackie; grandson Daniel; sister Judy; nieces Petra and Alexandra; great-nephew Michael; and three great-grandchildren, Paisley, Meyer and Nikolai.
He served in many Tank Battalions (57th, 37th, 35th, 34th, 67th, 70th, 32nd) and Cavalry Squadrons in the 10th, 7th, 11th, and 14th Cavalry Regiments. He served in the 2nd Battle Group, 8th Infantry, and 1st Infantry Regiment. He also served in the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 24th Infantry Divisions and the 2nd and 4th Armored Divisions. In Vietnam, he served in A Company, 3rd Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade and proudly served as a Platoon Sergeant in H Company, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (the Legendary Blackhorse Regiment) in the Vietnam War in 1967. He was a Life Member of the 11th ACVVC.
He was a graduate of the 8th Infantry Division NCO Academy, 7th Army NCO Academy, 24th Infantry Division NCO Academy, and the Sergeants Major Academy. He was a Master Tank Gunner, a lifetime member of the 11th Armored Cavalry Association and the Association of the United States Army. His decorations included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with two Palms, Army Commendation Medal with one Palm, Good Conduct Medal with 7th Award, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
God blessed him all his life and watched over him in peace and war. Rest in peace Sergeant Major.
Below is a link to a great article about the town of Peoria, Illinois honoring Hal Fritz for his Medal of Honor. Well worth a read.
Sergeant Eckhart serves as a 19D2O, Dismounted Scout Team Leader in Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. SGT Eckhart has served in the Army for 3 years and has held numerous positions within the Scout Platoon, including a dismount, a driver, a .50 caliber machine gunner, and currently, a dismount team leader in his platoon sergeant’s section. SGT Eckharthas taken part in 25 training rotations to help enable US Army brigade combat teams to better fight and win against any opponent, anywhere in the world. SGT Eckhart is Combat Life Saver qualified, and graduated Basic Leader’s Course with honors. He is a native of Vancouver, Washington and currently single with no children. SGT Eckhart is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. His short-term goals are to attend and complete both Ranger School and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader’s Course. Sergeant Eckhart’s long-term goals are to become a command sergeant major and retire from the Army.
This is an Inaugural Trip & the Last One (according to doctors) for Maverick (Chris Redman)
Any Blackhorse veteran who wishes to help in any way, such as in a meet & greet or caravan part or all the trip, please contact me via private message and I will add you to the list. Note: I will need your cell number that will be released to the travel party. I will also add information to this posting as it changes with updates.
I am posting the travel plans for the Blackhorse Last Ride, which starts in the Denver Colorado area and ends at the half-way point in Key West, Florida.
Effective March 5, Christian “Maverick” Redman will prepare to begin this 2500-mile journey to visit key Blackhorse friends who are in the following regional areas:
Kansas City, MO
(Brian Huggins H Co 2/11 ACR)
St Louis MO
Mt Vernon, IL
(Thomas Luken, veteran and radio talk show host)
Kalamazoo MI
(Ed Cook)
Louisville KY
(Aubrey Hayes)
Maverick wants to be in Louisville March 8 & 9, 2019.
Atlanta GA
(Ken & Anne Smith)
Space Coast Floirda
(John Melin, Steve Jones, Connie Clark, Rocky Commando, Chris Johnson, Cheryl & Jim Shurling, and Scott Harrison)
Key West Florida
Curtis “CC” Brown
Anyone wanting to come to bike week and continue to Key West, we will need to set up accommodations in Homestead Air Reserve Base (south of Miami & approximately 150 miles north of Key West) & Naval Air Station Key West.
Please read this notice, pass it on to other boards, and have folks contact me for more information.
Rocky Cuda at cei_industries@nullmsn.com
H Co, 2/11 ACR
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Provided by Don Snedeker
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