Survey Results

Here are the Results of the survey from the Summer issue of the Newsletter:

1. Q1: How ofter should we have a reunion:
   42.8% - Every Other Year
   33.3% - Every Year
   10% - Only with the Society of the 3rd ID
   14% - Not interested in attending Reunion*
   (* All listed poor health and/or age as reasons for not attending reunions)
2. Q2: When should we have the Reunion:
   I received answers for almost every month and every season except winter.
   50% - Summer (either the season or the months of late May, June, July, August or early September)
   25% - Spring
   40% - Fall
   Yes this is more than 100% since I counted late spring and early fall in with the summer choise along with the spring and fall choices
3. Q3: What days of the week:
   50% - Weekends
   33% - Weekdays
   16.7 - No opinion
4. Q4: Top Destinations
   Here I received suggestions for almost 30 different locations.
   • 18.75% - Savannah/Ft. Stewart, GA
   • 8% - Ft. Benning, GA
   • 8% - New Orleans, LA
   • 6% - San Antonio, TX
   • 4% - Reno, NV
   • 4% - Washington, DC
   • 4% - St. Louis, MO
   • The remaining 20 locations each was submitted only once.
5. Q5: Resonable room rate:
   75% - Under $125

Initial Preliminary Survey Results

I have started to get some responses to my survey that was included in the Summer Issue of the Cottonbaler Newsletter.

Here are some of the preliminary results:

1. Q1: How ofter should we have a reunion:
   50% - Every Other Year
   25% - Not interested in attending Reunion
2. Q2: When should we have the Reunion:
   40% - June timeframe
3. Q3: What days of the week:
   45% - Weekends
   45% - Weekdays
4. Q4: Top Destinations
   • Savannah, GA
   • San Antonio, TX
   • Las Vegas, NV
   • Washington, DC
   • St. Louis, MO
   • Reno, NV
   • New Orleans, LA
   • Ft. Benning, GA
   These all received multiple votes
5. Q5: Resonable room rate:
   75% - Under $125

If you haven't taken the time to fill it out and send it in, I ask that you do soon.
I will be presenting this information and some more details in the Fall Newsletter.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Officers and Board of Directors held a Conference Call last night and the location and tentative dates for the 2013 Reunion was determined. With both Battalions deployed, it was decided that instead of Savannah, that the reunion should be held in DC. None of Board members could remember attending a Reunion in DC, so it's time. The Dates have been tentatively identified as 30 May - 2 Jun 2013. I'm saying tentative because we will need to see if we can a better rate by holding the reunion during the week insted of the weekend. Stay tuned for further information.

The 2012 Reunion has come and gone. We had a very small turnout this year. And for those who missed it, you missed a really great reunion. The new National Infantry Museum is really worth the visit. In addition, we also attended a Graduation Ceremony for 2 companies of brand new Infantry Soldiers. I have posted some photos from the reunion. You can find them on the Reunion Page.
At the Regimental Dinner on Saturday, John Le Moyne was recognized as the new Honorary Colonel of the Regiment. I know that he will serve the Association, the Regiment and the Battalions well.

One of the things we learned while at the Reunion in the briefings given by both 2-7 and 3-7 is that both Battalions will be deployed next year. That may change our plans for next year's reunion. There is a Teleconference planned for this weekend to discuss this issue. Hopefully the location for next year's reunion will be announced. Stay tuned here for updates.

Bivouac Of The Dead, by Theodore O'Hara

Our historian, John McManus has a new book getting ready to come out. September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far will be released on 5 Jun 2012.

At the end of August 1944, the Allied world was filled with hope. The Allies had just experienced what was, for them, the greatest month of the war. In the Pacific, the Americans had just taken the Mariana Islands and the Japanese were in full retreat everywhere. In Europe, Soviet armies had annihilated more than twenty German divisions and had pushed the hated enemy from Russia. Indeed, Soviet forces were deep inside Poland, at the edge of Warsaw. In the West, General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s burgeoning armies had liberated Paris, along with the rest of France. Flushed with victory and the possibility of an imminent end to the war, British, Canadian and American armored columns plunged into Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. Rumors swirled that the war would end any day now and that everyone would be home for Christmas. The Germans were in disarray, overwhelmed on all fronts, losing soldiers by the thousands, even as Allied bombers pulverized their cities. For the Third Reich it seemed the end was near. At least that was the hope. Then came September and Holland.

Eisenhower wanted to invade Germany on a broad front but, by September, his supply situation was so perilous that he could only make a major effort on one part of his front. He now made a momentous decision that decided the future course of the war. Spurred on by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, he chose to launch a major attack in Holland. Together they unleashed Operation Market-Garden, an ambitious airborne and armored operation designed to knife through Holland, capture key bridges and invade Germany from the north. The ultimate goal (or hope) was to dash east to Berlin and end the war by the time the leaves began to fall. This is the story of that tragic battle, told from the perspective of those Americans who experienced it. SEPTEMBER HOPE is a World War II epic, carrying on in the tradition of A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

Unfortunately I just received word that the Cottonbaler Birthday Dinner has been put on hold. No new date has been selected.

Happy New Year!

In addition to the New Year, we are also celebrating the 200th Birthday of the Regiment with a Birthday Dinner on 13 January at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, Savannah, GA. Both 2-7 and 3-7 IN will be there.
I hope you all will be able to attend this celebration.
Please RSVP to LT Zachary Fenn (757-778-7003) ASAP!

3-7 IN Change of Command will be held 19 Sep 2011.
Here is your invitation:

Please RSVP to CPT Bell via e-mail or 912-435-7685 (Office) or 727-501-2818 (Cell) NLT 15 Sep.
Hope to see you all there.

Joe Carrasco graciously sent me his copy of the 1963 1/7 IN Cottonbalers Yearbook.
I have scanned in each page and created a Photo Gallery for the book. It can be found in the Photo Gallery section of the web site.

I have posted some photos from the 2011 Reunion. They can be found here.

Well the 2011 Reunion was 10 days ago and I'm still excited by the wonderful time we all had. If you missed it, you missed a great reunion. Spending Friday touring the Gettysburg Battlefiled and seeing where Cottonbalers fought and died was very moving. We were able to stop at the Monument to the 7th Infantry along with stopping at the cemetery. Standing where President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address and seeing the graves of the fallen soldiers, to include Cottonbalers, was equally moving and impressive. We all relaxed on Saturday with a tour to Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. The Regimental Dinner was very nice and Chaplain (COL) Carter gave a great talk on leadership.

I'm working on the photos and I should have some posted in the next couple of days.

Memorial Day 2011
A time to remember.......

The 3-7 Infantry Battalion Tour Book is in the works. The book will begin with the 7th Infantry Regt Reunion in May 2010 where we honor the history of our unit and will continue through the Iraq deployment. It will include soldier and family events as well as the history of the unit. This is a wonderful memento of your time in the unit which can be shared with family and friends. It includes 2 full page history of the unit, written by John McManus in color as well as photos from the reunion. The rest of the book is filled with the units and families over the past year.

We are selling Yearbooks for $40 to offset the cost of our ball. If someone purchases a tour book they need to select ship to an address not ship to unit as we will be unable to ship any books from the unit. The ship to an address option allows the Yearbook to be shipped directly to their home. Order here: http://store.entourageyearbooks.com/product_p/3-7-infantry.htm

Also we are selling Advertisements. Full Page color Ad is $100, 1/2 page is $50, 1/4 page is $25. These can be an ad for a business. It can be a welcome home Cottonbalers, pictures from way back when. Send us the info and pics and we can make an Ad. Email: yearbookad37@yahoo.com

Photo by Jim Beckworth
Jim Beckworth (1/7 INF and 4/7 INF), LTC Todd Kelly (2-7 IN Commander) and Henry Burke (5/7 INF) at the Reception following the 2-7 IN Change of Command.

2-7 IN Change of Command

LTC Todd Kelly assumes command of 2-7 IN from LTC Greg Sierra
LTC Greg Sierra and staff LTC Kelly and COL Crider in front of LTC Sierra and the Company Commanders LTC Greg Sierra, COL James Crider and LTC Todd Kelly in front of the Colors, the Regimental Flag, the Company Commanders and the Company Guidons LTC Todd Kelly receiving the Regimental Colors from COL Crider during the Change of Command

We want to wish LTC Sierra and his family the best of luck in his next assignment.
We want to welcome LTC Kelly and his family back to the Cottonbalers.

2-7 IN Change of Command Invitation

Hope to see you there.

Eugene Daniel (Sam) Guy

I just received the following e-mail:

As most of you have already heard, Sam Guy passed away so very peacefully at 1:28am on Saturday the 4th of December, 2010. He was at home (“I want to be in my OWN house when I go“) in his favorite room and with people that truly cared for him. As he and I said to each other on many occasions, “It has been one heck of a ride! “ The past four months have been quite an experience. He knew that all his tasks had been completed and it was OK for him to move on to the next step. And he did so with grace. The 7th Regiment meant quite a bit to him (served with them in Korea as the American Red Cross Field Director) and he has collected funds and various material donations that he sent to the troops in the Middle East. So, in lieu of flowers, he would prefer a donation to the American Red Cross or the 7th Infantry Regiment in his name.
We will have a celebration at the American Legion, Post 66, located at 30 Covington Road in Avondale Estates, Georgia on Thursday, 9 December, from 1pm to 4pm. Come hoist a few in his honor and swap funny stories (you KNOW there are many to be shared). Food and full bar will be provided. We will have grave side services on Friday at 11am at Melwood Cemetery located at 5170 East Ponce de Leon Ave in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He will be laid to rest next to Mary and Mom. If you have any questions let me know; or if you just want to say “Hello “, please do. Warmest Regards,
Dan
Eugene Daniel Guy, Jr
4172 Summit Way
Marietta, GA 30066
(404) 307-1441

He will be missed.

Veteran's Day 2010

Wreaths for Warriors Walk

Wreaths for Warriors Walk (W4WW) is once again planning on place wreaths on each tree along Warrior Walk at noon on 11 Dec 2010. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend

W4WW is a registered Non-profit corporation and is once again asking for donations to help pay for the wreaths. The cost of one wreath is $15, but all donations are welcome. Donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made on-line Paypal via a link on thier web site. You can also send a check to:
Wreaths for Warriors Walk, Inc
P.O. Box 3533
Ft. Stewart, GA 31315

Army Coins Authorized by Army Commemorative Coin Act

Currently under design by the U.S. Mint, three commerative coins will be the first U.S. coins ever issued to celebrate and honor the U.S. Army, its heritage and the 30 million American men and women who have worn the Army uniform since 1775.

The commemorative coins—a five dollar gold piece, a silver dollar, and a copper-clad half dollar—will do more than just honor the Army and Army veterans. The legislation reserves a share of sales revenue to help fund the National Museum of the United States Army to be built at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. An estimated $10 million of the US Mint’s sales revenue from the coins will be directed toward the campaign to build the Museum.

The designs are expected to be unveiled this fall and the Mint will begin taking orders for them in late 2010. Sale prices for the coins will be determined by the Mint at the time of sale.

The Reunion page has been updated with the hotel information for the 2011 Reunion (9-12 June 2011).
So Mark Your Calendars and make your reservations!

We are also looking at locations for the next 3 reunions also. If you have any recommendations or would like to help organize a future reunion please contact the webmaster.

Mark Your Calendar!

I have updated the Reunion page to reflect that the 2011 Reunion will be 9-12 Jun 2011 in Harrisburg, PA. The Hotel details have not been finalized at this time. Once finalized, I'll post the details here and in the Cottonbaler Newsletter.

Harrisburg is less than 20 miles from Hershey Park and less than 40 miles from Gettysburg. The tour details have not been finalized, but I know they are looking at possible trips to both locations. So bring your family and I hope to see you all there!

Our historian, John McManus, has a new book getting ready to come out on 3 Aug 2010:
Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II Through Iraq

For centuries of warfare—regardless of culture, creed, or country— there has always been one group of warriors continually in the thick of battle who often are the most unsung: the infantry.

Now, in an era of unmanned drone aircraft, renowned military historian John C. McManus brings us GRUNTS: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II Through Iraq (NAL Caliber Hardcover Original; August 3, 2010; 978-0451227904; $25.95), showing how instrumental “foot soldiers” are to victory. In this accessible account of the American infantry experience, McManus urgently conveys the infantryman’s importance in winning wars to this day.

Chronologically covering the past six decades of warfare, McManus examines ten critical battles: from World War II, to Vietnam, to the Gulf War, up to today’s war in Iraq. As the author points out, in nearly every case in recent history it is the ground soldiers, the “grunts,” who prove to be the difference between victory and defeat. Based on years of research and interviews with veterans, GRUNTS is a fascinating blend of narrative and analysis, as well as a thought-provoking call for support for the American infantryman from one of the best-respected American military historians writing today, John C. McManus.

The last chapter, titled "Watch Out for IEDs": Twenty-First-Century Counterinsurgent Warfare Through the Eyes of One Infantry Regiment in Iraq, covers 2-7 IN and 3-7 IN during their deployments in 2005.

Webmaster Note: I have finished reading this book and it's very intense. John has a way of capturing the true essence of the Infantry. I highly recommend it!

Bivouac Of The Dead, by Theodore O'Hara

Photo Courtesy of 3-7 IN

Former Army Chief of Staff Frederick Weyand, 1st Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment Commander during Korean War, dies at 93

Here is the Army Times Article

“I am seeking eyewitnesses to the heroic actions of CPL Patrick Sheahan, who was a member of Company A, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division in the Army, and was killed in action October 4, 1951 during the assault on Hill 281, near Chungse-ri, Korea. We are trying to assist in the upgrade of CPL Sheahan’s Silver Star to the Medal of Honor. I would be very grateful if anyone who may have served with CPL Sheahan during this time contact me. Thank you for your support!"
Name: Caroline Wekselbaum
Email: caroline.w.ces@gmail.com

Since 1975, the Republic of Korea has been inviting 1950 to 1954 Korean War Veterans, and family members, to return to Seoul Korea on a subsidized visit to thank them for their sacrifices that save their country from Communism. Thousands of veterans, from all the Allied Countries that participated in the war, have enjoyed this sojourn to the "Land of the Morning Calm." The Korean government pays for hotel rooms, meals and touring in country

Commencing Spring 2010, the Revisit Korea tours will be tripled and, for the first time, the ROK government will pay 50% of the airfare for Veterans and 30% of his or her family member or travel companion’s air cost. The Eligibility Requirements will also be relaxed in view of the age of the veterans.

There are 10 major commemoration tour dates, beginning in late April through November 2010

These 2010 tours will be oversubscribed! If you are planning to participate, you must register early. Registrations will be date stamped and will be "First come - First Served"!

To register, call 800-722-9501 or 703-590-1295. Check the KWVA web site at www.KWVA.org or www.miltours.com. You can also Email to the Revisit Coordinator at mhtours@miltours.com, to request a brochure.

Military Historical Tours
Travel ... Where history comes alive!
13198 Centerpointe Way Suite 202
Woodbridge, VA 22193
703-590-1295
1-800-722-9501
Fax: 703-590-1292
www.miltours.com

From the Southwest Daily News, Sunday, January 17, 2010, Pg 10B:
KREWE DU BON COEUR
The Krewe du Bon Coeur opened its 2010 Mardi Gras social season with its 13th pageant and ball, "Une Nuit au Moulin Rouge," January 16 in the Habibi Shrine Center. The Krewe of the Good Heart has enjoyed 13 years of good times and good friendships.
...
King Bon Coeur XIII Curley Faulk represented The Moulin Rouge and was escorted by Krewe President, Sherry Campbell.
Queen Bon Coeur XIII Lynn Bourque represented the beautiful women of The Moulin Rouge and was escorted by Krewe Vice President, Gerald Bryant.

Mark Your Calendars!

The dates and location for the 2010 Reunion have been established. 13-16 May 2010 at the Embassy Suites in Brunswick, GA. See the Reunion Page for the latest information.

I have received the latest update from Monika Stoy on the Operation Dragoon 65th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony on 4 Aug 2009. The schedule is as follows:

I would like to invite your organization members to join us at a memorial ceremony my outpost will be conducting on 5 August at 0900 at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery honoring the veterans of the United States Armed Forces who participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France, in August 1944.

We all watched the Normandy 65th Anniversary activities on the news this June. As always the ceremonies were first class and our veterans were well treated and appropriately feted. Sadly, so very few Americans know of the 15 August 1944 landings in Southern France in which the 7th Army (3ID, 36th ID, 45th ID), with the 1st Allied Airborne Task Force (1st AATF), and the 1st Special Service Force, played major roles, with the superb support of the US Army Air Corps and the US Navy.

We are conducting our commemorative ceremony and further events that day to gain national media recognition for the veterans of this Forgotten D-Day. The ceremony will be followed by a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns, another wreath laying at the 3ID monument and a short remembrance at the grave of Audie Murphy, and the day will conclude with a luncheon and historical discussion panels at the Fort Myer Officers Club.

We are working hard to have as many veterans who landed and fought in Southern France in August 1944 in attendance as we can find. We also want as many of their families and friends to join us as possible. These great veterans have gone unrecognized for 64 years and we really want to correct that in this 65th anniversary year.

At this time I already have received commitments from LTG (ret.) Grange and LTG (ret.) Seitz as 1st ABTF veterans to participate on 5 May. From the 3ID Infantry Division I have MG (ret) Lloyd B. Ramsey, who landed at Cavalaire as a Battalion Commander in the 7th Infantry Regiment, MG (ret) Daniel Raymond who landed as B/10th Engineers Commander, as well as other 3ID and airborne veterans of the fighting in Southern France. We have invited veterans of all the commands who participated in Dragoon. We also have three distinguished historians for our panel: Gerard Devlin, author of Paratrooper!, Dr. John McManus, author of numerous well received military history books, and Kevin Hymel, historian for Army Freedom Team Salute.
Editors Note: Dr. John McManus is the Historian for the 7th Infantry Regiment.

I can be reached at telephone number (703) 912 4218, this email address, monikastoy@yahoo.com or at snail mail: Monika Stoy, 6531 Milva Lane, Springfield, VA 22150. As time is short, email or phone are the preferred method of communications. Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you and your WWII veteran members, soon!

Rock of the Marne!

Monika Stoy
President,
Outpost Europe
Society of the 3rd Infantry Division

Dear 3rd Infantry Division team mates, I am contacting you because your outposts may have members who participated in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France, in August 1944.

We all watched the Normandy 65th Anniversary activities on the news this June. As always the ceremonies were first class and our veterans were well treated and feted. This brings me to the sad point that so very few Americans know of the landings in Southern France in which the 7th Army, with the 1st AATF and the 1st Special Service Force, played major roles. In an effort to gain some national recognition in the media for the veterans of Operation Dragoon, I am working with the Army Historical Foundation to host a media event on 5 August at Fort Myer , Virginia with as many veterans who landed in Southern France in August 1944 in attendance as we can find. With hard work and a little luck we hope to arrange for a prominent government official or well-known personality to join us for the event and generate national press attention for our great veterans.

If you or someone you know participated in the landings in Southern France, fought their way up the Rhone Valley or secured the flank of that movement on the border of Italy , and are able to get to Northern Virginia on 5 August, we’d love to hear from you! Let’s make their 65th Anniversary of the second and Forgotten D-Day as memorable as the Normandy celebration.

At this time I already have received a commitment from LTG (ret.) Grange as a 1st AATF veteran to participate on 5 May. From the 3ID side I have MG (ret) Lloyd B. Ramsey, who landed at Cavalaire as a Battalion Commander in the 7th Infantry Regiment.

I can be reached at telephone number (703) 912 4218, this email address, monikastoy@yahoo.com or at snail mail: Monika Stoy, 6531 Milva Lane, Springfield, VA 22150. As time is short, email or phone are the preferred method of communications. Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you and your WWII veteran members, soon!

Rock of the Marne!

Monika Stoy
President,
Outpost Europe
Society of the 3rd Infantry Division

New Life Membership Rates are:

Age 70 and over:

$100

Age 60 to 70:

$175

Below Age 60:

$250

Active Duty - E8-O3:

$200

Active Duty - E7 and Below:

$150

The former mayor/local historian of Ostheim, France convinced the locals to dedicate a tablet to honor fallen Marne soldiers. The dedication ceremony will take a place on 8 May 2009 in Ostheim. I and other members will be there after we attend the annual commemoration ceremony on Obersalzburg. On the tablet, it will have their names, ranks, units, home towns, and their ages.

All were 1st BN, 7th RI
CO A:
PVT ROBERT B COLWELL
PVT RICHARD SOLVER
CO B:
PFC CLIFTON THOMAS
CO C:
CPT BEVERLY HAYS
2LT WILLIAM MOEGELIN
PVT ERIC NELSON
MEDICS:
PFC FRANK FLYNN
PFC GILBERT HEINRICHS

Please, inform your members of these great events in May 2009:
5 May - Berchtesgaden/Obersalzburg, Germany
8 May - Ostheim/ Sigolsheim, France

I'm coordinating with mayors of Salzburg, Austria, Augsburg, and Bad Reichenhall, Germany for dedication ceremonies to honor our Marne soldiers of 1945. If anyone is interested in attending these ceremonies, please, have them contact me via e-mail .

Six New York school districts united to present a holiday concert via the Intranet.

They don't have the celebrity status of Bob Hope or other USO headliners. And, it certainly isn't possible for them to hop a plane to fly overseas. But, that isn't stopping more than 300 locals music students from entertaining the U.S. troops in Iraq this holiday season.

Following the spirited tradition of USO performers who have been brightening the holidays for lonely GIs since the 1940s, the music departments from five local school districts schools are uniting Tuesday, Dec. 18 to perform a special holiday concert for the troops. Unlike the USO, which for safety reasons must perform concerts in designated safe zones, video conferencing technology will enable the schools to bring this concert directly to the soldiers serving on the front lines.

The Songs for Troops concert is being organized by Chester Middle School Principal Ernest Jackson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served most of his military career in the 3rd Infantry Division. A member of the 7th Infantry Regiment Association Board of Directors, Jackson has been coordinating local participation in the retirement association's Operation Direct Support for the past four years. While he continues to solicit donations for soldier care packages and cards, Songs for Troops is a way of getting a large number of students actively involved in a community service project that will touch an even larger number of soldiers - many of whom are away from their families for the first time.

Below is the list of participating schools:

• Chester Middle School - Chester Union Free School District, Chester, NY
• C. J. Hooker Middle School - Goshen Central School District, Goshen, NY
• Minisink Valley Middle School - Minisink Valley Central School District, Slate Hill, NY
• Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School - Port Jervis City School District, Port Jervis, NY
• Robert J. Kaiser Middle School - Monticello Central School School, Monticello, NY
• Warwick Valley Middle School - Warwick Valley Central School District, Warwick, NY

• 6 Dec 2007
• 6 Dec 2007
• 10 Dec 2007
• 11 Dec 2007
• 14 Dec 2007

Greetings from the outskirts of Baghdad. It's another month or so here and it's certifiably hot now. I guess I have another reason to look forward to football season. I figure about three or four weeks into the season, the highs here will only be in the 90s. Well, maybe five or six weeks into the season.
My team continues to drive on. Our guys have started to take their R&R leave now. Actually on our third on now. That's another sign that time is moving along here.
Our work with the Iraqi Army is beginning to get interesting. We're past the point of "building" a working relationship with them and feel we need to start pushing them to get better. Lots of pushing back though. Looking back, I see why it was so easy to kick their tails before. Maybe it's just that professionalism is standard in our Army or should I say professionalism means something completely different to us.
The work continues to be rewarding. Though working with some of the IA officers is a complete pain in the rear, there are others that make our work enjoyable. I just wish we could get the good ones promoted to positions of influence.
Thanks for all of your continued prayers. We really appreciate them and there are times when I can truly feel the Lord's influence here.
Another article is up for your reading. This one might upset some people.... Here's the link:
http://onlineathens.com/stories/061007/opinion_20070610042.shtml
Until later, y'all stay safe and Go Dawgs!
Chris
MAJ Chris Carter
United States Army