April 2016 Newsletter
Association President’s Remarks
Hello and greetings fellow Soldiers, families and friends of our Association. To all the men and women that are still serving in the military, I wish you another safe training year. It has been an honor to be the President of our Association during the first half of the year and I am looking forward to the second half of the year. There are multiple changes going on this year within the state all the way down to the units that make up the 1126th Cavalry Squadron. Michigan is moving back to a state consolidated annual training period that will take place August 6-20, 2016. All the TAG events such as the steak fry, prayer breakfast, Fallen Soldier Memorial and annual review to name a few, will take place the last couple days of annual training. Also during annual training will be Operation Northern Strike. Operation Northern Strike takes place at two of the nation's largest National Guard training facilities: Camp Grayling Joint Military Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. Operation Northern Strike is an annual National Guard Bureau sponsored Combined Live Fire Exercise. The exercise emphasizes the Theatre Air Control and Army Air Ground Systems (TACS/AAGS) within the Theatre Air Ground System (TAGS). It blends maneuver, close air support (CAS), joint fire support, and air mobility in both major combat operations and limited Operation Enduring Freedom scenarios. In addition to Charlie Troop, the 1-125th Inf BN, 1-119th FA BN, 25th Marine Regiment, 272nd Regional Support Group, 1225th Combat Service Support Battalion, 146th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 246th Transportation Battalion, 3238th Aviation Battalion, along with multiple other units will participate totaling over 4,000 soldiers, airmen, Marines and international partners will participate in the exercise. Here are two websites to watch videos about Operation Northern Strike:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRLmVaAbQZs https://www.dvidshub.net/video/404041/michigannational-guard-conducts-operation-northern-strike2014#.VwJechFf270 For those of you who haven’t heard yet, the 1-126th Cavalry will be undergoing a change from their current mission of a Cavalry Squadron to an Infantry Battalion. In this change they will become the 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry Regiment, affiliated with the 32nd (Red Arrow) Infantry Brigade Combat Team out of Wisconsin. This is rather historic for our unit and our association to have the 126th back to where it served in WWI and WWII, assigned with the battalions it fought along side (127th and 128th Infantry). The division served in combat during WWI (suffered a total of 13,261 casualties, including 2,250 men killed in action and 11,011 wounded, placing it third in the number of battle deaths among U.S. Army divisions), and a record 654 days in combat during WWII (more than any other division). The conversion is scheduled to happen in 2017. I am currently in contact with other Army Associations to see how they are conducting business and to see what ideas they can share with us to move our association forward. One of those ideas that I am currently working with the Squadron is our annual meeting with their Squadron Ball. This will help bring the past Soldiers together with the current Soldiers. We are looking to hold this down town Grand Rapids this year. We will share more information on this when we have it but I will promise you that it will be bringing back more of the military traditions and we will have a great display of our archives for everyone to see. Please feel free to contact myself with any ideas you may have for the association or the annual meeting. Calvin Caverly MAJ, USA Association President
1-126 Cavalry Update
As the Association President mentioned, the 126th is in the process of a significant and exciting change. The unit received an official order to restructure as 3-126th Infantry, 32nd IBCT, on 06 February 2016. The 126th holds the most significant lineage and battle honors in the Michigan Guard and its accomplishments in WWII are recognized as some of greatest in military history. In a few short months soldiers will place the famed and historic Red Arrow on their left should once again. Currently, the Battalion is conducting Annual Training at Ft. Custer to reclassify and transition Soldiers as Infantrymen. Planning for this began in late 2015 with the Regional Training Institute to establish two rigorous and challenging 15-day courses. This is the first step in reorganizing the unit and increasing strength to 641 personnel. Following reclassification courses, the Battalion begins eighteen months of individual, crew, and collective training in preparation for full integration into the 32nd IBCT by September 2017. Simultaneously, the unit plans to participate in State events such as Northern Strike, leading the way in proving that the Guard is a critical tool in the Total Force – a regional force with global agility. Critical to building and reorganizing the 126th as an Infantry Battalion is establishing esprit de corps by educating Soldiers on the history of the 126th. To accomplish this, MAJ Caverly and I are developing a ceremony in September 2016 in conjunction with the Association’s Annual Meeting at GVA. Our intent is to increase knowledge of our lineage and bolster Soldier membership and interaction with the Association. Initial planning for this event is underway and details will be published following upcoming Association meetings. The 126th is also participating in the West Michigan Armed Forces Thanksgiving in downtown Grand Rapids on 13 May 2016. Conceived by a small group of influential executives, the event is focused on thanking all veterans in the West Michigan area past and present. Students from sixty local schools plan to attend and will
be paired with veterans for a luncheon. The 126th will display a variety of equipment in Rosa Parks Circle and educate young men and women on the Grand Rapids Guard. For veterans reading this newsletter, there is an open invitation to participate. If you would like to attend, please contact me at justin.a.bierens.mil@mail.mil for more details. Also, visit www.armedforcesthx.org for a broad overview and description. The unit looks forward to a tough and challenging training year amidst change. Although we have never lost sight of our heritage, realigning under the 32nd is an immense privilege and honor. We carry the colors forward proudly. Courage Without Fear! MAJ Bierens
Secretary-Treasurer’s Report Mark your calendar. The annual meeting/dinner is scheduled for Saturday, September 10 at the Grand Valley Armory. The 1-126 CAV will host this year’s event. Details to follow in the next newsletter. We would like again to thank CSM (Ret) John Shipley for donating the postage and envelopes for the mailing. The cost is around $200. Active members 431 Missing members 245 New members: SSG (ret) Stanley Stroven CSC 3-126 Jeffrey Arnold 1-126 CAV Reported deceased since annual meeting October 2015: Gustave Zweibohmer Missing members since last mailing: NONE
Legacy Fund
At the January board meeting the expenditure of $7,616.27 for the restoration and reframing of the pictures in the Red Arrow room was approved. This leaves a balance of $0 in the fund. We are in need of donations for the continued support of the legacy of the 126th. Please use the enclosed envelope to send us your tax-deductible contribution. 2
Bank statement as of 31 March 2016: Checking $ 561.56 Savings 474.49 CD 2,365.38 CD 2,170.67 $5,572.10 COH 10.00 Total $5,582.10 Legacy Fund $ 0 General Fund $5,582.10 Thank you to the 32 donors who contributed $2,346.00 to the Legacy Fund this past year: COL Kenneth & Theresa McCreary Harold Plaisier John Stengel MAJ (ret) Will Nieboer Jerry H Kline COL (ret) Robert O'Donnell Wellington (Bill) & Laurel Miller Col (Ret) Gary L. Krueger Ester VanHammen COL (ret) Bruce Whitman COL Chuck Holwerda Nate Chang Ruperto Rodriguez BG Warren Lawrence LTC (ret) Leon Dyer Glenn Dubbink Clare Ehlert Calvin Witherspoon VFW Post 702 Walt Draeger Erling Smestad Fred Steed Ruth Wierenga John Clark COL (ret) David Ratajik COL (ret) Howard Becker Ben J. Landheer Robert Gutschke LTC (ret) William L. Byl Paul Essenburg COL (ret) Ralph & LTC (ret) Edith Kelly William Streelman
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Legacy Fund using the envelope provided
with this mailing, or call Bill Sobotka at the phone number on the next page for more details. Perhaps you might even consider making a planned gift to your association by including it in your will.
Association Officers President MAJ Calvin Caverly 1st Vice President SSG Mark Deyoung 2nd Vice President MAJ Justin Bierens Secretary/Treasurer LTC (ret) Bill Sobotka Historian CW4 (ret) Darle VanderSchuur Asst. Historian SSG Kyle Herring Asst. Historian SFC (ret) Earl Jenkins Sgt-At-Arms SSG Kyle Herring Chaplin SFC (ret) Bill Witte Immed. Past Pres. CW4 (ret) Frank Miller The 126th Regimental Association newsletter is published twice yearly and mailed or emailed to all active association members. Inquiries regarding the association and this newsletter should be made to: LTC (Ret) Bill Sobotka Secretary/Treasurer 2820 Longstreet SW Wyoming, MI 49509 (616) 531-3295 BillSobotka@prodigy.net LTC (Ret) David Britten Newsletter Editor LTCDavid@comcast.net MINUTES OF THE 126TH REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING 3 OCTOBER 2015 The meeting held at NCO Club, Grand Valley Armory, Wyoming MI called to order by the President, Frank Miller at 1705 hours. Board Members Present: SSG Kyle Herring, Bill Sobotka, Frank Miller, MAJ Calvin Caverly, Darle VanderSchuur, John Kneibel. Absent: Bill Witte, SSG Mark Deyoung Colors posted, “Pledge of Allegiance� recited, Invocation given by Frank Miller, Roll Call of deceased members called, and Moment of Silence held. 3
Secretary’s report of 27 September 2014 annual meeting, 13 January 2015 and 28 July 2015 board meetings presented by secretary in a handout. Motion to approve: Whitman, second: Kneibel. Approved Treasurer’s report of 30 April 2015 and 31 August 2015 presented by treasurer in a handout. Motion to approve as presented: Shipley, second: Kneibel. Approved Unfinished Business: 1. Legacy Fund: At the January board meeting it was approved to change the name of the fund from Preservation to Legacy. The fund can be used for more than preserving the archives with the approval of the board it will be used for continuing the legacy of the 126th. Sobotka reported that there was $6934.40 in the fund 2. 126th Artifacts and room: SSG Herring introduced Adam Jones, a senior at Grand Valley University. He has been cataloguing and tagging the artifacts of the 126th into a computer program. He will continue with the project until he graduates. The Association thanked him for his work on the archives. Shipley reported he was working on shelving in the archives room and the project should be completed in the near future. 3. Drill floor logo: MAJ Caverly reported that the State would probably not resurface the drill floor due to the budget. We will move forward with the logo plan and will start the project after basketball season in March. MAJ Justin Bierens was introduced as the new OIC of the Grand Valley Armory. 4. 126 Association Awards: Bravo Troop was awarded the COL Westnedge award for best unit and were given a $500 check from the Association at annual training. MAJ Caverly stated that the criteria for the award is being tweaked and the final plan will be presented at the next board meeting. Two soldiers were presented the SFC Duong award for their outstanding performance of duties, SFC Terrance Kinney and SSG Michael Yielding. 5. Loaning of items to Ft Custer museum: Miller reported COL Spackman headed south for the winter and nothing has transpired on the matter of
permanent loan of items to the museum. Shipley stated that Fort Custer is a closed post and the public does not have access to the museum. The museum must come up with a plan to make itself available. Miller to talk to Spackman about this. 6. Swapping of items with Dayton Air Museum: Tabled Michael La Vean absent 7. Role of 1-126CAV with 126 Regimental Association: Moving in the right direction with awards program and active soldier board members. Looking to tie in the annual meeting with the 126 units for greater participation. 8. Association LNO’s: Association looking for liaisons to go to unit meetings and promote the Association. New Business: 1. Wyoming Historical Commission: Bill Branz absent 2. MAJ Bierens gave an update on the activities of the 1-126 CAV. It is with high probability that the unit will change to a light infantry battalion. Election of Officers: SSG Kyle Herring nominated for Sgt of Arms. Nominations closed. Approved with unanimous vote. MAJ Justin Bierens nominated for 2nd Vice President. Nominations closed. Approved with unanimous vote. For the good of the order: For the 50th anniversary of the Grand Valley Armory the Association conducted a ceremony and placed a wreath at the front entrance of the armory before the Association meeting. Motion made by Shipley, second VanderSchuur to adjourn. Approved Meeting adjourned by the president at 1740 hours. Respectfully submitted, Bill Sobotka Secretary/Treasurer
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General Byron Root Pierce was born in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, N.Y., September 20, 1829, a son of Silas and Mary (Root) Pierce--the former a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts, and both of English descent, the father of Mrs. Mary (Root) Pierce having been a hero of the Revolutionary war. General Pierce was educated at Rochester, N.Y., and began his business life in a woolen factory, a vocation in which his father had been engaged; he later became identified with the dental profession, and in 1856 came to Grand Rapids and followed his profession up to the date of his enlistment. Soon after moving to Grand Rapids, Pierce became actively involved with the Valley City Guard, one of the local militia companies and oldest descendent company of today’s 126th Regiment. Many of whose members would enlist in Company A in April of 1861. Having enlisted in the VCG sometime in 1857, Pierce was elected First Lieutenant on February 12, 1858 replacing Fred Worden. Pierce served as First Lieutenant until the
spring of 1859, when, following the resignation of company Captain John Earle, he was elected Captain on March 25, 1859. Pierce continually worked to improve the efficiency of the company, and had no sooner taken over command of the VCG than he began tightening discipline. He immediately set about establishing a program for drill and target practice. He was at Joliet, Illinois when he enlisted in the United States volunteer service, and was hurried home to Grand Rapids to take command of a company already organized. Pierce was at once commissioned captain of company K, Third regiment, Michigan volunteer infantry, and mustered in on May 13, 1861 and from that time forward, for bravery and meritorious conduct in face of the enemy and other places, his promotion was rapid until his muster out on August 24, 1865, a period of over four years and three months. His valiant service was recognized even after the war had closed by the national and state governments. His promotions are briefly enumerated as follow: Major of Third Michigan Infantry, October 21, 1861; lieutenant colonel of Third Michigan Infantry, July 25,1862; colonel of Third Michigan Infantry, January 1,1863; brigadiergeneral, U. S. volunteers, June 7,1864, mustered on field, June 18,1864, at Petersburg, by Maj.-Gen. W. S. Hancock’s acting-assistant general; brevet majorgeneral of U. S. volunteers, April 5,1865, for gallant service at the battle of Sailor’s creek. General Pierce was at Chancellorsville, when he was wounded May 3, 1863, in the left hand and right arm; at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 he was wounded through left leg, below the knee At Spottsylvania on May 12, 1864, he led the charge on the Salient and was wounded in the left leg, his horse killed under him. While at Petersburg, Va., June 11 to 22, 1864, Pierce was wounded in the left shoulder. Pierce lived in Alabama for several years, but in late November of 1870 he returned to Grand Rapids on a visit. “We are pleased to see on our streets,” wrote the Democrat on November 2, “the gallant General Byron R. Pierce, formerly of this city, but now of Alabama, who is here on a short visit to relations and friends. The general was one of the most brilliant soldiers the late war produced, and the people of this city will always learn of his prosperity with pleasure.” 5
Pierce eventually returned to Grand Rapids where he was living by 1874 when he went into the clothing business with his brothers, Edwin and Silas, working as bookkeeper. (Edwin, too, had served in the Third Michigan.) This lasted only a short time, although he continued to reside in Grand Rapids and was living in the city in 1878 when he went up north to Grand Traverse County on a shooting holiday with another former member of the Old Third, Brigadier General Israel. C. Smith. By 1880, Gen. Pierce was working as a clothing merchant and boarding at the old Pantlind (Sweets) Hotel in Grand Rapids. The following year, he was united in marriage to Miss Abbie L. Evans, a native of Rhode Island, at St. Mark’s Church. From 1887 (the date of its opening), Gen. Pierce was commandant of the Michigan Soldiers’ Home until 1891. Soon after leaving the Home, the general leased the Warwick hotel, which he successfully operated until the spring of 1899, when he retired, having made it the most popular hotel in the state. Pierce had been actively involved in the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association since it was first organized in 1870, and he served as Toastmaster at virtually every reunion banquet until 1900 when ill health prevent him from attending. General Pierce was also a member of Grand Army of the Republic Custer Post No. 5 in Grand Rapids, and a member of the Mexican War Veterans’ association of the State of Michigan. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (through his mother’s lineage), was a senior vice commander of the Loyal Legion in the Department of Michigan, was a Master Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Republican, and a charter member of the Peninsular Club in Grand Rapids. He served two years as department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic of Michigan. He received pension no. 219,956, dated October of 1882, drawing $7.50 per month in 1883 for a gunshot wound to the left leg, and at the rate of $72.00 per month by 1924. On June 13, 1911, General Pierce was one of the guests of honor at the unveiling of the monument honoring the Regiments that had mustered in Grand Rapids on
the old fairgrounds in 1861 and 1862. Pierce, speaking for the Old Third Infantry Regiment which left Grand Rapids on June 13, 1861, said: “This Regiment is nearing its final muster. The site on which this memorial is placed is a part of property owned by the city of Grand Rapids, under the control of the board of education. That this boulder may be safe-guarded and perpetually retain the place it occupies we transfer our right and claim to the protection and care of this honorable board.” The boulder still stands at its original location at the corner of Hall Street and Jefferson Avenue in front of the old South High School. General Pierce was residing at 47 Jefferson Street in Grand Rapids when he was admitted on November 20, 1920, to the O’Keefe Sanitarium in East Grand Rapids. Dr. O’Keefe, in a sworn statement given in February of 1921 stated that Pierce was confined to his bed at all times and was “totally disabled by reason of old age and requires the constant help, aid and attendance of a nurse,” and that his condition existed at least three months prior to Pierce’s admission to the Sanitarium. In O’Keefe’s opinion Pierce’s condition would not improve, and he died a widower of myocarditis at O’Keefe’s at 1:00 p.m. on July 10, 1924. General Pierce’s funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon, July 14, and one obituary described Pierce as a “loyal soldier and citizen,” and that his was “a life which played its full part in keeping the nation one. Over the casket was a silk flag, the soldier's only decoration except a modest badge which told of Civil war service.” “All was peaceful,” wrote the Press, “in the sun-flecked haze of Grace church, but soldiers and wives and daughters of soldiers, who gathered there, saw something more. It was the vision of great battlefields where men went to glory for their nation -- of battlefields where Gen. Pierce himself had been, and led and had come back victorious. Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and other never to be forgotten battlegrounds. During the morning and early afternoon two National Guardsmen in uniform guarded the general's body, the tribute of the new to the old.” The funeral procession left from the church and went east on Cherry Street, then north on College Avenue and east on Fulton Street to Fulton Street cemetery, “where last rites were said.”
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