126th Regimental Association April 2019 Newsletter
3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
Last October 12, the Iron Battalion said goodbye to outgoing commander LTC Ravindra Wagh and welcomed incoming commander LTC Joseph Cannon. LTC Wagh served in the command for over three years going back to October 1, 2019. During that time, LTC Wagh led the Iron Battalion through several rigorous training exercises including Northern Strike ‘17 and ‘18, the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Warfighter exercise ‘17, Hurricane Irma SRP and mobilization ramp-up, Mongodai OPD, and the 32nd IBCT XCTC ’18. LTC Cannon’s recent assignments include serving at Joint Forces Headquarters as a G3 Plans Officer and as the Executive Officer for 1st Battalion 125th Infantry. He has multiple combat deployments, including as Commander for A Company 1st Battalion 125th Infantry from 2011-2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. As a DA Civilian, LTC Cannon is the Deputy Product Manager, Vehicle Protection Systems at the Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, Michigan. LTC Cannon also serves as the Vice Chairman of the NATO Land Capability Group Land Engagement, and the Chair for the TTCP Land Group Technical Panel for Manned and Unmanned Ground Systems. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. In addition to the change in Battalion leadership, B Company also had a change of Command. On 3 March 2019, CPT Aime Kemppainen took command of B Company from CPT Andrew Turner. CPT Turner had served as B Company Commander since 7 March 2016 and led the company through a difficult transition period as the Battalion reorganized from Cavalry to Infantry. CPT Aime Kemppainen has previously served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in B Company, and is the first female Infantry Commander in the Army National Guard. The Iron Battalion received a Notification of Sourcing for deployment in April 2020 and is looking forward to a strenuous and busy training year leading into the mobilization. In the next few months the Battalion will conduct individual, crew-served, and secondary weapons qualifications, and mounted gunnery at Camp Grayling. Training this year will culminate during Annual Training in August at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center with the Battalion conducting multiple live-fire exercises integrating all deploying soldiers.
Fall Social
Plan to meet at Tommy Brann’s Restaurant, 4157 S. Division (between 36th and 44th Streets) in Wyoming on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 1800 hours. We began this new tradition two years ago and have had great turnouts. Tommy Brann is one of West Michigan’s longest running dining traditions run by an individual who goes out of his way to support our military and veterans. Details on the business meeting and registration will be provided with the August newsletter.
100 Years Ago
(Note: We published a daily update on the activities of the 126th Infantry Regiment and its parent 32nd Division during World War I on our association Facebook page from January through December 2018. You can browse the posts at https://www.facebook.com/126thRegiment/) April 1919 – Early (that month), the regiment received word to prepare for early departure from the Army of Occupation area to a seaport for transportation across the Atlantic to “God’s Country.” Everyone was in high spirits at this news, and the necessary preparation for departure was begun at once. Finally, the entraining orders were received, which provided that the auxiliary troops and the 1st and 3rd Battalions shall entrain at Bendorf, and the 2nd Battalion at Neuwied, and that all troops would leave their area on April 19th, and proceed to their entraining points. On April 19th,…the Regiment began the first stage of a long and last journey which was to mark the finish of this war for our men. The regiment moved in three trains (and) it was a long journey requiring about three days. Arriving at Brest, the troops unloaded and marched to the great American camp, Camp Pontenezen. In the morning of April 28th, 1st and 2nd Battalions along with the auxiliary units marched to the docks and went on board the Francis J. Luckenback, a small merchant freighter. The 3rd Battalion along with a number of attached officers were left behind due to lack of accomodations. The Luckenback reached Boston port on May 14, where the troops on that ship immediately entrained for Camp Devens. The 3rd Battalion was split up with Companies I and L embarking on a transport and sailing for New York, where they arrived on May 20th. Companies K and M left Brest on