126th Regimental Association
Annual Fall Meeting and Dinner
Our annual meeting and dinner will return once again to the Grand Valley Armory, 1200 44th Street SW in Wyoming, on Saturday evening, October 5, 2024. We’d love to see you attend and participate in all the activities:
1600 hrs – Historical archive room in the armory will be open for anyone interested in looking around and seeing what we’ve been working on; this may be the last visit for a while since a substantial remodel is in the works (see article, below)
1700 hrs – Annual Business Meeting in the Red Arrow Room
1800 hrs – Social in the NCO Club
1845 hrs – Opening formalities followed by a delicious dinner in the NCO Club Freedom Room (see registration form in this newsletter); drawings and other activities will follow
3rd Bn 126th Infantry Update
The battalion spent much of this last training year preparing for a Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) Rotation. We deployed at the end of May to Fort Johnson, Louisiana with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team out of Wisconsin. During the exercise, 3-126 Infantry trained on attack, defense, and movement to contact tasks in a near peer fight. Additionally, the battalion conduct a live fire exercise integrating maneuver platoons, drones, and indirect fire capabilities.
Following completion of JRTC, the Iron Battalion has rapidly transitioned to the next fight, a two-company mobilization next summer to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility Companies A/3-126 IN and B/3-126 IN will begin the long train up starting in September for their deployment. Tasks will include individual and crew served weapons qualification, squad and platoon situation training exercises, and squad and platoon live fire exercises. These two companies will conduct a 21-day annual training with 3rd Squadron 278th Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
The remaining Iron Battalion companies will focus on individual warrior tasks and skills and conduct Annual Training during the Michigan consolidated AT at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center. The 3rd Battalion is looking forward to the challenges this coming year as we continue to support and defend Michigan and the Nation.
Grand Valley Armory Upgrade
This coming winter, a substantial remodeling of the Grand Valley Armory’s interior will likely begin. Considerable changes are in the offing and the units will be moving out temporarily to other armories during the construction. Unfortunately, our 126th Association archive will also be required to vacate the armory during this period. We are currently looking for a storage location that ideally is heated and provides adequate space for our large collection, as well as room to continue working with it, if possible. Any recommendations you might have would be appreciated. In addition, we would like to ask all our members to donate something to support our efforts. Not only will we have the cost of moving and rental of a storage unit, but when we return to the armory, we’ll likely be in a different location and will need shelving and other appropriate furnishings to organize and make the collection more visible to visitors. Please use the enclosed Legacy Fund envelope and help us out. Our move out deadline is the end of November.
Secretary’s & Treasurer’s Reports
Active members: 397 Missing members: 293
Membership cards are now available. If you would like one, contact our secretary, Jim Norton, at james.m.norton126@gmail.com and we will send it with our next mailing.
New member since last mailing: SFC (Ret) Rose Baez Adam Betz
Reported deceased since our annual meeting: Donald L. Stout
Missing members since the last mailing: David A. Cribbs Kathy VanEss Nancy J. Brown
Treasurer’s “Snapshot” Report as of 31 July 2024:
5,073.77
5,390.39
2,556.47
2,574.29
$ 15,294.92 Legacy Fund Balance $ 10,162.04
5,132.88
Legacy Fund Donors
Our Legacy Fund exists to receive donations from our members that are used specifically to support the work in our archive room, collecting, identifying, preserving, and presenting on the many historical items and information we have accumulated. It also goes towards efforts to maintain a high level of awareness as to the history of our regiment and its units.
Unfortunately, our list of donors continues to decline but our need to support the historical preservation and education continues. Please consider a donation using the enclosed envelope.
Thank you to the 23 donors who contributed $2,201 to the Legacy Fund this year. Also, big thanks to CSM Shipley and SSG Wiarda for donating the postage to mail this newsletter!
CSM (Ret) John Shipley
Robert Denslow
James Luce
SFC (Ret) Charles Nagtzaam
Ben J. Landheer
William Streelman
Wellington (Bill) & Laurel Miller
Ruth Wierenga
James Anderson
COL (Ret) Gary Wainwright
MAJ (Ret) Gerald & Delores Sadowski
Joyce Klynstra
Vernia McCullough
Chris Petras
COL (Ret) Howard Becker
Reynold Kleibush
COL (Ret) Chuck Holwerda
Elda Jackson
SGM (Ret) Robert Hackett
Walt & Sonja Draeger
COL (Ret) Mark Tellier
SFC (Ret) Dean Crowell
SFC (Ret) Calvin Wierda
Donations in memory of:
SSG John F Shipley WWII
Capt Gerard A. Streelman
COL Mel Wierenga
COL James Klynstra
Robert F Strong
PFC David I Forner USMC (Vietnam)
MG Cecil Simmons
SFC Clayton Jackson
LTC William Byl
2011-12 Afghanistan Deployment
2023-24 Association Officers
President SFC Mark DeYoung
1st Vice President SSG (Ret) Cal Wierda
2nd Vice President BG (Ret) Phil Owens
Secretary 1SG (Ret) James Norton
Treasurer LTC (Ret) Bill Sobotka
Historian/Archivist LTC (Ret) David Britten
Historian Emeritus. CW4 (Ret) Darle VanderSchuur
Sgt-At-Arms SFC (Ret) Dean Crowell
Chaplain SFC (Ret) Bill Witte
Immed. Past Pres. 1SG (Ret) John Johnson
3-126 Bn Cdr LTC Anthony J. Pryzbyla
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 (616) 531-3295
99 Skyline Circle NW BillSobotka@prodigy.net
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Legend of the Custer Cap
One of the priceless historical items in the 126th Association Archive is a forager cap once worn by General George Armstrong Custer. It came into the 126th Regiment’s possession in a somewhat humorous way back in the early 1900s.
The story begins with the establishment of the Custer Guard, the second company of Michigan State Troops in Grand Rapids, organized on February 22, 1882, and mustered into state service as Company I, Second Regiment on June 27. By 1886, the Custer Guard was known as one of the best-drilled companies in Michigan, earning championship honors the following year. It was redesignated as Company E, Second Regiment, in 1894.
Grand Rapids Custer Guard drill team c. 1890s
Until the early 1900s, militia companies had to provide for their own armories, as well as uniforms and equipment. In 1896, it was decided to consolidate the three Grand Rapids companies into a single armory and form one combined civil organization (club) to raise funds for paying rent and other costs. The three companies moved into the top two floors of the Clark Building on South Ionia Avenue that December. A fourth company soon joined them, and the group became
known as the “Grand Rapids Battalion” of the Second Regiment. The regiment was redesignated as the 32nd Regiment for the War with Spain in 1898 and the Mexican Border War in 1916 before earning the 126th Infantry designation prior to World War I.
mother died when she was twelve) led her to visit Grand Rapids whenever she was back in Michigan. While the precise date has not been determined, we know that during at least one of her visits, possibly the one in 1917, she had stopped at the Armory, and this is where our story really begins.
According to the Grand Rapids Press, in July 1917, a formal ceremony was held to present a portrait of General Custer to the Grand Rapids Battalion by his widow, Elizabeth Bacon Custer, a native of Monroe, Michigan. She had spent most of their thirteen-year marriage near him, despite his numerous military campaigns throughout the Civil War and on the Great Plains with the 7th Cavalry. After moving to New York City one year after his death, she eventually became an outspoken advocate for his legacy, writing and publishing bestselling books and giving many lectures. Back on June 4, 1910, she had attended a ceremony in Monroe with President Howard Taft to dedicate a statue of her husband on horseback. Several days later, she was spotted at the Pantlind Hotel in Grand Rapids, likely visiting family.
During the 1917 visit, Elizabeth Custer’s first cousin, Rebecca L. Richmond of Grand Rapids, daughter of the late Brigadier General William Almy Richmond, also presented several photos of the Russian Grand Duke Alexis and his buffalo hunting party, who were guests of General Custer in the early 1870s. A photo of Grand Duke Alexis and General Custer together was presented by Mrs. Farnham Lyon. During the presentation, Rebecca, whose diary of the Civil War period has become a valuable tool for local history researchers, recalled that the Armory that opened on Michigan Avenue at Ionia Street the previous year was standing on the site formerly occupied by the homestead of Rebecca’s and Elizabeth’s grandfather, Abel T. Page. The photos were accepted by Major Earl R. Stewart, battalion commander, along with the armory manager. They were hung in the officers’ club, and the flag of the old Custer Guard company was displayed during the ceremony. Unfortunately, despite being visible in a later photo of the club, none of those photos exist in the collection today.
Later that same year, Elizabeth Custer traveled to Battle Creek to participate in the dedication of the new Camp Custer on October 28, and it was thought she might attend the Custer Brigade reunion held there the following week. Her closeness to Rebecca Richmond and Rebecca’s mother (Elizabeth’s own
One of the individuals present during her visit was John D. English, who had joined the old Second Regiment in 1895 as a member of the Custer Guard and went south with it during the War with Spain in 1898, where he earned the rank of corporal. Upon the Custer Guard’s return to Grand Rapids that fall, English continued his membership while working as a conductor on local streetcars. Three years later, he was promoted to battalion sergeant major.
In 1909, while the Grand Rapids Battalion was still located in the Clark Building on Ionia Avenue Southeast, English took over the duties of Armory manager, a position he continued during the years they occupied the Cadillac Building on LaGrave Avenue Southeast, and eventually the new state-built armory on Michigan Street at Ionia Avenue. He accompanied the local Guard in 1910 to maintain order at Durand during the great rail strike and in 1913 to the Upper Peninsula during the copper strike. He also mobilized with the Guard for the Mexican Border as well as World War I, but a medical issue (bad teeth) prevented him from going overseas. Instead, he returned to his armory manager’s position and welcomed the troops home following both world wars. During the 1940 callup, he went with the 126th to Louisiana and operated a canteen service for the men, something he also did each summer at Camp Grayling.
SGM English retired on June 1, 1948, and at that time he had been the longest-serving member of the local battalion. A couple of weeks later, the Grand Rapids Press interviewed him while he showed off some of the regiment’s historical
The portrait of General Custer and the other photos presented that day are likely seen here, hanging in the officers' lounge at the old Michigan Street Armory. Unfortunately, they have been lost to posterity over the years during several armory moves or theft
Elizabeth Bacon Custer greeting President William Howard Taft at the dedication of General Custer’s statue in Monroe, 1910.
collections, including several trophies dating back to the 1800s. The headline of the story that ran on June 18th was “Gen. Custer’s Cap Top Relic in Armory Trophy Collection.” In the article, English noted that Elizabeth Custer’s “firm sense of decorum” led to the possession of her husband’s forager cap. English was present at the time and recalled the incident well.
“We had a picture of Mrs. Custer hanging in the armory, and (she) did not like it one bit. She said it wasn’t ladylike to have her picture in a public place. Of course, there wasn’t anything she could do about it, so she finally made a bargain. If we’d give her the picture, she’d give us something of Gen. Custer’s that was more ‘suitable.’ I swapped her picture for the general’s cap.”
It’s not surprising that Elizabeth was uncomfortable with her picture hanging there. According to her biographers, she felt all the attention properly belonged to her late husband and she did not want to be the center of attention. So, the trade was consummated, and the Grand Rapids Guard became the owner of an authentic Custer cap.
General Custer's forager cap, 126th Regimental Association Archive encased in a protective showcase and secured.
Unfortunately, sometime during the following decade after English’s retirement, an unnamed individual decided to “relieve” the “7” (for 7th Cavalry) from the cap, appearing to have cut it off with a razor blade or a very sharp knife. Precisely when this occurred has never been determined, but in March 1956, a letter in an envelope addressed simply to the National Guard Armory, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sent from Reverend James J. O’Meara of St. Philip Parish in Battle Creek. Inside was a simple note along with a small article. According to Rev. O’Meara, an unidentified man had confessed he had taken it and was having a crisis of conscience, wishing to have
it returned. “The article [was] a tiny emblem, which was taken from General Custer’s field cap.” Rev. O’Meara did not know any details as to who, how, when, or where it was taken and would likely not have said so since the admission came during an act of confession. The most important thing was the return of the “7,” which was promptly reposition-ed on the cap and has remained there ever since
Elizabeth Bacon Custer passed away in New York City on April 4, 1933, just four days shy of her 91st birthday, and 57 years following the death of her famous husband. She had never remarried despite becoming a widow at a young age. For a time, Elizabeth had lived near West Point, New York, along the Hudson River after Custer’s remains were brought from Little Big Horn for burial at the United States Military Academy. Following her death, Elizabeth was laid to rest next to her husband.
Besides the three books she authored to support her claim that General Custer was a true American hero (Boots and Saddles, 1885; Tenting on the Plains, 1887; and Following the Guidon, 1890), several others have been written about her life She was portrayed by actress Olivia de Havilland in the 1941 film, “They Died with Their Boots On,” among other films and television series.
1865 photo taken while in Texas showing General Custer with the forager cap (white arrow) and Elizabeth sitting on his left.
Elizabeth Bacon Custer
Elizabeth Custer with forager cap
126th Regimental Association Fall Social 2024
When: Saturday, 5 October 2024
1600 hrs: archive room visit in the Grand Valley Armory
1700 hrs: business meeting in the Red Arrow Room (front lobby)
1800 hrs: social in the NCO Club behind the Armory
1845 hrs: opening formalities followed by dinner in the NCO Club Freedom Room
Where: Grand Valley Armory
1200 44th Street SW
Wyoming, Michigan
Who: Members, family, and friends of the 126th are invited
Dress: Casual attire
Cost: $20.00 per person; cash bar
Registration Form (detach and return below)
Please check which activities you are planning to attend:
____ Archive room visit in Armory (1600 hrs)
____ Business meeting in Red Arrow Room (1700 hrs)
____ Social hour in the NCO Club behind the Armory (1800 hrs)
____ Opening formalities followed by a delicious chicken and steak dinner in the NCO Club Freedom Room (1845 hrs)
Name: _____________________________________________ No. attending dinner: ______
Send reservations to:
126th Regimental Association
C/O LTC (ret) Bill Sobotka 99 Skyline Circle NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5991
Make checks payable to: 126th Regimental Association
Reservations due by September 25
Questions contact LTC (ret) Bill Sobotka at (616) 531-3295 or email: billsobotka@prodigy.net
The Wolverine Guard
In case you were not aware, the Wolverine Guard publication is back online the first issues are available at https://minationalguard.dodlive.mil/News/Wolverine-Guard/. There is also a link to the Public Affairs & Visual Information staff for comments, training news, stories and photos.
The latest issue features a three-page story about 19-year-old PFC Chase Cammenga of 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry, who accomplished his basic training as well as the Ranger Training Assessment Course (RTAC) followed by Ranger School. Cammenga had enlisted in the Guard while still in high school. When he found out he after his Infantry training that he was a standout candidate for the Ranger training, he “was pretty excited. Going to Ranger School wasn’t always a dream, but once I heard more about it, I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
Cammenga’s achievement marked the first time a soldier in the Michigan Army National Guard has completed the Ranger Training Leader Initiative program.
West Point, Kentucky
Note: This is an extra article not included in the printed copy of the newsletter.
Towards the end of September 1903, Michigan’s three regiments of Infantry headed to West Point, Kentucky to participate in joint maneuver training with regular army units. The Michigan Brigade, commanded by General William T. McGurrin of Grand Rapids, headed south via railroad with the first elements of the Second Regiment (forerunner of the 126th Infantry) departing on Wednesday, September 29. The brigade and regimental horses were shipped in palace cars, going by special train. The Grand Rapids Battalion, commanded by Major Louis Covell, followed the horse train to Kentucky.
It was thought that the Michigan troops were in the finest condition with new and complete equipment. Each of the local companies were well-filled with healthy soldiers owing to high standards during enlistments.
Camp routine began on Friday. General McGurrin was considered one of the most popular of the national guard brigadiers on the ground. As a veteran guardsman (he commanded the regiment during the War with Spain in 1898) he was well known by his his fellow soldiers as well as those from other states. The year prior, he had attended the regular army maneuvers at Fort Riley, Kansas and became acquainted with many of the regular officers in camp.
The Michigan camp was strung along the old Louisville and Nashville pike, which skirted the camps of the regulars located in the outskirts of the village of West Point. Beyond that was the Wisconsin camp, the regular artillery, calvary and infantry camps, and then the Michigan followed by the Indiana camps. West Point was located about eighteen miles southwest of Louisville and the camp comprised 30,000 acres.
Exercises lasted until October 9 and the Michigan troops headed home the following day. Not all soldiers were happy, however. They felt the new Dick Act made the National Guard a “plaything for the army” to give the regulars a workout. Nothing more.