126th Regimental Association August 2019 Newsletter
Fall Business Meeting and Social
Our annual business meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 1700 hours (5:00 pm) at Tommy Brann’s Restaurant, 4157 South Division in Wyoming. The social will follow at 1800 hours (6:00 pm) and dinner at 1830 hours (6:30 pm) in the same location. We hope to have the same great turnouts we’ve enjoyed the past two years. The cost for dinner will be $20 per person. A cash bar will be available. Dress is casual. Tommy Brann’s is one of West Michigan’s longest running dining traditions owned and operated since its opening in 1972 by Tommy Brann, who always goes out of his way to support our military and veterans. See the enclosed flyer for more details including the delicious menu and PLEASE be sure to return your reservation by September 27. Hope to see you at Tommy’s!
It’s YOUR Association!
To keep our association going, we must elect a slate of officers each annual meeting. Last year, we failed to get a nomination for 2nd Vice President. This year, that means we will need to have nominations for and elect BOTH vice-president positions. The minimum duty involves attending the two or sometimes three board meetings each year while in office. These are held at the Grand Valley Armory. The incumbent in each position then moves up to the next higher position the ensuing year. That way, we have a core of institutional knowledge that keeps our association moving forward. Please consider volunteering to nominate yourself for one of the following: 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President
126th Archives
A small band of (retired) warriors and historians have been working this spring and summer on our archive room at the Grand Valley Armory. The condition of our archive had been degraded over the past couple decades due to the many changes in staffing and organizations at the armory, along with numerous deployments in support of the War on Terror. We have been meeting on most Wednesday mornings from 9 am to noon working on restoration, digitization, cataloguing, preserving and securing historical artifacts, photos, and print items, some dating back to the late 1800s.
We have a long way to go and some preservation plans will be a little costly so it may take some time before our mission is completed. You are welcome to stop by, see what we’re up to, get a tour of what is in the collection, and perhaps even see if you want to lend a hand. Fair warning, however – there are some weeks we do not meet due to other commitments. If you want to find out if we’re planning on being there, get in touch with Bill Sobotka (see his email and phone number in this newsletter).
Taps for Colonel Harry Sobotka
On July 17, 2019, family, friends and comrades gathered to bid Colonel Harry J. Sobotka adieu one last time. Colonel Sobotka passed away on July 11 at the age of 101, the longest surviving member of the 126th Regimental Association in memory.
Colonel Sobotka was born on April 17, 1918 to Vincent and Alexandria (Alice) (Wojcik) Sobotka, both Polish immigrants. Vincent, however, died just four months after Harry was born and his mother was left to raise six children, Harry being the youngest. She married Stanislaw (Stanley) Golembiewski in January 1920, also a Polish immigrant, and bore five more children. Alice died in 1956 and Stanley in 1965. Colonel Sobotka graduated from Union High School on the west side of Grand Rapids where he spent his years Company C of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. After graduation, he worked at W.B. Jarvis Company and enlisted in the 126th Infantry at the old Michigan Street armory on March 3, 1936. On March 3, 1940, Sobotka entered the officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia and was commissioned second lieutenant in June, but continued to carry the rank of sergeant until mobilization. Mobilized with the 126th on October 15, 1940, he was eventually sent to the 95th Infantry Division fought its way through the Netherlands into Germany prior to VE Day. On June 2, 1942, Sobotka was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and to Captain on January 15, 1946. He spent five years serving in the European Theater. Harry had married Katheryn M. Gerke in 1942 and returned to the 126th following World War II where he was appointed Captain in 1946. They had four children (Marilyn, William, Jean
and Jan), resided on 1st Street in Grand Rapids, and he went to work in an area factory.
Roy Wilkerson COL Harry J. Sobotka
Sobotka was promoted to Major on March 20, 1952 followed by Lieutenant Colonel on April 3, 1962 and Colonel on December 5, 1969.
Missing members since last mailing: Dale L. Scramlin, Jr. Patrick J. Bourdon Brett A. Shinabarger Guy M. Villars Robert E. Hazard John A. Schmidt
Notable positions Colonel Sobotka held during his Guard career included Executive Officer for the 126th Infantry Regiment and then 2nd Brigade, 46th Division, where he served as a full-time technician and was instrumental in organizing the move of the Grand Rapids units to the new Grand Valley Armory in Wyoming. He took command of the 46th Brigade, 38th Infantry Division in November 1969. Following his command, he moved to the state headquarters where he served as Deputy Director of Operations and Training followed by a tour of duty as Deputy Chief of Staff. He retired in 1975 following 39 years of service.
Colonel Merle H. Howe
Seventy-four years this month, one of our regiment’s most decorated and colorful officers was killed in action as he worked with the 32nd “Red Arrow” Division commander to bring the fighting in the Philippines to an end. David Britten (LTC, Ret.) has pieced together Howe’s life, heroic service, and tragic death in an online written blog post that is accessible at:
http://rebel6.blogspot.com/2019/08/colonel-merle-howeyou-go-there-and.html If you are not aware, Howe Road, the main Camp Grayling thoroughfare, was named in honor of Colonel Howe. Many soldiers are unaware of this and have little knowledge of who he was or what he accomplished. There have been discussions as to what could be done to alleviate this. Brigadier General (Ret.) Warren Lawrence is heading up the effort and our association has generously offered to help with funding needs. We’ll update you when we learn more.
Secretary’s & Treasurer’s Report
CSM (Ret) John Shipley again donated the postage for the mailing. The cost is around $220. Active members: 394 Missing members: 278 No new members since the last mailing. Reported deceased since the last mailing: Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/126thRegiment/
Bank statement as of 31 July 2019: Checking $ 5,145.34 Savings 1,507.08 CD 2,376.44 CD 2,193.99 Total $11,222.85 Legacy Fund $ 6,350.46 General Fund $ 4,872.39
Legacy Fund
Thank you to the 38 donors who contributed $1,950 to the Legacy Fund this past year. Ben J. Landheer Clayton Jackson Anthony S. Palazzolo John Clark COL David Ratajik William Stellin David Cribbs Nancy J. Brown Jerry H Kline COL(ret) Howard Becker SFC Nate Chang Tom Wallace Ruth Wierenga BG Warren Lawrence Duane Goltz Gordon Kelley Vernia McCullough Luella Holmes Terrance J Kinney Irene Smestad COL(ret) Gary Krueger Glenn Dubbink COL(ret) Chuck Holwerda Howard Goodyke James Luce Ruperto Rodriguez MAJ(ret) Gerald & Delores Sadowski COL(ret) Bruce Whitman Larry & Judy Scudder Vernon & Chris Kirk Paul Essenburg
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Oakie & Kristen Cutchall Mick & Yvonne Prowant Jim & Fran Norton Ron Mrozinski Tom & Laurie Gole Tom & Cris Veneklase Lorraine & Chris Daly Donations in memory of: Arthur Cribbs WWI Russell V Brown Jr Teresa Kline CWO Ralph Schmidt COL Mel Wierenga SGT Ulchar Robert F Strong Merle W Holmes Carl R Smestad Harold E. Krueger Robert E Lee COL Harry Sobotka
Keep the Date
The weekend of October 11-12 is this year’s military exhibition at the Grand Valley Armory, sponsored by the West Michigan Military Round Table. Last year’s event was a total success and included a wide variety of military equipment, uniforms, and various artifacts. For more information, contact CSM (Ret) John Shipley at (616) 240-4011 or by email to csmjms@att.net.
The New Armory
Fifty-five years ago this December, then-Lieutenant Colonel Harry J. Sobotka, 2d Brigade, 46th Division Executive Officer and senior full-time administrator, along with CW4 Paul P. Garland, Armory Manager, excepted the keys to the new Grand Valley Armory in Wyoming, Michigan, following the final inspection on December 1, 1964. This aerial view of the new armory looking southeast was taken just prior to that event. Interestingly, one can see the “old” and the “new” in this single scene. The tall stacks beyond the armory were some of the leftover remnants of the World War I-era picric acid plant that was under construction when
2018-19 Association Officers
President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary Treasurer Historian Asst. Historian Asst. Historian Sgt-At-Arms Chaplin Immed. Past Pres.
MSG Robert Scaia LTC (Ret) David Britten OPEN 1SG (Ret) James Norton LTC (Ret) Bill Sobotka CW4 (Ret) Darle VanderSchuur SSG Kyle Herring SFC (Ret) Earl Jenkins Ray Hintz SFC (Ret) Bill Witte CPT Catalin Bugan
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 2820 Longstreet SW Wyoming, MI 49509 (616) 531-3295 BillSobotka@prodigy.net
the war ended. What had been completed was left in place for many decades, only removed as the area slowly developed over time. The seven Grand Rapids Army National Guard units would not occupy the armory until late January. Full dedication would be in May 1965. You can read more about the history of this and the previous armory at: https://rebel6.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-grand-valleyarmory-50-years-of.html.
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75 years ago along the Ormoc Road
Dirk J. Vlug was born in Minnesota and moved to Grand Rapids at the age of 6. He was drafted in April 1941 and was serving with the 126th Infantry as a private first class when on December 15, 1944, near Limon in the Philippine province of Leyte, he single-handedly destroyed a group of five heavily armed Japanese tanks. For his actions, he earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.
PFC Vlug had been tasked with defending the American roadblock along the Ormoc Road when it was attacked by a group of enemy tanks. He left his covered position, and with a rocket launcher and six rounds of ammunition, advanced alone under intense machine gun and 37-mm fire. Loading single-handedly, he destroyed the first tank, killing its occupants with a single round. As the crew of the second tank began to dismount and attack Vlug, he took out one of them with his pistol, forcing the rest to return to the tank, which he subsequently destroyed with a second round. Three more tanks moved up the road, so he flanked the first and eliminated it, and despite a hail of enemy fire, pressed forward to destroy another. With his final round of ammo, he hit the remaining tank forcing it to crash down a steep embankment. Vlug’s sustained heroism under enemy fire greatly facilitated his battalion’s mission. Vlug was awarded his Medal by President Harry Truman in a ceremony on June 26, 1946. By the time he had faced the enemy near Limon, Vlug had been a veteran of 32 months overseas, having participated in the campaigns at Buna, Saidor, Aitape and Morotai previous to Leyte. Following the war, Vlug left the Army and went to work for the American Seating Company, but eventually re-joined the 126th Infantry in May 1949 with the rank of Master Sergeant. He was one of three Medal of Honor recipients to be sworn into the 126th that May. The other two were 1st Lieutenant John C. Sjogren and 2nd Lieutenant Francis J. Pierce. All three were assigned to Headquarters Company. Vlug could have accepted appointment as an officer but preferred to remain in the enlisted ranks. He retired from the military in January 1951 but remained active in the Grand Rapids Red Arrow Club and various armory activities. Vlug retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1976. He was presented the Michigan National Guard’s highest award – the Distinguished Service Medal – on November 11, 1992. Vlug returned to Leyte in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the capture of the Philippines. He died suddenly on June 25, 1996, just two months short of his 80th birthday. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/126thRegiment/
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126TH REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 1 MAY 2018 – 30 APRIL 2019 Balance on hand 1 May 2018 INCOME Dues Interest on savings & CD's Items Fall Social Legacy Fund Donations Total Income EXPENSE Postage Incorporation fee Franklin Press Fall Social Brann’s
$ 8134.12 $
0 4.80 117.00 1135.00 2240.00
$ 3496.80 $
0 20.00 412.36 1026.92
Total Expense
1459.28
Net Increase
2037.52
Balance on hand 30 April 2019
$10171.64
Funds on deposit in Huntington Bank Wyoming, Michigan are: Savings Account Checking Account Certificate of Deposit 2/20/20 Certificate of Deposit 1/28/20 Legacy Fund $5300.46 + Regimental Fund $4871.18 = TOTAL
$ 1307.01 4295.34 2375.85 2193.44 $10171.64
Respectfully submitted, William H. Sobotka, Treasurer
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126th Regimental Association Fall Social 2018 When: Saturday October 5, 1800 social time, 1830 dinner Annual meeting 1700 at Brann’s Where: Tommy Brann’s Restaurant 4157 S Division Wyoming, MI (Between 36th and 44th streets) Who: Members, family, and friends of the 126th are invited Dress: Casual Cost: $20.00 per person-cash bar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Menu Choices: indicate choice 10 oz. prime rib
_____ Will be cooked medium only.
8 oz. sirloin steak
_____
Honey bbq chicken _____ 1 lb. bbq pork ribs
_____
Mesquite tilapia
_____
Name:______________________________________
No. attending:______
Dinners will include a baked potato, tossed salad, and yeast roll with cinnamon honey butter. Coffee, tea or soda also included. Send reservations to: 126th Regimental Association, C/O LTC (ret) Bill Sobotka 2820 Longstreet Ave, Wyoming MI 49509 Make checks payable to: 126th Regimental Association Reservations due by September 27 Questions contact LTC (ret) Bill Sobotka at (616) 531-3295, email: billsobotka@prodigy.net
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