Allen Hathaway
HHT Regt, 08/66-07/67

From The Command Track

By Allen Hathaway

Plans are being finalizing for the 28th annual reunion to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, on September 11-15.  There are many Blackhorse troopers who live in Indiana or the surrounding states and within an easy drive to Indianapolis. 

We are pleased to announce that John R. Landry (MG USA Ret) will be our guest speaker at the Saturday evening banquet and program.  As a captain he served as troop commander of B Troop, 1st Squadron from early 1966 until mid 1967.  He joined the 11th ACR at a time when the regiment was training and preparing for deployment to Vietnam.  In September 1966 the entire regiment arrived in Vietnam and immediately began operations.  During his tour with B Troop Captain Landry was awarded two Silver Stars for actions in December 1966 and March 1967.  During his 30 year career in the US Army he has held many other prominent assignments.

Each year we hear comments from members, after attending their first reunion, that they were sorry they waited so long to attend a reunion.  They just kept putting it off until "next year".  In the past year I have lost three friends I knew in Vietnam.  Each one told me they would attend "next year".  Sadly, they put it off every year and never attended any of the reunions.  I recently received a note from the daughter of one of our members who passed away in December.  She wrote "he would have loved to come to a reunion.  He talked about his experiences and all he knew often.  My father was a very proud veteran.".  Unfortunately, he never attended a reunion.  I urge each of you to give serious consideration to attending a reunion soon.  Don't put it off another year.

We expect another large turn-out for this reunion, now estimated at 1,000 or more.  The room block is filling up fast.  We urge you to reserve your room as soon as possible to ensure your reservations are set.  Contact old friends early so they have plenty of time to make their plans to attend.  Feel free to contact any board member if you need help finding an old friend.

Our Scholarship Fundraising activity is going strong again for 2013.  Thanks to your generosity, we have set an all time record for calendar donations.  Another list of donors is included in this issue.

In past years we have had three annual fundraisers to benefit our Scholarship Fund: calendar, raffle and silent auction.  For 2013 the focus of our raffle fundraiser will be to help raise funds to relocate the 11th Cavalry Memorial from Fort Knox to Fort Benning.  The Memorial is an everlasting tribute to the sacrifice our Blackhorse troopers have made in all campaigns since 1901.  The raffle is one way for each of us to contribute to this very important project.  Raffle tickets will be mailed to all members in May.  We’re offering some great prizes again this year so be sure to return your tickets prior to the reunion.

We also want to remind everyone to start thinking of items for the silent auction.  The auction is always a fun and interesting part of the reunion.  We have many talented people in the organization and they always come through for the silent auction.  We welcome any item for the silent auction.  Please see the separate article in this issue.

We received many phone calls after our last newsletter from troopers who recognized names in the “Welcome Aboard” section and the donors list.  It always very gratifying to be able to reconnect with old friends after many years.  Please look at the new members list this issue of Thunder Run.

Bob Kickenweitz has been working to reorganize our website.  We have recently added several hundred unit rosters covering the period 1966-1972.  The rosters may help in remembering names and in locating old friends.  Don Snedeker, our Historian, has done extensive research and summarized the many operations the 11th ACR participated in from 1966-1972.  The list of operations, dates and units as well as unit rosters can be found at "Members Area" on our website.  Please check the Funeral Honor Guard each day.  Keep up-to-date with all the reunion activities by checking our website.  You can also find us on FaceBook.       

We invite all Blackhorse troopers, family and friends to join us at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Monday, May 27, to honor our fallen comrades as we lay our Blackhorse wreath at the Wall.  If you’re not able to attend, take a moment wherever you may be and remember our comrades-in-arms.  They shall not be forgotten. Our memories of them will live forever.  ALLONS! – It’s good to be “Together Again”.

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