April 2021

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Fifteenth Infantry Regiment

“The Old China Hands” http://www.15thinfantryra.org

Dear Fellow Old China Hands,

I would first like to congratulate Association Vice-President, former President and 1-15 IN Commander Tad Davis on his retirement from the Federal Service after 40+ years including his time in the Army. He has been incredibly busy the past several years at the State Department serving as the Director (Assistant Secretary), Bureau of Overseas Building Operations. We wish him and Diane good luck and look forward to our continued work together.

It is great to have 3-15 IN back in the U.S. and to read that the battalion’s optempo continues at high speed. LTC Fisher’s letter gives interesting details on our active duty China Hands. I hope once the COVID-19 pandemic is receded Association members can travel to Fort Stewart and meet these great soldiers.

We can all celebrate the approval of SFC Cashe’s Medal of Honor earlier this year! Hopefully an award ceremony will be scheduled at the White House soon so his family may receive this tremendous award. SFC Cashe’s MOH is the Regiment’s 21st!

On 24 February, Monika and I presented a plaque to the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. commemorating the liberation of Salzburg by the 3rd Infantry Division and the two Medal of Honor award ceremonies which were held while the Division served on occupation duty in Austria, on 2 June 1945 for Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy and Captain Charles P. Murray, Jr. 5 August 1945. The plaque will be permanently displayed at the Embassy. We were joined by COL(Ret.) John L. Insani, a 95-year old Can Do veteran of the final campaign for Germany March-May 1945, the occupation of Salzburg, and environs afterwards. John recently joined the Association and spent many years as President of Outpost 7 of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division

The Regiment lost an old friend and Honorary Member of the Regiment when COL(Ret.) Henry Bodson passed away in February at age 102. COL Bodson was designated an HMOR in 2013. He commanded B Battery, 39th Field Artillery at Anzio and then for almost the entire campaign in France before moving to the Artillery Fire Coordination Officer at 15th IN Regimental Headquarters in the Battle of the Colmar Pocket and for the remainder of the war. COL Bodson trained Audie Murphy on calling for/adjusting indirect fires prior to Operation Dragoon and once Murphy was pulled to Regimental HQ in March 1945, Bodson spent a great deal of time with him.

Tom Heitzer has just returned from the hospital where he was treated for cancer and he is continuing his fight from home. He beat cancer once already in 2014 and he will beat it again. Please send get well cards or messages to let him know we are thinking of him and wishing him well. He carries a heavy load in the Association as acting Treasurer, Data-Base Administrator, and Membership Chairman and is the key member in keeping us going.

This leads to my once again making the point that our Association depends on volunteers to keep it running. Over the years officers have stepped down or passed away and an ever smaller group of members are doing the heavy lifting. Please look at our inside page and see all the open positions we need to fill, then contact me and sound off with a loud and thunderous “Can Do!” and take on one of these important positions. Tom fills three vital jobs for us. You can at least fill one. I wish all of you a great COVID-19-free Spring! Can Do! Tim

April 2021

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Association Officers and Staff

President

Timothy R. Stoy 6531 Milva Lane Springfield, VA 22150 (571) 419-8915 timmoni15@yahoo.com

Commander, 3rd Battalion LTC Brian D. Fisher 594 Vanguard Road Ste 3071 Ft. Stewart, GA 31314 (912) 435-7697 brian.d.fisher4.mil@mail.mil

Editor, The Dragon

LTC Andrew G. Lerch 15302 Iris Lane Montclair, VA 22025 (706) 325-3705 andrew.g.lerch.mil@mail.mil

Vice President Addison ”Tad” Davis IV 2104 27th St S Arlington, VA 22206 (703) 772-4558 tad.davis117@gmail.com

CSM, 3rd Battalion CSM Nicholas R. Paske 594 Vanguard Road Ste 3071 Ft. Stewart, GA 31314 (912) 435-7698 nicholas.r.paske.mil@mail.mil

Trustee Leonard L. Lassor 690 Salman Fall Road Rochester, NH 03868 (603) 335-3554 lenlassor@myfairpoint.net

Secretary Position eliminated (Nov 2018)

Chaplain Charles C. Trout 10191 Birchwood Drive Huntington Beach, CA 92646 (714) 836-4981 chaptrout@aol.com

Trustee Warren E. Sessler 4591 Bigford Street Las Vegas, NV 89122 (702) 617-7022 sessler1@aol.com

Treasurer (Acting) Tom R. Heitzer 231 Normandie Drive Bonne Terre, MO 63628 (314) 650-4692 theitzer001@charter.net

China Room Custodian

CPT Timothy Thrash 594 Vanguard Road Ste 3071 Ft. Stewart, GA 31314 (706) 987-0127 tyrone.g.love.mil@mail.mil

Trustee John F. Lagow 3741 Citation Drive Fairfield Twnshp, OH 45011 (513) 207-5094 jflagow@outlook.com

Membership Chairman Tom R. Heitzer 231 Normandie Drive Bonne Terre, MO 63628 (314) 650-4692 theitzer001@charter.net

Webmaster Tom R. Heitzer 231 Normandie Drive Bonne Terre, MO 63628 (314) 650-4692 theitzer001@charter.net

Trustee Vacant

HSGMOR Mark T. Baker 255 Knowles Road Cataulla, GA 31804 (706) 905-1502 ultimabake47@gmail.com

Historian Timothy R. Stoy 6531 Milva Lane Springfield, VA 22150 (571) 419-8915 timmoni15@yahoo.com

Database Administrator Tom R. Heitzer 231 Normandie Drive Bonne Terre, MO 63628 (314) 650-4692 theitzer001@charter.net

HCOR Jerry Bates 3017 Margaret Jones Lane Williamsburg VA 23185 (757) 645-4765 jerrybates41@cox.net

Public Relations Chairman Vacant

C & BL Chairman Vacant

The Dragon is the quarterly publication of the 15th Infantry Regiment Association. Published in January, April, July, and October, neither its editorial nor article content carries official endorsement of the Association. Input for the Dragon is due the 15th of each month prior to publishing to andrew.g.lerch.mil@mail.mil.

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April 2021

Taps

New Members

Membership Report

NUMBER OF MEMBERS BY PERIOD CURRENT MEMBERSHIP BY TYPE

NUMBER OF CHINA HANDS 0 REGULAR LIFE 197

NUMBER OF WWII MEMBERS 15 REGULAR ANNUAL 29

NUMBER OF KOREA MEMBERS 81 ASSOCIATE LIFE 19

NUMBER OF COLD WAR MEMBERS 75 ASSOCIATE ANNUAL 2

NUMBER OF PEACETIME MEMBERS 17 TOTAL MEMBERSHIP 247

NUMBER OF OEF FORCES 1

NUMBER OF OIF FORCES 8

NUMBER OF GWOT FORCES 29

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS 21

TOTAL MEMBERS 247

Announcement

The 15th Infantry Regiment Association website has moved. It can be found by at: http://www.15thinfantryra.org. Please visit and check out this user friendly site. You are able to fill out an application for membership, send to the database administrator, and pay your dues using the PayPal button. Also, you will find interesting information that will be updated on a regular basis and read back issues of the Dragon newsletter in the library section. Enjoy the new site and come back often.

Joseph J. Kolar Columbus, OH SGT, L CO, 3 BN, KW, 1951-53 DOD 01/19/2021 Reported by Son-In-Law Steve Kraus

Henry Bodson-Hon Member Sterling, VA COL, Artillery LNO at Reg HQ, WW II DOD 02/20/2021 Reported by Tim Stoy

John C. Campbell-LM Clarksville, IN 1LT, B CO, HHC, 1 BN, KW, 1953 DOD 01/23/2021 Reported by Grandson C. Neill

Joseph K. Miller

Fort Stewart, GA SGT, HHC, 2 BN, GWOT, 2016-

Joseph P. Cronin-upgraded to LM Lakewood, OH SGT, HHC, 1 BN, CW, 1967-69

John Insani Alexandria, VA 2LT, L CO, 3 BN, WW II, 1945

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April 2021

15th Infantry Regiment Association Dragon Fund

Dedicated to the members of the 15th Infantry Regiment – past, present, and future – Can Do! Your generosity is greatly appreciated and provides needed support to sustain current operations, expand membership, and enhance program support of the 15th Infantry Regiment Association. We ask for your financial support through continued membership dues and a gift to the fund of your choice at a level of giving that is comfortable for you. Please detach the form below and send with your gift to Tom Heizer, 231 Normandie Drive, Bonne Terre. MO 63628 or go to our website at www.15thinfantryra.org and click on the “DONATE” tab.

Suggested Dragon Fund gift levels are: $15 - $149 – Dragon Donor Entry Level $150 - $249 – Dragon Donor Bronze Level $250 - $349 – Dragon Donor Silver Level $350 - Above – Dragon Donor Gold Level Please designate my gift to the: Awards and memorial Fund _________ General Fund ___________ Gift Membership Fund __________ (allows active duty soldiers to become members free of charge) Your gift may be tax-deductible. Please consult with your tax professional before filing your taxes.

ENTRY LEVEL BRONZE LEVEL SILVER LEVEL GOLD LEVEL $15-$149 $150-$249 $250-$349 $350 or more

You too can become a Dragon Donor and have your name posted at the level that your donation qualifies for. Send a check with your donation to Treasurer 15th Infantry Association, 231 Normandie Drive, Bonne Terre, MO 63628 or go to our web site www.15thinfantryra.org and click on the donation tab.

Very few U.S. military units have an association such as ours. The history of our Regiment is prestigious.

Let’s keep it that way!

Active Battalion Update

Greetings 15th Infantry Regiment, Now that the Battalion has returned to normal post-deployment operations, all of the companies are getting after training basic individual Soldier skills. Companies are improving their individual and crew serve weapons proficiency and lethality by executing small arms ranges. As we transition to the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), companies are conducting diagnostic ACFTs to prepare for record testing as the Army works to reestablish regular fitness testing procedures. The Battalion HQ element participated in the Division Warfighter Exercise 21-3 where they served as a brigade response cell. This provided a great opportunity for the staff to execute MDMP and exercise command and control.

Robert C. Warden William Blissett

Ronald L. Alsobrook Albert W. Dodge

John F. Lagow

James M. Tucker Michael A. Le Peilbet Robert A. Dougherty

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April 2021

Currently, 25 China Battalion medics are in Atlanta, GA administering COVID-19 vaccinations as part of the brigade’s “TF Vaccine”, working directly with FEMA in administering vaccinations. Over the next few months we will continue to prepare for modernization starting with the turn-in of our Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The battalion will execute Bradley gunnery early this summer to provide our crews familiarity before going into new equipment training (NET) early next year. Our Infantry teams and squads will execute situational training exercises (STX) and live fire training (LFX). Finally, our Soldiers will continue to focus on the upcoming Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) and Expert Soldier Badge (ESB) testing scheduled for this coming August. As you can tell, China Battalion has not allowed the COVID-19 pandemic to slow us down. Although it has changed how we execute business on a day-to-day basis, we are able to practice the necessary mitigation measures that allow us to continue training. Our Soldiers who opted in to receiving the COVID vaccine are steadily receiving vaccines. This is hopefully the first step in allowing our Soldiers to return to normal routines. China Battalion welcomed CPT Shawn Borland and his family to the “CAN DO” team as he assumed command of Bravo Company. We were fortunate to keep the former “Bandit 6”, CPT Robbie Wright, who assumed command of Headquarters & Headquarters Company. We are excited to see both Bandit Company and Hell Raiser Company continue to grow under CPT Borland’s and CPT Wright’s leadership. CSM Paske and I would like to thank you all for your continued support of the China Team. We are truly excited and honored to be a part of this great organization. Rock of the Marne! Send Me! Can Do! LTC Brian Fisher “China 6”

Active Battalion Photos of the Quarter

Left - Chaplain (CPT) Pennell leads a group of China Soldiers in the Wild Blue Adventure Park and Ropes Course on 12

March.

Right - On 8-12 March, the China Battalion Signal Team participated in the Brigade

Retransmission Academy.

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April 2021

Riding the Dragon Part IV Submitted by John Lagow

In the Army you practice being miserable—in the Infantry you get good at it. January began with intensified preparations for and conduct of high-level inspections. Included in these inspections were personnel management procedures, individual and unit equipment and the dreaded CMMI (Command Maintenance Management Inspection (often referred to by us as “dip stick drill” as we checked and rechecked oil levels so often we wore out the dip sticks on the vehicles). After all these inspections the Battalion was given an A-OK evaluation in all areas inspected meaning go back to work. Wintertime was maneuver time in Germany, and we took to the field again for the 3rd ID FTX “Marne Might” in mid-January. When returning from major field exercises personal and unit equipment, and especially the vehicles, need maintenance and cleaning so the inspection process begins yet again to prepare for the next deployment whatever that may be. On January 31st, another detachment of the battalion commanded by Capt. James M. Tucker, CO Company C journeyed to France. This time, the detachment carried the Division colors as they paraded through the streets of Colmar. Thousands of townspeople crowded the way to applaud the 15th Infantry

China Battalion executed its first installment of the 3-15IN Team Leader Academy in early February. This event focused on combat marksmanship and physical fitness led by instructors from the Ranger Marksmanship Program and 3-15 IN senior non-commissioned officers.

China Soldiers host the Rick Ware Racing Team Military Salutes Program on 22 March. 3-15IN displayed a variety of combat vehicles, weapons systems, and equipment for the racing team’s drivers, pit crew, and staff.

Left - Can Do Gulf War Veterans visit the China Battalion on 26 February

Right - SPC Linder,

A/3-15IN, earns the coveted Expert Infantry Badge at Fort Benning, GA on 5 February.

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April 2021

as part of the 3rd Infantry Division who had battled twenty years ago through the woods and villages surrounding Colmar, France. I was not along for this parade. In mid-February until nearly the end of March “Task Force Can Do”, a force of about 300 men, under the command of Capt. Bobby Hanna, CO, Company A, proceeded to Grafenwöhr to support the Division Tank Gunnery Program. We saw this as “gofer work” for the “Tread Heads” but carried out our assigned duties. Working around the clock through ice and snow, fog, wind, and all other winter weather elements of Grafenwöhr we hustled ammunition, repaired, and replaced targets, ran communication operations, provided warming tents, policed ranges, and provided whatever other tasks were required by the firing units. We were duly recognized by praise from various commanding officers for “our aggressiveness and efficiency in doing an outstanding job for what may have been sullenly undertaken as a housekeeping chore”. This is where the practice to be miserable came in. As a further reward we left Grafenwöhr and went straight to rejoin the rest of the battalion in Hohenfels for more winter weather fun and games (training). The Mechanized Infantry Squad Proficiency Course was the focus of this visit with twenty-two of the twenty-eight squads in the battalion having successfully completed the course. These squads were rewarded with the distinctive blue silhouette of an M113 stenciled on the squad vehicle to indicate their success. C Company took away the honor of high squad in the battalion and the Company was also high Company in the Battalion and 2nd Brigade. The final event of the Hohenfels visit was the live fire firepower demonstration employing all weapons and weapons systems available to an infantry battalion. Impressive.

Live fire firepower demonstration Lagow third from left in photo

As this training cycle ended and the Battalion prepared to return to home station Kitzingen, there was “a decided increase in activity and apprehension that descended upon the Battalion”. The reason for this excitement was a proposed 117-mile foot march from Hohenfels to Kitzingen. Supposedly men of the battalion secretly signed a petition to be presented to LTC Jones requesting that the Battalion march from Hohenfels to Kitzingen. “Morale and espirited corps were never higher”. Funny thing is I do not remember signing or even seeing such a petition. Oh well, here we go. In the infantry you walk so this was no big deal to me or anyone else in the unit although we reportedly broke some peacetime distance marching record. We departed on April 3rd and arrived at Harvey Barracks, Kitzingen, on April 8th. Amid fanfare that included fights of Mohawk aircraft, helicopters Division and Brigade commanders, all units stationed at the barracks, civilians, and family members as we marched through the gates and were welcomed by all and commended by the chain of command for our accomplishment. A real dog and pony show, but it felt good to be standing tall and looking good. After the glow of success wore off, we were once again faced with the reality and associated problems of

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garrison life. More intense focus on vehicle and equipment maintenance consumed the month of April and led into an area beatification effort. How do you beautify a motor pool or track park? Flowers stuck in the exhaust pipes, I guess. April also gave way to thoughts about EIB (Expert Infantry Badge} training programs which would intensify until final testing in June. The EIB is awarded for demonstrated proficiency in individual infantry related skills. Physical endurance as well as measured and rated evaluation of subjects were conducted through the company to division level for consideration of the award at final testing site, in this instance Wurzburg 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters. This training and testing for the EIB continues to this day in the Army and some say the EIB is harder to get but less dangerous that receiving the CIB (Combat Infantry Badge). During this time, in conjunction with EIB training and day to day duties, I became a member of a marching team preparing to compete in an international marching competition to be held in the Netherlands. This was a team of eleven members identified as the “Can Do Walking Devils”, I never cared for that label as we were not walking but marching and why not “Marching Dragons” or Dog Face Marching Dragons, anything but “Walking Devils”? We marched a good many miles in preparation for the competition and the team leader Sgt. Abe T. Van Der Werf of C Company was an outstanding leader. We took pride in the team and wanted to do our absolute best to represent the 15th Infantry. I never knew how I was selected for the team, but the team was composed of members from throughout the battalion. We were the only American team invited to the competition so the pressure was on to prove we “Can Do”. We did.

Team members left to right Sp4 Washington Wright, Sp4 Henry Daniel, Pfc Stanley Sparks, Sp4 Jerry Whitehead, Sp4 Harry Stevenson, Pfc Donald Page, Pfc Clifford Stately, Sp4 Lawrence Shelby, Sp4 John Lagow, Sp4 John Holler and NCO in charge Sgt. Abe Van Der Werf

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April 2021

40 Kilometers in 5 Hours ten Minutes

On May 1st we arrived in Ede, Netherlands, and were invited guests, spectators, at a parade given in honor of the birthday of Queen Juliana. We were hosted by members of the Dutch Army and invited to the home of Sgt. Maj. Lulofs for coffee. The Sgt. Maj. Would also be a march competition participant. To reinforce the Dutch American relations a Marine First-Class Martin Jackson of the Royal Dutch Marines, he was granted his request to march with our team as an individual participant.

Marching team ready to go including Royal Dutch Marine First Class Martin Jackson (standing far right)

At the conclusion of the march competition, we were rated excellent in uniformity and cadence, won the distance trophy for being the fastest traveling team (40 kilometers in 5 hours 10 minutes), took the first-place military team trophy, and the trophy for completing the march without any dropouts. Sgt Van Der Werf won an individual team award for best leadership and team control.

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April 2021

We spent four days living and eating with members of Royal Dutch troops at their barracks facility. In the infantry, especially, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so it goes almost without saying I had difficulty dealing with their breakfast buffet of boiled eggs, cold cuts, cheeses, butter, bread and huge serving pans of chocolate and various other flavored sprinkles, a Dutch twist on SOS. The idea was to pour large amounts of the sugary sprinkles over buttered bread with the cold cuts and cheese. With breakfast aside over all we had an enjoyable experience and great time and yet another victory reception when we arrived back at Harvey Barracks.

Chappy’s Message By Chuck Trout

“THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER” On March 4th, 1921, 100 years ago, Congress approved the creation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. The name has since been changed to “the Tomb of the Unknowns.” In October 1921, the initial Unknown Soldier was selected from four bodies retrieved from four different cemeteries in France. As part of the selection process, a soldier placed white roses on one of the caskets which was then transported to Washington D.C. This was the first “Unknown Soldier.” In 1926, soldiers from Fort Myer, Virginia, started guarding the Tomb in daytime hours. Then, in 1937, the Tomb was guarded 24 hours every day by members of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment which became the Army’s Official Ceremonial Unit. In August 1956, President Eisenhower approved the selection and internment of unknowns from World War II and Korea. On May 17, 1984, a set of remains from the Vietnam War was selected for the Arlington National Cemetery. Today, a vacant crypt at the Tomb of the Unknowns, represents all missing U.S. troops of the Vietnam War. Soldiers, who guard the Tomb, undergo a “strict selection process and intense training.” During their watch, guards march back and forth in front of the tomb much like a 21-gun salute, soldiers take 21 steps each time they march in front of the monument. My dream is that one day all our children and grandchildren will not only know about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” but also realize that no soldier should be unknown. Every freedom we enjoy today is

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possible because of our unselfish military. How do we repay them for the birthday’s celebrations and graduations they missed? For that spouse who had to have that child alone and serve as both mother and father as their spouse was in some foreign country defending our freedoms. We repay them by remembering and saying, “Thank You!” while they are still with us! God Bless all our Military and their families! Your chaplain, Chuck Trout

Regimental Photos

On a rainy 25 June 2020, Association LM LTC Matt Makaryk took command of the 1st Bn-54th Security Force Assistance Brigade at Kelly Hill, Fort Benning Georgia. The ceremony took place across the street from the SSG Gus Kefurt Gym. The ceremony included uncasing the Battalion Colors and company guidons as this was the activation ceremony for the new unit. Kelley Hill, the former home of 1-15 IN, has been taken over by much of the 1st SFAB since the departure of the 3rd Bde-3ID. LTC Makaryk previously served as the S3 and XO of 1-15 IN. Best of luck to LTC Makaryk!

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April 2021

15th Infantry Regiment Association Tom Heitzer, Database Administrator 231 Normandie Dr

Bonne Terre, MO 63628

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid

Permit #111 Bonne Terre, MO

Address Service Requested