12th Cavalry News - Saber Column
January - February 2009
Ken Howser
0001 Journal Opened. Hey Sailor, new in town? You are military – I don't need explain 'space available' do I? Any needing clarification of items feel free to connect to the LZ Grant homepage via the addresses above. Note: all email states the sender is Sgt Rock, I have no civilian name. Those already in my vast e-address book get emailed Div, Regt and Bn updates as soon as I receive them, no one gets first preference. If this is good for you, shoot we an email and I will put you in the First-to-Know Wiki; I am worth every penny that they pay me.
0002 12-12-2008 marked the return of the 1/12 Cav and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division to Iraq as the first flights winged east from Ft Hood. You will remember that 2/12 Cav has been in Iraq since June. The 2nd and 1st BCT's will follow in order throughout Dec, Jan, and Feb until all are in place. Remember them and their families in your daily thoughts and prayers and support them in the manner of your choice. The Regt Assoc Trooper Support Fund is again activated and can use the donations of us all, to include our time. There is always need of troopers nationwide to be available for call if tragedy befalls. The Regiment Association has made and continues to make a conscious effort to see no 12th Cav trooper make their final ride alone and we ask for you to volunteer for this service to our brothers.
0003 The 12th family has lots of mourning this period. The 2/12 Battalion, 4th BCT in Iraq lost one of their own to an accident on 20 November, Pvt Charles Yi Barnett, 19. He was a resident of Bel Air, MD and came from a military family and background. His brother serves in the Air Force. Charles enlisted at 18 after earning his GED. He was a caring son and brother and had many friends. A man of some talent though no formal training he drew comics and super heroes, self portraits and abstracts of friends, and loved playing video games. He hoped to attend college after his military experience. The HCOTR and I attended the various services to his honor and memory and were his outriders to Fiddlers Green.
We obtained a picture as promised from Recon Jim Breen of Butch Hawthorn, whose untimely demise was noted last issue. Two former members of C 1/12 Cav are also noted as passing; Kenneth Walker and Leroy Shabram. From Al & Tweek VanDan: “Kenneth Walker, NJ, died of a massive heart attack. He would have been 62 on New Year's Eve. He served in C from Feb 1968 to Feb 1969 and during TET 68. He was awarded the Bronze Star w/V when he helped recover the bodies of two fellow C Co KIA's in May of 1968. He had no family and no survivors. His neighbors were cleaning out his apartment when they found the album he made of C Co pictures that we had sent him and the letters they'd exchanged in the past few years. The neighbor said he cried every time he read the letters. They wanted Alan to know that Kenny died considering Alan his 'brother.'
Leroy Shabram, 61 served as as an assistant gunner for the 2nd platoon gun squad in 1968 and HHC 1st BDE in 1969. He was intending to attend his first 'Cav' reunion this year when he found out he had an Agent Orange related cancer and needed chemo instead. He lost his battle with cancer on December 14th. He was a farmer and tractor mechanic in Neligh, NE, survived by 4 sons and a daughter and extended family in the area. While Leroy was in a hospital in Omaha, his wife was shot in the chest by a purse snatcher in the hospital parking. She was released in mid November.
0004 The 2/12 FRG has designed and fabricated a striking metal ornament that all 12th Cav troopers will wish to add to their collections of military goods. It is a stylized Regimental crest of good size and quality to put on your tree, window, wall, in your truck, or slide on a cord and wear it around you neck as a medallion. The lovely is for purchase at $12 inclusive, payable by check or money order to the following address: <Address Redacted>.
0005 “Updated 24 December 2008 Thunderhorse friends and families - the Battalion and your Soldier will get a well-deserved period of a few days enjoying Christmas alongside his fellow Soldiers and friends as well as communicate back home with family and loved ones. On Christmas Day, your Soldier will get a gift out from under a Christmas tree followed by a terrific and plentiful Christmas meal. All around the battalion, company, combat outposts and joint security stations - decorations are creatively displayed and showcased. Additionally, we've delivered everyones' mail and packages. Finally, everyone has good access to the internet and phones, so you should be getting regular email and calls from your Soldier.
We're all doing well at the 6-month mark of the deployment. Since Thanksgiving, we've had many visitors to include Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki. After the Christmas break, we'll be working to ensure successful provincial elections in Muthanna and Dhi Qhar, which are set for the end of January. These elections are similar to what we would think of as state senatorial elections. The party which wins the most seats on the provincial council will most likely be able to determine who will be the next provincial governor. The Iraqi Army, Police, and Iraqi High Election Commission are already hard at work in preparation for what we're sure is going to be a great day. Your Soldier will play an important role in a critical milestone of a democratic Iraq.”
0006 "Chapter #110 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Battle Creek, MI will provide a FREE lifetime membership within the Order to any 12th Cav trooper that has been awarded the Purple Heart and has not already enrolled in the organization. Applicants should contact Roger L. Kehrier with their mailing address for an application. Upon receipt, the application should be filled out by the applicant and returned to Roger along with a copy of either the applicant's General Orders for the Purple Heart and/or his/her discharge papers (these are the ONLY acceptable documents to join the MOPH). The MOPH currently has approximately 42,000 members nationwide.” <Address Redacted>.
0007 Kenneth Kreidell “was HHC 1/12 from October 71 to June of 72 when the first Cav stood down. I was at Bein Hoa, Tuy Hoa, and Pleiku, Artillery Hill, FSB Gibraltar and Bunker Hill. I did some traveling with the Air Cav, not a greater bunch of guys did I meet. I was medically retired in 1985 just a few years short of 20. Would love to hear from some guys that remember those times; some good some not so good. My youngest son, Walter Kreidell, is doing his boot camp as we speak at Parris Island, wanting to follow in his grandfathers foot steps (he was named after him), a great Marine wounded 4 times in WW2.' <Address Redacted>.
0009 “I was in B 1/12 1965-66 and I'm always looking for people who served with me who I may remember.” <Tom Karnes <Address Redacted>.
While I was in DELTA we had two MOH recipients--Rod Evans on 18 July 1969 (posthumous) was our 3rd platoon 1st squad leader and John Baca -- 90mm recoilless rifle gunner from (also) 3rd platoon. Am 100% VA disabled from my wounds--I do not work for money anymore but instead work as an (unpaid volunteer) employee of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), assisting our seriously wounded soldiers and their families from Iraq & Afghanistan. Actually go on inpatient rounds once a week despite not having any formal medical education--only vicariously as a patient! Lt Jon Dodson. <Address Redacted> Please respond positively to these troopers and make them smile.
0014 Vietnam Veterans Day weekend 28-29 March 2009 in Crossville TN. <Food, vendors, parade, concert, brotherhood> in conjunction with Native American Veterans Honor Pow Wow, honoring all vets of any/all conflicts. <Exhibitions, dancers, entertainers, storytellers, vendors> I cannot rate high enough the opening ceremonies to a pow wow for any veteran. http://ccvietnamvets.com/. <Dann Dunham <Address Redacted>.
0015 Get out the wallet and credit card to support the FRG of 1/12, the 1-12 Cav online store is open. A wide range of 1-12 themed goods are available for the discerning connoisseur. http://www.cafepress.com/1stcav12threg Here is a link to pictures of the Casing of the Colors Ceremony, 1/12 Cav http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/media/pictures/2008/casing/slideshow.htm
0016 It is not to early to commit to the reunion at Ft Hood this year. The active folks won't be there but everyone else will be. Don't put it off each year and never get to attend a reunion. Invite all the old crew and arrange to meet and talk there. If they cannot make it, persons who were there in differing outfits will be there and they are just as interesting and sympathetic, and had like experiences as did you. Who better to understand you and your life experiences that another vet? Make this year, THE year! Nothing of note happened the rest of the day, write if you get work. 2400 Journal Closed.