Saber Column Nov - Dec 2009

0100 - “When soldiers have been baptized in the fire of a battlefield, they have all one rank in my eyes.” - Napoleon Bonaparte. Hey Sailor, new in town? “Just drinking” dark beer “and telling white lies.” “Walk the words you talk and talk the words you walk”, words worth saving for you from my Chinese restaurant fortune cookie. Most items are edited for length or clarity.

0211 - It is with the deepest regret that I must inform you of the passing in Quest, Iraq, of Staff Sergeant Bradley ESPINOZA 26, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Cavalryman Espinoza was disarming an improvised explosive device when it exploded. He entered the Army as a combat engineer in 2002 and has been stationed at Ft Hood since. He was on his third deployment to Iraq and leaves a wife Maria, also in the Army, a 6 year old daughter Celeste and a 3 year old son Joseph. The awards and decorations of SSgt Espinoza include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and others.

0411 - The date has been changed for the Charlie 1-12 Company Reunion according to Cliff PENA> C 1-12 Cav. The new dates are 15, 16, and 17 September 2010 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Company Banquet will be held on Friday, September 17th. Please note that the hosting hotel has been changed; information about the new hotel will be announced as soon as that information becomes available. For information call or write the 'usual suspects.' Don't ask me because until I know more I will have to go Sgt Schultz on you!

0611 - <www.suicidewall.com/welcome.html> sent in by George GIUSTI> HHC 2-12. There has been lots of talk going around among the internetters that I have shared it with. Go see for yourself and make up your own mind; I am here to instruct, not to lead. “Dedicated to memorializing Vietnam Veterans who have taken their own lives, to gather their names and offer the stories for others... This site will serve as the electronic equivalent of the proposed Suicide Wall. Its purpose is to promote awareness of this issue and to encourage healing. It provides a system for the online registration of the names of Vietnam Veterans who killed themselves after the war, to determine how many there were, to memorialize their loss, and to resolve that the USA will never again risk the lives of its soldiers in a war unless it is willing to prosecute that war with full resolve.”

0811 - <www.safeandsoundjoinus.com> Sent in by Bob CAMPEAU> D 2-12. In conjunction with 'Uncharted Waters' and Military.Com, 'Safe and Sound Benefit Campaign' seeks “to inform the American public of the need and existence of certain benevolent foundations that aid in the rehabilitation of our wounded veterans and their families. After years of war and tens of thousands of wounded and injured men and women, there is a tremendous need for services that fall outside those of the VA. It is our hope that the Safe and Sound Campaign will be able help deliver some of those services to our veterans and their families.” Songs may be downloaded onsite from artists supporting the military, to include Willie Nelson and others with “70¢ of every dollar paid for the downloads (of music) will go directly to foundations that we felt were underfunded and that serve specific needs of the veterans and their families.”

1011 - From Thomas CRABTREE> C 1-12. LZ Branson 12^th Cav Regiment Gathering is confirmed for 16-19 September 2010, in Branson, Missouri. “We had 52 this past year, our 4th Annual. It was a small yet Good Gathering, as always when 12th Cav Troopers congregate. We would like to see the 5th Year be the best yet!” Anyone with alternate sites in mind, please contact organizers: Terry COMBS, Frank GREENLEAF, Mike BARBER, Paul ESKRIDGE, Doug WARDEN or Tom CRABTREE with specifics and a plan to accomplish the necessary work.

1211 - From Robert W. GARBACZ Sr.> A & E 1/12. Cav Sgt Robert M. "Vito" AYJIAN, 59, passed away on 6 October 2009. “We met in the fall of 69, we hit it off right away, him being out going and me a little bit more reserved. We left Grant and went north, he didn't like the idea of being on LZ's getting mortared, rocketed, and sapper attacks all the time. He decided to transfer to the Recon platoon, and I did too, as the Forward Observer, he humped the M-60. We went and started working the different assigned AO's; we did a stint on Nui Ba Rah (mountain), going up and down blowing caves and tunnels when the call came for the Cambodian Incursion. Those next 60 days were the worst we saw, ambushes every other night and sometimes into the next day. He didn't care for that either, so he told me he was going to transfer to Alpha Co, he did and I stayed with Recon. We saw each other every now and then, and we even did a mission with Alpha Co a couple of times. When it was time for me to go back to the World, he helped me get on the Caribou to take me to the DEROS Center to come home. Over the years he and I visited each other, his place my place, all over the country over the years, year after year - his place, my place, we talked on the phone all the time. There is so much to say about a friend, one could fill a book about ones feelings of a Brother from war.”

1411 - <http://www.beforeyougo.us/play_byg_vn> The Vietnam War Version of "Before You Go", a tribute and thank-you to Veterans of the Vietnam War. Please enjoy at your leisure and responsibly. If you think I am focused on the Vietnam War, change that focus by sending me current material.

1611 - AF Press Service; “The National Call for Photos, a campaign to gather images of the more than 58,000 men and women whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, was launched Sept 17 by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and FedEx Office. FedEx Office will use its locations across the country to help in gathering photos. The VVMF is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, promoting healing and educating people about the impact of the Vietnam War. The fund's latest initiative is The Education Center at The Wall, designed to help visitors discover the stories of those named on The Wall and celebrate the values embodied by service members from all of America's wars. Exhibits will include a wall of photographs of people whose names are on The Wall, a selection of the more than 100,000 items that have been left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a timeline of key military events of the Vietnam War and a history of the memorial. The center also will celebrate the values embodied by America's service members: loyalty, duty, respect, service, honor, integrity and courage, officials said. An exit exhibit will show images of those who have served in America's conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq.”

1711 - Congratulations and best wishes to the 1-12 NCO of the Year nominees: SSG CHAVIS -Delta Company is the maintenance NCO on COP Scorpion. SFC CLIATT-Echo Company currently serves as the senior Non-Commissioned Officer of White Platoon, E Co, 1-12 Cavalry. SFC KORN-215th Easy Company is assigned as the Headquarters Maintenance Motor Sergeant for E FSC, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, in support of 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion. SSG MARTINEZ- Bravo Company of the Reaper platoon has found a new way of winning the war without the Tanks. SFC SWIFT-Echo Company distinguished himself while serving as the senior NCO in First Platoon, Echo Company, 1-12 Cavalry during its current deployment ISO OIF.

1811 - No. 776-09 October 08, 2009, The Department of Defense announced major units scheduled to deploy as part of the next force rotation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. One is the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, containing the 2-12 Battalion of the 12^th Cavalry. These units will serve as advice and assist brigades and will replace redeploying units, with no increase in overall force levels. The scheduled rotation for these forces will begin in the summer of 2010. Plan how you can support our deploying men and women and their families in whatever manner is fitting to you, and is within your means. The Regiment Assoc has our Trooper Support fund and other groups and sites have ways also. Choose what is right for you and carry through.

1911 - Medal of Honor recipient SGT John P. BACA, D 1-12 Cavalry, 10 February 1970 spent a day at WRAMC (Walter Reed) touring inpatient wards and then going to the Warrior Transition Brigade’s (WT) outpatient lodging facilities where more than 800 outpatient Wounded Warriors are in transition to their future lives. Approximately 80% of the WW-WT’s are disability retired from the Army. Jon DODSON, John's onetime D1-12 platoon leader, serves as a full time volunteer assisting the Wounded Warriors (and their families) from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) as they all cope with horrific wound injuries. The Wounded Warrior Mentor Program (WWMP) of 100% full time volunteers is a program for service members who were wounded/injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. WWMP provides a trusted, one-on-one relationship; an adviser who will assist the WW-WTs through a trusting bond between the Mentor and the WW, while planning a productive and meaningful life and profession and assisting the WW-WT's in navigating the complex military medical system to include the Disability Evaluation system and the VA’s disability compensation system.

2011 - Do you need a 12th Cav Regiment patch or window decal? Look no further than: 12th Cavalry Regiment Patch Insignia @ $5 <http://www.campaigncasuals.com/12carepain.html>, 12th Cavalry Regiment Window Decal Decal <http://www.military-graphics.com/army_unit4.html> from a low of 1x1/12in @ $2.25, to a high of 18in @ $20 (at the current rate of exchange.)

2111 - <http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html> Help in researching your military records, DD214, 201, unit records and unit histories, morning reports and rosters, etc, is available here. I took the advice of Scribe Bob Anderson and started the process for myself. It was almost painless and took less time than it does to write this. I only needed to print the signature form and mail it off. However, be fully aware: “Since the 1970s, our standard procedure for replying to requests for entire files has been to provide only copies of key documents and extracts of vital information, rather than a copy of every document in a personnel and/or medical file. This approach avoids costly delays in reviewing and copying some documents -such as leave papers, identification card applications, and clothing issuances – that are not normally needed for benefit claim purposes. As a result, we are able to respond to more requesters, faster, and at less cost to the taxpayers. If, after receiving an extract of a file, a requester submits a follow-up request for additional information or documents, NPRC will automatically send copies of all the other documents in the file. Until recently, we did not explain this policy when responding to requesters. As of September 28, 2009, all responses that contain file extracts include an explanation of the policy.”

2211 - Our 63rd Annual Reunion in Bloomington, Minnesota 2-6 June, 2010 is all planned up and splashed in the Saber and on the website. Have you made plans and your reservations to attend? I have had friends tell me they have and are prepared. Are you? Failure to plan and call will mean you cannot go-go or will be stuck trying to find rooms farther away and off site, missing all the friends and troopers you would otherwise see and rub elbows with constantly. I have had/done it each way and while each was enjoyable to me at the time, once I bit the bullet and stayed in the host hotel, my enjoyment spiked to unforeseen heights. Plus you only need move your auto when you need fresh beer (or 'bath oil'.) Your friends, fellows, comrades, buddies, the ones you see and read of in the Saber, view on TV and exchange email with will be there, with you or without you present. Heck's fire, you might even get real lucky and meet me! (Sorry, no autographs to those over 18.)

2300 - Pictures are from Jon Dodson, Roland SANDOR> B & HHC 1/12 Cav (who has promised me more!) and the John & Lydia RAMSDEN collection. Picket Line, 2^nd from right is thought to be 'Peardson'.

2399 - (That's Postal time, 99 hundreds to the hour) To all my faithful readers, let me wish you the very Merriest of Christmas's in a warm dwelling free from want and care, in the bosom of your family and friends with fine food and drink, lovingly prepared and served. Burke's Law says if you didn't participate fully and willingly in the preparation, it is your responsibly to wash the dishes. I shall be watching 'Holiday Inn' & 'White Christmas' while swilling nog of the egg and chomping on luscious fruity-cake! If you want a white Christmas I hope you get it; if you want 90 degrees and a southwest breeze, I hope you get that too. As veterans we don't need to be told to remember our Troopers – we have been there and done that in our time also. Read your 'A Soldier's Christmas', pause and remember Christmas's past and present, and say a prayer in your faith for the safety and well being of every man and woman in military service, and each member of their family. I'll check in next year to see how you made out. Finis.