THE 7th INfANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION Volume xxV No. 2 The Cottonbaler Spring 2014 THE COTTONBALER WAR Of 1812 MExICAN-AMERI- CAN WAR CIVIL WAR INDIAN WARS SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR PHILIPPINE IN- SURRECTION WW I WW II KOREA VIETNAM COLD WAR SOUTHWEST ASIA IRAQ 3-7 IN Change of Command Ceremony
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WAR Of 1812 WW I MExICAN-AMERI- WW II CAN … · Volume xxV No. 2 The Cottonbaler Spring 2014 THE COTTONBALER WAR Of 1812 MExICAN-AMERI-CAN WAR CIVIL WAR INDIAN WARS SPANISH-AMERICAN
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While material received for publication is screened for relevance,
good taste and general content, the Editor is not responsible for its tech-
nical accuracy. If readers wish to challenge the accuracy of an article
published in The Cottonbaler, whether contributed by an Association
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so by writing to the Editor and explaining the basis for the challenge.
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Fox Company conduct hand grenade qualification alongwith a grenade assault course.
7th Infantry Regiment Association Page 4
Volume xxV No. 2 The Cottonbaler Spring 2014
Greetings to all the members of the 7th In-
fantry Regiment Association (Cottonbalers)
and my sincere best wishes that you and
your families are all doing well.
At this writing, there are 31 days of winter left in
2014, one of the most severe winters we have had as
a country in some time. I pray all Cottonbalers
across the country have been able to negotiate the
winter storms safely, with health and happiness.
I am pleased to report, that we have kicked off our
efforts in support of the 7th Infantry Regiment As-
sociation (Cottonbalers) Vision 2020, our plan to
perpetuate a viable and cohesive organization for
the purpose of enjoying the camaraderie for having
served in the Premier Regiment of the United
States Army, and to maintain the traditions of the
Regiment in the years to come.
Father Phil Salois, our 2nd Vice President and
Chaplain, is chairing our Membership Committee.
The focus of the Membership Committee is to get
our Association’s name into every form of media we
can, using the upcoming Regimental Bicentennial
Reunion in New Orleans as the catalyst. The goal is
to improve our reunion attendance and at the same
time recruit potential new members. The Regiment
and the Association need your help with this mis-
sion essential task. If you are interested in working
to maintain the traditions of the Regiment and the
viability of the 7th Infantry Regiment Association
(Cottonbalers) please contact Father Phil or me.
We want to thank General John LeMoyne, our Hon-
orary Colonel of the Regiment, and Gene Owen for
being the Associations Liaison Officers with the Ac-
tive Duty Battalions. General Lemoyne and Gene
attended the Redeployment of the 3rd Battalion in
November and the 3rd Battalion’s Banquet in Jan-
uary. The 3rd Battalion changed command 30 Jan-
uary, 2014. We salute the outgoing 3rd Battalion
Commander, LTC Greg Bell, and CSM Jeff Dilling-
ham for their outstanding service to the Regiment
and the Association. We wish them both Godspeed
in their future assignments and look forward to
their continued association with the Cottonbalers.
We welcome LTC Scott Shaw, the new 3rd Battal-
ion Commander, and the new 3rd Battalion Com-
mand Sergeant Major, CSM Todd Galindo to the
Regiment and the Association.
As you can see by our Treasurer Ron Bertha’s Fi-
nancial Report the Boswell Scholarship Fund bal-
ance is now over $110,000.00. What a great
accolade for the Regiment, our membership and the
Scholarship Fund! Please help promote the use of
the Scholarship Fund. Look to the newsletter and
the web page for details on how association mem-
bers and their families can plug into this tremen-
dous resource. The Associations Board of Directors
has convened a team to look into the future of the
Boswell Scholarship Fund and make recommenda-
tions concerning expansion of eligibility, times a
person can apply for an award and other actions to
make the Scholarship Fund work for our member-
ship and their families. If you have questions or
ideas to share concerning the scholarship fund, con-
tact the Fund Administrator Ernie Jackson, our
Treasurer Ron Bertha or our 1st Vice President Joe
Washart. Don’t forget to give to the Boswell Schol-
arship Fund.
The Board of Directors approved the dates of the
2015 Regimental Bicentennial Reunion being 28-31
May 2015 in New Orleans . Mark your calendars
now! Find an old or young Damn Fine Soldier that
you served with and get them to come with you!
We are making plans to make this an event worthy
of the Premier Regiment in the United States Army
Celebrating its 200th Anniversary. You don’t want
Association President Dave Jensen
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
continued next page
7th Infantry Regiment Association Page 5
Volume xxV No. 2 The Cottonbaler Spring 2014
Greeting Cotton-
balers! I hope that
you are able to
enjoy the spring weather
that should be arriving the
same time this Newsletter
arrives. I know that I’m
certainly looking forward to
that day. It’s a sunny 60
degree day here in the DC
area, but they are calling
for more snow in the next
week!
With our next reunion
scheduled for the end of
May 2015, in New Orleans,
it is doubly important that you
return the Absentee Ballots that are in this issue.
The Board and Officers have set the dates of the
Reunion to be 28-31 May 2015. We are going to
New Orleans! It is only fitting that the Associa-
tion goes back to New Orleans during the Bicen-
tennial year of the Battle of New Orleans where
we got our nickname, the Cottonbalers. The Hotel
and activities haven’t been decided yet, but we are
already starting to plan the reunion. If you have
any suggestions on what activities you would like
to see at the Reunion, please
contact either myself or
Dave Jensen.
I want to welcome LTC Scott
Shaw to the Regiment and the
Association. LTC Shaw is the
new Commander of 3-7 INF.
In addition, please welcome
his Command Sergeant
Major, CSM Todd Galindo.
I would also like to send my
sincerest condolences to Jim
Beckworth for the loss of his
wife, Erna Beckworth. I met
her at several reunion and
she was a true lady. I’m sure
that I speak for all Cottonbalers when I say that
her loss saddens us all. ♦
EDITOR’S NOTES....by David Spanburg
to miss this! If you are interested in working with
the planning group for the reunion contact me, or
any member of the Board of Directors.
Finally, I want to express the gratitude and con-
gratulations of the entire membership of the 7th In-
fantry Regiment Association (Cottonbalers) to one
of our own, Isadore L. Valenti who on 27 January
2014 celebrated his 100th birthday. Well done Cot-
tonbaler!
Thanks for all you do!
Cottonbalers by God!
VOLENS ET POTENS!
Dave ♦A well-camouflaged D/3-7 IN soldier lies in wait on the
ambush line
The Cottonbaler Editor David Spanburg
President’s Comments continued from pg. 4
7th Infantry Regiment Association Page 6
Volume xxV No. 2 The Cottonbaler Spring 2014
Greetings to the Soldiers, Fami-
lies, and friends of the Cotton-
balers! These past three
months have been extremely busy for
the battalion. We have made the tran-
sition from the reset tasks associated
with redeployment and we have now
begun our collective training efforts in
earnest. We have spent a good
amount of time out in the field train-
ing marksmanship and critical indi-
vidual/collective tasks. These efforts
culminated in Fire Team and Squad
Live Fire Training Exercises for our
Infantry Companies in January.
Across the board, Soldiers are happy to get back to
the field and do what they joined the Army to do –
train to be ready for the next fight.
As we look ahead to the next few months, the bat-
talion will be focused on executing crew gunnery.
Every crew in the battalion will have the opportu-
nity to train and qualify on our mounted platforms:
our Bradleys, tanks, and other selected tracked and
wheeled vehicles. After gunnery, we will transition
to maneuver training. We execute our Company &
Battalion Field Train Exercise in May. We’ll then
move on to execute a training rotation out at the
National Training Center (NTC) in August. We are
fortunate to have the resources and opportunity to
train – your Cottonbalers are focused and will be
trained and ready for the next fight!
We are seeing a transition in company leadership
over these first few months of 2014. I want to thank
three of our company commanders who are moving
on: CPT MacHarrie (HHC/2-7IN), CPT Charlie
Brown (C/2-7IN), and CPT Charlie Cornaire (F/2-
7IN). I thank them for their service to this battalion
and for all they have done to take care of our Sol-
diers and Families. We welcome aboard three new
company commanders: CPT Mark May (HHC/2-
7IN), CPT Walt Biner (C/2-7IN), and CPT Adrian
Spears (F/2-7IN). I also want to wel-
come LTC Scott Shaw to the Regiment
– I have no doubt that he’ll provide
outstanding leadership to the Cotton-
balers of 3-7 Infantry.
Finally, I never pass up an opportunity
to publicly thank our Families, FRG
leaders, and the 7th Infantry Regi-
ment Association for all that they do to
keep our battalion strong. COTTON-
BALERS BY GOD!
Headhunters Company(CPT MacHarrie)
Greetings Cottonbalers, Family and friends! Head-
hunters Company continues to train and prepare
for its upcoming Gunnery in mid-March of 2014.
The Soldiers continue to work hard every day in
order to complete the battalion’s reset requirements
before next year. Over the past few months the Sol-
diers have spent countless hours conducting main-
tenance on vehicles in preparation for future
training missions. In December, the company con-
ducted Basic Rifle Marksmanship in order to de-
velop, train, and maintain the basic fundamentals
which make us professional and proficient War-
riors.
As we get closer and closer to our NTC rotation,
quality time with family still remains a very im-
portant topic within our team. We will continue to
balance the quality time our Soldiers have with
their Families, while ensuring that the company is
prepared for any and all future missions. Specific
guidance has been given to all levels of leadership
within the Headhunters Company to ensure that
Soldier’s time is not wasted away from home. In ad-
Period of Service and Unit with 7th Infantry: _____________________________________________
Highest Grade achieved in military service: ________________________________________________
Membership Category: Regular q Life: q
Dues (See Rates in Box at Right): $_______________________
Donation to Boswell Scholarship Fund: $_______________________
Contribution to Operating Expenses: $_______________________
Total Enclosed: $_______________________
Make check payable to: “7th Infantry Regiment Association”
Mail to: Roland Merson, Secretary, 60 Tipper Drive, Dryfork, WV 26263
Dues Rates:Regular: $20/YearLife Memberships:Over Age 70: $100Age 60-70: $175Up to Age 60: $250Active Duty E8-O3: $200Active Duty E7 and Below: $150
7TH Infantry Regiment Association Approved Budget for 2013 andActual Income/Expenses to Date as of 2/22/14
INCOME
Category Budget for 2014 Actual for 2014Reunion Income 0.00 0.00Membership Dues 3,500.00 60.00Donations for Operating Expenses 2,000.00 100.00Donations for Scholarship Fund 2,500.00 150.00Google Advertising Income 100.00 0.00TOTAL INCOME 8,100.00 310.00
EXPENSES
Category Budget for 2014 Actual for 20142013 Reunion Expenses 0.00 0.00Next Reunion Expenses 0.00 0.00Operating Supplies & Services 75.00 0.00Miscellaneous Postage 300.00 0.00Transfer to Scholarship Fund 2,500.00 150.00Support of Active Duty Bns 0.00 0.00Cottonbaler Newsletter (Production and Postage) 4,950.00 820.97Publication of Membership Roster 0.00 0.00Web Site 263.40 21.95Recognition 0.00 0.00Other (Miscellaneous) Expenses 11.60 0.00TOTAL EXPENSES 8,100.00 992.92
Balance in Checking Account (as of 22 Feb 14) = $8,328.31
Volume xxV No. 2 The Cottonbaler Spring 2014
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDITWar of 1812
Canada
New Orleans
Florida 1814
Louisiana 1815
Mexican War
Monterey
Vera Cruz
Cerro Gordo
Contreras
Churubusco
Molino del Rey
Chapultepec
Texas 1846
Civil War
Fredericksburg
Murfreesborough
Chancellorsville
Gettysburg
Chickamauga
Chattanooga
Atlanta
New Mexico 1861
New Mexico 1862
Kentucky 1862
Mississippi 1862
Tennessee 1862
Tennessee 1863
Georgia 1864
Indian Wars
Creeks
Seminoles
Little Big Horn
Nez Perces
Utes
Pine Ridge
New Mexico 1860
Wyoming 1866
Montana 1872
War with Spain
Santiago
Philippine Insurrection
Samar 1901
Samar 1902
World War I
Aisne
Champagne-Marne
Aisne-Marne
St. Mihiel
Meuse-Argonne
Champagne 1918
Ile de France 1918
World War II
Algeria-French Morocco
(with arrowhead)
Tunisia
Sicily (with arrowhead)
Naples-Foggia
Anzio (with arrowhead)
Rome-Arno
Southern France
(with arrowhead)
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
Korean War
CCF Intervention
First UN Counteroffensive
CCF Spring Offensive
UN Summer-Fall Offensive
Second Korean Winter
Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
Third Korean Winter
Korea, Summer 1953
Vietnam
Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Southwest Asia
Defense of Saudi Arabia
Liberation and Defense of
Kuwait
Cease-Fire
War on Terrorism
Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn
Operation Enduring Freedom
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
WOODSTOCK, VA
PERMIT #8
The 7Th InfanTry regImenT aSSocIaTIonroland B. merson, Secretary