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TRANSCRIPT
April 2013
1
Fifteenth Infantry Regiment “The Old China Hands”
www.15thinfregtassoc.org April 2013
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Fellow Old China Hands,
Let us keep our soldiers from the 3rd
Battalion in our thoughts as they begin their tour of duty in Afghanistan. I have no doubt they will perform superbly. It is great to have the 1
st Battalion back from its deployment in Kuwait. I know our soldiers have returned well-
trained and that LTC Mueller and CSM Barretto will continue the battalion’s and Regiment’s tradition of excellence in the coming years. Thank you LTC Kraft and CSM Ortiz for your great support of the Association and for continuing the Can Do Regiment’s tradition of excellence!
I continue to await restructuring announcements which may impact our Regiment. My greatest concern is that the 3rd
BCT at Fort Benning could be inactivated. Two things could happen to the 1
st Battalion – it could inactivate or it could move to Fort Stewart and
become the third maneuver battalion of one of the other divisional BCTs under a plan to restructure maneuver brigades. These moves would necessitate moving the China Room to Fort Stewart.
As I have discussed in previous Dragons, the 150th
anniversary commemorations of the Civil War continue. This September 18-20 the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Battlefield Park will commemorate the 150
th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga which our
proud Regiment fought in with distinction. I have included an article on the establishment of the park and our monument there. It needs repairs, and I hope once the Park Superintendent selects a conservator to have those repairs made our Association will show its Can Do spirit with an effective fund raising campaign to finance the project.
I encourage all members to support Mike Horn’s effort to erect a monument honoring the Regular Brigade at the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park in time for the 150
th anniversary of the fighting there in September 2014.
Another long running project connected to our Regiment and the Battle of Chickamauga involves the retrieval of the headstone of Captain William H. Heilman, who commanded C Company, 1
st Battalion during the battle. Captain Heilman’s grave (he died in 1908) was
in Philadelphia but the cemetery he rested in went bankrupt in the 1950s and all graves were moved to a suburban cemetery. Most of the headstones were given to the Delaware River Water Authority to shore up the base of the Delaware River Bridge. Several years ago a hiker walking along the river bank at the base of the bridge at low tide found many of these headstones. Members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States in Philadelphia are working on a retrieval plan for Heilman’s headstone. Where to place the headstone once recovered remains to be answered.
CPT Heilman’s headstone Heilman around 1861
I urge all members to support our raffle this year. This is main source of funding for our day-to-day operations. I also urge you to vote for the association positions listed in this edition and send your ballots to Bart Viruso. You also have the option to write in candidates if you are not satisfied with those on the ballot, but I would ask you to check with those persons first as to whether they are willing to take the
job should they be elected. Step up and show your Can Do colors and help make our Association better! CAN DO - Tim
April 2013
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DRAGON and 15th Inf Regiment Association Masthead
The Dragon is the quarterly publication of the 15
th Infantry
Regiment Association. It is published in January, April, July and October.' Neither its editorial nor articles content carry official endorsement of the Association. Input for the Dragon is due the 15th of each month prior to publishing.
****************************************
ASSOCIATION OBJECTIVES
To perpetuate and foster the history and traditions of the Regiment.
To provide opportunities for uniting past and present members of the Regiment into a close and cooperative alliance.
To promote morale and high esprit de corps among members of the Regiment. ~ To acquire and maintain a repository of regimental historical memorabilia.
To acquire and maintain a repository of regimental historical memorabilia.
To assist in the maintenance of monuments dedicated to the units of the 15
th Infantry Regiment.
Send dues and new addresses to:
Bartolo Viruso, 116 Harriett Road, North Babylon, NY 11703
Annual dues $10 for regular members and $5 for active duty members, due October 1 each year.
Life membership: To age 60 = $150; Age 61-69 = $120; Age 70-79 = $100; Age 80 and above = $50.
Send or Email and news items to:
EDITOR, THE DRAGON
MSG Ed Holt 17200 Park Circle Eden Prairie, MN 55346 952-9378116 [email protected]
PRESIDENT
LTC Timothy Stoy
6531 Milva Lane
Springfield, VA 22150
703-912-4218
VICE PRESIDENT
Addison D. (Tad) Davis V
78 Spring Pond Lane
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(h) 910-814-1208
(w) 910-570-8027
SECRETARY
Robert Faulkender
813 Dalrymple Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
(770) 913-0400
TREASURER
Bart Viruso
116 Harriett Road
North Babylon, NY 11703
631-587-0587
MEMBERSHIP
Michael Friend
6018 Old Dominion Road
Columbus, GA 31909
706-568-6436
COMMANDER 1st
BN
LTC Nelson Kraft 1-15
8747 Marne Road
Ft. Benning, GA 31895
706-544-1633
COMMANDER 3rd
BN
LTC Joel Smith
594 Vanguard Rd.
STE 3071.
Ft. Stewart, GA 31314
912-435-7697
CSM 1st
BN
CSM Angel Ortiz
8747 Marne Road
Ft. Benning, GA 31895
706-544-1228
CSM 3rd
BN
CSM Roger Parker
594 Vangard Road
STE 3071
Ft. Stewart, GA 31314
912-435-2798
CHAPLAIN
Charles C. Trout
10191 Birchwood Drive
Huntington Beach, CA
92646-5432 714-836-4981
HSGMOR
Mark T. Baker
5415 Roaring Branch Rd.
Columbus, GA 31904
706-566-5165
mark.t.baker@baesystem
s.com
HCOR
Jerry Bates
3017 Margaret Jones Ln.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-645-4765
HISTORIAN
LTC Timothy Stoy
6531 Milva Lane
Springfield, VA 22150
703-912-4218
TRUSTEES
Richard N. McKiddy
12105 East Court
Kansas City, MO 64133
816-509-7633
Charles R. Crain
312 Don Drive
Greenville, SC 29607
864-288-6313
Lloyd D. Whitmer
120 Ryan Ridge NE
Navarre, OH 44662
330-879-2477
Charles C. Trout
10191 Birchwood Drive
Huntington Beach, CA
92646-5432
714-836-4981
CHINA ROOM
CUSTODIAN
LTC Nelson Kraft 1-15
8747 Marne Road
Ft. Benning, GA 31905
706-544-1 633
WEBMASTER
Michael J. Horn
1833 Walker Ridge Dr
Marietta, GA 30064
678-581-0392
DATABASE
ADMINISTRATOR
Tom Heitzer
231 Normandie Drive,
Bonne Terre, MO 63628
573-358-1830
April 2013
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15th INF Regiment Association Founders
22 Founding Members
Jesse Anderson* Donald Chase Ramon Clark Charles Crain Jerry Cunningham
Edward Dojutrek* George Doyle* Tom Godfrey* Andrew Gunderson* Michael Halik
Jack Jordan Maurice Kendall Leonard Lassor Norman MacIntyre* George Mohr*
Whitney Mullen Lindsey Nelms* James O’Dell Sr.* Howard Palm* Howard Quick*
Raymond Taylor Frank Yokum*
*Asterisk denotes deceased member
Association Chaplain’s Message
Sometimes we wonder why God allows wars. One reason maybe to teach us geography. Years ago many of us did not know where Iraq was located. Then came the Gulf war and all of a sudden we become quite familiar with that area of the world. My favorite subject is prophecy and what the Bible teaches us about the future. Regardless of your religion, I thought you might find it interesting that the Holy Bible provides us with the following facts about Iraq: *The Garden of Eden was in Iraq *Mesopotamia, now Iraq, was the Cradle of Civilization *Noah built his ark in Iraq *The Tower of Babel was in Iraq *Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq *Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel *The three wise men were from Iraq *The Apostle Peter preached in Iraq *Israel is the nation most mentioned in the Bible; Iraq is second *The names of Iraq used in the Bible include Babylon, Land of Shinar and Mesopotamia As history books are updated we will note a very important addition to the above list. " Many brave American Military men and women gave their lives during the war in Iraq."
Why do I enjoy studying about prophecy? Allow me to give one example: American is represented by an eagle. The following verse is taken from the Islamic bible called the Koran:
April 2013
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Verse 7:11 states, "For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fear some eagle. The wrath of the eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair, some more rejoiced; for the wrath of the eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace. Please note the verse number: 7:11. God bless our men and women as they serve at home and around the world. And may God continue to bless America! Please be assured that I always send a sympathy card, on behalf of the Association, to the family of a deceased member. It is one of the honors of being your chaplain. Blessed to be your chaplain, Chuck Trout
TAPS
PETER G. ISAACS, LM
Port Washington, NY
SGT. B CO, 1 BN, KW
1952 - 1953
DOD – Nov 19, 2012
Reported by wife Arline
EDWARD J. HANRAHAN
JR. CM
Plymouth, MA
SGT, B CO, 1 BN, KW
DOD – Jan 3, 2013
Reported by Tim Stoy &Martin
Markley
WILLIAM H. DUFFY
Natick, MA PFC, G CO, 2 BN, WWII Mar 1944 – Aug 1944 DOD – May 25, 2012 Reported by Tom Heitzer
ROBERT H. STEELE, CM
Rocky Ford, GA. SGT, CN CO, REGT, WWII Feb 1943 – Sep 1945 DOD – Jan 21, 2013 Reported by Leonard Collins
GEORGE P. O’REGAN
Staten Island, NY SSG,
CO K, MED HVMYR,
3RD
PLTN, 3 BN, KW
Jan 1953 – Oct 1953
DOD – Nov 4, 2012
Reported by Rich Heller
RALPH F. KREPS
Hartselle, AL
MSGT, HVY TANK
REGT, KW
DOD – Feb 22, 2013
Reported by Rich Heller
THOMAS P. RYAN
Acworth, GA
PFC, AT, WWII
DOD – Dec 25, 2012
Reported by Rich Heller from
son Tim Ryan
BARNET FELDMAN
Swarthmore, PA
SSG, B CO, 2BN, WWII
DOD – Jan 28, 2013
Reported by Bart Viruso
from wife Phyllis
JAMES STONE, MOH
Recipient-Honorary
COL, 15TH
INF, KW/CW
1956 - 1959
DOD- Nov 12, 2012
Reported by Lynn Ball
ADOLF GERGELDER
Paramus, NJ
15th
REGT, Battle Grp D
1958 - 1959
DOD- Feb 3, 2013
Reported by Rich Heller
April 2013
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CHINA 6 SITREP
As-Salaamu Alaykum. Greetings from Afghanistan.
I am pleased to report that the colors of the Fifteen Regiment were uncased in Afghanistan for the first time in our
Regiment’s history on 15 March 2013. After a three-week deployment and relief-in-place process, the Second
Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment transferred responsibility for the United States’ partnership with Afghan
Security Forces in Wardak Province to the Third Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment. During the official transfer of
authority ceremony, I asked our China Soldiers to dedicate themselves to our mission, to take care of each other, and
to make the veteran’s of this fine Regiment proud. I know they will.
Our Soldiers and Leaders have been impressive in the first days and weeks of this deployment. I have already signed
paperwork for one Purple Heart and two Combat Infantryman’s Badges. I am confident our Soldiers will live up to the
reputation that has been established by the generations of “Old China Hands” that have gone before us.
Needless to say, we are busy working with the Afghan National Army and Police Forces in Wardak Province, and we
will be busy in the months to come.
Thank you to all the members of the Fifteenth Regimental Association for your thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes.
We look forward to making you proud and adding to the rich history of the Regiment.
CAN DO!
LTC Joel Smith
Uncasing the Colors
April 2013
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MAJ Jason Deel, 3-15 IN XO, Commander of Troops
Third Battalion Colors Fly in Afghanistan
April 2013
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DRAGON 6 SITREP
Distinguished Members of the Regiment,
It is great to be home! What made our homecoming even more special were John Burke and Mark Baker standing on the flight line to shake our hands and welcome us home. Hands down, we have the best Regimental Association on the planet! Our deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield proved to be a good one. Aside from our critical partnership events in Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia – we conducted some significant training events that will likely never be topped for many of our Soldiers. One such event was our watercraft training with a locally stationed support brigade. As many of your may have seen on the internet or in the Army Times, we deployed both tanks and Bradley’s on the Army watercrafts and sent them out into the Persian Gulf – something you don’t see or do very often. Additionally, as we have mentioned in previous articles, we conducted close to three years of live-fire training inside of six months at multiple levels, both day and night, and with about every war fighting function and enabler you can think of. There is no doubt in my mind that we are the best trained that we have ever been in over two years. The training was tough, realistic and really helped further bond out outfit into the closest knit team we have ever served with. Great partnering and training weren’t our only positive take-a-ways from this deployment. Each soldier in the battalion established goals early on and for the most part, achieved those goals and returned home better Soldiers and productive members of society. From raising their GT scores, taking college courses, and losing 40 pounds to getting back to church, learning a second language or volunteering at the USO – every Soldier got the most out of their personal time. As of two days ago, the entire battalion has redeployed and is conducting re-integration training – to get back not only into the swing of things with our families, but also life in the battalion on Kelly Hill. Our team of leaders on the Rear Detachment, let by CPT Vaughn and SFCs Marshall and Williams, did an absolutely phenomenal job holding down the fort and then some, while we were gone. While the Rear Detachment held down the fort, SSG Conner and the FRG leaders did a fantastic job holding down the home front with our families. Job well done to all! As we wrap up re-integration training, the battalion will take a month leave to further relax and enjoy our families. Once we return from leave, transition of leadership will begin. First with the changes of command of Baker, Crusader and Phantom Companies and then the battalion change of command and change of responsibility. I will pass colors to LTC Scotty Mueller and CSM Ortiz will pass responsibility to CSM Barretto. The battalion change of command and responsibility will be on Sledgehammer Field on 30 April at 1000 – we hope you can make it. We’ve shared the awesome relationship with you all – with LTC Mueller and CSM Barretto. We’re very confident that the tightness our battalion has with the association will only get better under their command. Wishing great health and a spectacular future!
CAN DO!
Dragon 6 & 7 LTC Kraft/CSM Ortiz
April 2013
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(Above left) SPC Wiandt, a supply clerk for HHC, is welcomed home to a loving embrace from his wife.
(Above right) SGT Braddock, a Fire Support NCO with Charlie Company, is welcomed home by his infant daughter after a 9
month Deployment to Kuwait.
The Baker Boys return as one company at the beginning of March after standing down the Mobile Readiness Force in the
region.
April 2013
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(Above left) End of tour MSMs, ARCOMs and AAMs are handed out on Camp Buehring just days before the first Can Do Soldiers
begin returning home.
(Above right) SGT Rigter assisted the Hardrock Company UMO with accountability and packing of the Platoon’s weapons and
sensitive items for redeployment. With his help, they successfully inventoried, prepared, and home station SI to be shipped for
redeployment.
Warning Order to all Members of the 15th Infantry Regimental Association,
Friends, and Colleagues of the 3rd Infantry Division!
The 15th Infantry Regimental Association will host the annual 15th Infantry
Regimental Dinner, 13 Sep 13, in Chicago, IL in conjunction with the
upcoming Society of the 3rd Infantry Division annual Reunion, 12-15 Sep 2013.
Details of the dinner, cost, and program are being finalized and will be
published along with sign up information in the next edition of the Dragon.
Those attending the Reunion and those living in the greater Chicago area
should mark their calendars now and plan on attending. Can Do!
Tad Davis,
Vice President
April 2013
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NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS WAS MADE BY TIM STOY, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION IN THE JANUARY DRAGON. HERE ARE THE NOMINATIONS FOR EACH OFFICE SO FAR. PRESIDENT: NO NOMINATION AT THIS TIME VICE PRESIDENT: NO NOMINATION AT THIS TIME SECRETARY: JOSEPH HERRON TREASURER: BART VIRUSO TRUSTEES: LEONARD LESSOR RICHARD MCKIDDY WARREN SESSLER TIM STOY (Immediate Past President)
ANYONE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT SHOULD CONTACT BART VIRUSO SO THEIR NAME CAN BE ADDED. NAMES FOR ALL OFFICES NEED TO BE SUBMITTED BY END OF JUNE AND WILL BE LISTED IN THE JULY DRAGON. SEND NOMINATIONS TO BART VIRUSO 116 HARRIETT ROAD, NORTH BABYLON, NY 11703 OR E-MAIL HIM AT [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP REPORT October 2012
Eligibility:
Regular: Persons eligible for regular membership are those with present or prior honorable
service with the Regiment or units attached or supporting the Regiment.
Associate: Spouse, parents, children or siblings of any person eligible for regular
membership and any person with a special interest or affinity for the 15th Infantry Regiment.
April 2013
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New Members
FRED L. CAPLER, LM JOHN M. SHOEMAKER, LM RANDALL M. KOIVISTO JAMES H. MEAD, LM Elgin, NE Hillside, CO Stacy, MN Big Bay, MI PFC, SVC CO, 3 BN, KW MSG, HHC, 2 BN, WWII SP4, A CO, 1 BN, CW E-5, HHC, 2 BN, CW Jun 1951 – May 1952 Jan 1943 – Aug 1946 Sep 1968 – Apr 1970 1969 – 1971 ROBERT C. SANTINO, LM WILLIAM J. MCGEE DANIEL SANTOS, JR. West Chesterfield, NH Northfield, MA Gaithersburg, MD - SP4, D CO, 1 BN, CW CPT, C CO, 1 BN, CW 1LT, C CO, 2 BN, CW Pct 1957 – Jul m1960 Jun 1963 – Jul 1965 Feb 1972 – Jul 1973
Number of Members 745
By Periods CH 2 WWII 68 KW 183 CW 70 OIF 47 Current Forces 357 ASSOC 19
By Type
Regular Life 270 Regular Annual 457 Assoc Life 10 Assoc Annual 9
Total 745
Members with 1-15th
Infantry 244
Members with 3-15th
Infantry 109
Would you like to sponsor a membership for Active Duty soldiers? For each $10.00 contribution an Active
Duty soldier can be brought on the rolls for two years. If interested, make contributions to the Association
Treasurer, address shown on page 2
THANKS TOM TWOMEY
Thank you to TOM TWOMEY for the years of service as Web Master for our site. Michael Horn has now
taken on the duties of Web Master. A major shout out to Tom Twomey for all he did over the years.
Thanks Tom Twomey!!
April 2013
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A summary of my time with the 15th Infantry Regiment
By Whitney Mullen
You may remember that my last account covered the untimely death of Sgt. Woda. Continuing from that point the
following day we were trucked some distance to the small village of Rengersbrunn on the westerly border of a
designated, “Green Area.”
We slept in a grape arbor slopping up to the edge of the woods. We awakened to a heavy frost and rather cold. We
had not eaten since the noonday meal the previous day. Our entire Company left for what would be a two hour walk
through a rather well kept forest.
Not having the slightest idea about what our objective was, we were most surprised as we emerged down a slope with
a small village directly in front of us. Accompanying us was a Sherman Tank of the 756th Tank Battalion, our Company
Jeep, and as far as we knew, just our Company.
What unfolded before us was a large number of enemy soldiers digging in on both slopes on either side of the village.
Apparently the enemy did not hear us, or they thought we were part of their group. They were in for a surprise!
The, “wake up call” consisted of a well placed round from the Sherman’s main gun. The fight was on! The time, shortly
before 1030hrs; the battle lasted until about 1600hrs when the village was safely in our hands. Fighting was, “hot and
heavy.”
A feature article in The Watch read, “Can Do’s Item Company wipes out German Cavalry Battalion.” The Commander
listed their strength at 278 men. Fewer than 50 prisoners were taken; a large portion of the remainder was killed.
Sadly, many of the dead were Hitler Youth ages 16 and under. We had minimal casualties with none fatal. Our
Company was given a respite inasmuch as we bore the brunt of the battle. This all took place 04 April 1945. We had
the luxury of having the next day off as well.
During that day, speaking with German civilians, they told us that American soldiers had been through there about ten
days before. We said, “no way.” They insisted and it was learned much later that it had been part of Patton’s Patrol – I
have read accounts of a tank commander being captured in Gemunden, a small village about 10km SE of Rieneck
which was the subject village of our encounter.
On 06 April, our entire Company boarded trucks headed northward. After travelling about 30 miles we unloaded and
continued on foot. About 1500hrs we were headed on a down slope of a high hill. Our CO and Bn commander were in
the lead. Coming up the hill to meet us were two German civilians dressed in frock coats and high silk hats.
Being nosey, I sauntered up to the head of the column and listened to the conservation. The Germans were begging
our commanders not to shell the village stating that there was poison gas stored there. We were assured that passage
by the village would be safe and shortly we continued on our way. We later learned the village was Wildflecken. There
was a huge Kaserne located there where as many as 30,000 trainees could be handled at one time. The Kaserne was
hidden from our view by trees.(Later our 15th Regiment was stationed there – Our Association President, Tim Stoy, was
a Platoon Leader there and those in charge apparently knew nothing about the 15th being associated with Wildflecken
during WWII.
April 2013
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Interlude: I often wondered how the village officials knew we were coming. The following article, excerpted from a
German historian’s website cleared up the mystery.
EXTRACT FROM THE 14TH ARMORED DIVISION HISTORY
Note: My apologies to the author of the above. I don’t have the documentation. S/WPM Often we would say we
“Took” a village if it was our objective and encountered no resistance.
Having little holdup at Wildflecken, we were assigned a small village a couple of miles north. When we arrived there,
we found that another Company was already there. Our Platoon Leader radioed HQ and was told to proceed to the
next village about four miles north.
Darkness was falling and after walking about two miles we heard small motorcycle approaching from the direction we
were headed. Our Platoon Leader ordered us to hit either side of the road and turn our faces away so as to avoid
detection. It worked, the cyclist passed with sound of his engine dying out.
After about 15minutes we heard the cycle returning; we were ordered to, “Get that guy.” Someone stepped in front of
the cycle stopping it, and in the process suffered an injury to his knee.
We arrived at the edge of the village at about 2200hrs. As was often our custom, we occupied the first two houses
setting up a CP and establishing guard posts. We knew that German soldiers were in the town.
April 2013
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I was on guard sometime after midnight with a new addition to our numbers when we heard hobnail boots on the
cobblestone street approaching from downtown. My guard buddy asked what we were going to do. I told him to put
his M1 against the wall, the side of the building came right to the edge of the street.
We could tell that the two German soldiers were drunk as they were talking loudly. I told my buddy that I would step
out and grab the nearest one by the neck and he was to do the same with the other. As we led them back to the CP,
one of them said, “Camarade, vass ist loes?” They thought we were one of them; imagine their surprise when stepping
inside and seeing an American officer sitting behind a table with a candle for light.
The reaction, surprise and they both smiled, knowing that for them the war was over. I was on guard again just at
daybreak and out of the fog a column of American soldiers approached. I gave the password and heard the correct
countersign then gave the order, “Advance and be recognized.” Upon doing so, I recognized the officer as the one in
charge of us for overseas shipment. He was CO of Company B of our Regiment.
After warning him that the Krauts were in the town, he replied that they had orders to take the town of
OberweissenBrunn. After some automatic weapons fire, whatever Germans were in the town either surrendered, or
fled.
It is now 07 April 1945, a little less than two weeks from when we crossed the Rhine. Because we had been up for
nearly 24 hours, our platoon was given the rest of the day off. The photographs accompanying this account were
taken on 07 April 1945.
3rd Platoon, Co. I, 15th Inf Soldiers get much needed rest, April 07 1945, in the "Courtyard" of our domicile in
Oberweissenbrunn
April 2013
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Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and the 15th US Infantry Monument
By Tim Stoy, Association Historian In 1890 Congress established the nation’s first Civil War national military park at Chickamauga and Chattanooga after over ten years of efforts by the Society of the Army of the Cumberland. Visiting Chickamauga during the 1881 annual reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland in Chattanooga, veterans discovered significant changes in the battlefield’s appearance. The membership approved a resolution to investigate the purchase of land comprising the Chickamauga battlefield at its September 1888 annual meeting in Chicago and formed the Chickamauga Memorial Association with membership including Union and Confederate veterans. On September 20, 1889, at a grand barbecue for 12,000 people, Union and Confederate veterans met in Crawfish Springs, Georgia (later named Chickamauga) and appointed fifty veterans and civilians from North and South to form the Joint Chickamauga Memorial Association. The group presented Congress with an appropriations bill providing for federal purchase of the Chickamauga battleground for sole use as a national military park. The bill passed through Congress and was signed into law on August 19, 1890 by President Benjamin Harrison. 40,000 people attended the dedication ceremonies presided over by Vice President Adlai Stevenson on September 18-20, 1895 (the thirty-second anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga. By then 6,000 acres of land in Georgia at the Chickamauga battlefield had been purchased and restored so visitors could fully appreciate the battle. Confederate and Federal troop positions and battle events were to be shown with monuments and markers. Regular Army unit markers were paid for by the federal government. Our 15
th US Infantry monument at Chickamauga was made by the Smith Granite Company of Westerly, Rhode Island and was ordered on 15
December 1892. It cost $1,500 and was shipped on 26 May 1893. It is made of Blue Westerly granite, a very high-quality stone. It is situated on Kelly Field, marking the Regiment’s position as part of the Regular Brigade of the Army of the Cumberland the afternoon of 20 September 1863. At some point it was vandalized, with our 15
th Infantryman’s cap brim, nose, and musket hammer broken off.
I have asked the Park Superintendent to allow us to repair our monument in time for the 150
th anniversary of the battle 18-20 September
2013. The Park has established the Jewel Memorial Restoration Fund administered by a non-profit partner organization, Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to repair damaged monuments at the park. Repair work cannot begin until all necessary funds have been raised. Money must be donated to the Jewel Memorial Restoration Fund and our Association would enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with Friends of the Park indicating funds donated by our members be used only to repair the 15
th US Infantry
Monument. The Park is responsible for completing cultural resource compliance before the project starts, will select the Conservator for the project, and will manage the project on site. Friends of the Park will contract with the selected Conservator and pay them upon completion of the project. Three conservators must submit statements of work and bids for the project. I will keep you informed once the Park decides on a conservator, and we can then undertake the necessary fundraising to donate the money to the Jewel Memorial Restoration Fund should we decide to undertake this project. Estimated cost is $11,000. The Superintendent says it would be difficult for the Association and battalions to hold a ceremony in September due to numerous events already planned for this September and has recommended we hold a ceremony in September 2015 on the 120
th anniversary of the park’s dedication. Should we
decide to undertake this great project I will work ask her to allow a rededication ceremony this year.
Our monument today with damages Close up of our monument before damages
April 2013
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15th Infantry Regiment Association
Tom Heitzer, Database Administrator
231 Normandie
Bonne Terre, MO 63628
Address Service Requested
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid
Permit # 111 Bonne Terre, MO