The Thoroughbred

The newsletter of

the 2d Cavalry Association

The “drop dead dates: for the Nashville Reunion are fast approaching.

The Hotel’s reunion rate expires on 4 March and the LAST day to order reunion swag in time to assure delivery before Nashville is 9 March.

As promised last month, we’ve provided two pieces from the box that Mike Long sent to us to scan for the archives. Thanks to Mike for his generosity and to Bob Young in helping us to understand the Arabic. Knowing Mike is to know that he probably did have a “Bigger than Shit Patrol” (see the article).

We’re a month away from the Reunion—that’s come about quickly. We hope that you’ll consider joining our merry band in Nashville 3-6 April. See our website for details:

Also coming up quickly is the Regiment’s 189th birthday on May 23. Once again, we will be conducting a global celebration via teams. More information and sign-up is located on Dragoonbase:

We will have gathering spots throughout the country and Europe with participation by the Regiment in multiple European locations. We already know that Ft. Keogh, Montana will be represented on this year’s call. I know that I will be back in Gettysburg, broadcasting the Second Cavalry monument on East Cavalry Field. Join a group or do your own thing but participate. Stay tuned to Dragoonbase for updates as we approach the party.

Mike Wieczorek and Mike Kalinoski (The Infamous M2) continue to work diligently on the Memorial and pavers on the Walk of History. We’ve made a lot of progress, with more pavers to be placed, more funds to be raised and the Walk of History brought to life. We’ll be hearing more from M2 in the near future about their progress in this important endeavor. In the meantime, go to our website and buy a paver, forever immortalizing yourself in this amazing monument to the Regiment:

We are close to finally installing the first of our planned Cold War Historical Markers in Germany. These markers will commemorate the Regiment’s long tenure along the German border. The first marker, to be erected at the Caserne in Hof, is on site and awaiting installation onto a large stone block. The second marker will be placed in Bindlach. In the past few months, markers have been generously funded by individuals to be placed in Bayreuth, Camp Gates and home of the Redcatchers, Feucht Army Airfield. Currently, we have intentions to place markers in Merrell Barracks, Pond Barracks, Warner Barracks II, Camp Harris, Camp Leonard, Camp Pitman, and Camp Wollbach (2/14). Here is a picture of the Hof marker last summer when it arrived at the Reed Museum. We can’t do this without your support, we hope that you’ll make a contribution to this worthy effort. Thanks to many for breathing life into this, but especially Frank Hurd, John MacEnroe, Mike Wieczorek, John Walker and Rob Gaumond. We will be reporting as the markers in Hof and Bindlach are placed and the others manufactured.

I also want you to know that we are working on building out a more robust liaison effort with the Regiment. Jeff Davidson has agreed, after finishes his “tour” as the Reunion chair, to ramrod this endeavor. Essentially, we are going to establish direct links between each of the squadrons and members of our evolving liaison team. Our goal is to have a team of Association members assigned to liaison with each squadron. This will involve periodic contact, a source of information flow both directions and a means to establish a deeper, broader connection between current and past Dragoons. Want to help, let us know, we need your help.

Another exciting development is the work being done on Dragoon chapters of branch associations. John MacEnroe and Joe Deskevich have led the creation of our very own chapter of the Field Artillery Association. I’ll let John and Joe speak to that issue. Suffice it to say that Andy Gilgore is working on a chapter of the Armor Association, and we are looking for someone to lead the effort to create an infantry chapter within the 2d Cavalry Association.

Finally, a word about membership. Everyone that serves in the Regiment has earned membership in the 2d Cavalry Association. Let me say that in a different way: membership is earned, not purchased. All that membership requires is going to Dragoonbase and giving us contact information. Really, is that simple. Years ago we ended dues. Dues are not required to be a member.

With that said, we do hope that members are generous both with their dollars and their time. We need both. We can’t fulfill our mission without funds and volunteers. I hope that you will consider giving both treasure and time. Size of the gift nor the amount of time is as significant as a culture that promotes volunteering funds and time. Your Board is working hard to build that culture and earn that commitment from you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] with your feedback.

Always Ready, Dragoon for Life

Tim White

President

24 Feb2025

Recently, Mike Long provided us with some materials from his time in the Regiment to be scanned into archives. Here are two items that I really want to highlight.

During his days on the border in Germany, Mike used this card to quickly complete a spot report using the SALUTE format. Although useful on and off the battlefield, what a great, practical tool to aid in gathering information about the activities across the border.

Appendix 9 of the 2ACR Border SOP of that era provides the format for SALUTE.

Size of activity.

Activity description.

Location of enemy.

Uniforms, headgear, patches, rank, markings visible.

Time of activity.

Equipment, weapons, vehicles, tools, LBE visible.

Scan 1: artillery piece.

Scan 2: notes on a bomb components.

Scan 3: communications device.

Mike’s materials are now scanned into the Association’s growing electronic archive. I truly am grateful that he lent us these materials so we can preserve them as part of our Regiment’s lineage. In sharing these materials, my goal is to two-fold. First, I encourage all of you to remember us as you contemplate what to do with the “stuff” you kept from your time in the Regiment. Let us get it scanned before it’s lost forever. Second, we need volunteers to help us to scan, organize, and eventually make available our archives for viewing. Matt Simon, John McFassel and Mike Minard are taking the raw inputs and renaming items and organizing them appropriately. Aaron DeCino visits the Reed Museum to scan items of historical significance using a scanner paid for from 1836 Society funds. Join that team and help us make ours the finest unit archives in the country.

He served in numerous capacities in peacetime and combat and was the epitome of a United States Cavalryman. He deployed multiple times supporting the Global War on Terror, including three tours in Iraq. Marc was a decorated officer including three Bronze Star Medals for exceptionally meritorious service. His selfless service and mentorship impacted countless Soldiers and their families and leaves a lasting legacy for our Army and Country. 

After retiring from the Army, Marc found joy and peace tending to his yard, a pastime that reflected his appreciation for hard work and desire to create a beautiful home for himself and his family. He loved sharing his favorite music and books, enjoying a good cup of coffee, rubbing his cocker spaniel’s ears and the well-deserved “old man naptime”.

He is survived by his loving wife, Erin; his cherished daughter, Briana; his mother, Deborah Bazemore Melton; and his sister, Traci Conner, along with her husband Trent and their children Addison and Alexis. Marc’s devotion to family was evident in every aspect of his life and was a source of immense pride and joy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marc’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Wounded Warrior Project, honoring Marc’s memory and supporting a cause he hoped will support fellow servicemembers that are affected by this terrible disease.

On February 4, 2025 Doug Collins was confirmed as the Secretary of Veteran Affairs. What does that mean for veterans? Specifically in a live Q&A with the American Legion on February 24, 2025 Doug Collins states “There are no cuts to Veterans Benefits Period!”. This same day The Hill.com reports VA is cutting an additional 1,400 VA employees bringing the reported total to 2,400. Also, there is still no clear report on who accepted the deferred resignation offer from President Trump and which, if any positions in the VA were affected. There are reports that some healthcare workers in the VA who opted for the resignation program were later declared ineligible due to the mission critical nature of their position.

On February 25, VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt issued a press release calling on congress to stop indiscriminate firing of Veterans. Important facts cited in this press release are that veterans make up approximately 30% of the Federal Workforce. He goes on to speak of the value of the veteran workforce related to specialized training received while in uniform. Some veterans who were caught in a probationary period during this layoff were terminated and have since come forward and publicly discussed their case. A lot of times these are veterans who had been working in a federal position but had recently changed positions and thus subjected to a new probationary period which made them vulnerable.

In terms of veteran benefits, most concerning is the history of Russell Vought, Director of Office of Management and Budget. In his confirmation hearing, Vought pledged to preserve Veteran Benefits. But as reported by Military.com, in 2023 Vought was a contributor to a playbook by ‘Center for Renewing America’ that called for reducing VA disability compensation for veterans who reach social security retirement age and eliminating unemployability benefits for these veterans as well. This report also proposed reducing disability compensation for veterans who were less than 30% service connected for their conditions and for those whose health conditions were not directly related to military duty. He was also a contributor to Project 2025. Project 2025 calls for VA to revamp disability rating schedule to eliminate conditions that are “tenuously related or wholly unrelated to military service.”, to revise disability compensation for future claimants and to preserve them fully or partially for current recipients.

Veteran service organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, have pledged to meet any suggested changes to disability compensation with strong opposition. VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt, has invited all VFW members to be present with him in Washington on March 4th when he presents to a joint session of the congressional veterans’ affairs committees his concerns over indiscriminate firing of veterans in the government workforce.

The mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in the nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. This includes providing health care, education, disability benefits, and other support services to veterans. Cutting positions designated to serving veterans may translate to longer wait times and delay in needed services. Advocating for positions designated to serve veterans in the VA to remain intact is important for the future of veteran care and veteran benefits.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/11/veterans-groups-keep-watch-va-disability-benefits-under-trump-administration.html?ESRC=army_250218.nl

https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2025/2/vfw-calls-on-administration-congress-to-stop-indiscriminate-firing-of-veterans

https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/washington-conference/2025/february/va-secretary-the-best-day-for-a-veteran-is-lying-ahead-of-us

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5162213-va-axes-another-1400-employees/

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5296910/trump-federal-workers-fork-resign-buyout

Always Ready!

T. Mary Smith

2D Cavalry Association

Dragoon Outreach

203-909-5288

Our initial foray into engaging the greater Army community has begun with the formation with a chapter of the United States Field Artillery Association. This chapter will embrace the alumni of the Howitzer Batteries, the Fires Squadron, and the alumni of the 210th Field Artillery Brigade.

This is all part of the positioning strategy currently under development:

•2d Cavalry Association – Mission: To foster the community of our members, maintain a strong link to the Regiment and secure and preserve the history of our Regiment and the Association. Encourage “Dragoon for Life.” Membership is paid for and earned through service to our Regiment

•Strategy with the Regiment – Build a partnership between the active and the veteran components. To make sure that the history and accomplishments of the active Regiment is not lost and merges with the history already preserved. Build a connection between present and past is personally beneficial to everyone that participates.

•Strategy with Big-Army – Inculcate the Regiment and the Association into top-of-consciousness with the greater Army community

•Liaison Project – The goal of our liaison mission is to forge deeper, longer-lasting connections between the Regiment and the Association that permeate throughout both organizations. In essence, the near-horizon is about providing resources to our active brethren while forging Dragoons for Life in the long-run. Ultimately, we want an all-ranks team of Association members connected to each squadron.

As you well know the Nashville reunion is coming up quickly. We will be in Nashville no later than 3 April, with the festivities commencing on the 4th. Critically, the general membership meeting will be on Sunday morning 6 April before we all depart. Among the topics that we want to present is the plan to engage the regiment directly down to the squadron level, and to engage “Big Army” at the professional association level.

We will also be celebrating the 189th birthday of the Regiment on 23 May. If you’re interested, there are birthday shirts located in the same section of the store as the shirts for the Nashville reunion.

There will be a number of unique, and exciting initiatives that we will announce at the general membership meeting. Please plan on attending and please plan on participating.

Dragoon for Life!

Adjutant