Centennial – The 14th Cavalry Association

The 100th anniversary of the 14th Cavalry Regiment was celebrated at Olympia and Fort Lewis, Washington on February 1-3, 2001. Hale and hardy veterans of the Regiment, their wives, and families attended the events. On Thursday evening an informal dinner and get together was held at our host hotel in Olympia.

On Friday morning the veterans gathered for the military ceremony that installed BG(R) Stanley F. Cherrie, as the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment and CSM(R) T. Frank Mouri, as the Honorary Command Sergeant Major. BG(R) Cherrie, served as the commander of Troop I and as the S3 of the 3rd Squadron in 1969-70. CSM(R) Mouri, served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Squadron in 1960-64. The ceremonies was held on the Rose Parade Field in front of a military formation of the 1st Squadron. A highlight of the ceremony was a parading of colors by troopers on horseback wearing the old cavalry uniforms. A reception was held after the ceremonies in the 1st Squadron’s museum room. At this gathering an artist print depicting the regiment’s history was presented to BG Cherrie and CSM Mouri. On the parade field a static display of new equipment and vehicles was available for inspection. Soldiers of the squadron stood by to to explain the use and operations of their equipment.

The Squadron has formed on Rose Field and action commences.

BG(R) Stan Cherrie and CSM(R) Frank Mouri stand front center to be installed as Honorary Colonel and CSM of the Regiment Guidons of Troops B, C and D are visible to right rear of the Color Guard The blue guidon is that of the Squadron's attached Antitank Company Who said the sun never shines at Fort Lewis in February? For the Centennial of the 14th Cavalry it did. — BG(R) Stan Cherrie and CSM(R) Frank Mouri stand front center to be installed as Honorary Colonel and CSM of the Regiment

Guidons of Troops B, C and D are visible to right rear of the Color Guard The blue guidon is that of the Squadron’s attached Antitank Company

Who said the sun never shines at Fort Lewis in February? For the Centennial of the 14th Cavalry it did.

The Honorary Colonel and CSM stand with the present Commander and CSM Fom left: LTC Dana Pittard, BG(R) Stan Cherrie, CSM(R) Frank Mouri, CSM Ronald Riling

That smile on the face of MSG(R) John Schock probably was brought on by memory of days in the saddle with the 14th Horse in the 1930's The horses in the photo are NOT part of the 1st Squadron's TO&E today but they are well known to senior cavalry troopers. — That smile on the face of MSG(R) John Schock probably was brought on by memory of days in the saddle with the 14th Horse in the 1930’s The horses in the photo are NOT part of the 1st Squadron’s TO&E today but they are well known to senior cavalry troopers.

This is the "Horse" that the Squadron's scout squads ride today. It weighs in at 18 tons. Its armor provides protection aginst 14.5 mm automatic weapon fire and 152mm artillery schrapnel. The squad's antitank weapons are its Javelin shoulder fired missile launchers. The Javelin system has fire-and-forget capability. The missile has a range of 2500 meters and is capable of overhead attack against top armor. (More detail here) — This is the “Horse” that the Squadron’s scout squads ride today. It weighs in at 18 tons. Its armor provides protection aginst 14.5 mm automatic weapon fire and 152mm artillery schrapnel. The squad’s antitank weapons are its Javelin shoulder fired missile launchers. The Javelin system has fire-and-forget capability. The missile has a range of 2500 meters and is capable of overhead attack against top armor. (More detail here)

Houlihan, 1st Bn, 48-52 - Teel, 2nd Sqdn, 59-62 - Irzyk, Regt CO, 61-62 - Varljen,1st Bn, 53-56 - St John, Regt CO, 67-69 — Houlihan, 1st Bn, 48-52 – Teel, 2nd Sqdn, 59-62 – Irzyk, Regt CO, 61-62 – Varljen,1st Bn, 53-56 – St John, Regt CO, 67-69

After lunch, MG B.B. Bell, then Chief of Armor and the Commanding General of Fort Knox, gave an excellent briefing on the transformation that armor is making to meet the new requirements of the army in supporting possible future missions. MG Bell, is a former member of the regiment having served in the 3rd Squadron at Bad Hersfeld, Germany in 1970-72. Following MG Bell’s briefing an organizational meeting on the forming of the 14th Cavalry Association was held. After reviewing the requirements needed to form the association the members present approved the formation of the of the 14th Cavalry Association. MG(R) Adrian St John was elected as the president and a board of directors was elected.

In the evening the veterans and a large group of current members of the 1st Squadron gathered at the American Lake Club for the 14th Cavalry Centennial Ball. The highlight of the evening was the remembrance of the 100 year history of the regiment by the narration of the historical locations in which the regiment had served. Each of these locations was remembered by the pouring of a bottle of the appropriate beverage into the regimental punch bowl from each of the regions in which the regiment was stationed. After all the beverages had been poured into the punch bowl the Command Sergeant Major, after tasting the punch reported “this punch is not fit for human consumption”. He then added a pair of sweaty dirty socks to commemorate the sweat of each of the regiment soldiers that had served during the past 100 years. After again tasting the punch the Command Sergeant Major was able to report to the Squadron Commander, “this punch is now fit for human consumption”. During the evening appropriate toasts were made honoring our President, country, the army and our regiment. After the ceremonies current members and veterans enjoyed an evening of dancing and socializing. On Sunday at church services at Fort Lewis the regiment was again honored and remembered.

From Left: Ray Teel, Skip Crocker, Lloyd Brooks, BG Al Irzyk, Frank Varljen

Command Sergeants Major of the 1st Squadron: Ronald Riling, current and Frank Mouri, 1963

Left: Col(R) Curt Rosler 2nd Sqdn 1961-1966 and Col(R) Gene Wilson 3rd Sqdn 1960-1962

Left: 1SG(R) Marcus Basom 3rd Sqdn 1956-57 and LTC(R) Glynn Pope 3rd Sqdn 1969-70

Lloyd and Martha Brooks with Major General B.B.Bell

With the forming of the new 14th Cavalry Association we can look forward to many more excellent events and reunions of “old timers”, current and future members of the 14th Cavalry Regiment. We would like to thank the troopers of the 1st Squadron for their support and friendship during our visit.

SUIVEZ MOI