1st RECON TROOP (MECHANIZED CAVALRY)

SPEECH BY CO, 1st RECON, 1st INF DIV - ORGAINIZATION DAY, 1941

Today, we pause to celebrate the Troop's first birthday. According to the records of the War Department, this Troop completed its first year's service in the Regular Army of the United States on July 19th, 1941. The Organization Day is officially designated as July 20th. Upon inquiry, I was informed of this official date to late to have a celebration at that time. So we are having this belated birthday party today. Briefly, I wil preview the history of the 1st Reconnaissance Troop through its first year: While I was a member of the 3rd Cavalry, in July, 1940, I was notified that the 3rd Cavalry would furnish an enlisted cadre to form the First Reconnaissance Troop at Fort Devens, Mass. At that time, I did not know I would have the fortune to command this fine organization. The Cadre arrived here on August the 3rd from Fort Myer, Virginia and Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. Due to a delay in my orders, I did not join the Troop until the tenth of August. When I arrived that memorable Saturday afternoon, I met SGT Wallence at the main gate. He met me practically with open arms. He said "we are certainly glad to see you, Captain." I found the cadre working as they should be doing, furnishing overhead details for COL Christie's Recruit Reception Center. So our cadre not only formed the 1st Reconnaissance Troop, but also helped organize the Recruit Reception Center. The Troop's progress in organizing was very slow during the first month. Time ws largely spent setting up a place of business in the barracks and submitting voluminous requisitions for all of our equipment. The first group of recruits arrived from the Recruit Reception Center on September 14, 1940. Included in that first group was Drucher, Demers, Stuart, Webster, Haszard, Lemieux, McDowell, Modzclowski, Edgar, Wood, Schaper, Alexander, Wilkins and Donahy. The recruits were put to work in basic training and were kept in groups according to the time joined the Troop. By October 18th, the Troop attained its full authorized strength and grades and ratings were given out right and left. The equipment didn't arrive as fast as the recruits, but though we were disappointed, this delay offered us an excellent opportunity to train in basic subjects for this Cavalry Troop, such as map reading and the well know subject of Scouting and Patrolling. Our vehicles started to roll in slowly in November. Training for drivers and the breaking in of vehicles was conducted during the cold winter months, as you all well remember. In December, we started instruction firing for all of our weapons, and finally completed the firing last week. Although you fired the weapons at times in very severe weather, your records for the first year were excellent. During the last few months the progress of the troop developed rapidly. Now that we are practically fully equipped, we are beginning to look, act, and feel like a mechanized Troop of Cavalry - the 1st Reconnaissance Troop, 1st Infantry Division. Personally, I'm proud to have the command of this Troop. Under the Officer's guidance, you have cooperated fully, and have developed into one of the best Troops in the Army. I know that you are all happy to be here, and are as proud of this one year old baby as I am. We still have a lot to Learn, But that does not Faze us. We have pulled through the tough grinds only to realize that no duty has been to tough for us. It is my hope that we will continue together as a fine, hard-working Troop with the fine spirit that has carried us through the first year. Let's all join in wishing the 1st Reconnaissance Troop many more years of success and happiness. by CAPTAIN JAMES B. QUILL

ROSTER OF ASSIGNED PERSONNEL, 1st Recon Troop - 1941

CPT QUILL, James B.					PVT ALEXANDER, Jesse G., Jr.
							PVT ALPORT, Samuel L.
lLT RICE, Kenneth E.					PVT BAGLEY, Vance F.
lLT MARCOULLIER, Elliott J.				PVT BEALES, Donald I.
lLT LIAKOS, Elias F.					PVT BORGERON, Joseph R.
							PVT BOAOSAGO, Emile J., Jr.
2LT TURNER, Ian F.					PVT BOBNER, Macrico F.
2LT WILLIS, Benjamin G.					PVT BONWAS, Michelas
2LT IMPRIALO, Meyer					PVT BROADBROOK, John J.
2LT SKOGSBER, Paul L.					PVT BROWN, George E.
2LT RAYMOND, Thurber C.					PVT BURKE, Patrick W.
							PVT BURNS, Robert W.
1SG KAPRAL, Joseph J.					PVT CAPEROSSI, Edward J.
							PVT CHAMBERLAND, Conrad A.
SSG PARSONS, Thomas M.					PVT CRESSMAN, Elmont G.
SSG STAPLES, Gordon W.					PVT CUMMINGS, Allen K.
							PVT CYR, Ronald J.
SGT ALFORD, Clarence J.					PVT DANAHY, John J.
SGT BAER, Charles A.					PVT DANFORD, Malcolm J.
SGT BOARD, Richard R.					PVT DAY, Harland B.
SGT NADEAU, Joseph I.					PVT DOMERS, Charles M., Jr.
SGT RHOTON, William P.					PVT DISORDA, Oliver S.
SGT RUSSELL, Winthrop A.				PVT D'ORTO, Henry
SGT STORM, Elwood E.					PVT DRUCKER, Theodore E.
SGT WATTS, Bernard					PVT DUCHARMO, Gerald
SGT WINN, Burt C.					PVT DuFRANE, Francis A.
SGT YANIK, Lewis J.					PVT DURANT, William
							PVT EVANS, Franklin K.
CPL BLANCHARD, Francis E.				PVT FIELD, George E.
CPL CHRISTINA, Francisco				PVT FLAHERTY, Matthias
CPL COLLO, Henry C.					PVT FONTAINO, George
CPL DICKEY, Alvin J.					PVT FREGOAU, Arthur
CPL DOORING, Earl M.					PVT FREGOAU, Raymond E.
CPL HACKETT, Archie G.					PVT GOOD, Russell A.
CPL KLINE, Edmund H.					PVT HADUK, Leon
CPL KRISHER, Charles R.					PVT HASZARD, Sidney S.
CPL POPOVICO, George B.					PVT HENO, Earl D.
CPL PROIA, Roy H.					PVT HILL, George E.
CPL SIMMONS, Gordon H.					PVT HOLLAND, Albert R.
CPL SIMS, Johnie W.					PVT HOURIGAN, Robert E.
CPL STEPANISCHEN, Simion				PVT HURLEY, William E.
CPL THORNTON, Everett F.				PVT KELLY, Edward
CPL TURNER, Lewis E.					PVT KILCOLLINS, Thomas W.
CPL WALKER, William A.					PVT KIRPUAC, Victor E.
CPL WATKINS, Robert L.					PVT JUIAS, John G.
CPL WEBB, Lon E.					PVT LAFLAMME, Albert L.
CPL ZABINSKI, Edward F.					PVT LAMOTTO, Milford A.
							PVT LAVERTUE, Francis W.
PFC BRADYGA, William					PVT LARIGNE, John H.
PFC BRABRICK, George R.					PVT LORD, Donald F.
PFC CAMPBELL, James N.					PVT LUPO, William
PFC CARROLL, John M.					PVT MacLAUGHLIN, Clifford C.	
PFC COVELL, Gordon E.					PVT MAGAW, Lester
							PVT McHOOD, Hazen G.
PFC CROSSMAN, Elmont G.					PVT MILLETT, Raymond C.
PFC DIETER, David F.					PVT MODZELEWSKI, Edmund
PFC DIONNE, Wilfrid J.					PVT MUCCI, Aurelio
PFC DONAVAN, Edward M.					PVT NICKERSON, James W.
PFC FREI, William A.					PVT NIGEHESIAN, Gesag
PFC GOODWIN, John F.					PVT PARKER, Hubert G.
PFC HENDERSON, Richard L.				PVT PRAY, John L.
PFC JONES, Charles A.					PVT ROBIDEAU, David I.
PFC KEESLER, William C.					PVT SCAMPINI, Joseph
PFC LOMIOUS, Joseph R.L.				PVT SHEEHAN, Clifford C.
PFC MATSON, Aarni F.					PVT STAWSKI, Peter
PFC McDOWELL, Howard A.					PVT STEVENS, John A.
PFC MORCIER, George L.					PVT STUART, Irwin V.
PFC MOFFATT, Leonard W.					PVT TOBIN, Richard V.
PFC MURLATT, Norman S.					PVT UNDERWOOD, Charles M.
PFC PAFFORD, Ersul M.					PVT VEIVERIS, John
PFC PALMER, Robert E.					PVT WARNER, Raymond R.
PFC PAPACHRISTON, James					PVT WEBSTER, Charles W.
PFC PARKER, Charles H.					PVT WENZEL, Robert L.
PFC POTVIN, Sylvio L.					PVT WEST, Wilfrid C.
PFC QUINN, Douglas C.					PVT WILCOX, Robert O.
PFC ROCK, Robert D.					PVT WILKINS, Melvin E.
PFC SCHAPER, Fred B.					PVT WILKINSON, Richard F.
PFC SHAKESPEARO, Noel W.G.				PVT WOOD, Edgar H.
PFC SMITHOWSKI, John					PVT WOODS, Stanley E.
PFC STARNER, Alvin H.					PVT ZGLOBICKI, Matthew J. 
PFC STRICKLAND, Edward H.
PFC SUYET, John J.
PFC WHITTEMORE, Kenneth S.
PFC WILSON, Carroll A. 
PFC WOOD, Robert H.
PFC ZACK, Eugene C.

George Koch tells his story - pg 1

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Bill Baty / Fennville, Michigan / bbaty@accn.org

This page was last updated on 24 June 2003