Gerald “Uncle Jerry” Williamson, October 15, 1947 – January 10, 2026.

Gerald “Uncle Jerry” Williamson passed away on January 10, 2026. Born in Brockton, Massachusetts on October 15, 1947, Jerry lived a life defined by service, adventure, loyalty, and a personality that was anything but ordinary.

He spent most of his adult life in Redlands, California before moving to The Villages in Florida in 2022, where he continued to enjoy good company, great conversation, and his favorite pastimes.

A proud Vietnam veteran, Jerry served from 1968 to 1969 as a tank commander with the legendary Blackhorse Regiment. He held the rank of Specialist-5 in Delta Company, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. His service was a defining chapter of his life, and his connection to the Blackhorse never faded.

In 2005, Jerry took part in what became known as the Senior Tour in Iraq, returning to active combat zones and participating in missions throughout the country. It is believed to be one of the only times in military history that veterans from the same unit were involved in combat operations in both Vietnam and Iraq with their original regiment. For Jerry, this was not about recognition. It was about loyalty, brotherhood, and standing once again with the men he proudly called family.

Jerry remained deeply involved with his Blackhorse family, attending reunions and staying closely connected with fellow veterans. The camaraderie, loyalty, and shared history meant everything to him. His daily emails, often filled with humor, personal updates, sharp observations, and thoughts on current events, were something many looked forward to each day. They reflected his wit, his patriotism, and his deep respect for those he served beside.

After his military service, Jerry pursued several careers, including working as a police officer, private investigator, and later as a therapist. Each chapter added another layer to a man often described as complex, insightful, and full of stories.

An avid reader and lifelong patriot, Jerry had a gift for conversation and storytelling. He especially loved bantering with wait staff and patrons at his favorite spots, where he could be found enjoying a nice glass of wine or a pour of Tullamore D.E.W., always paired with a good story and a sharp sense of humor.

Jerry lived an adventurous, meaningful life shaped by service, friendships, and unforgettable experiences. Those who were lucky enough to know him will remember his wit, his wisdom, his love of country, and his unwavering pride in his Blackhorse family.

In keeping with Jerry’s wishes, there will be no formal service or memorial. His nephew, Mike, will be making donations in Jerry’s honor to several of Jerry’s favorite organizations:

• The Blackhorse Regiment
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• The Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Those who wish to honor Jerry’s memory are welcome to donate to one of these organizations or to a charity that reflects something Jerry cared about.

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Quintin Goodner (April 19, 1947 — January 8, 2026).

Quintin Jerome Goodner, age 78, of Cleveland, Tennessee, passed away peacefully January 8, 2026, at his home in Beverly Hills, Florida. He was surrounded by his loving family and his beloved wife, where they spent their last year together fishing, spending time with family, and exploring their new home.

Jerry was born April 19, 1947, in Cleveland to the late Buford Miller (Jocko) and Ruth Tallent Goodner. He was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland.

Jerry graduated from Bradley High School. In January of 1966 Jerry married Brenda Joyce Watson in Cleveland and together they shared 60 wonderful years of marriage.

Jerry proudly served his country in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 with the U.S. Army’s 11th Armored Cavalry Blackhorse Regiment. After an honorable discharge, Jerry spent many years in the trucking business eventually retiring from Penske Truck Leasing in 1992. He then worked several years with Cleveland Utilities before retiring to pursue his passion of fishing for the big one!

Jerry was a co-founder of the 11th Armored Cavalry’s Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia organization. He had a passion for bass fishing and was a member of the FLW Bass Fishing League where he participated in and won several tournaments over the years. He was also a supporter of Fishing with a Soldier and the Junior Bass Masters. His boat, affectionately referred to as “Fat Girl,” was a patriotic tribute to active and retired veterans and POW soldiers. She appeared in many local events including Veterans Day and the annual Cleveland Christmas parade.

Jerry will be fondly remembered for his kindness toward those in need, his spontaneous spirit, and his infectious laugh.

Jerry was a devoted family man and loved spending time with them boating, fishing, and breaking bread. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Joyce; daughters Jerri Lynn (Billy) and Deadra (Art); and grandchildren Brandon Fischer, Adam Fischer, and Jake Keels. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jerry’s memory to 11th ACVVC, 571 Ditchley Road, Kilmarnock, VA 22482.

THE FISHERMAN’S PRAYER

I pray that I may live to fish
Until my dying day.
And when it comes to my last cast,
I then most humbly pray:
When in the Lord’s safe landing net
And peacefully asleep
That in his mercy I be judged
Good enough to keep.

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Arthur C. Hester: Arthur “Art” Cleveland Hester, age 79 of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on February 27, 2022, in Palm Desert, California. Art was born in Columbus, Mississippi on March 5, 1942, to Evie Thompson and Kirby Henry. He moved to Chicago as a young boy and graduated from Marshall High School on the westside of Chicago in 1960. Conferred with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1965 from the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York, Art was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and served two campaigns in the Vietnam War. Upon returning to the United States, Art earned a master’s degree in Finance from New York University and a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University. Art served at stations in West Germany, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia as well as in the United States. He received several commendations including the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. Colonel Hester was most proud of being an Airborne Ranger.

Art served with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany in the mid-1970s as commander of C Troop, 1/11 and as the Regimental S2.

In 1981, Art retired from active duty, became a reservist in the Army, and pursued a new career with General Motors at the GM Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas. As Production Superintendent he was instrumental in the construction of the new Fairfax Plant. Art held the position of Plant Manager in the GM assembly plants in Tarrytown, New York, and Arlington, Texas. While at the Arlington plant, the Chevrolet Caprice Classic LTZ won the 1991 Motor Trend Car of the Year award. He concluded his career with GM at its headquarters in Detroit, Michigan in 1998. However, Art still had work to do; he was a founding partner of CHB, an engineering firm that performed calibration services for automotive related companies. Art also contracted with the Process Development Corporation as Program Manager providing technical support to automotive and manufacturing organizations in the United States and Mexico.

Art spent a great deal of time serving his church and giving back to his community. While living in Michigan, he was a member of Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, where he held numerous leadership positions. In 2011, Art and his wife Cinda relocated to Overland Park, Kansas and became members of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (COR). Driven by his desire to positively influence young people, he served several years in COR’s Partner Schools Ministry, mentoring and tutoring kids at Wheatley Elementary School. He also continued to help with recruiting efforts for West Point as a volunteer, which aligned with one of his earlier assignments as an Admissions Officer for USMA. For 30 years, Art evaluated and advised local academy candidates in the various places he lived, and recently served on the Academy Nominations Panel for Rep. Sharice Davids. He was instrumental in establishing the C. Robert Arvin Foundation, a tribute to his West Point classmate, which awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to outstanding high school students. Art also volunteered with Hope Builders and was active in NAACP.

Art was an avid reader, primarily of U.S. history, military history, and military heroes. His free time was spent enjoying golf, spending time with his family, gardening, and watching Westerns and sports.

Art leaves behind his wife Cinda Hester of Overland Park, Kansas and his four children with his former wife, Mae Hester of Denver, Colorado: daughters, Zina Hester (Chris Dixon) of Macon, Georgia; Karen Hester of Denver, Colorado; Lisa White (Garrett) of Savannah, Georgia, and son, Arthur Hester, III (Kristi) of Palm Desert, California. Art also leaves behind seven grandsons, three granddaughters, his mother Evie Thompson of Houston, Texas, his sister Jeanne Fairman of Chicago, Illinois, a host of nieces and nephews, and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his sister, Anne Hester, and stepfather, William Thompson.

Courtesy of Don Snedeker

From 1957 to 1964, the 11th Cavalry patrolled the border between southern Germany and Czechoslovakia. The attached map appeared in The Chicago Tribune on 18 September 1957.

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Below, read the amazing story of Trooper Howard Brown. He started his career in the Army as a Trooper in the 11th Cavalry Regiment in 1916 — at the age of 13. By 1950, he had fought in four wars: the Pancho Villa expedition, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He had two breaks in service, was awarded a Purple Heart, gained an engineering degree from college, and had lots of stories to tell the recruits he was trying to convince to join the U.S. Army. He was a Blackhorse Trooper – The Finest in the Land.

Can you help me find CSM (Ret.) Glen Kunz? He was our CSM at 3/11 in the mid-90s and might be a member of the BHA.

From there he moved to Friedberg, as I did. The 4-67AR (the Bandits) are planning a reunion for the Bosnia years and we’d appreciate any help in contacting Glen.

Please contact me at tomclancyjr@gmail.com.

Thank you!
Tom Clancy

REUNION 2026: Biloxi, Mississippi, July 15-19, 2026

Hosted by: Don and Beth Barrett

Reservation: Quality Inn Biloxi Beach, 2414 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39531
228-388-1000 or 228-819-7070
Send email to MS200@stayatchoice.com

Price:
$105 plus tax for Sunday through Thursday
$120 plus tax for Friday and Saturday

Applicable tax 12%

Not point eligible for Choice Privileges

Minimum Length of Stay: 2 nights

First night deposit of room + tax

Non-refundable if not cancelled by date required.

3-day cancellation policy: You must cancel 3 days prior to arrival date or first night deposit will not be refunded and/or first night and tax will be charged to Credit Card on file. Please keep cancellation number for your records.

Early Birds: July 12-14, 2026

Transportation: Air transportation is the Gulf Port Biloxi Airport. It is located 11 miles from the motel. No shuttle; rental cars available at airport. Please contact Don Barrett or Mike DeNote on air schedules to and from.

Motel: (For Planning Purposes Only). Please notify Mike DeNote, Don Barrett, or Christine Berry-Rohde what are your confirmation number and dates for your stay, and how many people are in your party. Also, please notify the same individuals above approximately 2 weeks prior to reunion dates if you cancel your reservations.

Continental breakfast included.

Smoking: Outside motel.

Memorial Service will be Friday, July 17. It is 13.3 miles away from motel. Red shirts are required for memorial service. We will have pictures on site and at the motel, immediately following the Memorial Service. (Red shirts will be made available at Quartermaster Store.)

Banquet will be Friday, July 17. Location TBD.

No charge for guests 12 years and under.

Thank you!

So looking forward to seeing all. HOOAAH!

Blackhorse Family
Mike DeNote, President
Nick Angelini, Vice President
Christine Berry-Rohde, Secretary

We are excited to announce that the collaborative efforts of the 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia (11th ACVVC) and the Blackhorse Association (BHA) to create a permanent monument at Fort Irwin are under way! At the request of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR) leadership, this monument stands as a testament to the storied legacy of the Regiment and honors the sacrifices of all who have served.

Since its stationing at Fort Irwin in 1994, the 11th ACR has been at the forefront of training U.S. forces, portraying an evolving and realistic adversary at the National Training Center. Their contributions extend beyond these crucial exercises, with numerous overseas deployments, including a training team sent to Afghanistan and a full deployment to Iraq in 2005. The adaptability and unwavering commitment of the Regiment continue to inspire us all.

As we diligently work toward the completion of this monument, we invite everyone to support our ongoing endeavors. You can help preserve the legacy of the 11th ACR by participating in our fundraising efforts. We are pleased to offer opportunities for direct donations, as well as special memorial brick purchases. Each brick will honor a veteran or a loved one, creating a lasting tribute that future generations will cherish.

We cannot complete this project without your support; each donation, brick sale, and volunteer hour plays a vital role in ensuring that the sacrifices made by all members of the Regiment are recognized and remembered in the current home of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. We encourage you to join us in this noble cause, as we honor the history and spirit of the Blackhorse Regiment. Together, we can make a significant impact.

For more information on contributing to this project, please scan the QR Code below or go to https://web.charityengine.net/Default.aspx?tsid=34549 and visit our brick sales and direct donations page. You also can download a printed order form at this link: https://blackhorse.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Memorial-Order-Form_QR-Code_-Border_Full-URL.pdf

Thank you for standing with us to honor our heroes — your generosity strengthens our mission and unites us in remembrance. ALLONS!

Do you have items of interest that are related to the Blackhorse? Please send them to Clint Ancker, Director of Communications, at banditsix@aol.com.