Joseph Lewis Coopet Jr. August 19, 1948 – December 8, 2024. Joseph Lewis Coopet Jr., age 76, of Woodbury, Minnesota, passed away on December 8, 2024.

Joseph is fondly remembered, and he is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jacqueline Meyer; his parents, Joe and Esther; and his brothers, Jim, John, Guy, and Lawrence; and cherished friends, fellow service members, and relatives.

He is survived by his brothers, Eugene and Michael, and their families, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Joseph’s vast network of friends, who became like family around the world, will forever cherish his memory.

Throughout Joseph’s life, his steadfast character, wit as sharp as his grin, unyielding spirit, and steadfast determination were evident in everything he did. His moral sense of doing what was right was coupled with a mischievous twinkle in his eye that appeared from time to time. All these qualities combined to make him an engaging and unforgettable man.

Joseph was drafted, like so many at the time, and proudly served in the United States Army and achieved the rank of Sergeant E-5, with deployments throughout Central Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

During his service, he was awarded 3 Purple Hearts for his bravery and dedication. Joseph’s unwavering commitment to his fellow soldiers and his country was evident in all he did. He was stoic and reserved in mixed company, and would simply say “If you know, you know” about his service history. His military service was a testament to his courage and selflessness, traits that continued to define him throughout his life.

He remained an active member of The Blackhorse Association and the 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia (aka 11ACVVC), where he worked tirelessly to support his fellow veterans. Joseph’s legacy of service and patriotism will forever be remembered.

Services are pending and are tentatively planned for the spring of 2025.

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Clyde Parker McCarty II, 69, known as Parker to his friends and family, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2024 at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.

Parker was born May 21, 1954 to Lawrence and Shirley McCarty in Tacoma, WA. The family relocated to Carmichael, CA, where Parker graduated from Del Campo High School. In 1974, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was deployed to the Fulda Gap in Germany with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He completed two tours of duty during the Cold War era. He then continued his service with the Army Reserves while working for the U.S. Department of Defense as a civilian employee in both Sacramento, CA and Oklahoma City, OK.

In 2014, Parker moved to Carson City, NV and became an active member of the American Radio Relay League and National Association for Amateur Radio. His affiliations also included the Blackhorse Association and the American Legion, which he joined in 1992.

All who knew Parker were keenly aware of his love of reading, a good mug of hot tea, and watching the finches in his backyard. However, Parker’s greatest joy was his beloved toy schnauzer Marvin, whom he walked daily at the Carson City Capitol grounds, making friends wherever the two of them roamed. They often would be seen in the local dog parks, Starbucks and numerous other places around town.

He also enjoyed watching the Sierra Rocketry Association at Misfits Flat launch their rockets into the desert sky.

Parker is preceded in death by his parents, Larry and Shirley McCarty and older sister Laurie Ann McCarty of Carmichael. He leaves behind sister Nancy McCarty and her husband, Russ Borden, also residing in Carson City, NV; and sister Marti McCarty and her family of San Diego, CA. His kind heart and gentle nature will be missed by all who knew him.

Services will be held January 17, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Walton’s Funerals & Cremations in Carson City. Reception immediately follows the service.

Courtesy of Dale Lawless

State Secretary Michael Ruhl (right) hands over the funding notice to foundation board member Philipp Metzler in the “Haus auf der Grenze”. © Johannes Schneider/Point-Alpha-Stiftung

The state of Hesse is taking another step to make the Green Belt Hesse national natural monument more accessible. With a funding commitment of around 58,800 euros, it is supporting the renovation of the Point Alpha memorial in the Hünfeld region.

Rasdorf/Geisa — This is what the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment wrote in a press release:

“We want to strengthen the existing memorial sites along the Green Belt and promote the culture of remembrance,” explained State Secretary for Homeland Affairs Michael Ruhl.

State of Hesse supports renovation of the Point Alpha memorial with 58,800 euros

“When history can be experienced in this way, it becomes more important for future generations. Maintaining the former military facility in its original condition is an important contribution to the long-term preservation of the Green Belt as a testimony to German history.”

Today’s Point Alpha memorial maintains the only former US observation post in Germany and allows visitors to experience a piece of history first hand. Over the years, however, individual objects have become in need of renovation.

In particular, the sanitary facilities, the training rooms in the barracks and the external appearance of the barracks must be renovated in order to preserve the overall historical appearance.

Courtesy of Don Snedeker

From 1904 to 1906, the 11th Cavalry Regiment was stationed at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. In 1906, the War Department ordered the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons to deploy on short notice to Cuba to help put down a growing insurrection. These articles describe one of the consequences of Blackhorse Troopers leaving Des Moines.

At the end of World War II, the 11th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) was converted to the 11th Constabulary Regiment. The Constabulary was tasked with maintaining law and order in post-war Germany. Faced with repeated daily patrolling in the same areas, Troopers soon turned to American sports to relieve the boredom. This article from November 1946 talks about the Regimental football team.

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The April 1991 edition of the Blackhorse newspaper featured the welcome-home ceremonies for the Troopers of E and K Troops from their deployment during the Gulf War.

The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment will be represented by Regimental Troopers past and present to honor the 11th Cavalry Regiment’s birthday with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 11:15 a.m. This event, which began in 2015, has grown in tradition and is entering its tenth year (no wreath laying was done in 2021 due to the pandemic). Our Regiment, which is currently stationed at Fort Irwin, California, intends to send a detail to participate and represent the 11th.

Following the ceremony, we will share lunch at Joe Theismann’s Restaurant from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,1800A Diagonal Rd, Alexandria, VA 22314.

For more information, please contact the event coordinator, Guillermo Guillén (11th ACR from June 2001 to June 2006). Kindly forward this information to other Troopers who may not be receiving the association’s emails.

Below is a list of instructions from ANC:

Allons!
—
Respectfully,
Guillermo Guillén
808-888-9633
guillermo.guillen.03@gmail.com

Courtesy of Bill Mahon
E Troop, 2/11 ACR

The 11th Cavalry Regiment
From the birth of their banner in days of yore,
To the Philippine shores where their valor roared,
The Blackhorse Regiment forged its name,
In the crucible of conflict, they claimed their fame.
Chasing Villa through Mexico’s dust,
Their relentless pursuit, a mission just,
With grit and resolve, they pressed the fight,
In the darkest of hours, they were the light.
Through World War’s fury, they stormed ashore,
In Europe’s fields, they battled more,
From France to Germany, breaking the line,
Their courage and skill, forever enshrined.
In Vietnam’s jungles, through rain and strife,
The 11th Cavalry risked life for life,
Cambodia’s borders, they boldly crossed,
For freedom’s cause, no matter the cost.
Cold War sentinels on Germany’s plains,
Guarding the Fulda with vigilance strained,
Their watchful eyes, a shield of might,
Deterring foes in the dead of night.
Desert Storm’s sands saw their return,
In mechanized fury, their engines burned,
The Gulf’s fierce battles, they faced once more,
A testament to their warrior lore.
Now at Irwin’s desolate, sun-baked land,
Training the troops, a seasoned hand,
The Opposing Force, they lead the way,
For the soldiers of tomorrow, they pave the day.
“Allons!” they cry, “Let’s go!” with pride,
In every endeavor, their hearts allied,
The Blackhorse Regiment stands ever tall,
A legacy of honor, inspiring all.
So here’s to the brave of the Blackhorse lore,
Who’ve written history with deeds of yore,
From jungles green to deserts wide,
Their spirit endures, a nation’s pride.

*************

*(Verse 1)*
In a muddy old foxhole, just me and my crew,
We’re dodging the bullets, you know how we do.
Sharing some stories and all of our fears,
When a buddy named Dave gets a little too near.

*(Chorus)*
Oops! Shot in the ass, what a silly mistake,
Came out of nowhere, oh what a shake!
We’re in the thick of it, trying to stay brave,
But we can’t stop laughing at our buddy Dave!

*(Verse 2)*
We’re huddled together, the danger feels real,
Then Dave gets a wink, thinks he’s got a raw deal.
He stood up to stretch, oh what a bad call,
A stray bullet zips in — and it’s right through his… well!

*(Chorus)*
Oops! Shot in the ass, it’s a comedic blast,
He hops like a kangaroo, trying to move fast.
In the chaos of battle, we’re all feeling brave,
But our laughter erupts — “Look out for Dave!”

*(Bridge)*
Now he’s walking like he’s got a stick in his pants,
With stories to tell of his wild mischance.
We patch him up gently, as we all take a break,
In a war zone getting shot, oh for goodness sake!

*(Verse 3)*
So here’s to our friendship, through thick and through thin,
Even in battle, we’ll always win.
With laughter and comrades, through fire and flash,
Just make sure you watch where you aim, that’s the catch!

*(Chorus)*
Oops! Shot in the ass, but he’s still our brave mate,
We’ll laugh ’til we cry, we can’t underestimate.
Through all of the madness, in this wild, crazy wave,
We’re just a bunch of friends, and we’ll always save Dave!

*(Outro)*
So if you’re in a foxhole, and things start to fly,
Just remember to laugh, keep your spirits up high.
‘Cause in the middle of chaos, it’s all that we need,
When friends are together, we’ll always succeed!

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.