Dear Blackhorse Association,

My name is Paula, and I am the Gold Star sister of Glenn Raymond Gordon. He served bravely in Vietnam with I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and was Killed in Action (KIA) in March of 1969.

I am reaching out to see if it is possible to connect with any combat veterans from the 11th ACR who served in I Troop during this exact timeframe. I would deeply appreciate the chance to speak with anyone who remembers my brother, or who can share what daily life and brotherhood were like for the men of I Troop in early 1969. If there is a specific roster coordinator for the 3rd Squadron, or if this request can be included in the upcoming newsletter, please let me know.

Thank you for your time, leadership, and continued dedication to keeping the Blackhorse brotherhood connected.

Respectfully,

Paula S. (Gordon) Butterworth

If you can assist Paula, please email BanditSix@aol.com.

Courtesy of Don Snedeker

From the Pacific Stars & Stripes, January 26, 1968. Photo would have been taken on January 24. My guess — based on the ribbons on his uniform — is that he is on his way home at the end of his tour. BH patch is unmistakable.

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In October 1941, with war clouds gathering in Europe and Asia, the 11th Cavalry Regiment (Horse) was deployed along the southern California border with Mexico at isolated, desolate Camp Seeley. Border patrols rode the hilly, dusty border trace on a daily basis. Just as years later during the Cold War, alerts sending units into predetermined defensive positions along the border were common. So too were pranks amongst Blackhorse Troopers. This story comes from the October 4, 1941 edition of the Los Angeles Examiner. It should bring a wry smile to one or two of our readers’ faces.

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From the Johnston County [OK] Capital-Democrat, May 17, 1945. At that time, Blackhorse Troopers were serving in the 11th Cavalry Group (Mechanized), the 11th Tank Battalion (10th Armored Division), and the 712th Tank Battalion, and E Troop, 90th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (90th Infantry Division).

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Came across this today: https://59564850.weebly.com/

Staff Sergeant Edward Rushing was killed in action while serving with L Troop on February 14, 1967.

With the exception of the Operation Hickory graphics, everything else appears to be historically accurate.

Quite a tribute to one of our fallen Troopers.

Allons!

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From the Lake Charles (LA) Daily American, September 29, 1904. The 11th Cavalry Regiment (Horse) had just returned from the Philippines. Most of those who had joined when the Regiment was formed in 1901 did not extend their enlistments, so the 1,000- man Blackhorse was in desperate need of Troopers. But, bowlegged men need not apply.

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Four new Jerry Wickam memorial signs are now installed in Leaf River, Illinois at the points of entry. The one shown is on the west side of town.

Heartfelt thanks to all who made this project come to fruition.

Paul Detmer, Adjutant

Jerry Wickam Legion Post 1148
202 Main St
Leaf River, IL 61047
815-738-2827

We recently moved off post, leaving the beautiful Presidio of San Francisco for a two- bedroom bungalow we bought across the Golden Gate Bridge. This was our move, not the Army’s. We were grateful to be out of government quarters and in our own place where paint and wallpaper would be of our own choosing.

I went back to our on-post quarters one last time to cut the grass and return the keys to the housing office. My wife Helga came along anxiously, although there was nothing for her to do. As I worked on the lawn, I could see her through the windows of the now empty quarters. She was walking from room to room as if searching for some missing item.

I knew we had not forgotten anything. I knew she was reliving memories of three years in this house. Memories of our son Patrick marching out the front door to his first day of kindergarten, memories of our first American Christmas after so many years overseas, memories of many friends who visited for the beauty of San Francisco only to discover the beauty of the Presidio.

I too found memories working on the lawn. I was raking the backyard where Patrick and I played catch with his first baseball glove, the backyard that produced a bucket of golf balls each month from the seventeenth fairway along the fence. Apparently, righthanded army golfers have a serious hook problem. I raked around the pine tree where the raccoon family lived and past the oak, the first tree Patrick climbed when he was four years old. On the sidewalk around the house, that same little boy wore out his tricycle and broke in his first two wheeler. I was now sweeping this sidewalk for the last time.

As I gathered the lawn tools, Helga came to the front door, her eyes a bit moist with tears. Buying a house of our own was a dream, but the price of living that dream was leaving behind so many fond memories.

We went into the basement one last time and following an old tradition carved our family data on a floor joist. Our names and dates on that wooden beam are a tiny footnote in the Presidio’s 240-year history but tell all who might see, that a soldier and his family once lived here and called this house their home.

MAJ. DANIEL M. CAUGHEY
July, 1991

Many might wonder “What and where is the Army’s Armor and Cavalry Collection?” Only fully consolidated in 2018, few know of the U.S. army Armor and Cavalry Collection, though it is the largest collection of US armored vehicles, and the second largest international armored vehicle collection in the world! Located at Fort Benning, Georgia, it has over 265 historic vehicles and 66 anti-tank weapons. It contains the armored vehicle classics from all sides of World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and to today.

As a part of the US Army Center for Military History and its Army Museum Enterprise, the Armor & Cavalry Collection Training Support Facility preserves Cavalry’s and Armor’s heritage, history, and its artifact collection – both in horse and mechanized forms. It also educates about that history helping to inspire Armor and Cavalry Soldier esprit de corps.

The Collection continues: 1) gathering artifacts and archival materials, 2) supporting future combat vehicle development by assisting Research and Development and Combat Development offices investigating Collection vehicle design, and 3) exploiting the Collections Reference Library containing records, historic documents, and lessons learned from past combat operations. Gathering the vehicles, equipment, and documents to accomplish its mission didn’t happen overnight; the saga began over 80 years ago.

While various regimental museums have come and gone, a formal teaching collection for the Army’s mounted branch wasn’t created until the end of World War II. Then, leaders at the “Armored Force School” at Fort Knox, Kentucky began capturing lessons learned from the war to better prepare for future conflicts. In September of 1945, the Armored Forces School formally began consolidating captured enemy armored vehicles and equipment scattered across the Army. In the next two years, these pieces of history were combined with other U.S. artifacts and officially established as “The Armored Museum of the Armored Forces School” and was dedicated to General Patton in 1949. In 1963, the Center of Military History formally recognized it as the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor. More equipment was added as instruction to Armor School students continued.

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act moved the Armor School to Fort Benning, combining it with the Infantry School creating the current “Maneuver Center of Excellence.” With this reorganization, the Patton Museum’s contents were mostly moved to Fort Benning in 2011 and stored until facilities could be built. (The General George Patton Museum of Leadership containing many of the General’s personal items, remains at Fort Knox supporting US Army Cadet Command in training future Army

leaders.) With the move to Fort Benning, the original intent was to raise funds to build a stand-alone facility that would be gifted to the Army as a turnkey Armor and Cavalry Museum. All that changed when the Army decided to build today’s Training Support Facility to house its vehicles and artifacts.

In 2018, an existing training compound in the Armor School’s footprint at Fort Benning was turned over to the Collection and construction began on its main exhibit building, the Armor and Cavalry Training Support Facility. Completed, the indoor exhibit area is over 100,000 square feet while the “Armor & Cavalry Conservation Center” next door has an additional 96,000 square feet housing over 9,000 artifacts, the Armor Restoration Shop, the Collection’s Reference Library, and administrative offices.

As the Collection Complex was being developed, the downsizing of Army European forces and Posts drove the Center for Military History to evaluate its many historic vehicles and equipment in Europe, while nearly simultaneously, it was downsizing the vehicles and equipment at many Army museums stateside. This was a golden opportunity for the Armor and Cavalry Collection, which justified the transfer of many historic armored vehicles and associated equipment to Fort Benning and the Collection with the largest number coming from Aberdeen Proving Ground. Many of these vehicles are now in the Exhibit area, while others are being restored or in storage awaiting restoration.

Today’s collection truly spans the history of Armor and Cavalry and includes many extraordinary vehicles such as World War I’s Mark VIII Tank, the first US tank co- produced with our allies; World War II’s German Tiger Tank 712, an example of one of the most feared tanks in World War II; and the M26 Pershing, one of the heroes of the Korean War, to name but a few. The collection continues to expand with recent additions such as Task Force 1-64 Armor’s A11 (“Answer to This”), the M1A1 Abrams first into Baghdad during the 2003 Thunder Run. This expansive and growing facility clearly has much to offer to Maneuver Center students and the many visitors to Fort Benning.

Each week hundreds of Army Tankers, Cavalry Scouts, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Crewmen, and Armor Officers explore the Collection to learn about Armor Branch history from its earliest days as the Continental Light Dragoons of the American Revolution to today’s mechanized Soldiers serving on Freedom’s Frontiers around the world. Two classes are currently offered. Trainees first receive an initial session early in their training focusing on Armor Branch history, customs, and traditions. A second class in the later stages of training takes the Trainees through the history of armored fighting vehicle development focused on their specific platform types. Additional time is allotted for familiarity with foreign vehicles. Working with Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) local commands, the Collection staff continues to refine its program of instruction for course and unit training, leader and professional training, and staff rides.

Although the facility is specifically designed to support military training, it attracts soldiers and their families visiting Fort Benning for events such as graduation ceremonies. It hosts thousands of military history buffs, tank and armor enthusiasts, and researchers. It also draws outside groups from elementary school through college, veteran’s organizations, Boy Scouts, and industry partners desiring to deepen their understanding of history, mechanized technology, and tactics development. As an added benefit to the Army, such visits encourage recruitment and better the public’s understanding of the Army and its heritage. In 2023, the Collection had almost 15,000 visitors. In 2024, visitors are expected to have grown to approximately 20,000. Clearly, managing such an extensive facility, providing instruction, and hosting visitors requires an extensive team and related support resources.

Maintaining almost a brigade’s worth of vehicles plus the Collection’s facilities are the responsibility of only three staff members — the Director, Curator, and Restoration Curator. Clearly, without a large, dedicated volunteer force to assist, their tasks would be difficult if not impossible to accomplish. Primary volunteer support of this type comes from the National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recruits and trains volunteers to assist in restorations, exhibit creation, and community/public outreach events. Although the Collection is funded by the Army to house, manage, and preserve its artifacts, little funding is left for restoration and improved exhibits; the Foundation provides critical assistance in funding these activities.

(Are you interested in volunteering to support the Collection? If so, please contact the Foundation POC listed later in the article.)

With so much to offer, the Collection is worth a special journey for anyone interested in military history and combat system design. The collection is open to visitors throughout the year from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (See the Foundation’s website for visitation updates.). When Soldier training schedules permit, small group visits can be coordinated on weekdays by contacting the Collection or Foundation POCs. Instructions on how to gain entry to Fort Benning and find the Collection are posted on the Foundation’s website. Special announcements about the Collection such as new vehicles, restoration updates, and Collection events are also posted there.

Many remember Patton being at Fort Benning in 1940 and 1941 when he commanded the 2nd Armored Division. The presence of the Collection at Fort Benning highlights how the Post is again the “Home of Armor and Cavalry.” Along with the many instructional facilities, range complexes, and doctrine and weapon system development offices, there stands the Collection — preserving Armor and Cavalry’s heritage and honoring our mounted warriors, past, present, and future. While doing so, it inspires future generations of both soldiers and our citizens.

For more information on visiting or volunteering, please contact the Armor and Cavalry Collection Heritage Foundation.

The Foundation’s website is at https://www.armorcavalryheritagefoundation.org. To contact the Foundation’s POC Ricky Young, call 706-341-6123 or email him at nachfexecutivedirector@gmail.com.

Biographies:
Robert Cogan is a retired armor officer and the curator at the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Training Support Facility at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Colonel (Ret.) Michael Hamilton is a retired Armor and Acquisition Corps officer living in Huntsville, Alabama.

More photos here: https://blackhorse.org/armor-vehicles-at-fort-benning-open-for-public-display/

Charles Falkowski, 72, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, passed away on February 18, 2025, at Grande Prairie Health & Rehab.

Charles was born on April 6, 1952, in Mercer, WI, the son of the late Frank & Jeanette Falkowski. He was educated in the schools of Mercer. Charles was a member of the U.S. Army, serving during the Vietnam War with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He married Linda Chase, and together they spent many happy years. Charles was employed as a printer, working at various shops throughout the years. His hobbies included fishing, walking his dog, gun shooting, cheering for the Packers & Cubs, but most of all spending time with his family & friends.

Survivors include his son, Jay (Katherine Bilitzki) Falkowski of Chicago; brothers Frank Falkowski Sr. of WI, and Robert (Martha) Falkowski of IL; sister Sandra (Ed) Blaise of WI; and 2 grandchildren, Frank and Joseph Falkowski. Charles was preceded in death by his wife Linda, brother Ron, sister Sally, and sister-in-law Sissy.

A memorial gathering was held at Kenosha Funeral Services on August 9, 2025, from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM followed by memorial services.

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Jerry Lester Hensley, June 7, 1940 – August 22, 2026 Jerry Lester Hensley was born June 7, 1940 in the home of his grandmother in Oklahoma City Oklahoma. He spent most of his childhood growing up in oil field camps

with fond memories of living in Goldsmith Texas. He later attended Crockett Jr high and Odessa high school.

In 1959 he enlisted in the US Army and that was the beginning of a great career that took him to many different places in the world. In 1961 one of those places was a small town in Oregon where he met Sandy Hopkins, fell in love and they married 1 month later. They shared 48 years of adventures together.

During his time in the Army Jerry served 2 tours in Vietnam with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse). He was awarded both the silver and bronze stars for his act of bravery and heroism. He was also featured in the book Firebase Illingworth by Philip Keith, which documents the extraordinary sacrifice, and valor of the outnumbered U.S. soldiers who held the base against extreme odds. While serving in the Army, Jerry graduated from the University of Tampa in 1973 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree. Jerry had a 20-year career with the Army retiring in 1977 in El Paso Tx with the rank of Major.

After retirement he became an entrepreneur and had several very successful businesses. But West Texas always had a way to call him back. In 1984 he moved back to Odessa with a dream and plan for what turned in to a multi-million dollar company. Jerry was a member the Shriners, the Masons and the Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang, where he led and organized several feeds including a goodwill mission to our sister city in Odessa, Ukraine and a welcome-home barbecue feed for U.S. troops returning from Iraq.

In 2009 he lost his beloved wife and partner of 48 years, but was lucky enough to find love again when in 2015 he married his wife Cheryl White. Over the years they enjoyed traveling to many different countries. Listening to music and dancing at the American Legion.

Jerry is proceeded in death by his parents Max Hensley and Mary Hensley, his step mother Phyllis Hensley, his wife Sandy Hensley, his son Randy Lee Hensley, and son in law Michael Kelly.

Survived by his wife, Cheryl Hensley; brother Joe Hensley (Marla); daughters Lori Cunningham (Gary) and Nikki Kelly; stepdaughter Stacey Brewer (Bailey) and stepson, Jason McCullough; grandchildren Bryan Cunningham, Kimberly Lutz (Tad), Brent Cunningham (Gina), Garrett Cunningham (Yatsiri), Rachel Cunningham, Kelsie Friedman (Alec), Nicholas Kelly (Dixie), Quincy Kelly, and Peri Kelly (Ryan); and 4 step- grandsons and 8 great grandchildren.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.

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.