Pete Bayer, President
Pete Bayer proudly served over 29 years as a Soldier in the United States Army and was the 61st Colonel of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment leading the Blackhorse during its combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. He spent the majority of his career in operations and training with duty in multiple Armor and Cavalry units in Germany and the United States including four post-9/11 operational and combat tours in Kuwait and Iraq. Highlights include service as the commander of the 2nd Battalion 69th Armor; G3 Operations Officer of the 3rd Infantry Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq; Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Armor Center; Chief of Staff of I Corps and Multinational Corps Iraq in Baghdad in 2010 and Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy on the Army Staff in the Pentagon.
Pete joined Penske Logistics in 2014 and currently serves as a Senior Vice President – Operations leading Penske’s Warehousing operations in North America. He and his wife Lhoryn live in East Petersburg PA.
BLACKHORSE61@ICLOUD.COM
Starling Cooper, VP Engagement
Starling enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1975 as an 11E Armor Crewman. This was prior to his high school graduation at the age of 17, on the Delayed Entry Program. After completing Basic Training and AIT at Ft. Knox in December 1975. Starling was assigned to D Co. 1/11 ACR in Fulda Germany from January 1976 – January 1979. During that time period Starling achieved the rank of Sp5. His duties were mostly Driver and Loader on M60A1’s as well as Border patrols along the East/West German Border. Starling was reassigned to C Co. 1/8 CAV 1st CAV Division at Ft Hood from January 1979-July 1979. Starling was made an Acting SGT. He was the Gunner for the XO and a Tank Commander. Starling at this time, ended his 4 year active military commitment.
Using the GI Bill, Starling attended Lively Aviation Vocational School in Tallahassee FL where he obtained an Airframe and Powerplant License in 1984. Starling worked aircraft maintenance for Commuter Airlines in FL and CA. In 1990 Starling started working for United Airlines in San Francisco. In 1996 Starling transferred to Indianapolis IN with United. Starling worked as an Aircraft Mechanic, Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor and Outside Vendor Manager. Starling retired from United Airlines in September of 2020 after 30 years.
Starling currently lives in the Indianapolis area with his wife of 35 years Dori, they have 1 son Starling (33).
birdstarling1@aol.com
Patrck Murphy, Director of Facilities
Patrick Murphy served with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, G Troop, from October 1970 to March 1972, and then with the 1st Cavalry until July 1, 1972. He continued his service in the National Guard with HHT 144th Field Artillery, 40th Infantry Division, from 1973 to 1978. After the Army, Patrick pursued a passion for aviation, teaching and conducting charter flights for about three years before transitioning to the food service industry. For the next 25 years, he provided food and equipment to restaurants, schools, hotels, and hospitals. He later moved to Florida, working in sales for cleaning supplies and chemicals for 12 years, before returning to his hometown of Santa Barbara. Now retired, Patrick remains active in the veteran community, assisting fellow veterans with challenges they face. For the past decade, he has served as Post Commander of American Legion Post 49 in Santa Barbara, continuing his dedication to service through advocacy, outreach, and work related to the PACT Act.
pamurphy1@hotmail.com
Clint Ancker, Director of Communications
Clint Ancker was commissioned from West Point in 1970 and served in Vietnam as Platoon Leader and Troop XO with G Troop, 2/11 ACR, rifle platoon leader with the 1-12 CAV, and Training Officer and PBO with Special Forces. From 1974-1977 he was Border Officer, Squadron Maintenance Officer, and the Commander of F Troop, 2/11 ACR. He taught military history at West Point from 1980-83. From 1984-1991 he served as S-3, 3/11 ACR; S-3, 11th ACR; Commander of 3/11 ACR: and G-3 of 2d Armored Division (Forward) during Desert Storm. Subsequent assignments included Special Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, US Special Operations Command, Chief of the USEUCOM Military Liaison Team to Albania, and Director of the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, a position he held until his retirement as a DA civilian. He and his wife, Jan, are currently enjoying retirement in Washington State.
banditsix@aol.com
Chris Faber, Director of Finance & Strategy
CTFaber@ymail.com
Bob Hatcher, Director of Operations
In 1988, after graduation from Marion Military Institute, Bob Hatcher was commissioned a Lieutenant of Infantry in the Alabama Army National Guard. He went on to attend the University of Monetvallo before serving on Active Duty with the US Army. Bob served on active duty from 1990 to 2016 in a variety of command and staff positions in the United States, Germany, Korea, Norway and the Middle East. He attended the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course and was later assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, CA from 2002 to 2006. There he served as the Support Squadron S3 and SPO, the Regimental XO, and Deputy Commander. While deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bob served simultaneously as the Regimental XO and the G4/C4 for Multi-National Force Iraq – Northwest in Mosul, Iraq. Afterwards, Bob commanded 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd BCT, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson and deployed for 15 months to Baghdad Iraq. He retired in 2016 from the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, VA, where he served as the Chief of Staff. He and his wife are extremely active in nonprofit organizations, serving military and local
Paul LaBounty, VP of Operations
Paul joined the military in 1986. He attended Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood. He was then assigned to 2/11 in Bad Kissingen, Germany from 1986-1988. After his time in the Army, he worked in transportation and finally settled in Wyoming and began working for BNSF Railway as a Locomotive Engineer. He and his wife Michele have three children, Cassandra, Ty and Liezel.
Locoeng67@yahoo.com
Fred Snyder, Director of Reunions
Fred Snyder was commissioned as an Armor Officer after graduating from Frostburg State University (Frostburg Maryland) in 1995. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advance Course, the Naval War College (ILE), and the Malaysian Armed Forces Defense College (SSC). Fred has served in numerous leadership positions from Tank Platoon Leader through Squadron Command. Fred was the 44th Commander of 1st Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from 2012 to 2014. He has two Combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Fred has also been Aide-de-Camp to the III Corps DCG, AXO for the Commanding General Installation Management Command & Assistant Chief of Staff Installation Management, Pentagon, Armor Enlisted Branch Chief at HRC, G33 for 8th Army and the J3 for Joint Forces Component Command-Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (JFCC-NEO), G3 and Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff for Operational Test Command, Director Army Enterprise Assessment System (AEAS) and LNO to the CAC HQs, Army Talent Management Task Force, Director, Training Management, CAC-T. Fred retired in June 2025 at Fort Leavenworth and he and his wife Jennifer are enjoying time with their three daughters and small farm in Kansas.
frsnyder95@gmail.com
David Snyder, Chaplain
After working in youth ministry for nearly 20 years, David Snyder joined the Army as a Chaplain in 2003. His first and best assignment was the 11th ACR in Fort Irwin, CA, where he began as the Regimental Support Squadron Chaplain. He became the Chaplain of 1st Squadron (Ironhorse!) in 2004 and deployed to Iraq. He served in various units, deploying a second time to Iraq, before retiring in 2017. He now works as a senior financial analyst in support of the Army budget.
He and his wife Angie live in Alexandria, VA.
usarmy.ch@gmail.com
Louis Litkett, Historian and Digital Archives
BlackhorseAssocDigitalArchives@klhwb.com
Brian Cook, Secretary
Brian Cook proudly served in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from 2002-2006 culminating as the Regimental Operations Officer when the BlackHorse prepared, deployed to support and redeployed from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF III). A career armor cavalryman, Brian’s had the opportunity to plan, coordinate and synchronize joint and multinational operations at the strategic level in both Iraq and Afghanistan. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Defense Language Institute (Turkish), Turkish Army’s Command & General Staff College, Army’s Command and General Staff College, and the Naval War College, Brian has experience across the defense enterprise. In addition to his operational tours in support of Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn, Brian commanded at every level from platoon to battalion, served as the Army’s Chief of Leader Development and taught at the Army War College.
Brian retired from the Army in January 2020. He has 3 children — Tiffany (22), Jorden (21) and Grace (9). He, his wife (Dr. Sara Gilliam) and Grace live in Austin, TX.
couragesix@icloud.com
Dan Caughey, Treasurer
Dan Caughey served with 1st BN 18th Infantry, First Infantry Division from 1972-75 leading a rifle platoon, 4.2 mortar platoon, scout platoon and finally serving as BDE HHC XO. Dan transferred to the Finance Corps after a serious spinal injury during a HALO jump with the 1st Division Sport Parachute Team. Dan Commanded 2nd Finance Section supporting 11th ACR, Fulda and Wildflicken Communities from 1980-1983, and commanded 22nd Finance in New Ulm, from 1984-1985 supporting the 56th Artillery BDE (Pershing) in Neu Ulm and the 1st Infantry Division FWD at Goeppingen. After CGSC, Dan served as an Inspector General then as Finance Officer and Deputy Comptroller at Presidio of San Francisco. Since retiring from active service in 1993, Dan has been in private practice as a Certified Public Accountant, residing in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Helga. Their son, CPT Patrick J. Caughey, continued the cavalry tradition serving combat tours with 3/7 CAV in Baghdad and 1/71 CAV in Kandahar before returning to his home town of San Francisco and working in the high-tech arena. Dan can be reached at caughey@sbcglobal.net or 415-595-2118.
Dan Newcome, Assistant Director of Reunions
In 1985, Dan Newcome enlisted into the Army as a 52F Turbine Generator Operator Repairer. He attended Basic Training at Fort Dix, NJ and AIT at Fort Belvoir, VA prior to being assigned to Maintenance Troop, CS/11 ACR in Downs Barracks until April of 1988. Afterwards, Dan was reassigned to 801st Maintenance Battalion, DISCOM, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
After completing his contract and leaving the Army, Dan worked on the floor of The New York Mercantile as a commodities broker. Dan now lives in NJ with his wife, two children and two labs.
dannewcome@verizon.net
Greg Hallmark, Webmaster
Greg served Bad Kissingen, West Germany, with HHT 2/11 in Support Platoon from Jan 1977 to Sep 1979. After his time in the service, he attended LSU-S on the GI Bill, achieving a BS degree in Business Administration. Greg founded the web development company DesignPath Media, Inc. in 1995. Greg is also an adjunct instructor at Nossi College of Art in Nashville. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Tammy. His daughters Savannah and Chandler are proud children of the regiment.
www.GregHallmark.com
Rich Bourgault, Assistant Director of Scholarship Funding
Rich served over 21 years as an Armor and later Signal officer in the United States Army, starting with duty as a platoon leader, troop XO, and squadron S1 on the Frontiers of Freedom in Fulda with 1st Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He served as an OSUT company commander at Fort Knox, a tank company commander in 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg Germany, branch chief in the systems division of USAREUR G2 in Heidelberg, and as a tank battalion XO in 1st Armored Division, also in Friedberg. Following branch transfer to Signal he served in C6 in NATO LANDCENT in Heidelberg, including a year as the IT Chief for the CJ6 in NATO’s first out-of-area mission in Sarajevo, HQ IFOR/ SFOR. Rich retired from the Army after serving as the Army ROTC PMS at Northeastern University in Boston.
With his Army background including Army Staff College graduate, a BS in Electrical Engineering, and an MBA, he then made a second 20+ year career with The MITRE Corporation, a non-profit government contractor. At USAREUR G2 in Heidlberg for 12 years, he provided systems engineering support to Army and Joint intelligence operations throughout Europe and on location in Bosnia, Kosovo, Djibouti, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea. Rich was later MITRE department head and site leader in Tampa before retiring in 2020 to Florida’s Space Coast east of Orlando. He lived in Germany for 26 years, and he speaks German fluently, traveling often to visit family and in-laws in Germany and Austria.
Murph Gagne, Assistant Director of Scholarship Selection
Drafted in 1966, initial assignment was to the 1st Bn. 61st Artillery, an Air Defense Artillery Unit as a Fire Control Crewman. Changed status from Draftee to Regular Army Enlisted. Reassigned to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama for schooling as a Radar Repairman. Reassigned to The Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1969. Commissioned as a 2LT in March 1970. Assigned as a Platoon Leader to the 1st Bn, 81st Artillery a Pershing Missile Unit at Neu Ulm, Germany from 1970 to 1973. Reassigned to the 2d Bn, 320th Field Artillery at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as the Adjutant. March 1974, reverted to enlisted status and assigned to the 1st Bn, 29th Field Artillery. From March 1974 to May 1976, served in various positions from Recon Sergeant, Section Chief and Liaison Sergeant. 1976 to 1980 assigned to Grafenwoehr Training Area Tank Gunnery Branch until Tank Gunnery Branch was disbanded, and then as a Range Safety NCO. Attended NCOES 13E at Fort Sill in 1978. 1980 to 1981, assigned to 101st ABN Division at Fort Campbell, KY as a Fire Support Sergeant and 1SG at HSB 1st BN 321 Field Artillery. 1981 to 1982, 1st Bn, 17th Field Artillery Korea as Fire Support Sergeant, and Operations Sergeant. 1982 to 1984, 3d Bn, 319th Field Artillery, Fort Campbell, Kentucky as the B Battery 1SG and Operations Sergeant. 1984 to 1988, 3d Squadron 11th ACR as the Howitzer Battery 1SG. 1988 Reassigned to XVIII ABN Corps Artillery as the Operations SGM. Participated in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Retired in 1993. Attended College at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. After graduation sold Real Estate in Clarksville. In 2000 moved to Smithville, TN. My son and I started a Trucking Company (Allons Enterprises).
cbear7806@gmail.com
Randall Ponder, Editor
Randall’s first assignment as a Second Lieutenant was with the Fulda Regional Personnel Center, which supported all units of the Regiment. He remained in the Army for twelve years as an Adjutant General’s Corps and Foreign Area Officer, with his last assignments at Headquarters, Department of the Army and the Defense Intelligence Agency. He currently lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he is a self-employed copy editor for businesses and individuals; communication project specialist; and research analyst. Please contact him at www.Editing-Expert.com or by email.
RandallPonder@outlook.com
Bill Clark, Assistant Director Ops Funding
tank311@googlemail.com
Bill Frobe, Assistant Director of Memberships
William Frobe served as the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment’s S1 from 2004 – 2006 and as the Multi-National Force Northwest C1 during the Regiment’s 2005 deployment to Mosul, Iraq. He retired from active duty service in 2016 and resides in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area with his wife and family. For more detail, check out his LinkedIn profile here: www.linkedin.com/in/wfrobe.
bh1iraq2005@icloud.com
Bobby Bell, Assistant Director of Marketing
Bobby enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program on August 7, 1975, as an 11E Armor Crewman with an enlistment option for the 11th ACR. After graduation from BCT and AIT, he was assigned to Delta Company 1/11 ACR in Fulda, FRG. After a short 9-month stay in Delta Company, he was selected by Col.Ballantyne III and RCSM Cowan to be a Command Driver. During his time in the Command Group, he was promoted to Sergeant and the Command Group NCOIC, serving continuously alongside RCOs Saint, Sunell, and Crow, as well as RCSMs Cowan, Stephens, and Cotton. He met lots of future Blackhorse leaders during that almost five-year period. He volunteered for recruiting duty to take a break from the fast-paced life in the Border Legion. He was assigned to the New Orleans Recruiting Battalion and met his wife on a blind date, which has lasted to this day with no regrets. Four years of recruiting and one son later, it was time to get back on the tank. Back to Germany with B 2/37 Armor at Panzer Kaserne. Selected to be a Platoon Sergeant after one month of duty, lots of catching up to do, but the Blackhorse had prepared him well. He transitioned to the M1IP/120mm and then PCSed back to the states. CSM Stephens assigned him to be the BNOC Course Manager for 19E/19K worldwide courses. Son number two was born in Louisville, KY, during a blizzard. DA selected for Drill Sergeant and was assigned as Senior Drill Sergeant of A Trp. 5-15 CAV OUST, Disney Barracks. That went over real well with the scouts having a tanker as Senior Drill. It worked out well; Blackhorse had prepared him again. After trail duty, he took over as Training NCO and was ready to ride out to retirement. The Blackhorse had a little more in store. Reassigned to the NTC, he was shortly back in the Blackhorse when it was activated. He served with B 1/11 until retirement in October 1995. Beginning and ending an Army career with the best Regiment. He resides in Angie, Louisiana, with his wife Sylvia, two sons, four grandkids, and still serves as Assistant Police Chief to stay busy. Allons!
bbell34a@yahoo.com
Dave Mathis, Database Administrator
Dave enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967, prior to his high school graduation, on a delayed entry program. After completing Basic Training at Fort Dix, NJ he attended the U.S. Army Security Agency Training Center and School at Fort Devens, MA. Trained as a Morse Intercept, Dave was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in July of 1968 and assigned to the 409th Radio Research Detachment (ASA), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. After working as an intercept for a short time, he joined the airborne radio direction finding monitoring team where he served as the ACAV track commander and worked closely with the detachment’s Intelligence Analyst. After cross-training, Dave took over that position when the analyst rotated state-side. Dave completed his extended tour of duty with the 409th in May, 1970. He ended his four-year enlistment with the 358th ASA Company, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg NC.
Dave earned a B.S. in Computer & Information Sciences from Cleveland State University and completed an Executive MBA degree program at Baldwin Wallace College. Dave retired in 2018 after 44 years in the Information Systems & Technology industry.