First Cavalry Celebrates 100 Years
On Sept. 13, retired Col. Charles Bechtel of the First Cavalry Division Association and the Liberty War Birds Association took the microphone in a hangar at the Lancaster Airport in Lititz to welcome the gathering to the 100th anniversary celebration of the First Cavalry Division.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Bechtel introduced guests, each of whom spoke to commemorate the occasion, and then Bechtel discussed the history of the First Cavalry Division, from its beginnings in Texas, pointing out its uniqueness in having originally fought wars on horseback and eventually with air assault weapons.
Michael Mazzaro, who served in Vietnam, spoke for the James Unruh, Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the First Cavalry Division Association, and he awarded a First Cavalry plaque to Jane Unruh Good, sister of James Unruh, for whom the chapter is named. James was a Lancaster County native, who was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for service in Cambodia in 1970. "We proudly added his name to ours," said Mazzaro.
Mazzaro was followed by Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons, who pointed out the Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts on those in attendance and thanked them for their service. Commissioner Ray D'Agostino read a letter of commendation from the commissioners, which noted the First Cavalry is one of the most decorated divisions in the Army.
Sens. Ryan Aument and Scott Martin both attended and brought citations to the event. Aument said that the real story of the First Cavalry is the story of the soldiers, and he referenced the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young," by Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway, which was required reading for him in his military journey. Martin recalled his grandfather, who was a veteran, sharing stories about the First Cavalry with him when he was growing up.
Bechtel also shared the story of the Liberty War Birds, specifically how the organization purchased and restored a Vietnam-era Huey that made an appearance at the event. Retired Chief Warrant Officer Chieu Van Le, who was a Huey pilot in the South Vietnamese Air Force, spoke to applause of his deep appreciation of the help his home country received from the U.S. He told the story of how a Huey helicopter saved his life in 1975, when he landed the chopper on the deck of a Navy ship.
Garden Spot High School teacher Lei Williams, who was born in Vietnam, told how on April 29, 1975, her mother gave her and her sister to a member of the U.S. military, who put them on a Huey that took the two girls out of Vietnam and to a waiting ship. Eventually, she reached freedom and a new home in the U.S., where she was adopted and grew up.
Following Williams' talk, the Huey 823 landed behind the hangar. After the gathering, attendees had their photos taken with the chopper before enjoying cake in the hangar.
More information about the First Cavalry Chapter may be found by emailing cenpenn1cda@gmail.com or calling 717-389-1000. More information about the Liberty War Birds may be found at http://www.libertywarbirds.com.
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