2017 Blue Spader Reunion

NOTE: Please mail your reservation form and check soonest.
MUST BE RECEIVED NLT 22 MAY 2017.

 

Click here to download 2017 Reunion Information Sheet

__________________________________________

Click here to download 2017 Reunion Registration Form.

 

Hilton Garden Inn, Columbus, Georgia – 21-24 June 2017.
To make hotel reservations, call 706-660-hilton garden hotel1000. Identify yourself as being with the “26th Infantry Regiment Association” that is having a reunion in June 2017. The guest room rate for those attending the reunion is $119.84 per night, and includes taxes, Breakfasts, and two guests per room. Our Group rate is available 3 days pre- and 3 days post-reunion window. Parking and internet are free. If you encounter any problems making reservations contact Ms Gayla Johnson (gjohnson@vhghotels.com) Sales & Catering Manager. Or call or email the event coordinator: Mike Menser (706) 718-9751: mike.menser@icloud.com.

Reunion Check-In.
1000-1700
Wednesday thru Friday
at the Hilton Garden Inn lobby
Columbus, Georgia

Command Post (CP). Tom Wills has graciously volunteered to oversee the CP operations again this year, and volunteers to help run the CP are being sought. Open Wednesday 1200- 2300; Thursday 1500-1800 and 2000-2300; Friday (TBD); Saturday 1200-1830 and 2030-2300. All times approximate.
Supply Room. Located in boardroom across from CP. Hours generally follow the hours of the CP.
Silent Auction. Located in the boardroom. Hours generally follow the hours of the CP. Last auction bids on Saturday, 24 June @1200. We need help in two areas. First, we need contributions that can be auctioned off—all proceeds go into Association fund and help to further our mission. Second, is volunteers donating time and energy to help run this year’s auction (phone Mike Menser (706) 718-9751 if you can spare a few hours while at the reunion.
Annual Association Business Meeting. Located in the CP/Ballroom, 24 June, 0930-1100.
NOTE: Please mail your reservation form and check soonest to: Brynt Parmeter 972 N. California Ave Palo Alto, CA 94303
Please mail soonest—must be received no later than 22 MAY 2016
We are expecting a larger than usual turnout, so let me emphasize importance of early registration in order to guarantee these rates and have enough room for all attendees. There is an overflow hotel but it is a couple miles away.
EVENTS
Thursday 22 June – History, Lunch, Shopping.
0800 hours board bus to visit historic Warm Springs, Georgia, vacation home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, aka the

“Little White House”.From there we move to lunch at nearby historic Bulloch House— for buffet lunch. After lunch explore quaint Warm Springs and some unique shops. Board busses for return to hotel at 1300 hours. Ladies tea 1500. 1730 bus to VFW for our Welcome Dinner buffet, music and dancing.
Friday 24 June – National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning.

0800 hours (NLT) board buses to NIM; debark in front of museum, for short walk to reserved seats at Patriot Field for the graduation ceremony of a One Station Unit Training (OSUT) company. This is a one-hour great event and very interesting. Then walk to the National Infantry Museum and break into small groups for guided tour. After the guided tour, we are on our own to explore the museum and gift shop. 12:30 re-board the buses. On return to hotel, a lunch of pizza and salad will be waiting in the CP.

 

 

2016 Blue Spader Reunion

NOTE: Please mail your reservation form and check soonest.
MUST BE RECEIVED NLT 20 MAY 2016.


 

Click here to download the registration form.


Click here to download 2016 Reunion  information sheet


 

Riverview Inn, Clarksville, Tennessee – 22-25 June 2016. To make hotel reservations, call riverview inn(877) 487-4837. Identify yourself as being with the “26th Infantry Regiment Association” that is having a reunion in June 2016. The guest room rate for those attending the reunion is $101.91 per night, and includes tax, Breakfast Buffet, and two guests per room. Our Group rate is available 3 days pre- and 3 days post-reunion window. Parking is free. If you encounter any problems making reservations contact Cassandra Walker, Group Sales Coordinator. Also, please call or email the event coordinator at (760) 267-3909, email: randal.dragon@aol.com to inform the Association.

Airport Shuttle. If you fly into Nashville, it’s about 50 miles to the Hotel. You can make reservations for ground transportation and there are several options. One option is to contact Jarmon Transportation, a company that routinely provides Airport transport support to Soldiers and Families from Fort Campbell. The one way cost is $97, with $10 for each additional person up to 8. To reduce the cost, recommend pooling with others who may be flying in and using this service. Phone Jarmon to make a reservation at (615) 275-1715. Jarmon’s Nashville Airport desk is on the ground level of the main terminal.

Reunion Check-In.
1000-1700
Wednesday thru Friday
at the Riverview Inn
Clarksville, TN.


BLUE SPADER REUNION BASICS (* All times tentative)

Check In. Tom Galvin is donating his time and energy again to orchestrating our Welcome and Inprocessing of all 2016 Reunion attendees. Tom will set up a station near the front desk in the lobby.

Command Post (CP). Tom Wills has graciously volunteered to oversee the CP operations again this year, and volunteers to help run the CP are being sought. Open Wednesday 1200-2300; Thursday 1600-1800 and 2000-2300 (closed for Welcome Dinner); Friday (TBD); Saturday 1200-1830 and 2030-2300. All times approximate.
Supply Room. Located in the Commodore Room. Hours generally follow the hours of the CP.

Silent Auction. Located in the Commodore Room. Hours generally follow the hours of the CP. Last auction bids on Saturday, 25 June @1200. We need help in two areas. First, we need contributions that can be auctioned off – all proceeds will go into the Association fund and help us to further our mission. Second, Earl Wade is donating his time and energy to organize and run this year’s auction (phone: (252) 531-2373; email: ewade@suddenlink.net) – he will need some help and so please contact him if you can spare a few hours while at the reunion.
Annual Association Business Meeting. Located in the Grand Ballroom, 25 June, 0930-1100.

 

NOTE: Please mail your reservation form and check soonest.
MUST BE RECEIVED no later than 20 MAY 2016.


TOURS

Thursday Tour – 23 June — Day with the Blue Spaders. We’ll board a bus and depart the hotel at 0900 and visit historic Fort Campbell, Home of the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division. The day is packed with visits to a number of places to see how today’s Soldiers train, operate and live. Our “Rendezvous with Destiny” travels will take us to the 1-26 Infantry Battalion Headquarters and Company Operations Facilities, the famed Sabalauski Air Assault School, 101st Airborne Museum and the Division Headquarters. We will eat lunch with Soldiers at the 2nd Brigade Dining Facility (included in price).

Friday Tour – 24 June – Nashville: Music City. We’ll board a bus and depart the hotel at 1230 and head to the Capitol of Country Music. The tour will stop first at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where we will visit the home for this popular American art form, and view over two and half million artifacts on two expansive floors. We will travel to the Gaylord Opryland Resort, where we will have dinner on our own (not included in price) from a selection of 16 restaurants. After dinner, we will travel to the one and only Grand Ole Opry, where we will view a show of 6-8 contemporary country music artists. At the end of the show, we will return by bus to the Riverview Inn. This day is a once in a lifetime experience!!


 

MEALS

Thursday Dinner Buffet – 23 June. Will be 1800-2000, Montgomery Room. Ticketed event. Our welcome Dinner Buffet this year be in the historic Montgomery Room at the Riverview Inn. We will be joined by some of our Active Duty Leaders and Spouses, and will sample the local cusine with a good old-fashioned Tennessee Barbeque with: Smoked pulled pork, Roasted red potatoes, Seasoned mixed vegetables, Tossed green salad with a variety of dressings, and a selection of tasty deserts.

Saturday Blue Spader Annual Banquet – 25 June. Will be 1830-2030, Grand Ballroom. Ticketed event. This year’s banquet is special since we are honored by the Soldiers and Spouses from 1-26 Infantry joining us. With the background setting on the historic in the Riverview’s Grand Ballroom overlooking the historic Cumberland River, our night starts with traditional toasts and a select champagne and includes a meticulously prepared meal with:

Spinach Salad with Mandarin oranges, strawberries and balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Your choice of Main Course entrée, either:
Chardonnay Chicken – a tender breast of chicken lightly sautéed and topped with chardonnay cream sauce full of sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms and artichoke hearts; served with Wild Rice Pilaf
OR

Beef Tenderloin – most tender cut of beef that is charred for flavor and then slow-cooked and accompanied by a traditional red wine reduction sauce; served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

  • Green beans Almondine
  • Assorted dinner rolls
  • Cherry Cobbler
  • Iced Tea, Water, Coffee

Strike welcomes Blue Spaders

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment “Blue Spaders,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division unfurl their unit colors during an activation ceremony at Freedom Fighters Physical Fitness Center. The Blue Spaders lineage dates to 1901 when the United States Congress authorized five additional infantry regiments to include the 26th Infantry Regiment.

activation ceremony

Photo by Sgt. David L. Cox | 2nd BCT.
Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment “Blue Spaders,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division unfurl their unit colors during an activation ceremony at Freedom Fighters Physical Fitness Center. The Blue Spaders lineage dates to 1901 when the United States Congress authorized five additional infantry regiments to include the 26th Infantry Regiment.
Posted: Thursday,

The addition of a third infantry battalion brings 2nd BCT on par with its sister brigades within the 101st Airborne Division, which already have added an additional maneuver unit in accordance with the Department of the Army’s restructuring initiative, BCT 2020.
During his speech at the activation ceremony, Col. Peter N. Benchoff, the commander of 2nd BCT, told an anecdotal story about the activation of the 101st Airborne Division in 1942.
“On the activation of the 101st in 1942, Maj. Gen. Lee published General Order No. 5, that stated that the ‘101st has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny,’” Benchoff said. “Unlike the 101st at its activation the [Blue Spaders] have a distinguished and accomplish history and I am extremely honored to know that on any future battlefield, [1-26th] won’t fight on our flank but fighting as a member of this brigade to accomplish our next rendezvous with destiny.”
“This opportunity to build a new unit in 101st is unpreceded,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Wylie, the commander of 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. “It’s important to [Leaders and Soldiers of 1-26th] to embrace the legacy of 1-26th Infantry Regiment, and the 101st Airborne Division. Becoming Air Assault qualified [as a unit] is a critical part of our integration into this team.”
Among those in attendance were members of 26th Infantry Regiment Association who have served in the historic unit.
“It’s great to have [Blue Spaders] here in the Strike Brigade,” said Randal Dragon, a retired brigadier general and the honorary commander of the 26th Infantry Regiment. “It’s important to stay in touch with these Soldiers so they understand how much history, sweat and blood has gone into the unit before them.”
The Blue Spaders linage dates back to 1901, when Congress authorized five additional infantry regiments to support the nation’s responsibilities overseas. Since then the Blue Spaders have been engaged in every major conflict from World War I to the Global War on Terrorism.

Blue Spaders 2010-2012 Afghanistan Deployment History

by LTC Jesse Pearson, Former Spader 6, 2010-2012

The 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment Blue Spaders deployed from Fort Knox, Kentucky in December 2010 as the main effort of the 3d Duke Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. The battalion departed from Louisville International Airport, Kentucky with over 800 Soldiers on multiple passenger jets during multiple weeks in December 2010. We transited on multiple air sorties through Manas Airbase, Kyrgyzstan and Bagram, Afghanistan and eventually established our initial position at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Salerno to begin our relief in place with the 1st Battalion, 187 Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans) and 3d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment (Red Knights). In January 2011, the platoons and companies loaded CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters at FOB Salerno and moved to six remote combat outposts around Khost Province to assume responsibility for their areas of operation.

The Blue Spaders established our battalion headquarters at FOB Salerno and we partnered with two Afghan National Army Battalions, two Afghan National Police Battalions, and seven Afghan District Police forces. Our area of responsibility included all of the eastern districts in Khost Province along the border with Pakistan as well as Khost City. With our Afghan partners, we were responsible for over 100 kilometers of the Afghan/Pakistan border and faced a challenging set of Haqqani Network and Taliban insurgent cells who continuously attempted to attack us and our partners with direct and indirect fire, ambushes, IEDs (improvised explosive devices), and snipers. Our area of responsibility across Khost Province included over one million Afghan local national civilians.

Able Company (A Co) was responsible for partnering with the 3/2 Afghan Border Police Battalion and Afghan Local Police in Terezayi District. Able Company became border experts and superbly skilled at operating in this remote and dangerous region. They re-opened Combat Outpost Chergotah and transformed it from a remote patrol base into a fully functional operating base and dramatically enhanced our reach into enemy territory along the Pakistan border. Tragically, Able Company lost two Soldiers killed in action in Terezayi District, both from 2nd Platoon – First Lieutenant Demetrius Frison and Specialist Michael Elm. We honor their sacrifice, their memory, and their families’ courage and we keep them with us in our hearts.

Viper Company (B Co) operated in our most contested district – Sabari, and partnered with the 3/1 Afghan National Army Battalion, they also conducted multiple battalion and company air assault missions in the mountainous Musa Khel District above 8,000 feet altitude, hunting for Haqqani Network insurgent cells. Viper Company faced a committed and expert enemy force in Sabari and stopped them cold with their courage and professionalism. From indirect fire 75 and 82-mm Recoilless Rifle and 82- mm Mortar Cells, to IED bomb makers, to insurgent grenadiers – our enemies did everything they could possibly do to try to defeat Viper Company and their Afghan partners in Sabari, but they failed again and again. Copperhead Company (C Co) partnered with the 4/2 Afghan Border Police Battalion and 2/1 Afghan National Army Battalion in Gorbuz and Matun Districts.

Copperhead Company trained 4/2 ABP to be the premier Afghan National Security Force in all of Khost Province, capable of conducting independent targeting and combat operations. Copperhead was also responsible for the strategically critical Ghulum Khan Gate Point of Entry on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. Copperhead Company Soldiers became experts at Company level intelligence operations and targeting and their legacy is the superb combat capability of their Afghan partners in Gorbuz and Matun.

Dragoon Company (D Co) partnered with the 4/2 Afghan Border Police Battalion, the 2/1 Afghan National Army Battalion, and Afghan Local Police in Tani and Musa Khel Districts. Dragoon Company Soldiers operated in both the high altitude plains of Tani District and the rugged alpine mountains of Musa Khel. Delta Company provided superb operational reach to our Task Force and the Duke Brigade and conducted multiple successful battalion and company air assaults above 8,000 feet altitude in Musa Khel and routed the Haqqani Network cells operating in that district. It was truly awe inspiring to see Dragoon Soldiers and their Afghan partners inserting for continuous 5-7 day combat operations with 100+ lb. packs, relentlessly chasing insurgent cells up and over those mountains in their home territory again and again and breaking our enemies’ will to fight.

Hannibal Company (HHC) took on an extraordinary challenge by re-organizing as a maneuver company and fighting as a combat formation in Bak and Jaji Maidan Districts. Hannibal Company partnered with the 3/1 Afghan National Army Battalion and Afghan Local Police and transformed Bak District from an enemy sanctuary along the traditional Manzerra Route from Pakistan into an area of emerging Afghan governance and security. Hannibal Company Soldiers faced a tough fight in Bak and Jaji Maidan every day and performed brilliantly, providing fantastic flexibility and agility to our Task Force. Fletch Company (F Co) was responsible for supply distribution and maintenance for the six companies assigned to Task Force Spader, spread across over 1,000 square kilometers at six separate combat outposts

Fletch Company’s ability to accomplish every one of their combat resupply and recovery missions without fail over 12 months under incredibly difficult combat conditions is a testament to the courage and dedication of Fletch Company Soldiers. Fletch Company Combat Logistics Patrols braved attacks daily to deliver critical supplies and support to Task Force Spader Soldiers across the battlefield and we could not have operated for a single day in Afghanistan without their support.

Our attached 870th Military Police Company (Wolverine) from the California Army National Guard based at COP Matun Hill in Khost City. The Military Police of Wolverine Company partnered with the Khost City Afghan Police forces and provided outstanding training to them on community policing and investigative techniques. Wolverine Company also provided our Task Force Spader quick reaction force for combat in Khost City. Wolverine troops conducted multiple successful combat operations in Khost City and Khost Province that were critical to the success of Task Force Spader.

The Battalion Staff performed magnificently and ensured that our Soldiers had the resources and support they needed to conduct their combat mission 24 hours a day for the entire year in Khost Province, without a single pause or day off. The Staff provided administrative and logistical support and planned our Task Force operations throughout the deployment. The Staff synchronized our fire support and intelligence assets and flawlessly coordinated the deployment and redeployment of the Task Force. In January 2012, Task Force Spader completed our redeployment back to Fort Knox, Kentucky.