Blackhorse E-News — July 2025
Troopers Down
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Susan White. It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Susan White, wife of former Blackhorse Regimental Commander and former Secretary of the Army Tom White. We’ll have more information for you as we receive it. The Blackhorse Association sends its condolences to Susan’s family and friends. |
My family is trying to find out information regarding my uncle, Jose H Quintero, who was KIA April 17,1967. Someone pointed out he was awarded a Bronze Star, and we are trying to confirm this information. The medals presented to my grandparents didn’t include a Bronze Star, and my uncle’s mother is still alive (100 years old). If we could confirm this information, the entire family would be grateful.
Thank you for any and all help.
Jaime Quintero
If anyone can provide information or explain how to obtain this information, please contact Jaime at jimqui...@gmail.com. |
Blackhorse History Corner |
Courtesy of Don Snedeker
Elements of the 11th Cavalry deployed to Iraq in January 2005. By that summer, some
Blackhorse Troopers wounded in Iraq were in the news. |
Captain George Vidmer joined the 11th Cavalry as it was being organized in early 1901. He became the first commander of H Troop, 2nd Squadron, a position he held during the Regiment's deployment to the Philippines (1901-1904), at Fort Des Moines, Iowa (1904-1906), and Cuba (1906-1908). In 1905, the Cavalry Board was debating the next generation of weapons for mounted Troopers. Vidmer published an article in the October 1905 Cavalry Journal discussing the pistol. Below is an excerpt from that article.
During World War I, Vidmer commanded an Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He retired as a Brigadier General. |
The 11th Armored Cavalry was stationed at Fort Knox, KY, from mid-1954 to mid-1957. At the time, recon troops were called “companies” and recon squadrons were “battalions.” The following article appeared in the November 16, 1956 edition of Inside the Turret, the Fort Knox newspaper. |
Don't Try This at Home: In 1922, four Troops of the horse-mounted 11th Cavalry Regiment participated in the Pageant of Progress in Pasadena, California. In addition to providing daily riding demonstrations during the pageant, teams of Blackhorse Troopers also competed against each other in mounted pushball and, according to one newspaper account, “the famous balloon cigarette game.” |
From the Tipton Daily Tribune (Indiana), April 26, 1967. Captain Dane Nash was a helicopter gunship pilot with Air Cav Troop until he was severely wounded during the July 21, 1967 ambush involving 3rd Squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart for that action. |
In the fall of 1956, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed from Fort Knox, Kentucky, replacing the 6th Armored Cavalry on the border in southern Germany. Operation Gyroscope was an Army plan that replaced units in Germany with full- strength, recently trained units from the United States. The Blackhorse patrolled the Czechoslovakian border with West Germany from Straubing, Regensburg and Landshut until 1964, when it returned to Fort Meade, Maryland. |
The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed to South Vietnam in September 1966. Within 90 days, Blackhorse Troopers had set a standard for effectiveness envied by many other units, defeating two enemy ambushes against overwhelming odds. The attached newspaper article from The Houston Chronicle describes how a platoon of B Troopers survived the initial onslaught from a full battalion of Viet Cong, gained fire superiority, and after reinforcement, decimated that enemy battalion. |
Historical Note from a Member |
From BHA member Milt in Fort White, Florida — mi...@longgreylinefarm.com
In 1958, the 11th Cav hosted the Seventh Army Tank Shoot at Grafenwohr. Among the preparations was a welcome circle made of painted stones.
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At the event, there was a loss of an M48 gunnery crew due to an explosion in the turret. The investigation determined that the cause was a blind primer in the 90mm round used for the competition. That entire lot, intended to support the shoot, was suspended, which left the supporting ordnance unit in a hurt for ammo. It was decided to finish the shoot with some brand new ammo, which happened to be high explosive ammo. This did the competing crews a favor because the round had less muzzle velocity than TP or M318 AP, and it had a tracer that glowed like a silver dollar all the way to the target.
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Four Generations of Service in the Blackhorse! |
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Do you have items of interest that are related to the Blackhorse? Please send them to Clint Ancker, Director of Communications, at band...@aol.com. |
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