‘Blackhawks’ relive 40 years of memories
Spc. Jonathan Yukutake, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and Bill Ronald Smith discuss the difference between past and present weapon platforms Sept. 28 at the B Troop reunion. Photo by Sgt. RJ Gilbert, 2nd BCT, 1st AD Public Affairs.
Sgt. Vincent Byrd,
2nd BCT, 1st AD Public Affairs:
The Soldiers of B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, held a reunion for previous members of the troop Sept. 28.
The visiting retirees were taken on a tour of Fort Bliss, which included the 1st Armored Division Museum, lunch at the Strike Hard Brigade Dining Facility, and the “Blackhawk’s” motor pool to see interactive static displays.
The 1st Cavalry Regt. was originally organized in 1833 as the Regiment of United States Dragoons and has seen more than 164 years of cavalry service.
“When I was with this unit in Vietnam, I was a first lieutenant,” said Raymond Mahoy. “It’s phenomenal. I’m just enjoying the devil out of this getting to see the new stuff.”
Today’s trooper is far more advanced with the current technology and equipment, though some veterans were unsurprised by the advancements.
“The technology doesn’t surprise me because I built it,” said Walter Reed, a Vietnam War veteran. “I work for General Dynamics. They make Strykers, Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and different versions of the MRAP.”
Spc. Aaron Bailey, combat medic, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and Raymond Mahoy, look at the M113 armored personnel carrier Sept. 28 during the B Troop reunion. Photo by Sgt. RJ Gilbert, 2nd BCT, 1st AD Public Affairs.
“I had seven armored cavalry assault vehicles (M113) and three tanks in my platoon,” Mahoy said. “I had 50 people in my platoon and we lost three ACAVs on November 9, 1967. We had a hell of a fight. We lost three. … They were totally destroyed. We loved these things.
“There was nobody that we were afraid of. We would go out and pick out the most wide open terrain and we’d go out and set our claymores and trip wire and just dare them to come and get us,” said Mahoy, recalling some of the experiences he had as a 1st Cavalry Regiment Soldier.
“I helped train half of these guys and went to war with them,” said retired Staff Sgt. Gary Boggs. “For the last 10 years they’ve been having reunions with different guys in different states, but because I was here with B Troop in the El Paso area is why we had it here this year. … Everybody knew they wanted to come to B Troop.”
“They are enthused to be here with the unit and to see the old things they used, as well as the new technology as well,” said Spc. Jonathan Yukutake, B Troop.
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