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NEW! 16th Infantry Regiment DMOR/HMOR, October 27-31, 2008

Change of Command at Bandido Charlie Company, June 2008

16th Infantry Regiment DMOR & HMOR, September 28, 2007

Three Bandido Charlie Officers Promoted to Captain

16th Infantry Regiment DMOR, August 2, 2006

 Pictures from the 3rd Annual Reunion of Bandido Charlie Association

 Chicago Reunion, 2004

16th Infantry Regiment DMOR/HMOR, October 27-31, 2008

INVESTITURE – 2008

PREPARATIONS

At Ft Riley an officer of the active duty regiment is appointed to be a host/liaison officer to oversee and coordinate the DMOR activities. This officer is usually the Battalion Adjutant. In this capacity, he notifies all nominees by mail, the date, time, and location of the ceremony. He also coordinates all travel arrangements from the Kansas City airport to the Courtyard Marriot, where the nominees and their spouses are to be billeted. It is the Adjutant’s responsibility to furnish all transportation to and from the airport, as well as, at Ft Riley. Selectees need to make their own travel arrangements to and from the airport or to Ft Riley. They must provide the Adjutant with their individual travel plans so he can coordinate travel from the airport to the Marriott.

It is highly recommended that all previously designated DMOR/HMOR attend the annual award ceremony. This year there were 40 previously Invested DMOR’s in attendance.

The Adjutant of the hosting Battalion has drivers and assistants waiting at the airport for the travelers. The vans and buses did not depart until all DMOR personnel had been accounted for.

THIS YEAR’S EVENTS

The 16th Infantry Regiment DMOR/HMOR was held 27-30 October 2008. There were numerous events and activities throughout the week. Below, is a brief accounting of our schedule.

Day 1: This was a get-acquainted period.  Dinner plans for the evening were arranged by the Adjutant and held at a nearby restaurant.

Day 2: The Commanders of the 1st and 2nd Battalion briefed the group on the unit’s mission, projected plans for the future, and other pertinent information.

Following this briefing, the Investiture Ceremony was held at 11:00 AM in the 16^th Infantry Regiment Conference Room.  This year there were six DMOR, one HMOR, and one HSGMOR inducted.

Bandidos inducted in the ceremony were:  Al Herrera to HSGMOR, Ken Costich to DMOR, and Janeen Thompson to HMOR. This event was followed by photographic sessions of each DMOR and family, followed by a group photo of all new and former DMOR recipients who were in attendance.

After lunch at the unit’s Dining Facility, the group proceeded to one of the training facilities. The first was the Simulation Center (Warrior Skills Trainer) where simulated firing of weapons by the DMOR was encouraged.

After a reception and dinner at a local restaurant in Junction City, the men returned to the Command Post at the Marriott, to conduct  Association business, while the Battalion Commander’s wife hosted DMOR wives at her home.

Day 3: The group was transported to the ranges for live-fire demonstrations. Several infantry weapons were used for these demonstrations. The DMOR were encouraged to participate.

A lunch of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) was provided in the field.

After lunch, the group witnessed a demonstration of Urban Operations. The demonstrators were troops, training for deployment to either Iraq or Afghanistan.

After the demonstrations, the group returned to the Marriot to clean up and prepare for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 4: The group observed Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) training. Later, they toured the new 1^st Infantry Division Headquarters building.

Lunch was served at the 2^nd Battalion Dining Facility. The group spent the afternoon at the Finance Section, completing required procedures for travel reimbursement.

The final ceremony, of the DMOR, was the annual formal Regimental Ball. There was a Receiving Line prior to entrance where the Commanding General and other Officers of the Regiment, Command Sergeants Major, and their wives received the soldiers, veterans and their wives to the Ball.

Day 5: Return transportation was provided to the airport.

BANDIDO CHARLIE INDUCTEES

Listed in order are Bandidos who have been inducted into the program:

As of October 2008, the 16^th Infantry Regiment has selected a total of 219 DMOR and 23 HMOR and one HSGMOR. Of this number, 9 Bandidos are DMOR and 2 Bandido ladies are HMOR.  One DMOR, Al Herrera, has been awarded the Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment (HSGMOR) - a total of 11 out of 219 or 4.54%!

A GATHERING OF BANDIDOS, PAST AND PRESENT

THE INVESTITURE PROGRAM

A brief description

The Distinguished member of the Regiment (DMOR) program is a Department of the Army Program governed by Army Regulation 600-82. It applies to the Active Army and US Army Reserves. It does not apply to the Army National Guard. The purpose of the program is to give recognition to former members of a particular regiment for their service to their country and their community. Additionally, this program provides for the appointment of Honorary Colonel of Regiment (HCOR) and an Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment (HSGMOR). These two individuals serve terms of three years but can be appointed for additional terms.

HCOR – The HCOR is a distinguished retired commissioned officer in the rank of colonel or above, with former service in the regiment. His duties are ceremonial and do not conflict with the chain of command. Attendance at regimental functions is by invitation and participation is encouraged. The HCOR appointees are also appointed as Distinguished Members of the Regiment.

HSGMOR – is a distinguished retired NCO in the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC) or above with prior service in the regiment. His duties are the same as that of the HCOR.

In addition to the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment ceremonial duties he accepts nominations from former members of the regiment for selection as a Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR). The names of individuals selected for nomination as a DMOR are forwarded to the active duty regiment for processing and forwarding to the Commander, US Army Infantry School for final approval (for infantry units only). In the case of the 16^th Infantry Regiment, we nominate five to seven individuals each year. The reason for this specific number is because that is the number than can be funded under the existing money constraints.

In the fall of each year, those selected as DMOR’s travel to Ft Riley, Kansas for a DMOR Induction Ceremony (Investiture). In addition to the formal induction ceremony, a number of military activities are hosted in their honor. Their names are also engraved on a plaque along with the names of other DMOR’s and displayed in the battalion Headquarters at Ft Riley.

Although the program has always permitted the award of Honorary Members of the Regiment, it wasn’t until a few years ago that a program was initiated to use this part of the regulation. Honorary Members of the Regiment (HMOR) can be soldiers, their spouses and individuals who have made a contribution or provided a service to a regiment, but who are not members of the regiment making the presentation. It was considered to be a great way to recognize some of the ladies and others who have contributed so much to the regiment and its association.

Comments from the President of the Bandido Charlie Association

The last time I was at Ft. Riley, Kansas was in the hot summer of an era gone by…it was 1963, and I was in “boot camp” at $68 per month.  This last week of October 2008, I was back again to be inducted as a 16th Infantry Regiment DMOR, Distinguished Member of the Regiment…what a singular honor it is.  After my long-ago performance at “boot camp”, God knows why anyone would nominate me, but someone did…and I was, I am, honored that anyone would think of me in the terms described as deserving.  There are so many more who have done so much more…it was a humbling experience, and it is counted as one of the truly great events of my life.  A special honor for me was to be inducted with Janeen Thompson, wife of Bandido Gil “Doc” Thompson, who was inducted as an Honorary Member of the Regiment for her tremendous and unending contributions to the soldiers of the 16th Infantry Regiment and all of our troops…and at the same ceremony in which the Bandido’s “Top” Al Herrera was installed as the Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment.

The best part of the ceremony was that it included a week of being with the active duty soldiers of the 16th Infantry Regiment and of the Big Red One for nearly a week at Ft. Riley, Kansas…and it is unbelievable to me how well received we were by the troops of the active 16th Infantry Regiment battalions.  It is a tribute to the incredible leadership and training provided by LTC Bryan Luke and LTC Paul Kries and their respective CSM’s, Scott Smith and Wylie Hutchison, and, it is a tribute to the quality of soldier in today’s Army!

Our soldiers spent the week giving us expert demonstrations of their skills and training processes, their technology, their leadership and their professionalism…all the while, tending to our every need.  We watched their training exercises and their skilled assaults, fired their weapons and “played” in their simulators, but most enjoyable, at least to me, was the time we spent simply talking with them.  In the field, sharing lunches in the Mess Hall (they have some silly new name), at the DMOR Reception and at the 16th Infantry Annual Ball, I have never seen or spoken with such well trained, highly educated, physically fit and well led troops.  They are committed to the mission and to the Army…it was overwhelmingly evident at every level of command that we encountered from PFC to the Division Commander.

What was a major surprise to me was that our admiration of them and their skills was equally, if not more so, matched by their stated admiration of Veterans, especially those who served in Vietnam.  We were, without fail, greeted with warmth and affection.  Each and every time I thanked a soldier for serving, his response was something to the tune of, “No sir, we thank you for serving and for setting the high standards for us to follow!”  I literarily brought tears to my eyes on several occasions…the sincerity was overpowering.

For those of us who are Vietnam Veterans, it is finally acknowledgement that what we did was not in vain…they look to us as examples as to what they are doing.  They look to us as those who know what it is like fighting an unpopular war in an unpopular time.  The know it can be demoralizing, but our unsung perseverance gives them the moral support they need to go on…to proudly do what is right in a time of adversity.  Their continuation of our traditions and their repeated admiration of what we went through is, after 40 years, the best, the finest “Welcome Home” I have ever heard!

~Ken Costich, President, Bandido Charlie Association

  Change of Command at Bandido Charlie Company, June 2008

Change of command at C Company (Bandido Charlies), 1st BN, 16th IN, was conducted on 05 June 08 at 1000 hrs., between CPT Paul Thomas and CPT Wes Chaney.  CPT Thomas is moving to 4BDE, 1st ID to command another Infantry Rifle Company. 

CPT Chaney recently returned from Afghanistan where he was mentoring the Afghan National Police.  CPT Chaney will be the Commander for awhile (12 to 18 months).  CPT Chaney said, "I would like to continue the "Bandido" spirit that was continued so well in Iraq."

CPT Chaney's branch is Infantry and he has attended IOBC, ICCC, Bradley Leaders Course, Airborne, and Pathfinder Courses. CPT Chaney's awards include; BSM, PHM, ARCOM(3), AAM(4), KCM, ACM, GWOTS&E, OSR(3, CIB, EIB. He has had deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

CPT Chaney has served as; PL in B/1-26 IN BN, XO in C/1-26 IN BN, BN S4 in 1-26 IN BN, and MTT in Afghanistan.

16th Infantry Regiment DMOR & HMOR, September 28, 2007

Photos from the Distinguished Members of the Regiment (DMOR)

and Honorary Member of the Regiment (HMOR) awards held September 28, 2007 at Ft Riley.

Three Bandido Charlie Officers Promoted to Captain

Promotions in Iraq - February 12, 2007 was a historical moment for The Bandidos. Three Officers were promoted to Captain for the 1st time since the company took the name of BANDIDO CHARLIE in January 2005. Here they are in front of the HERRERA HALL. From left to right, CPT JAY "POPEYE" ZWIRBLIS (1ST PLT), CPT DAVE "BUZZ LIGHT YEARS" DOURTE (COMPANY XO), CPT SCOTT "FATTY" WENCE (COMPANY COMMANDER), CPT ALEX "FIREBALL" BURGOS, and in the front with the company flag, PFC BONAPARTE.

16th Infantry Regiment DMOR, August 2, 2006

Al Herrara presenting a Bandido Charlie flag that Buddy Gault carried with him in Vietnam. The presentation was made at the DMOR Ceremony at Ft. Riley on August 2, 2006. Left to right are: Al Herrara, Buddy Gault, present Bandido Charlie Company Commander Scott Wenceand and Bandido Charlie First Sergeant Chris Johnson.
Presentation of Buddy Gault's Bandido Charlie flag to the entire company of active duty Bandido Charlie's.	2006 Bandido Charlie Reunion	2006 Bandido Charlie Reunion	Former Bandido Charlie Company Commanders and First Sergeant

Pictures from the 3rd Annual Reunion of Bandido Charlie Association

at the 87th Annual First Infantry Division Reunion

held in the Crystal Gate Marriott, Arlington, VA, July 20-24 2005

Chicago Reunion 2004