Fellow Rangers:

I congratulate Jerry Griffin for agreeing to lead our Membership Drive and the Regimental Association Board of Directors for taking action to increase memberships.

The 16^th Infantry Regimental Association has been the role model for Regimental Associations within the Society of the First Infantry Division.  We have always had the most members, and the largest attendance at Reunions.   Unfortunately, our membership has slipped from other 3,000 to about 500 today.  We also have sub-organizations that have formed and appear to have split off from the Regimental Association into their own organizations.  I commend their camaraderie and desire to spend time with their buddies; however, these actions are creating a division of effort and hindering our ability to have a strong membership that provides more resources to support our goals, and more importantly support the great soldiers and their families in our active duty battalions.

I encourage all to reform as one group, while still maintaining the camaraderie within companies and send your membership dues so we can all reach our objectives.  I also encourage all of you to sign up, show up, and have fun at the Reunion in San Antonio.

     Ron Watts

RONALD L. WATTS

LTG, US Army Retired

Proud Member of the 16^th Infantry Regimental Association

Formed on 4 May 1861 at Fort Independence ( Boston , Massachusetts ) in response to the Southern State's aggression to the North. Distinguished itself at Antietam, Petersburg and Gettysburg , a battle in which it lost 50 % of its strength. After three years of Southern pacification duties, the Regiment went west to participate in a grueling three year Indian Wars campaign. In 1898, the Regiment moved from west of the Mississippi to Tampa , Florida , where it boarded a transport and set sail to Cuba where it participated in the Spanish-American War. Assaulting San Juan Hill , two men from the 16th Infantry Regiment planted Old Glory on the top of the block house that sat on the Hill. After a short stint back at Long Island , NY and Fort Leavenworth , KS , the Regiment was called to arms again the summer of 1899 and set sail for the Philippines where it fought for two years against the Spaniards and Filipino insurgents. In 1901 it returned to the United States to train and conduct garrison duties.

The 2nd Battalion was then sent to Leyte in the South Pacific from August 1906 until March 1907 to fight the Pulajanes. In 1912, the 16th Infantry Regiment joined forced with BG Black Jack Pershing to capture Poncho Villa. After Mexican border duty for five years, the Regiment was one of the first called for duty to France in WW I. On 17 October 1917, the 2nd Battalion became the first American Doughboys to occupy French trenches and after a German trench raid on 3 November, three 2-16 IN Soldiers were the first Killed in Action for America in WW I. The Regiment distinguished itself at Cantigny, Coullemelle, Soissons , St. Mihiel, Argonne, and finally Sedan before the Armistice was called. Prior to departing for Europe again to participate in WW II, the 16th Infantry Regiment became known as "New York's Own" as it spent over 20 years at Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York training, conducting ceremonies and other various garrison activities.

In WW II, the Regiment served as part of the Big Red One Division and conducted amphibious assaults on Northern Africa, defeating Rommel's Afrika Corps , Sicily defeating Hermann Goering's Panzer Division, and finally its most famous assault on Omaha Beach , Normandy , France , D-Day, 6 June 1944. It was on Omaha Beach that the 2-16 IN earned its nickname "Rangers" as it secured the 2nd Ranger Battalion's eastern flank while it assaulted the cliffs of Point du Hoc. The Germans could not tell the difference between the two units as both were disciplined in the face of murderous fire and fought with absolute tenacity. Over the course of the next year, the Regiment distinguished itself in battles throughout France , Belgium , Germany and finally in Czechoslovakia .

Missing the Korean War due to service as an occupation force in Germany , the Regiment's next major fights during the Cold War were in Vietnam and the deserts of Saudi Arabia , Kuwait and Iraq . After 115 years of active service to the Nation, the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment was inactivated at Fort Riley, Kansas on 10 April 1996.

We of the 16th Infantry Regiment are "BROTHERS" brothers of the sword. It doesn't matter what era we are from. We are family and all things come from this Association come from the concept of family. Rejoin your family, become a member, reconnect with your brothers, those good men who once held your very life in their hands..... (John Marfia Webmaster 16th Infantry Regiment Association.)

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"He which hath no stomach to this fight let him depart. But we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother.” Rest in peace brave soldier, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare)