Springer News-Bulletin from Springer, New Mexico • Page 1

COUFAX COUNTY CLERK BOX 87740 Vol. 7, No. 13 Phone: 505-483-5919 P.O. Box 396, Springer, N.M. 87747 Friday, October 31,1986 SPRINGER NATIONAL GUARD 11 You've Come A Long Way 1949-1986 FROM DUSTER TO CHAPARRAL ii i-i i Lt.

Col. Sisneros To Command Springer Guard Unit SPRINGER Major General Edward D. Baca, Adjutant General of the New Mexico National Guard, was in Springer Tuesday evening to annouce to a gathering of an estimated 450-500 people that the local National Guard unit, Battery 4th Automatic Weapons Battalion is a part of a sweeping reorganization, changing from antiquated Duster gun systems to Chaparral missile systems. Gen. Baca announced that the Springer unit will become the Chaparral Headquarters Battalion.

In an precedented move, but with full authority, Gen. Baca announced that he was posthumously promoting the late Capt. Michael Arellano to Lt. Col. and making him Honorary Commander of the Chaparral unit.

This came as a total surprise to Capt. Arellano's parents, A.C. Lalo and Betty Arellano, who were in the audience. Capt. Arellano died in September, 1982.

His very good friend, who was then a Major, Lt. Col. Gene Sisneros, Gen. Baca announced, will be the Commander of the springer Chaparral Battalion. Gen.

Baca commended the Springer National Guard unit for their many years of dedicated service and said it was this type of "family tradition" with the guard that persuaded officials in Washington that this small town in New Mexico was capable of manning such an Major General Edward D. Baca, Adjutant General, New Mexico national Guard NMANG Photograph important unit. The Springer guard has always been -over 100-percent manned. Early in his commentary, Gen. Baca was "generous in his appreciation of the work the Congressman Bill Richardson has done to make the new 'unit in Springer possible.

Congressman Richardson is currently campaign for re-election, but took the time to make a special trip to be at the ceremonies in Springer on Tuesday. Congressman Richardson introduced Dr. Victor Westphall, commending him on his dedication to building and maintaining the Vietnam Veteran's Chapel at Angel Fire. Dr. Westphall received a heartfelt, standing ovation from the entire audience.

Congressman Richardson said that the legislation he has been working on to get the Vietnam Chapel declared a National Monument, is now ready. The Springer National Guard unit was granted federal recognition on May 10, 1949 as Hq. Btry, 515th AAA Grp. Brig. Gen.

Charles G. Sage was Adjutant General for the state at that time. Capt. John Bonomo Jr. was the first commander.

There were 16 men on the roster, half were veterans and half recruits. They included: Robert E. Anderson, Margarito Arellano, Emelio E. Bernal, Eusebio g. Herrera, Ezra D.

Ikenberry William G. Kuhlman, Edward A. Lopez, Eddie A. martiitez, Manuel Be. Montoya, Carl R.

Newton, John R. Newton, Estevan Romero, Jerry F. Smith, Florencio Valdez, Abelino Vigil. Abelinto Vigil was a veteran of the Bataan March. Ikenberry received the first serial number.

Smith was the first full-time mechanic and caretaker and was later unit administrator. He is now a full-time National Guard Recruiter. Margarito Arellano retired from the the first of the original unit. The first guardsman to retire was CW4 James E. Gallagher of Roy.

He also attended the dinner and ceremonies on Tuesday. Avenicio C. Lalo Arellano was the first Sergeant for the Springer Unit and he held the position of 1st Sgt. as long as any in the New Mexico Army National Guard. A newspaper for RURAL Northern New Mexico The first annual training was conducted July 30-Aug.

14, 1949 at Ft. Bliss. The unit departed and returned by train from the Springer depot. Later commanders of the Springer unit were George Roy Warder, Donald Floersheim and Joseph Macaron Jr. Macaron recently retired as Brie.

Gen. The. pay scale has greatly increased since that first 1949 training session. Then the men were paid $42.67 for the 16 days in the field. A recruit with no prior service is now paid $90.00 for a two-day (16 hour) drill.

the Springer unit remained Hq. Btry, 515th Group until Nov. 1, W56 when it was reorganized to Btry 804th Bn (75-MM) and the unit moved from the tar-paper building by the Qmarron River to the new Armory on old Highway 85. The land for the Armory buildings was donated by Mrs. Lucille Pavletich of Raton and her late husband, Nick Pavletich.

Their generousity was acknowledged by the Guard unit on Tuesday evening. They are responsible for there being sufficient land for the new expansion. PHOTOS ON BACK PAGE RANDOM pictures of the Springer Guard Unit, shown at top left, Capt. Charley Ford, John Rivera, Orlando Madrid and Benjamin Lopez man the Skysweeper, 75mm, November, 1956; at right, Lt. Joe Macaron Jr.

and Sgt. A.C. Lalo Arellano, looking very G.I., both now retired from the National Guard. Macaron was recently promoted to Brig. Gen.

Below right, Sgt. Loy Ross explains the M42 Duster, now obsolete. On bottom, Springer Unit Headquarters, 515th AAA Group 'at Oro Grande camp site 1953..