1st Con Bde Newspaper Articles

 

(Source: Constabulary Lightning Bolt, April 9, 1948)

Camp Pieri is Dedicated in Army Day Ceremonies 1ST BRIGADE - In a joint Army-Air Force ceremony on Army Day in Wiesbaden, the 1st Brigade's home was officially renamed and dedicated as Camp Francis W. Pieri, after the Iate Capt. Pieri of 4th Armored Division fame. Headquarters, 1st Brigade, was originally redesignated from 4th Armored Division Headquarters, and the camp was formerly called "Camp Taylor." Approximately 250 troops, half Constabulary and half Air Force, took part in the Army Day Review at the Camp parade field. Constabulary representatives were members of 1st Brigade Headquarters, and the Air Force men were troops from the five Air Force units stationed at Camp Pieri. Lt. Col. Ralph H. Elliott, Brigade Operations officer, was commander of troops. T/Sgt. George T. Jones carried the colors, and the 686th Air Force Bandfurnished the music. After the yellow-scarved trooper, and blue-scarved Air Force men passed the reviewing stand, the Brigade Air Section, under the command of Maj. Erdi V Lansford, swooped over the parade field, ending the colorful ceremonies which were blessed by sunshine following a 12-hour rain. In Reviewing Stand In the reviewing stand were Brig. Gen. Joseph Smith, Wiesbaden Post Commander; Brig. Gen. Arthur G. Trudeau, Brigade commander; Col. Wallace H. Barnes, deputy director of Personnel and Administration, EUCOM; Lt. Col. Arthur L. West, EUCOM; Lt. Col. Arthur L. West Jr., also of P&A, EUCOM; Lt Col. John M. Brown; Capt Charles A. Gill; 1st Sgt James McMillian; and M/Sgt, Joseph H. Genter, recent recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. Col. Barnes was a Battalion commander, later chief of staff, of the 4th Armored prior to its coming overseas. Col. West commanded the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion in the 4th Armored Division from the beginning of combat until he was wounded in December 1944. He was also commander of the 72d, now the 14th, Constabulary Squadron for one year. Maj. Gen. John S. Wood, retired, who commanded the 4th Armored during combat, was unable to attend. Although now dead of the PCIRO, he is temporarily absent from the Zone. Capt. Pieri was commanding officer of Company B, 24th Armored Engineer Battalion, 4th Armored Division, serving as Engineering liaison officer of Combat Command B. He was killed in action August 22, 1944, while accompanying the leading elements of the 51st Armored Infantry Battalion Task Force in the attack on Montargis, France. Kills 30 of Enemy As he was riding toward the front of the column, it was fired upon by the enemy machine guns and small arms. The troops immediately took cover while Capt. Pieri opened fire with a 30-caliber machine gun mounted on the vehicle. He fired two belts of ammunition, killing approximately 30 of the enemy, but lost his own life in the action. Capt. Pieri was known as an aggressive and gallant officer. Previously at Countances, France, Capt Pieri had bravely lead the leading Infantry troops into the city. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously by a Third U.S. Army order. In his address to the troops, Gen. Trudeau reminded the assembled troopers and Air Force men of their duty to their country. He spoke of the sacrifices of the men at Lexington and Concord, the soldiers at Pearl Harbor and Bataan, and of men like Capt. Pier. He stressed the sacrifices that all members of the armed forces undertake to make for the welfare of their country when they take the oath. The general praised the cooperation between the Army and the Air Force in their dally contact at Camp Pieri. While friendly rivalry exists between the forces, he stated, everyone realizes that the Army, Air Force, and Navy must stand shoulder to shoulder to function in the purpose for which they have jointly dedicated themselves, to guarantee the safety of their nation. Gen. Smith expressed his appeciation of the friendship between the services and stated his satisfaction with the fine spirit of joint cooperation at Camp Pieri.