Military Veterans

William "Bill" Burtchet entered the U.S. Army in July 1965.  

•  Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

•  Advanced Individual Training as a Mortar Crewman at Ft. Ord, CA

"We were given two days notice before being sent to Vietnam as replacements for the men killed in the Battle of the La Drang Valley in the central highlands of Vietnam," writes Burtchet.

In Vietnam, Specialist Burtchet was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Airmobile.  (Custer's Unit)

"We were the first units to utilize helicopters for attack purposes, and the first to use the M-16 service rifle.  Also, La Drang was the first major battle of the Vietnam War!  GARRY OWEN!"

Specialist Burtchet was discharged at Ft. Carson, CO.

The following information about the tune (GARRY OWEN) Burtchet refers to comes from "From Custer to MacArthur, the 7th U.S. Cavalry," by Edward L. Daily:

Garry Owen became the marching tune for the 69th Infantry Regiment, New York Militia, (the famed "Fighting 69th" ) in the mid-1800s. The "Fighting 69th" adopted Garry Owen before the Civil War and recently brought it back to combat in Operaton Iraqi Freedom.  

It later became the marching tune for the US 7th Cavalry Regiment during the late 1800s. The tune was a favorite of General George Armstrong Custer and became the official air of the Regiment in 1867. According to legend it was the last tune played before the Battle of Little Big Horn.

The name of the tune has become a part of the regiment, the words Garry Owen are part of the regimental crest, and there is a Camp Garry Owen, north of Seoul, Korea, which houses part of the 4th Squadron of the regiment.The Seventh Cavalry regiment became a part of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division in 1921, and "Garryowen" became the official tune of the division in 1981.

In 1993, the popular Civil War Music Company, The 97th Regimental Stringband, recorded 'Garryowen' on their 'Marching Along' (Volume 6), a CD of Marching tunes.

The tune became the name for bases established by the Calvary in current conflicts. The most recent being Combat Operating Base, (COB), Garry Owen in the Maysan Province of Iraq. The base is near the city of Al Amarra and was established by the 2/7 CAV.

The 7th Cavalry's version as of 1905 consisted of these lyrics here.

[Verse 1]

We are the pride of the Army and a regiment of great renown, Our Name's on the pages of History. From sixty-six on down. If you think we stop or falter While into the fray we're going Just watch the steps with our heads erect, While our band plays Garryowen.

"Chorus"

In the Fighting Seventh's the place for me, Its the cream of all the Cavalry; No other regiment ever can claim Its pride, honor, glory and undying fame.

[Verse 2]

We know fear when stern duty Calls us far away from home, Our country's flag shall safely o'er us wave, No matter where we roam. " Tis the gallant 7th Cavalry It matters not where we are going" Such you'll surely say as we march away; And our band plays Garryowen.

(Chorus)

[Verse 3]

Then hurrah for our brave commanders! Who led us into the fight. We'll do or die in our country's cause, And battle for the right. And when the war is o'er, And to our home we're goin Just watch your step, with our heads erect, When our band plays Garryowen. (Chorus)

Specialist 4

Vietnam War—1965 - 1967

Indirect Fire (Mortar) Crewman