Co A, 2nd Battalion, 109th INF
1973 - 1976
On 27 March 1973 CPT Renna led the unit to Annual Field Training at Camp LeJuene, NC. The unit was used as an aggressor force against the 82nd Airborne DIV as part of Exotic Dancer VI. On 20 May CPT Robert V Barziloski received the Company Guidon at an Official Change of Command Ceremony from CPT Renna. 2LT’s Edward J Romanko and Allen W Steffy completed State OCS and were assigned to the unit. PSG John (Jack) Nealon replaced the retired 1sg Guitson. A Christmas dinner and party was held for mentally challenged children.
The Independent Truckers Association organized a strike which resulted in the unit being ordered to State Active Duty from 3 to 5 February 1974, with orders to provide static security posts, patrols, and reactionary forces along Interstate Highways. No major incidents were reported. Annual Training was conducted at Camp A P Hill, VA and included Rifle Company in attack on a live fire range, as well as other offensive and defensive operations, culminated by a 55 hour Brigade exercise and a river crossing operation.
1975 Annual Training was conducted at Fort Drum, NY and the unit participated in Tank/Mechanized Infantry team attack, Company in Night attack, river crossing, Anti-armor warfare techniques and Airmobile training. One again the river entered the Armory as a result of heavy rains from Hurricane Eloise, which left the Armory inaccessible for 3 days. The Pennsylvania Commendation Medal was awarded to PSG Ronald R Sherman for exceptionally meritorious service and devotion to duty upon his retirement. The Medals were also awarded to 1LT Gary Sowinski and 2LT Edward Romanko for exceptionally meritorious service in conjunction with the Team Handball Program for youths.
CPT Gary G Sowinski succeeded CPT Barziloski on July 2, 1976.Upon completion of Pennsylvania National Guard Military Academy (PNGMA) OCS 2LT’s Gary Jones and Ronald Mooney were assigned to the company. PNGMA NCO course graduates were SGT Fred Bankes , SGT Frank Rosato, and SSG Michael Cherochak. SP4 Larry Stefanelli was awarded a Certificate of Attendance from the school. A Rifle company Field Training Exercise and an Airmobile Raid were mainly the objectives of Annual Training at Fort Pickett, VA.

Fw: Company A 2nd Bn 109th Infantry Meet @ Greet

Sixty five former members of Company A 2d Battalion, 109^th Infantry, and their guests recently met at the Armory in West Pittston to greet old buddies, socialize, and discuss having a reunion later in the year. Those in attendance also embodied other units spanning more than 60 years of service, from 1947 to present. The old Companies were represented by 5 men of the Heavy Mortar unit, and Combat Support had 8. The longest tenured unit, Alpha, had 52 in attendance.Those in attendance included: Matt Andrasko, Joe Armitage, Bernie Babonis, Frank Baux III, Tom Baux, Bob Begliomini, Kirk Bonanny, Bob and Charlie Brack, Tom Brunton, Ted Cadora, David Carey, Nick Chieumento, Bill Connell, Bill Connell Sr., Bob Costello, Tony Demark, Ross Denisco, Jim Dougher Jr. Karl Dymond, Celwyn Evans, Guy Fasciana, Vince Fitch, Norm Frederick, Jim Gilhooley and Jim Gilhooley Sr., George Gilroy, Ray Girardi, Ben Gorey, Alan Gribble, Paul Hatrack, Marty Kane, Barrett, Joseph and Paul Leonard, Nancy London, Matt Mastruzzo, Vic Malinowski, Kirk Mattern, Paul Menichinni, John & Gloria Milko, John Molitoris, Clarence Moss, Bob Murphy, Ed Nowakowski, Jim O'Reilly, Bruce Prandy, Crash O'Donnell, Richard Parry, Ed Romanko, Charles Rutcavage, Al and Dominick Sarti, George Searfoss, Bob Seidel, Joe Sherinsky, Joe Skochen, Tom Skrzysowski, Joe Smalley, Bill Their, Bob Tirva, Frank Tokash, and Archie Williams.

Co A, 2nd Battalion, 109th INF
1969 - 1972
As of January 1, 1969 1LT William R Hillis replaced CPT Cummings as Commander and subsequently relinquished Command to 1LT Paul J Catalano in October. 2LT James T Morgan was assigned. PSG Bob Antal completed the CBR course at Ft. George G. Meade, Md. Unit was on alert for law enforcement duty at York, PA.

The US Rifle M-1 Garand was replaced by US Rifle 5.56mm M16A1 in early 1970. As part of the Armed Forces Day activities the unit demonstrated a Rifle Company in attack at Pocono Downs Raceway in Wilkes Barre, PA. PFC William D’Elia completed CBR training at CP. Drum, NY. Provided personnel to perform Guard Duty for an exposition of Moon rocks at Eberhard Museum in Scranton and participated in a search for a woman missing in the Rocky Glenn park area.

1971 was highlighted by the awarding of the Superior U nit Training Award. 2LT Philip Goldstein and John Heil completed state OCS and were assigned to the unit. 1SG Ernest (Larry) Guitson assumed the duties of First Sergeant upon the retirement of 1SG Lavelle.
Compulsory military service ended. Participated in the Governor’s Inaugural parade in Harrisburg. CPT Robert L Renna assumed command on December 1st.

1972 The unit Armory was inundated when the Susquehanna River overflowed its banks caused by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Agnes. The unit participated in disaster relief work and security duty in lieu of Annual Training. The PA Commendation Ribbon was awarded to 31 unit members in recognition of their Meritorious and Outstanding service during the emergency. A Certificate of appreciation from Governor was presented to the unit in recognition of the Outstanding service to the communities. Earlier in the year 2LT Heil attended Mortar School at FT Benning GA. The first annual Family Christmas Holiday Meal including a full course turkey dinner and trimmings was held.

The first 5 years

Co A, 2nd Battalion, 109th INF
The first 5 Years
Over the course of the 5 years the unit participated in Weapons Qualification training at both Leach Range in Clarks Summit and at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA (FTIG).. The same applied to participation in parades in Scranton for Armed Forces Day. Annual training was primarily at Camp A P Hill, VA and Camp Drum, NY. Each year the unit successfully underwent Command Inspections and an Annual General Inspection.
1 April 1963 was the date Captain Howard Jones took command. First Sergeant was James (Bucky) Lavelle. The authorized strength was 6 Officers and 183 enlisted men, which was changed to 134 in December. The unit participated in a Centennial Parade in Gettysburg, and the 28th Infantry Division Memorial Service at Boalsburg, PA. Reserve Enlistment Program (REP-63) was introduced. It changed the Military Obligation from
8 years to 6 and included a requirement that each new enlistee undergo a basic and advanced training period of active duty based on the special occupation training. Since 1954 enlisted men with no prior service could volunteer for from 8 weeks to 6 months Active Duty training and then return to their own units. The four hour weekly drill assemblies gave way to weekend drills.
1964 brought a change of command as Captain Santo Dettore was assigned.
In October 1965 the unit was selected for stepped up training and had priority for regular school quotas, equipment, and training. The unit became part of the Selected Reserve Force (SRF) and was now required to conduct an additional 24 assemblies per year for a total of 72 assemblies.
The following year 2LT’s Ross A DeNisco Jr. and John T. McCutcheon completed State Officer Candidate School (OCS) and were assigned to the unit. In December the unit was placed on alert for Law Enforcement Duty to protect lives and property at the site of the Cedar Avenue mine fire in Scranton.
1967. 2LT Daniel P Connell completed State OCS and was assigned to the unit. Annual training was scheduled for Camp Hill and advance parties where there when orders came to train at FTIG . Many civilian leaders believed that racist elements in the state would take advantage of the Divisions absence and cause trouble in the Commonwealth. The training was changed to Civil Disturbance Training, including eight hour riot control training as well as a brigade field training exercise.
A change of command occurred in 1968 as CPT Dettore was reassigned and 1LT Bruce Cummings was assigned. An April Division reorganization resulted in Co A being assigned to the newly formed 55th Brigade. Once again the unit was alerted for Law Enforcement duty following the April shooting of Dr. Martin Luther King, as serious rioting broke out throughout the State.

brothers

1944 - After the hostilities of WW II ended the 28th Infantry Division was deactivated and the men returned to their families and homes. Early in 1946 Governor Martin reorganized the entire Division as the Pennsylvania National Guard. The Pitston unit received federal recognition on 9 May 1947 as Cannon Co. 109 INF commanded by CPT Ferdinand Endres Jr. The following year it was re-designated as Heavy Mortar Co 109 INF. In July 1950 the entire Division was ordered into active federal service and the soldiers trained at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and as part of Operation Southern Pines, in Fort Bragg, NC and then sailed to Europe to become part of the US NATO force. Cannon Company quartered and trained in Gablingen, Kaserne, and Augsburg Germany, still under the command of MAJ Endres. After completion of 2 years active service in 1952 the men returned to the families, homes and jobs. Governor Fine reactivated the Division on 22 May 1953, and on 20 July 1953 the Pittston unit was re-activated as Heavy Mortar Co. under the command of 1LT Alfred Dresch, and succeeded by 2LT Richard Carpenter and then 2LT Howard Jones. The first annual summer camp was conducted on 22 August 1954. 15,000 Guardsmen and a crowd of estimated at 50,000 witnessed the official return of the 28th Division colors. On 1 June 1959 it was again re-designated as Combat Support Co. 1st Battle Group, 109th INF commanded by CPT Anthony Bolcavage and followed by CPT Howard Jones and remained as such until 1 April 1963 when it was re-designated as Co A, 2nd Battalion, 109th INF.

Getting started

Several former members of Co A 2nd Bn 109th Inf have begun planning for an October 2009 “all years reunion”, as well as for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the National Guard Armory in West Pittston. The committee is attempting to reach any and all men who previously served under the flag of Heavy Mortar Co 1st Bn 109th Inf, and Combat Support Co 1st BG 109th Inf during the period 2 July 1953 through 31 March 1963 and Co A, 2nd Battalion, 109th Infantry during the period 1 April 1963 through 1 March 1992, including those who were assimilated into Co A 2nd Bn 103rd Armor. Anyone interested in participating in, and or lending their support for this project, is invited to a “Meet and Greet” gathering at the Armory on Saturday, April 25.
You are invited to enter you comments and or reservations at this site. Please provide your phone number or e-mail address.