European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 2, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes Friday october 2,1987 letters readers piqued by general Custer critique let me put the record straight about major general Custer Ohio volunteers. The a neral did not have o die to become a hero he already was a nationally recognized one from his service in inc War Between the states. It was Custer who prevented the right Wing of the Vandec army from being turned at Gettysburg by Personalty leading to regiments of Michigan cavalry headlong into a Confederate attack on the Union flank. La was Custer who was promoted at age 24 to Briga Dier general in the Ohio volunteers nol through an error As popularly supposed t it because or his proven ability and personal bravery. Cd scr served on Gen. George Mcclellan s staff and had that officer s full Trust and Confidence. After the War Custer accepted a commission As a lieutenant colonel in the regular army and was sent to the West. While there he developed the technique of Haw to bring indians to Battle. The indians would attack Small groups of settlers or scouting parties of soldiers but invariably led when confronted by any sizeable number of troops. Cutter s idea was to locale the enemy s Camp surround it Dur ing darkness and attack at first Light. Ii worked. The settlers on the Plains breathed a Little easier after it. Cot. Cutler s arrival. Yes Indian women and children were often killed in these types of engagements but they were also combat ants who did not hesitate to pick up a Rifle to lire at the Blue Coats. Did cd scr have a big ego sure he did. And so did just about any other army general one can think of. As far As the blame for the military reverse at Little big Horn we wit never know what verbal orders Custer received from his superiors. Generals Terry and Gibbon. They May have instructed that the 7th cavalry find and fix the enemy a Standard cavalry Mission until the infantry arrived. Based on the indians inclination to run away from Large army forces it does not seem improbable. Certainly the Large number of Indi ans in inc area was a Surprise. Unlike inc letter writer 1 am not afraid to sign my name. Capt. John l. Roddy Lusn Drin \ �. At the end of the civil War. Custer was a National hero. He had 11 horses shot from under him. He was wounded once in the leg Custer was a commander who was always in the Lead when he took his troops into Battle. The Black Hills were nol sacred burial grounds for the indians. They were afraid 10 go there because of the heavy thunderstorms Hal occur there. They went Only to secure Lodge poles and they left the area quickly. Saying that the Indian did not get a fair shake in the Black Hills could possibly be True bul that is an argument for he courts not for us. But which India Al. The Crow and Kiowa indians were occupying the Black Hills Long before the sinus and the Sioux More powerful were the ones who drove them Oul of the Custer s ego is something which cannot be denied. What if generals Patlon. Macathur and even Montgomery had not possessed an ego thank god for inc egos which help us win our wars. The indians did not Spring a trap on Custer he did catch them by Surprise. The Indian Camp would have been broken up and All of inc women children and old people moved to safety had hey known of the approaching Custer. This was simply nol the Case. To state the men who fought and died with cd scr were poor fools is a slur on their Honor and on the Honor of the 7th . Cavalry. They were no More than men who enlisted in their country s army and gave their lives in Battle. Custer the Boob As he was called in the letter it rated by or. Robert Ulley probably the most famous writer on Custer and inc Indian wars As second Only o general Miles at an Indian fighter. Miles look Over the mess created by Terry and Crook and Defeated the indians and this decisive action caused Silling Bull to flee into Canada. Custer s defeat could be blamed on financial prob lems a fact which put soldiers on the Field of Battle without full and proper training. Also some say Cutler s defeat was caused by the division of his command. Others say maj. Reno s fail ure to hold his position in the Timber caused the do Cal. And then Mere Are some who blame capt. Ben teen for disobeying a written order to come Quick and to bring ammunition. It was probably a combination of All of Csc there is now evidence that the Custer Battle was not a rout thai lasted 30 minutes with Only 20 indians being killed. This evidence comes from eyewitness accounts of crazy hone Sling Bull kills Eagle Girard Reno s soul and Many others. They All agree that it was a fight that lasted for three hours or More. In a fight which lasted for three hours the men fought until they ran out of ammunition and then were overwhelmed by Superior numbers. Wailing in vain for Benleen to bring up he Reserve men and am munition and Ihen fighting to the death in hand to hand combat does nol rate them to be called poor fools who followed Custer into Battle or to v i ii Custer an unprincipled animal who slaughtered indians including women and children. Nor was be a certified nut. Robert Aldrich Bryan Texas Custer earned his reputation As a fearless cavalry commander during the civil War by leading his troops in cavalry charges with drawn Sabre. Due to an outstanding record of victories he was revealed in rank from Captain to brigadier general and Given command of the Michigan cavalry brigade. It we Custer who handed Gen. Jeb Stuart s elite Southern cavalry its first defeat at the action at Han Over during the crucial Battle of Gettysburg which contributed greatly to general Lee s defeat. His record of victories continued throughout inc War and he earned his reputation As n fighter. After the War he lost his Brevet rank but the troops who fought with him would forever refer to him As general Custer Oul of admiration and respect. Custer was totally dedicated to his wife Libbie and to his chosen profession of arms. There were rumours that he was interested in the presidency but there is no hard evidence of this and he was never Active Politi Cally. He was a Superb proven cavalry commander who possessed a personal courage in Battle far above most leaders. He fought indians because Hose were his or Ders and be did it very Well and with few casualties to his men until that fateful Day of june 25,1876. Custer is nol around to defend himself but one fact ii Clear he died fighting in the service of his coun try an act in itself that cannot be criticized. A. Vanko Heidelberg like your letter writer i am no great fan of George Armstrong Custer but i will acknowledge the tide of him of which inc Wriler is perhaps unaware. Just to set the record straight ranked As one of the outstanding Union cavalry com Manders of the  civil War. As for Only becoming a hero Wii i his last stand at the Lille big Horn Custer had 11 horses killed under him from first Bull run july 1861 to the end of inc War april 1865was Brevet cd five limes for Gallan try and participated in every Battle of the army of the Potomac but one. True Custer s eventual command of he 7th cavalry was not particularly noteworthy and his regiment did not enjoy inc professional reputation of several Superior Frontier cavalry regiments except for the Little Bighom. The army song commemorates Custer s ranks and Why not at the Little big Horn All three 7th cavalry battalions were separately engaged and fought hard. If it. Col. Cd scr failed to deploy his forces successfully it is no reflection on the bravery of these forces five companies of which died to the last Man with their commander. Since the army song highlights various eras in the army s history reference to the Custer episode at least recognizes the most famous no necessarily deserving episode of thai period. Before we can arrive at the tiie Story of anything we must first know the a Story. It. Col. Wayne a. Silken shape Belgium a similar letter was received from John m. Carroll of the Frontier military research and preservation society Bryan Texas. Cafes lists 86 dividends at $114 million i enjoyed col. Donald e. Gilbert s response to the role of audio clubs and cafes in providing far the needs of the military Community though i can l be Lieve cafes is returning As much As they would like us to believe 10 the mar. Okay cafes How much of our collective Buck that of Patch Barracks was returned to mar if you can l answer thai How about he greater Stuttgart military Community Usa eur Safe Europe world wide i Don t believe the profits we arc seeing arc that great. What profits Are made go into building bigger and belter cafes facilities. With inc decline of the Dollar and an increase in sales of 20 percent they should be More than Able to manage most of the 5 pen pals i would tit to Corr Pond Mefi my Vrh tto und it tort to Kiowa Edna of of Joltin to. 3s-c.iw1t3 am 7.cfljlh Engler Pimm Juhl Talty  in fms co Junul t in 19 own Ott. I by Yuna to to Movit Daout int nil Luotto 1. Us imbu7tluvbll dung in City. Pm Ftp Smi Taim add Mir new nil to your Phi a i Uzumi i in 17 not old and f he to two. Oscai and .en39xuep0wvi that you re putting big Bucks Back into mar. I can Only ask what have you done for us lately the answer won t be new baseball uniforms or basketballs or dumbbells. I think the Only valid answer is employment opportunities and economic benefits. Name withheld Vaihinger Germany editor s note col. Donald e. Gilbert i commander he cafes Europe replies the army and air Force welfare Board decide where mid bum la spend their portion of cafes turn tend. Last year cafes returned $1145 million or s84js for every Active duty array and air Force member. For every Dollar he Exchange takes in 74j cents goes for goods 14 j cents for personnel costs 5 cents Tor supplies utilities and other support Crox and the remaining 4.4 cents is spill Between army and air Force mar dividends and cafes capital exp net which arc essentially new or improved a Tolomer tac Lilin. In 1984, $59 million was finder for new and improved facilities in Europe. In 1987, Mother $$9 million m budgeted. The Menty mid for capital exp Cattorn i�1 hot to did custom a. They reap inc Here flt when we Pat in a new sound system Al the Marie beater bau4 a new food mall and new or improved Exchange. Ost Arar Latall Talaat Hen in Europe thai Loach of Bone called barter King returns dividends direct to the com bully Awe than $1,160,000 in it first be non Tautrim. Of the nearly 24,000 cafes Etrope employees 10,600, or 44,7 percent of then Are family members