Organizational commanders
since 1855
since 1855
The following roster is from Courage without Fear: The Story of the Grand Rapids Guard, LTC(Ret) David G. Britten. Xlibris, 2004. All rights reserved.
Forward all updates or corrections to the author.
The following list of commanding officers represents a roster of senior officers of the Grand Rapids Guard from 1855 to present. The
year indicates the first year of command and the unit’s designation at the time follows. An “*” next to the officer’s name indicates he
eventually was promoted to a general officer in a follow-on assignment.
Independent Militia Companies
Capt Wright Coffinberry – 1855 - Grand Rapids Light Guard
Capt Lucius Patterson – 1855 - Grand Rapids Artillery
Capt Stephen Champlain – 1855 - Ringgold's Light Artillery
Capt. Christopher Kusterer – 1859 – Grand Rapids Rifles
51st Regiment and Third Michigan Civil War Service
Col Daniel McConnell – 1858 - 51st Reg't V.U.M.M.
Col. Daniel McConnell – 1861(Civil War) - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col Stephen Champlain - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col Ambrose Stephens - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col Byron Pierce - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col George E. Judd - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
Second Regiment, Michigan State Troops
*Capt George E. Judd - 1872 - Grand Rapids Guard
*Col Israel C. Smith - 1874 - Second Regiment Infantry
Col John D. Sumner - 1883 - Second Regiment Infantry
*Col Edwin M. Irish - 1887 - Second Regiment Infantry
*Col Charles H. Rose - 1892 - Second Regiment Infantry
*Col William T. McGurrin - 1895 - Second Regiment Infantry
War with Spain
*Col William T. McGurrin – 1898 - 32nd Regiment of Volunteer Infantry
Second Infantry, Michigan National Guard
*Col William T. McGurrin – 1899 - Second Infantry
*Col Perley L. Abbey - 1902 - Second Infantry
*Col Louis C. Covell - 1911 - Second Infantry
Thirty-second Infantry, Mexican Border and World War I
*Col Louis C. Covell – 1915 - 32nd Infantry
Col Joseph B. Westnedge - 1917 - 32nd Michigan Infantry
Col Joseph B. Westnedge – WW I - 126th Infantry, 32d Div, AEF
Col William T. Mollison – WW I - 126th Infantry, 32d Div, AEF
Post-War 126th Infantry
*Col Earl R. Stewart - 1921 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
*Col John H. Schouten - 1922 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
*Col Edgar H. Campbell - 1926 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col John Benner - 1932 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col William Haze – 1936 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
World War II
Col William Haze – 1940 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Lawrence A. Quinn - WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
LtCol Edmund J. Carrier – WW II - 26th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Clarence M. Tomlinson - WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Joseph S. Bradley – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
LtCol Chester A. Beaver – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Ernest A. Barlow – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Isaac Gill – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Raymond G. Stanton – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Merle H. Howe - WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
LtCol Oliver O. Dixon – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Chester C.W. Allan – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Nicholas D. Woodward – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32nd Div
Col Gerald G. Epley – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32nd Div
Post-War
*Col Claude L. Barkley – 1946 - 126th Inf Regt, 46th Inf Div
*Col Frank M. Murphy – 1950 - 126th Inf Regt, 46th Inf Div
*Col Cecil L. Simmons - 1958 - 126th Inf Regt, 46th Inf Div
Battle Groups
*Col Cecil L. Simmons – 1959 - 1st Btl Grp, 126th Inf, 46th Div
LtCol Melvin W. Schulz – 1959 - 2nd Btl Grp, 126th In, 46th Div
*Col Robert T. Williams - 1961 - 1st Btl Grp, 126th Inf, 46th Div
Brigades
*Col Robert T. Williams – 1963 - 2nd Brigade, 46th Inf Division
Col Robert McCall – 1968 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col Harry Sobotka – 1969 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Charles E. Lamoreaux - 1972 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col Duane Bartrem – 1975 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Jerome J. Mathieu, Jr. – 1976 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Vernon J. Andrews - 1978 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Glen Chapin - 1981 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col Lewis Burchard – 1983 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Gary Tellier - 1986 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col John D. Curell - 1988 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col James P. Caie, Jr. – 1990 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Gregory Vadnais - 1994 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
Col David Ratajik – 1995 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
*Col Gregory Vadnais - 1996 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
*Col John Leatherman - 1998 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
Col William Ewald – 2002 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
Note: Brigade-level command was deactivated in 2005
Battalion-Level Command Since 1963
3rd Battalion 126th Infantry (After 1963)
LtCol William A. Sikkel – 1963 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LtCol Herman Steenstra – 1966 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry (SRF)
*LtCol Charles E. Lamoreaux - 1968 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC John F. Lesky – 1969 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Cletus W. Friend – 1974 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Gale Deur - 1975 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Melvin J. Wierenga – 1976 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Carl H. Grinnewald – 1978 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Douglas Mack – 1980 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
*LTC Gary J. Tellier - 1982 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Lawrence R. Cox – 1985 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Gary L. Krueger – 1988 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Robert B. Wangen – 1991 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
MAJ William H. Sobotka - 1993 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Michael Carr – 1995 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry (AASLT)
MAJ Charles Holwerda – 1997 - 3rd Bn 126th Inf (AASLT)
1st Battalion 126th Armor
*LTC Michael Nevin – 1999 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
LTC Stephen Houseal – 2002 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
LTC Daniel B Leatherman - 2003 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
LTC Curtis J Royer - 2005 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
1st Squadron 126th Cavalry
LTC Clark Barrett - 2007 - 1st Squadron 126th Cavalry
Forward all updates or corrections to the author.
The following list of commanding officers represents a roster of senior officers of the Grand Rapids Guard from 1855 to present. The
year indicates the first year of command and the unit’s designation at the time follows. An “*” next to the officer’s name indicates he
eventually was promoted to a general officer in a follow-on assignment.
Independent Militia Companies
Capt Wright Coffinberry – 1855 - Grand Rapids Light Guard
Capt Lucius Patterson – 1855 - Grand Rapids Artillery
Capt Stephen Champlain – 1855 - Ringgold's Light Artillery
Capt. Christopher Kusterer – 1859 – Grand Rapids Rifles
51st Regiment and Third Michigan Civil War Service
Col Daniel McConnell – 1858 - 51st Reg't V.U.M.M.
Col. Daniel McConnell – 1861(Civil War) - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col Stephen Champlain - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col Ambrose Stephens - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col Byron Pierce - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
*Col George E. Judd - Civil War - Third Michigan Infantry
Second Regiment, Michigan State Troops
*Capt George E. Judd - 1872 - Grand Rapids Guard
*Col Israel C. Smith - 1874 - Second Regiment Infantry
Col John D. Sumner - 1883 - Second Regiment Infantry
*Col Edwin M. Irish - 1887 - Second Regiment Infantry
*Col Charles H. Rose - 1892 - Second Regiment Infantry
*Col William T. McGurrin - 1895 - Second Regiment Infantry
War with Spain
*Col William T. McGurrin – 1898 - 32nd Regiment of Volunteer Infantry
Second Infantry, Michigan National Guard
*Col William T. McGurrin – 1899 - Second Infantry
*Col Perley L. Abbey - 1902 - Second Infantry
*Col Louis C. Covell - 1911 - Second Infantry
Thirty-second Infantry, Mexican Border and World War I
*Col Louis C. Covell – 1915 - 32nd Infantry
Col Joseph B. Westnedge - 1917 - 32nd Michigan Infantry
Col Joseph B. Westnedge – WW I - 126th Infantry, 32d Div, AEF
Col William T. Mollison – WW I - 126th Infantry, 32d Div, AEF
Post-War 126th Infantry
*Col Earl R. Stewart - 1921 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
*Col John H. Schouten - 1922 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
*Col Edgar H. Campbell - 1926 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col John Benner - 1932 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col William Haze – 1936 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
World War II
Col William Haze – 1940 - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Lawrence A. Quinn - WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
LtCol Edmund J. Carrier – WW II - 26th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Clarence M. Tomlinson - WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Joseph S. Bradley – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
LtCol Chester A. Beaver – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Ernest A. Barlow – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Isaac Gill – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Raymond G. Stanton – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Merle H. Howe - WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
LtCol Oliver O. Dixon – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Chester C.W. Allan – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32d Div
Col Nicholas D. Woodward – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32nd Div
Col Gerald G. Epley – WW II - 126th Infantry, 32nd Div
Post-War
*Col Claude L. Barkley – 1946 - 126th Inf Regt, 46th Inf Div
*Col Frank M. Murphy – 1950 - 126th Inf Regt, 46th Inf Div
*Col Cecil L. Simmons - 1958 - 126th Inf Regt, 46th Inf Div
Battle Groups
*Col Cecil L. Simmons – 1959 - 1st Btl Grp, 126th Inf, 46th Div
LtCol Melvin W. Schulz – 1959 - 2nd Btl Grp, 126th In, 46th Div
*Col Robert T. Williams - 1961 - 1st Btl Grp, 126th Inf, 46th Div
Brigades
*Col Robert T. Williams – 1963 - 2nd Brigade, 46th Inf Division
Col Robert McCall – 1968 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col Harry Sobotka – 1969 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Charles E. Lamoreaux - 1972 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col Duane Bartrem – 1975 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Jerome J. Mathieu, Jr. – 1976 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Vernon J. Andrews - 1978 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Glen Chapin - 1981 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col Lewis Burchard – 1983 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Gary Tellier - 1986 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col John D. Curell - 1988 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
Col James P. Caie, Jr. – 1990 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div
*Col Gregory Vadnais - 1994 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
Col David Ratajik – 1995 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
*Col Gregory Vadnais - 1996 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
*Col John Leatherman - 1998 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
Col William Ewald – 2002 - 46th Bde, 38th Inf Div (Mech)
Note: Brigade-level command was deactivated in 2005
Battalion-Level Command Since 1963
3rd Battalion 126th Infantry (After 1963)
LtCol William A. Sikkel – 1963 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LtCol Herman Steenstra – 1966 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry (SRF)
*LtCol Charles E. Lamoreaux - 1968 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC John F. Lesky – 1969 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Cletus W. Friend – 1974 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Gale Deur - 1975 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Melvin J. Wierenga – 1976 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Carl H. Grinnewald – 1978 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Douglas Mack – 1980 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
*LTC Gary J. Tellier - 1982 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Lawrence R. Cox – 1985 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Gary L. Krueger – 1988 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Robert B. Wangen – 1991 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
MAJ William H. Sobotka - 1993 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry
LTC Michael Carr – 1995 - 3rd Battalion 126th Infantry (AASLT)
MAJ Charles Holwerda – 1997 - 3rd Bn 126th Inf (AASLT)
1st Battalion 126th Armor
*LTC Michael Nevin – 1999 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
LTC Stephen Houseal – 2002 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
LTC Daniel B Leatherman - 2003 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
LTC Curtis J Royer - 2005 - 1st Bn 126th Armor (M1)
1st Squadron 126th Cavalry
LTC Clark Barrett - 2007 - 1st Squadron 126th Cavalry
| Return to 126 Regimental Association Home |
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| Colonel Merle Howe |
| Michigan Street Armory Grand Rapids, Michigan (Upper left corner) |
| Company D 32nd Volunteer Infantry Spanish-American War |
| MG Cecil Simmons (right) is pinning on BG Clarence Schnipke's star |
