During the period 1960-1977 a number of area men received their commission as Second Lieutenants:From Albion- Jesse G. Weaver Jr., Charles P. Shervin, James Scibetta, Daniel Spriegel, Jerome J. Makowski.  From Medina- Eugene W. Standish, Kenneth D. Howlett, Allen O. Seaver, William A. Boucher, Joseph G. Rich Jr., Robert E. Weet, Joseph A. Grabowski, Francis R. Grabowski, Eugene T. Kujawa, Stanley R. Kubatek, James Balcerzak, Gary Hudson, Richard Kosiorek, Richard H. Glass, James C. Crowley, and ____ Herivan. 

Serving as First Sergeants during this period have been William M. Arnett, Smith A. Munson, Alfred L. Schmitt, Donald E. Bensley, John Walsh, Ronald Winans, David Thom, Thomas Taylor and John Fox.  Don McElwee served as Administrative Supply Technician from 1 Dec. 1948, until his retirement in 1974.  Our last AST was MSG John Harrington who remained with the 174th Inf. as the Bn. Sergeant Major. I should mention that First Sergeant Don Bensley a member of the Monument Committee, became our Bn. Sergeant Major prior to SMG Harrington.  Both these men are soldiers of the utmost professionalism.

In 1975, 1st. Lt. James Balcerzak took over as Detachment Commander.  During Annual Training 1975, Company C. received the honor of being nominated the outstanding infantry unit in the Brigade.  A trophy to this effect was awarded during Annual Training 1976.

In November 1975, Lt. Balcerzak left our unit to take a position with the 98th Div. Army Reserve in Rochester, I was sad to see him leave as we had been High School classmates.  The unit was always a family as many of the members throughout its history were neighbors, classmates and friends outside of the Armory.  The Command passed to 1st. Lt. Ralph Roberts from Brockport, while Captain Steven Trinkle from Akron took command of the company in Batavia.  Both of these fine officers were forced to leave the company temporarily because of civilian job conflict.

We now reach the final months of the military history of our local Armory.  As was mentioned in a previous blog we had two rifle platoons in Medina.  Many members were  coming to an end of their six year obligation to their state and nation and were not re-enlisting.  I told the papers of the day that it was “a sign of the times”, Increased state expenditures in other areas and general apathy of the public following the Vietnam War toward the military contributed to the closing of this historical building.

With Co. C being once again consolidated in Batavia, many members of the unit decided not to follow the Company and drive to the Batavia Armory and left the unit.  Lack of strength of the unit was the reason given for phase-out and a warning of this was given when a number of local officials were invited to a “crisis” dinner meeting at the Apple Grove Inn.  Under my command the numbers were continuing to decline to about half strengh of 45 men..  Today I look back and realize that we were going through a phase that may have turned around given time but one has to remember that the village and county has a small population and would not have supported a 100% unit strengh.  The units of the Battalion in Buffalo, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, A Co., and B Co. with Combat Support Company in Tonawanda were also competing for enlistees.

At the time, the last command consisted of Company Commander James Mahoney.  Captain Mahoney was an example of an officer that was a Vietnam veteran, we were getting officers who wanted to get their 20 years for retirement but not enough of the enlisted veterans to have much impact on numbers.  For months we were getting men in the door at the same rate as the “obligors” who left.  At the time of the closure, I had eight years with the Batallion, with one year with Co. B in Buffalo getting my feet wet as a new 2nd. Lt. under the guidance of Captain William Rott Jr..  The opportunity to return to Medina was wonderful as I lived in the village.  As Detachment Commander, there was alot of pressure to increase numbers.  As I said to the papers “I feel that because the moral of the men was low over the threat of closure, I think most of them will leave once their initial enlistment is over.  Most of them are local fellows who stayed, worked hard and played hard as a unit because we had the comraderie and esprit-de-corps of a hometown unit.”

Also at this time  we continued to reach the public with newspaper articles of what we were doing as a unit, such as training events including riot control training at the South Main Street Park, pictures of local enlistees such as my dear friends Greg and Richard Kwiatkowski, Richard had finished his obligation to the Marine Corp prior to his enlistment in “Charlie” Co. We provided honors for Memorial Day in Medina, Middleport and Lyndonville.  We, when time permitted, tried to do public works, in South Main Street Park and a paper-drive to help with expenses for a local child’s medical bills. I am sure I have forgotten many other events.  We always had a great Mess Section especially after Rick Callard became Mess Sergeant, he was one man that stayed with C Co. after consolidation with Batavia and his recent passing brings back many fond memories of over 20 years in the Company.  We had our annual Christmas parties, one for our children and an adult party in our club rooms at the Armory. Another friend gone from us to soon, Jim Balcerzak was in his element with the kids at the party. One year our Santa arrived by armored personel carrier, I think it was Bill Bacon.

Next time I will discuss the day the flag came down and share historical memories of Alonzo L. Waters, publisher of the Journal-Register at the time of the Armories closing.