Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.

Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.

And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green. 

Play the Song

Fiddler's Green is the place that Cav soldiers go when they leave this world. We have lost a great many soldiers over the years, and here is a place to pay tribute to them. If you would like to honor a fallen soldier by leaving his or her name, please use the guestbook above or email info@cavhooah.com and I will gladly post it.

"A cavalry soldier passed on the Stetson and Sword today.
Boots at rest ... taps echoed once again.
Flagpoles stand at half;
the banner flies stoutly with the wind."

"A Cavalry Soldier stepped off a "Winged Horse" today.
Troopers stand with heels pressed taut ...
adorned with glazed eyes.
Flattened hands pushed temple tight,
for one's last combat flight."

"A Cavalry soldier died today,
with honor forged on infinity's wall.
Long vanished Cavaliers proudly join the final charge,
So remembrance could speak the name ...
for eternity's present roll-call."

This poem was written and generously donated by Thomas J. Criser - SGT, who served in Vietnam 1/69-4/70 'Cavalier Blue India'
If you wish to use it, please contact Mr. Criser.

3d ACR soldiers who gave their lives in the name of freedom during OIF I (Task Force Rifles) and OIF III.

The Third Cavalry Association has established the James H. Polk Memorial Scholarship Fund for the children of our fallen Troopers. James H. Polk was our 26th Colonel who commanded through most of WWII. He retired as a CINCUSAEUR in 1971 and was a great guy. As a fund raiser, they are giving away copies of a really great OIF III video, narrated by Joe Galloway, for a $15 dollar donation. The link to the page on their website is http://www.biznizsource.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Calvary&Category_Code=dvd

SGT Ryan D. Jopek was a great Trooper and an even greater friend...the kind of guy who could always make you laugh, and the kind of attitude that could always make you feel better. Unfourtunately, SGT Jopek rode on to Fiddler's Green this last summer (2006) when  a coward with an IED decided to attack his HMMWV. He never saw it coming.

SGT Jopek will be forever missed by friends and family.

Sent in from Iraq:

Sent in from SGT Dekker, USAREC:

Pvt Kurt Russel Frosheiser, a Cav Scout stationed with 2/6 in 1 Armor division, died in 08 Nov 2003 after receiving shrapnel wounds from an IED blast south of Bagdhad.

Posted in The Bridgehead Sentinel - 1ID Newsletter:

SPC Jeremy E. Christiansen, 27, of Albequerque, NM, died on 27 November 2004

Recieved from Pat Nolan:

Received from CPT Lisa Lourey:

"Please post the loss of two more Cavalrymen:

CW2 Joshua Michael Scott, 28, of Sun Prairie, Wis.,

 and my loving husband, CW3 Matthew Lourey. (40, of East Bethel, Minn.)
(his guestbook can be found at www.startribune.com)

These men were killed 27 May 2005, crashing their OH-58D helicopter as a result of small arms fire.

Please share with me in mourning the loss of these two warriors...they were sons, husbands, and fathers."

Son of state Sen. Becky Lourey killed in Iraq
Associated Press

ST. PAUL - Matt Lourey always wanted to fly. He dressed up as the Red Baron for Halloween. He played with toy helicopters as a child in northern Minnesota, and later, 
he enlisted in the Marines but left when he didn't get to fly with them.

His dream and sense of duty eventually led him to Iraq, where he flew Kiowa Warrior helicopters with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

Chief Warrant Officer Lourey, the son of state Sen. Becky Lourey, died in Iraq Thursday when his helicopter was shot down.
The 41-year-old became the 22nd Minnesotan to die in the Mideast during the Iraq war.

Earlier this year, he volunteered for a second Iraq tour even though his parents and siblings opposed the war and tried to talk him out of it.

Another guestbook can be found here: http://www.legacy.com/TwinCities/Guestbook.asp?Page=GuestBook&PersonId=14072371

Received from Patrick Clouse:

I would like to post the names of two fallen former CAV TROOPERS of the E Trp. 238th CAV.  They both served the Cav with honor. 
Last year they both took higher positions in the Brigade. Both will be missed very much.

On 27 MAR 05 while on a recon mission supporting the ANA (afghan national army) their vehicle struck a AT mine.

Cpt. Michael "Todd" Fiscus- 36

Msgt. Micheal Thomas Hiester-33

CW2 Michael T. Blaise, 29, of Tennessee

CW2 Blaise died when his OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed on its way back from a combat mission near Mosul in northern Iraq. He was assigned to Banshee Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Aviation Brigade, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. CW2 Blaise, a Pilot-in-Command, died on January 23, 2004. In his memory, a tree was planted at a ceremony in front of 2-17 Cav Squadron headquarters, just prior to the unit leaving for Iraq a second time. The Squadron Tactical Operations Center in Kirkuk, Iraq was also renamed Blaise Hangar in his honor.

http://www.blaisenatrail.com/
Blaise’N’ A Trail is a memorial bike ride that was named for CW2 Blaise, an avid rider. The ride has grown into an annual memorial ride that honors a different fallen solider each year, with a new destination.

Pfc. Clayton W. Henson, 20, of Stanton, Texas. Henson died when his convoy was ambushed in Dwaniyan, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Died on April 17, 2004.

You two will never be forgotten, Henson you were a 11C by MOS but A Scout by Heart and Nature, you  went down fighting for us,  Cuervo, Strip said the 49ers will do better next year! You guys are still missed and will always will be remembered.

My son, SP4 Hoby F. Bradfield Jr departed for Fiddlers Green on Friday 08 July 2005. He was a Cavalry Scout with Grim Troop, Second Squadron, 3rd ACR in Tal Afar Iraq. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Scouts Out.

Submitted by
Kevin and Nadine Albrecht:

On April 28, 2006, we lost
two brave cavalry warriors.

Please add SFC Bryant Herlem
and SGT Jose Gomez to your page. 

Thank you.

Sent in from PFC Robert McDaniel:

In memory of PFC William Thorne, killed on 24AUG06 Baghdad, Iraq. Thorne and I were battle buddies in basic.

Thorne was a good friend and a great Scout, we will all miss you. GHOSTRIDERS, from all of us 3rd plt Bravo Troop 5-15 Cav. We'll all meet again at the green brother.

What you're doing here is a good thing.