Beginning of The U.S. Constabulary Association

I have been getting inquiries as to how our association started as well as seeing different accounts
as to how it started and who were the original "Dirty Dozen”. This is my accounting, written shortly
 after our first reunion at Helen, Georgia.  Many of our newest members have no idea how we
 started, and this would be a help to them.
Thank you.
Ed Yetsko:



    Prior to the beginning of our association,  Charles Peillet and Neil Knopp discussed how they could get together old "I" Company troopers, who were members of the 3rd Bn., 6th ACR, U.S. Constabulary.  They, as well as Don Brett, had ads in the VFW and Legion magazines.  Don Brett was not a Constabulary trooper, but was doing a history on the unit, as well as having a Constabulary collection.  He was interested in any contacts to help further his pursuit. 
    Don later was to become the first Constabulary Group Historian.  After seeing these ads, twelve troopers responded to Charles Peillet. They were:  Ed Yetsko, Bill Richer, Peter Arbo, Pat Desantis, Jim Humbert, Neil Knopp, Ray Lowell, Ted Olejniczak, Bob Parks, John Rizzo, Bob Spofford, Cliff Steckel, John VanHaneghan, Charles Wallace, and Don Wilkie. We were all members of the 6th ACR, most of us from the 3rd Bn. Even though there are fifteen names mentioned, the first twelve to respond were dubbed the "Dirty Dozen" by Charles Peillet. 
    On November 4, 1989 Bud Groner who also saw the ad in the VFW magazine, got in touch with Charles and told him of the 6th U.S. Cavalry Association reunion in Chattanooga, TN.  They had very little to show of the Constabulary. 
    We then held our own small meeting to discuss future plans to have our own association, or stay with the 6th Cavalry Association.  Hence the following:  June 14-17, 1990 saw a group of former US Constabulary Troopers, mainly 6th Cavalry Regiment Troopers, meet at the Quality Inn South, Chattanooga, Tn, to attend the 90th annual 6th Cavalry Association Reunion. 
    Immediately following the 10:00 AM business meeting, June 16, 1990, former members of the Constabulary met in another room of the motel. Many of the troopers displayed Constabulary items they had brought to show.  One of the members brought and played on a VCR a U.S. Constabulary tape which had been filmed during the tenure of Major General I. D. White, who was then our Commanding General. It was here that we were establishing our identity as former Constabulary Troopers. 
    Those of us in attendance shall always remember the forerunners of our present association. They were: Bud Groner, Charles Peillet, Ed Yetsko, Bill Richer, Ray Lowell, George Fitz, Fr. Joseph Maloney, Joe Kolniak, Ted Olejniczak, Robert Parks, James Duffy, Fred Von Son, Gifford Benedict, Donald Miller, Dave Casarez, Bill Wooten, Winfred Bess, John Hebda, and Roy Mogged.  I recall that there were 21 of us present, but do not recall all the names. We left the 6th Cavalry Association Reunion with great enthusiasm. 
    Several key troopers in attendance were responsible for establishing our present Association following our get-together, particularly, Bud Groner, Charles Peillet, Ed Yetsko, and Joe Maloney.  Names of former Constabulary members were submitted by different troopers along with the roster of the 6th Cavalry Association to Bud Groner and Ed Yetsko, after which Bud would send out an application to theses troopers to join our new group along with the roster of the sent out an application to these troopers to join our new group.  We had approximately 90 names to start with, and many responded positively. 
    Through advertising and newsletters and word of mouth we were beginning to grow. Bud Groner was already working on our first Constabulary get-together at Helen, Ga.  It was in May 12-15, 1991 that 151+ former troopers, spouses, and friends, met in Helen, GA. A decision was made to form our own group which was to be named the "U.S. Constabulary Veterans' Group".  We chose our first officers, and many of us had dual roles as National Officers as well as outpost officers.  These officers were: Bud Groner, National Commander, Ed Yetsko, National Vice Commander, Don Purrington, National Adjutant, Gene Snowden, National Sgt-At-Arms, and Fr. Joseph Maloney, National Chaplain.  There were three advisors also chosen, and they were: Charles Peillet, James Duffy, and George Fitz. 
    After the officers were chosen, we then held our first business meeting where we formed the name "outpost", which was to coincide with the border outposts we were familiar with. Later the United States and its possessions would be divided into eight (8) outposts as we have them today. At  this time the outpost commanders were chosen. They were: Ray Lowell, OP#1, Ed Yetsko, OP#2, Jim Loving, OP#3, Bob Parks, OP#4, Roy Mogged, OP#5, Ray Rempe, OP#6, Bob Smith, OP#7, Gene Snowden, OP#8. 
At the conclusion of the reunion all who were charged with their new assignments left for home to start building their individual outposts.  The name was changed to United States Constabulary Association, and through the efforts of Don Purrington, we were incorporated in the State of Washington, and also chartered through Congress. 
Each outpost began to hold their own reunions. The first formal national reunion for our new association was held at Ft. Mitchell, KY.  At  this time National Commander Bud Groner, and Vice Commander Ed Yetsko stepped down from their positions after a two year term.  Nominations were then submitted and our new Commander Bill Tevington was elected as National Commander.  Two vice commanders were elected, Bob Jarrett who would serve the East coast, and Ray Guillaume, who would serve the West coast. 
    Since then the association had 1,610 members including associates, and also approximately 165 "inactive" members.  We also have a "Taps" roster of troopers who were members of our association, and also other Constabulary troopers who have passed away reported to us by our member troopers.  The above is an accounting of the origination of our present association.
(The above was written in the time frame of 1989/1991 only, and does not reflect any of the changes in command and operations aftewards.) 

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