Thunderbolt Chapter of United States Cavalry and Armor Association

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Today is the feast of St. Joan of Arc, Virgin.

Joan was born to a farming family in Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France, in 1412, on the feast of the Epiphany. From a young age, she loved prayer and caring for the sick. When she was 13 years old, she began hearing voices telling her to save France.

France at this time was embroiled in the Hundred Years' War. While the traditional start of the war was in 1337, conflicts between England and France go back much farther. In Joan's time, the war was getting worse. The king of England had captured Normandy and claimed the French throne. Things reached a breaking point when the duke of Burgundy was killed by people working for the duke of Orléans. Burgundy allied itself with England and set out for Orléans, sacking Joan's hometown along the way. The English laid siege to Orléans in October 1428, when Joan was 16.

Joan was afraid when she started hearing voices, but eventually identified them as Saints Michael, Catherine of Alexandria, and Margaret of Antioch. Though she had no military training whatsoever, she went to Robert de Baudricourt, the local French military commander, in May 1428, but he laughed at her and sent her away. She went back and told him that the French had lost a battle that day near Orléans. There was no logical way she could have known that, and after verifying that she was telling the truth, Baudrincourt sent her to King Charles VII for military service.

Joan was given armor and a standard with the names of Jesus and Mary, and led an army to break the siege of Orléans. While other French forces distracted the English, Joan led her troops into Orléans with supplies, and within ten days the siege was over. She led many more battles, taking back French territory that had been captured by England. Then, in 1430, she was captured by Burgundy.

Joan's allies did nothing to try to free her, and she was sold to the English. They tried her for witchcraft and heresy, questioned her men's clothing, and took advantage of her lack of a formal education. She was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, only 19 years old. Twenty years later, her case was reopened and she was exonerated.

St. Joan of Arc, pray for us!

An old program making a comeback!

On May 7th, your Thunderbolt Chapter board was privileged to present our 2026 CSM Timothy Bolyard Memorial Scholarships to six outstanding students. The awards were made possible through the generosity of our individual and corporate donors. Special thanks to the Armor School and our parent US Cavalry & Armor Association for hosting a great event! Photos courtesy of Patrick Albright of [email protected]

The Armor School hosted the 2026 Armor Ball on Friday, May 8th at the Ironworks in Columbus. The guest speaker was Combined Arms Center Commanding General, LTG James Isenhower III. Order of Saint George Gold Medallions were bestowed up on COL (R) Doug Morrisson, and CSM (R) Phil Johndrow. The Gold Noble Patron this year was Mrs. Britta Desario. Congratulations to all!

U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence

2026 05 08 Armor Ball - MCoE Fort Benning Armor and Cavalry Soldiers gather for the 2026 Armor Ball, May 8, 2026 at the Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center, in Columbus, Georgia. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright)

Sullivan Cup '26 wrap up. Link for photos at the bottom.

4th ID wins best tank crew, Irish team takes best Bradley crew in Sullivan Cup armor competition

By COREY DICKSTEIN STARS AND STRIPES • May 8, 2026

After more than a week of firing, fixing and testing, a 4th Infantry Division tank crew and an Irish cavalry crew took top honors at the 2026 Sullivan Cup armor crew competition on Friday at Fort Benning, Ga.

The 4th ID tankers from Fort Carson, Colo., bested the second-place crew from Poland’s 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade by more than 100 points. Meanwhile, the Irish crew, from the Irish Defense Forces’ 1st Armoured Cavalry Squadron, squeaked past the top-finishing U.S. team from the Mississippi Army National Guard’s 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team to claim the top Bradley fighting vehicle crew title.

The Sullivan Cup, held every other year by Fort Benning’s Maneuver Center of Excellence, challenges tank and Bradley crews on their gunnery skills, their maintenance skills, their physical fitness, and their knowledge of their platform and tactics.

Brig. Gen. Chad Chalfont, the Army’s Fort Benning-based armor commandant, said all of the crews impressed him.

“The display that you put on is remarkable,” Chalfont told the competitors Friday morning at the end of the competition. “I want to congratulate you all on the payback in the investment in readiness that your formations made in each and every one of you and your crews.”

The win was the second for a 4th ID tank crew in the last three Sullivan Cup competitions, after a Fort Carson crew also won in 2022. This year’s winning crew was made up of Staff Sgt. Jordan Ashdown, Sgt. Jose Medina, Spc. Alexander Hernandez and Spc. Samuel Vo. The Irish team was the first non-U.S. crew to win either side of the Sullivan Cup since it was first held in 2012. The Irish crew — Lt. Colm Meade, Sgt. Shane Molloy and Tpr. Tristan Regan — won the competition despite little experience on the M2 Bradley fighting vehicle. The Irish Defense Forces do not have Bradleys, and their cavalry forces largely use wheeled armored vehicles such as the Piranha III, according to the Irish military. Instead, the crew received a three-week crash course on operating and fighting with the Bradley ahead of the competition, officials said. They will return to Ireland having bested six American units which have long used Bradley fighting vehicles.

The Irish team excelling meant “we probably did something good [in the train-up] that translated to a better performance,” said Army Col. Justin Harper, whose unit trained the international crews. A British tank crew, which typically operates a Challenger 2 tank, was also given a crash course on the M1A2 Abrams for the competition.

The Polish tank crew comes from a unit that owns Abrams tanks.

Chalfont told the Sullivan Cup competitors that they now must share all the knowledge and experience they gained in the competition with other soldiers in their units.

“You’re charged with the responsibility to take back what you learned here to your formations to drive readiness so that we’re ready for the next fight,” he said.

2026 Sullivan Cup International Best Armor Crew Competition - MCoE Fort Benning Fort Benning and Maneuver Center of Excellence digital archive provided by the Fort Benning Public Affairs Office

The Chief of Armor and the CSM inducted a number of new members into the Order of Saint George yesterday. Some better pictures are forthcoming. Congrats to those who were recognized!

Come see the world's best tank and bradley crews at the Sullivan Cup on Fort Benning: 🗓April 30 – May 8, 2026.

🔗 More Info: https://www.benning.army.mil/armor/sullivan/

🇺🇸 Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom 🇺🇸

Join us for an unforgettable evening at The Infantry Ball as we honor the legacy, sacrifice, and strength of the Infantry community.

📅 June 12, 2026
🕔 Social Hour: 5:00 PM
🎖️ Call to Mess: 6:00 PM
📍 National Infantry Museum
1775 Legacy Way, Columbus, GA

This special night will bring together Soldiers, families, and supporters to celebrate 250 years of freedom with tradition, pride, and camaraderie.
🎟️ Tickets are available now....don’t wait!

Secure your spot today by visiting our website.
https://infantryassn.org/2026-infantry-birthday-ball/

Today we were privileged to recognize Tony Burford from ACM ABCT as he transitions from the staff. The long-time loggie will be badly missed around the BSA. He's a true Noble Patron of US Cavalry & Armor!!