Fort Dix 1960 U.S. Army Basic Training Yearbook – Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment

Front Cover, Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1960 Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment. | GGA Image ID # 13e03e7024

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1960, Company L

⭐ Introduction

The 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook captures the lives of 206 recruits from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment, who graduated on 16 September 1960 under the command of Lieutenant Cadman Owens.

This yearbook is significant as it reflects the Cold War Army—a period between the Korean and Vietnam Wars when the U.S. military focused heavily on readiness, deterrence, and preparing large numbers of young men for potential deployment to Europe, Korea, or global hotspots.

🏅 Engaging Content Highlights

Pre-Vietnam War Era

This yearbook represents soldiers trained before the U.S. escalation in Vietnam. Many of these men would later serve during the Vietnam buildup, but in 1960 they were primarily being readied for Cold War garrison duty.

Detailed Leadership Roster

Names of regimental, battalion, and company leaders are preserved, along with platoon leaders, sergeants, clerks, and supply personnel. This level of detail is invaluable for researchers and family historians.

Large Photographic Record

With 14 pages of recruit portraits, nearly every soldier is pictured, ensuring descendants and genealogists can locate and recognize their relatives.

Diverse Class

The roster includes names of recruits from immigrant backgrounds (Polish, Italian, Puerto Rican, Korean, German, Greek, and more), reflecting America’s diversity at the dawn of the 1960s.

Explore the 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook for Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment. Includes rosters, photos, and leadership profiles of 206 recruits in the Cold War era. A valuable resource for genealogists, veterans, historians, and military archives.

Company L 1960 Organization and Schedule

• Organization: 3rd Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment
• Commenced Training: Not Reported
• Completed Training: 16 September 1960

Company L 1960 Leadership

• Regimental Commander: Colonel Arthur W. Hodges
• Battalion Commander: Lt Colonel Robert H. Peoples
• Company Commander: LT Cadman Owens
• First Sergeant: 1ST SGT Eugene Spatharis
• Platoon Leader: LT Kopf
• Platoon Leader: LT Brazziano
• Platoon Leader: LT Snyder
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC Lester Dick
• Supply Sergeant: S/SGT Ralph Parke
• Company Clerk: PVT John McCabe

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Albert N. Alexander-John W. Butler)

1. Albert N. Alexander
2. Robert W. Allwein
3. John H. Andrews
4. Agustin M. Aviles
5. Siegfried E. Baas
6. Martinez A. Baez
7. Philip A. Baird
8. Jerry R. Barcomb
9. Lee M. Barth
10. Arthur L. Bass
11. Donald J. M. Beauchene
12. Edmund F. Bednarek
13. Byula Beres
14. Victor L. Bernstein
15. Floyd C. Bishop, Jr.
16. James W. Boyd, Jr.
17. Maxwell L. Brokaw
18. James A. Brooks, Jr.
19. Martin L. Brzoska
20. John W. Butler

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, , Part 2 (Frederick H. Capestany-Alan A. DeLucia)

1. Frederick H. Capestany
2. Joseph Caponegro
3. Biuseppe Cario
4. Edward J. Casamassima
5. Arturo F. Catala
6. Frederick L. Ciesielski
7. Frederick V. Congreve
8. Robert L. Connelly
9. George J. Cossack, Jr.
10. Clement Cottingham
11. Donald J. Cross
12. Robert C. Crutchley
13. Ronald A. Culver
14. Edward Cyran
15. Edward P. Daly
16. Foster S. Davis
17. Richard L. Davis
18. Thomas W. Deal
19. Edward A. De Grilla
20. Alan A. DeLucia

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, , Part 3 (Luis Diaz-Arnold L. Funk)

1. Luis Diaz
2. Edward F. Donahue
3. Gordon J. Donohue
4. Patrick J. Donovan
5. Joseph Doublisky
6. John E. Duvelsdorf
7. Edward E. Ebersold
8. Carl F. Edmonds
9. Albert H. Elgert, Jr.
10. Clark R. Enders, Jr.
11. Milton A. Emisse, Jr.
12. Dennis R. Fader
13. Vincent M. Fasano
14. Gary R. Fitzsimmons
15. Morton D. Flaum
16. Delbert L. Fleagle
17. John J. Flint
18. Vasilios P. Frangus
19. Brian I. Fulton
20. Arnold L. Funk

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Richard W. Furbert-Ronald R. Hatch)

1. Richard W. Furbert
2. John A. Gagne
3. Donald H. Gallagher
4. Robert L. Gallant, Jr.
5. Cicero F. Gardner
6. Daniel G. Gawel
7. Donald C. Gerber
8. John C. Gillis
9. Jean J. Glaziou
10. Kenneth R. Goodale
11. Wayne P. Gould
12. James E. Graham
13. Allan J. Grise
14. Michael R. Grunwald
15. Jesse J. Guffey
16. Elmer U. Hamel
17. Dennis E. Harkins
18. Robert W. Harman
19. Donald C. Harris
20. Ronald R. Hatch

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Julius G. Hemperly, Jr.-Wallace P. LaPiere)

1. Julius G. Hemperly, Jr.
2. Kenneth B. Henderson
3. Alford W. Hoffner, III
4. Ronald W. Howell
5. Anthony D. Johnson
6. Willibald Jonke
7. Philip W. Kallaugher
8. Bruce A. Kellogg
9. Warren G. Kibe
10. Thomas A. Kim
11. John J. King
12. Max R. Kneer
13. Brian H. Knowlton
14. William F. X. Knowlton
15. Richard K. Koochagian
16. Joseph C. Labert
17. Bruce P. La Bombard
18. James M. Lacey
19. Robert E. Laliberty
20. Wallace P. LaPiere

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Charles A. La Rocque-Howard C. Mills)

1. Charles A. La Rocque
2. John J. Leahy, Jr.
3. Joseph A. Legg
4. James C. Lindecamp
5. George W. Link, Jr.
6. Joseph N. Lurmey
7. Bradford J. MacDonald
8. Brian F. MacDonald
9. Allistair F. MacLeod
10. Peter Maher
11. John W. Markle, Jr.
12. James S. Marouchoc
13. Robert M. Martin, Jr.
14. Thomas C. Mathewson
15. Gary W. McCracken
16. Edward J. McDonald
17. William F. McGonagle, Jr.
18. Andrew J. Micalizzi
19. William L. Millette
20. Howard C. Mills

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Henry J. Minias-Martin J. Ploof, Jr.)

1. Henry J. Minias
2. Andrew S. Moconyi
3. Luca E. Monferato
4. John A. Morreale
5. Sylvantus H. Moses
6. Frank H. Mueller
7. John J. Murawski
8. Cornelius R. Murphy
9. William C. Myers
10. George V. Nielsen
11. Matthew M. Nolan
12. Stanley J. Nowakowski
13. Jack D. Nunez
14. Anthony J. Olmo
15. Michael A. Palange
16. Frank Pawlowicz, Jr.
17. Walter Perog, Jr.
18. Fredrick R. Peters
19. Thomas O. Phair
20. Martin J. Ploof, Jr.

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Frederick L. Poist-Frank J. Savage)

1. Frederick L. Poist
2. Garry D. Pridmore
3. Richard W. Pries
4. James A. Quairoli
5. Anthony V. Ranfone
6. Gordon L. Rankin
7. Sebastiano S. Ratto
8. James T. Reynolds
9. Robert E. Rice
10. Edward J. Robbins
11. David N. Ruckert
12. Richard T. Ruquet
13. Michael Ruyak
14. Marcelino Saldana-Ramos
15. Santiago O. Salvador
16. Luis A. Sanchez-Mateo
17. Vernon E. Sanders
18. Angel L. Santiago
19. Victos Santos-Martinez
20. Frank J. Savage

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (John P. Shasteen-Karl R. Tiede)

1. John P. Shasteen
2. Michael T. Shean
3. James R. Shumate
4. Carlton Smith
5. Charles Smith
6. Everett A. Smith
7. Ivan J. Smith
8. Robert R. Snell
9. Thomas E. Snyder
10. Paul Stagen, Jr.
11. Robert L. Standfast
12. Alexander W. Stewart
13. James P. Stewart
14. George S. Stoffey
15. Michael P. Stone
16. James H. Strebel
17. Brian E. Sullivan
18. Andrew M. Susko
19. Samuel Thompson
20. Karl R. Tiede

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jose L. Torres-Perez - Russell W. Whiting)

1. Jose L. Torres-Perez
2. Joseph A. Tremblay
3. Emil G. Tulenko
4. Erwin J. Turner
5. Stanley E. Urban
6. Leonides Valentin
7. Russell Valentine
8. Atty T. A. S. Van Hamel, Jr.
9. Orville E. Van Hoesen
10. Delgado A. Vega
11. Wolfgang Vinskey
12. Carl L. Wager
13. Edward M. Walsh
14. Earl D. Watts
15. George E. Weisel
16. Robert L. Weitzel
17. George L. Welch
18. Thomas R. Wentz
19. Donald P. Wheaton
20. Russell W. Whiting

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 11 (Richard Wiggin-Richard F. Yitts)

1. Richard Wiggin
2. Arthur J. Williams
3. Ernest P. Williams
4. Bernard Windfelder
5. Jackson L. Woolard
6. Richard F. Yitts

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Third Training Regiment Portrait Photos Included Colonel Arthur W. Hodges, and Lt Colonel Robert H. Peoples. | GGA Image ID # 13e060754f

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Leadership, Page 2. Company Officers and Cdre Portrait Photos Incuded LT Cadman Owens, 1ST SGT Eugene Spatharis, and SFC Lester Dick. | GGA Image ID # 13e0c45ece

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Leadership, Page 3. Portrait Photos Included LT Kopf, LT Brazziano, LT Snyder, S/SGT Ralph Parke, and PVT John McCabe. | GGA Image ID # 13e0e88085

🎖️ Noteworthy Leaders

COL Arthur W. Hodges (Regimental Commander) – Oversaw training at Fort Dix, one of the largest U.S. Army training centers on the East Coast.

LTC Robert H. Peoples (Battalion Commander) – Directed the 3rd Battalion during an era of rapid Cold War buildup.

LT Cadman Owens (Company Commander) – A young officer charged with leading over 200 recruits through the intense transition from civilian to soldier.

1SG Eugene Spatharis (First Sergeant) – The senior enlisted advisor at the company level, directly responsible for enforcing standards and discipline.

SFC Lester Dick (Platoon Sergeant) – One of the few NCOs named individually, remembered for leading at the ground level.

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Albert N. Alexander-John W. Butler). | GGA Image ID # 13e119f28a

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, , Part 2 (Frederick H. Capestany-Alan A. DeLucia). | GGA Image ID # 13e1334082

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, , Part 3 (Luis Diaz-Arnold L. Funk). | GGA Image ID # 13e13ae65c

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Richard W. Furbert-Ronald R. Hatch). | GGA Image ID # 13e13bd65e

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Julius G. Hemperly, Jr.-Wallace P. LaPiere). | GGA Image ID # 13e15bedbc

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Charles A. La Rocque-Howard C. Mills). | GGA Image ID # 13e1db06ab

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Henry J. Minias-Martin J. Ploof, Jr.). | GGA Image ID # 13e1eeff66

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Frederick L. Poist-Frank J. Savage). | GGA Image ID # 13e2034676

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (John P. Shasteen-Karl R. Tiede). | GGA Image ID # 13e21c3a65

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Jose L. Torres-Perez - Russell W. Whiting). | GGA Image ID # 13e256e0f2

Company L 1960 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 11 (Richard Wiggin-Richard F. Yitts). Three Photos of Recruits Marching Included. | GGA Image ID # 13e2a98718

🌟 Notable Soldiers & Connections

While no single nationally famous individual stands out in this roster, several points make it notable:

Puerto Rican & Latino representation: Names such as Luis Diaz, Marcelino Saldana-Ramos, Santiago Salvador, Jose Torres-Perez, Leonides Valentin reflect Puerto Rico’s longstanding role as a recruiting ground for the U.S. Army.

European immigrant roots: Names like Siegfried Baas, Wolfgang Vinskey, Willibald Jonke, Biuseppe Cario, Sebastiano Ratto illustrate the presence of second-generation immigrants entering service.

Ethnic diversity before integration was fully mature: The yearbook demonstrates the Army’s steady role as a unifying force across racial and ethnic lines before the Vietnam draft expanded the Army’s composition even further.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Front Cover (1960 Yearbook) – A bold design symbolizing the regiment’s identity at Fort Dix.

Leadership Pages (1–3) – Commanders, officers, and NCOs depicted in formal portrait style.

Recruit Photo Pages (4–14) – Hundreds of individual portraits documenting the soldiers who graduated in September 1960.

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Provides primary source material for studying Cold War military culture, the draft, and the Army’s training pipeline before Vietnam.

Genealogists – Essential for locating family members, especially given the inclusion of immigrant and minority recruits.

Historians & Military Archives – Documents Army leadership and training structures at one of the busiest U.S. training posts.

Veterans & Families – A treasured record of shared experiences during a formative time of life.

📘 Key to Officer, NCO, and Enlisted Ranks

• COL – Colonel (O-6)
• LTC – Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
• LT – Lieutenant (O-2 or O-1, context suggests 1st LT)
• 1SG – First Sergeant (E-8)
• SFC – Sergeant First Class (E-7)
• S/SGT – Staff Sergeant (E-6)
• PVT – Private (E-1)

📖 Dictionary of Military Terms & Abbreviations

Training Regiment/Battalion – Units responsible for conducting basic combat training.

Platoon Leader – Junior officer responsible for a platoon (approx. 30–40 men).

Platoon Sergeant – Senior NCO counterpart to the platoon leader.

First Sergeant – Senior enlisted advisor at the company level, overseeing all enlisted matters.

Company Clerk – Soldier responsible for administrative and paperwork duties.

Supply Sergeant – Manages weapons, uniforms, and logistics at the company level.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The 1960 Fort Dix Yearbook, Company L is a Cold War artifact, bridging the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. With over 200 recruits, extensive portraits, and detailed leadership rosters, it offers a rare and vivid glimpse into America’s Army before Vietnam’s escalation.

📘 For genealogists, teachers, historians, and veterans, this yearbook is an essential tool for connecting family memory and national history.