Fort Knox 1956 Basic Training Yearbook – Company D, 15th Battalion, 5th Training Regiment

Front Cover, Fort Knox Basic Training Yearbook 1956 Company D, 15th Battalion, 5th Training Regiment. | GGA Image ID # 16b16c6e9c

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Knox Basic Training Yearbook 1956, Company D

15th Battalion, 5th Training Regiment – U.S. Army Basic Training, Fort Knox, Kentucky
Graduated: 1956 (exact dates not reported). Total Recruits: 194.

⭐ Introduction

The 1956 Company D yearbook from Fort Knox, Kentucky, captures a moment in U.S. Army history when the Cold War was intensifying and America’s armed forces were preparing for global responsibilities. Located at the Army’s premier Armored Training Center, Fort Knox was the hub of tank and mechanized infantry training.

This yearbook shows 194 recruits completing their initial transformation into soldiers, led by officers and non-commissioned officers who themselves carried experiences from World War II and Korea.

🎖️ Historical Context

Cold War Army: The U.S. was in the early stages of its peacetime draft and selective service buildup, responding to the Soviet Union’s growing influence. Many of these recruits would go on to serve in Europe, Korea (post-armistice), or domestic armored divisions.

Fort Knox’s Role: Known as the home of the Armored Force, Fort Knox emphasized training in tanks, armored personnel carriers, and mechanized infantry tactics. This yearbook likely represents a blend of general Army indoctrination and armor-specific instruction.

Korean War Veterans as Trainers: Many drill sergeants and NCOs of the mid-1950s were seasoned combat veterans, ensuring a tough, disciplined environment for new soldiers.

Explore the 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Yearbook for Company D, featuring 194 recruits, leadership portraits, and recruit photos from the Army’s premier Armored Training Center during the Cold War.

Company D 1956 Organization and Schedule

• Organization: 15th Battalion, 5th Training Regiment
• Commenced Training:
• Completed Training:

Company D 1956 Leadership

• Company Commander: 1st Lieutenant Carey W. Green, Jr.
• Executive Officer: 2nd Lieutenant Gerald C. Kullmann
• First Sergent: Sgt. Harold E. Nutt
• Company Clerk: Pvt. Kruzan
• Mail Clerk: Pfc. Eapmon

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Antonio J. Almeida-Ronald P. Corriveau)

1. Antonio J. Almeida
2. John O. Andonian
3. Charlie R. Atkinson
4. Joseph T. Aulicino
5. Jonathan Baumbach
6. Frederick M. Bilda
7. Gerald T. Billings Jr.
8. John Blank
9. Joseph Borst
10. Fred M. Bost
11. Milton L. Boyarsky
12. John F. Brittingham
13. Bernard K. Burns
14. Domenick Buttiglieri
15. Gerald Carp
16. Gene V. Castricone
17. Joseph F. Catanzard
18. Richard H. Chandres
19. Edward L. Chesley Jr.
20. Ronald P. Corriveau

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Dominic J. Cozzolino-Frank J. Faraci)

1. Dominic J. Cozzolino
2. Frank Crisafulli
3. Robert D. Daly
4. Edward A. Dattilo
5. Walter C. Dawkins
6. Anthony DeBlasio
7. Ralph Del Gaudio
8. Dominic Dellavolpe
9. John C. D’Entremont
10. Anthony Di Benedetto
11. Rodney R. Donovan
12. William R. Dorsch
13. Elmer F. Dosio
14. Martin Draisin
15. Thomas D. Duffy
16. Robert J. Dvorovy
17. Clarence R. Eaton Jr.
18. Arthur W. Eisenhauer
19. Anthony Emperio
20. Frank J. Faraci

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Bronson H. Fearnley-Harry J. R. Hartman)

1. Bronson H. Fearnley
2. Paul H. Finkeldey
3. John R. Flocco
4. Robert C. Ford
5. Jacob E. Frank
6. Lloyd S. Friedman
7. Thomas D. Gaesser
8. William J. George
9. David T. Giordano
10. Ernest A. Gleit
11. William J. Going
12. Elliott A. Gordon Jr.
13. Edward G. Grabowski
14. Charles L. Granby
15. Joseph Grecco
16. Norman C. Gross
17. Joseph Guariglia Jr.
18. George M. Harris
19. Roben Harrison
20. Harry J. R. Hartman

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Harold W. Heatley-Edward G. Koreivo Jr.)

1. Harold W. Heatley
2. David G. Hecht
3. Donald E. Hoffman
4. Frank Horrocks Jr.
5. Daniel J. Immediato
6. Edward L. Isseks
7. Franklin D. James
8. John H. Jensen
9. Robert C. Johnson
10. Donald G. Kaszka
11. Michael J. Kelly
12. Howard S. Kelmon
13. Robert B. Kennedy
14. John E. Kennell
15. Terence A. Keogan
16. Warren A. Kilmer
17. Reginald Kirklin
18. Sidney J. Klein
19. Robert J. Knight
20. Edward G. Koreivo Jr.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Klaus Kubierschky-Erich J. Matthies)

1. Klaus Kubierschky
2. A. Jackson La Baer
3. John J. La Colla
4. Ralph F. La Plante
5. Ralph D. LaRosa
6. Mervin H. Lefkowitz
7. Ernest A. Lehner
8. Seymour Lerner
9. Robert J. Leverte
10. Bert H. Lewengrub
11. Ivan E. Lewis
12. Leon E. Maloon
13. Anthony Marcella
14. Robert Markman
15. Rudolph J. Marsala
16. Vincent M. Martino
17. Andrew J. Martucci
18. Rosenberg L. Marvin
19. Ralph H. Mason
20. Erich J. Matthies

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Peter M. McMahon-Leslie S. Prigerson)

1. Peter M. McMahon
2. Peter V. McNally
3. Andres T. Modrzejewski
4. Frank S. Mucha
5. Richard J. Murphy
6. Sylvester R. Murphy
7. William S. Noble
8. David Olshin
9. John E. O’Neill
10. Anthony Ortolano
11. Gene R. Palermo
12. Enrique P. Percy
13. Nicholas G. Petras
14. Charles L. Petteys
15. Richard G. Phelan
16. Richard E. Polhemus
17. Wesley E. Pompey
18. Naclav Popule
19. John A. Prestia
20. Leslie S. Prigerson

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Richard J. Provenzano-Frank S. Salagaj)

1. Richard J. Provenzano
2. Lawrence J. Quinn
3. Frederick R. Robinowitz
4. Efrain M. Ramos
5. William Redfern
6. Raymond Reid
7. Alvin K. Remscheid
8. William J. Roberts
9. Wilson Rodriguez
10. Peter D. Rogers
11. E. Roman-LaSalle
12. Richard Rosenberg
13. Jerrold P. Rosenthal
14. Neil I. Ross
15. Robert J. Rossi
16. Anthony J. Rotell
17. Richard J. Ruzzo
18. Donald J. Ryder
19. Herbert B. Safran
20. Frank S. Salagaj

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Edward S. Schiller-Maurice P. Taillie)

1. Edward S. Schiller
2. Donald Schneider
3. Julius L. Schwartz
4. Frank J. Scorzafeva
5. Arthur Seagull
6. Anthony Sellari
7. Richard E. Shaper
8. Neil F. Sharp
9. James F. Sherry
10. Louis Shuman
11. Melvin Silverman
12. Thomas J. Smith
13. Martin N. Stein
14. Robert E. Stickle
15. Richard N. Stier
16. Karl F. Strobel
17. Antonio S. Suarez
18. Juan J. Suarez
19. John C. Taggart, Jr.
20. Maurice P. Taillie

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Raymond T. Temple-Herbert D. Welte, Jr.)

1. Raymond T. Temple
2. John F. Thompson
3. John E. Thoms
4. Joseph R. Tomossone
5. S. Tovar-Mengibar
6. John L. Towler, Jr.
7. Emanuel Tramontana
8. Edward Trocciola
9. Lawrence Tromeur
10. John A. Vallese
11. Raymond Van Patten
12. John F. Vassallo
13. Heinz W. Veigel
14. George S. Walker
15. Richard Wanat
16. Robert I. Weathers
17. William F. Weeks, Jr.
18. Rolf G. Weiler
19. Donald R. Weise
20. Herbert D. Welte, Jr.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (John Werczynski-Dominick Zarilla)

1. John Werczynski
2. Gordon M. Westwater
3. Patrick J. Whalen
4. Ronald M. Whincup
5. Matthew J. Williams
6. Theodore M. Wilson
7. Earl R. Wiltsie, Jr.
8. John F. Woods
9. William Woodward
10. Malcolm S. Wright
11. Gerald Yablonsky
12. Joseph M. Yankoski
13. Herbert Yefsky
14. Dominick Zarilla

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Portrait Photos Include 1LT Carey W. Green, Jr., 2LT Gerald C. Kullmann, SGT Harold E. Nutt, PVC Eapmon, and PVT Kruzan. Additional Images are Group Photos of Supply, Cadre, and Cooks. | GGA Image ID # 16b291c363. Click to View a Larger Image.

🏅 Organization & Leadership

• Company Commander: 1LT Carey W. Green, Jr.
• Executive Officer: 2LT Gerald C. Kullmann
• First Sergeant: SGT Harold E. Nutt
• Company Clerk: PVT Kruzan
• Mail Clerk: PFC Eapmon

👉 A relatively small cadre of leadership was responsible for nearly 200 recruits, reflecting the Army’s heavy reliance on its NCO corps to maintain discipline, drill precision, and military bearing.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Antonio J. Almeida-Ronald P. Corriveau). | GGA Image ID # 16b2ac5a31. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Dominic J. Cozzolino-Frank J. Faraci). | GGA Image ID # 16b2c1e78d. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Bronson H. Fearnley-Harry J. R. Hartman). | GGA Image ID # 16b354e077. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Harold W. Heatley-Edward G. Koreivo Jr.). | GGA Image ID # 16b3b4605a. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Klaus Kubierschky-Erich J. Matthies). | GGA Image ID # 16b409ccbd. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Peter M. McMahon-Leslie S. Prigerson). | GGA Image ID # 16b4163d3d. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (Richard J. Provenzano-Frank S. Salagaj). | GGA Image ID # 16b488c1f8. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Edward S. Schiller-Maurice P. Taillie). | GGA Image ID # 16b4b1fa9d. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (Raymond T. Temple-Herbert D. Welte, Jr.). | GGA Image ID # 16b5330123. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company D 1956 Fort Knox Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (John Werczynski-Dominick Zarilla). | GGA Image ID # 16b5c238f9. Click to View a Larger Image.

📸 Noteworthy Images

Front Cover (GGA Image ID #16b16c6e9c): A classic Fort Knox design with regimental identification.

Leadership Page (Image ID #16b291c363): Officers and NCOs posed formally—symbols of post-war Army professionalism.

Recruit Portrait Pages (Image IDs #16b2ac5a31 through #16b5c238f9): Eleven pages of individual photographs, documenting all 194 recruits by name.

These portraits provide a critical genealogical record, particularly for families tracing Cold War-era service.

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Useful for understanding the Cold War Army and the transition from a WWII/Korean mobilization force to a standing professional army.

Genealogists – Includes 194 names and faces, often the only publicly available record of service from this period.

Historians – A valuable example of Army indoctrination at Fort Knox, especially significant for those studying the development of armored warfare training in the Cold War era.

Veterans & Families – Preserves a moment in time for soldiers who served between wars, many of whom formed the backbone of America’s NATO commitments in Europe.

📘 Key to Ranks

• 1LT – First Lieutenant (O-2)
• 2LT – Second Lieutenant (O-1)
• SGT – Sergeant (E-5)
• PFC – Private First Class (E-3)
• PVT – Private (E-2)

✨ Final Thoughts

The 1956 Company D yearbook from Fort Knox is a time capsule of the Cold War Army. Unlike later Vietnam-era volumes that emphasized counterinsurgency and Southeast Asian environments, this book reflects an Army focused on mechanized warfare and global readiness.

It preserves the faces and names of nearly 200 soldiers, standing at the threshold of military life, and highlights the professional NCO leadership that shaped America’s postwar force. For genealogists, educators, and historians, it remains an invaluable record of mid-century Army training.