New Guard unit in Temple

A large contingent of soldiers — the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the 3rd Squadron, 36th Infantry Division — moved from Pennsylvania to Central Texas, and Temple is its new headquarters.

Aug 26, 2021

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021

“We will keep a Bradley or two and a tank here in Temple for some of our training. But most of the heavier vehicles will be kept at Fort Hood.”

A train carries tanks from Pennsylvania to Central Texas in this July photo. The 607-member 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the 3rd Squadron, 36th Infantry Division, is now headquartered at the Texas Army National Guard on Airport Road in Temple.

607 new faces in Temple as regiment calls National Guard station home

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple exclusive

There are 607 new faces at the Texas Army National Guard station in Temple, and tons upon tons of new equipment.

The large contingent of soldiers — the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the 3rd Squadron, 36th Infantry Division — moved from Pennsylvania to Texas, and Temple is its new headquarters.

In December of last year, the National Guard Bureau realigned the regiment from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard to Texas, and soon the big move was under way.

“In July, we moved nearly 6,000 pieces of equipment — tanks, Bradley’s, Humvees, fuelers, weapons systems, you name it — from Pennsylvania to Central Texas,” said Major Derek K. Ruschhaupt, the squadron’s executive officer.

“We brought everything the Army determined we need,” he said.

Although Temple is the squadron’s headquarters, the bulk of training exercises will be conducted at Fort Hood. Most of the heavy equipment will be kept at the nearby Army installation.

“We will keep a Bradley or two and a tank here in Temple for some of our training,” Ruschhaupt said. “But most of the heavier vehicles will be at Fort Hood.”

According to the major, the new Temple unit will consist of five “troops.”

“We are a combined arms battalion, and there will be five troops in Temple,” he said. “We will have the headquarters troop, two armored tank troops, an infantry troop equipped with Bradley’s, and a sustainer troop,” he said. “The sustainer troop consists of mechanics, engineers, cooks — they keep us going.”

Ruschhaupt said 540 soldiers will report to Temple every month to conduct operations and maneuvers, and the rest of the 607 will be here full time.

“We will be based out of the Armory, but we will live throughout Temple and the immediate area,” he said. “We’re your new neighbors.”

According to Ruschhaupt, the story of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment begins December 3, 1941, when the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion was created and activated at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania. The battalion was assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard the next year.

Following service in northwest Europe from 1944 and 1945, the battalion was deactivated for about a year.

“In 1946 the unit was renamed the 628th Tank Battalion, and from 1951 to 1954 it was deployed to Europe with the 28th Infantry Division during the Korean Conflict,” Ruschhaupt said.

The battalion was consolidated with elements of two field artillery battalions in 1959 to form the 103rd Armored Regiment.

“The 3rd Squadron claims a distinguished record of service extending back to the American Civil War,” Ruschhaupt said. “It participated in multiple campaigns during the War on Terrorism and both World Wars. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the squadron has been called into active duty for several security missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

In 2015, the squadron was redesignated as the 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, he said.

Although Ruschhaupt serves as the new Temple group’s executive officer, Lt. Commander Jamie Creek directs the regiment from his office at Brownwood’s Camp Bowie.

While the unit has already arrived in Temple, they will officially display regiment colors in October.

“We’ll be uncasing our colors during a ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 29, at Santa Fe Plaza in downtown Temple,” Ruschhaupt said. “It will be ceremonial with various dignitaries present, but we also will have a tank and a Bradley at the plaza.”

BELTON

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 87 Degrees; 0.05 feet high. Black bass are good on blue flecked Texas rigged plastic worms, chartreuse swim jigs and bladed spinners. White Bass are good on the main lake points, flats and humps using white/chartreuse jigging spoons and slabs. Hybrid stripers are fair with live bait and pearl swimbaits in the main lake along the channel edges where bait is present. Crappie are fair on minnows in brush piles and timber in water depths 14-25 feet. Catfish are good on chicken liver, live and cut bait.

STILLHOUSE

GOOD. Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.31 feet high. Black bass are good on drop shots, shad like crankbaits and spinners working vegetation, grass lines and hydrilla beds early in the day, then deeper water and timber with football jigs, diving crankbaits and Texas rigged plastic worms. Smallmouth bass are good with plastic grubs, small spoons and rooster tails near rocky shorelines, rock ledges and drop-offs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in brush piles and timber. White bass are good on slabs and live bait off main lake points, humps and drop-offs. Channel catfish are good with night crawlers and punch bait. Blue catfish are good with fresh-cut bait and live bait.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

August 28, Saturday - Third annual Anglers for Aiden Memorial Bass Tournament to fund scholarships for Bell County seniors. Tournament is held in honor of Aiden Martin, a 14-year-old who died in 2018 following a four-wheeler accident. Lake Belton’s Cedar Ridge Sunset Pavilion. Entry is $125 per team. For additional information, call J.P. Brazil at (254) 760-9028.

September 11, Saturday - Pink Fishing’s Reeling in the Cure, 6th annual bass tournament. Proceeds benefit breast cancer patients and cancer research. Cedar Ridge Park. 6 a.m. Call (254) 681-0102 for details.

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What’s happening, Temple?

August 27, Friday - Executive Steel Band, Ras Kitchen, 17 S. Main, Temple, 7 p.m.

August 27, Friday - Craig Howell with Somewhere in Texas. Bo’s Barn Dance Hall. 8 p.m.

August 27, Friday - Karaoke Night at Corky’s. 8 p.m.

August 27, Friday - Megan Brucker & Charles Edward Ott, O’Briens Irish Pub. 9 p.m.

August 28, Saturday - Totally Rad 80’s Prom Gone Bad, A murder mystery. The Venue by Inn on the Creek, Salado. 6:30 p.m.

August 28, Saturday - Comedy Showcase, Corky’s, Show starts at 8 p.m.

August 28, Saturday - People’s Choice, Bo’s Barn Dance Hall. 9 p.m.

August 28, Saturday - Caftan at Fire Street Pizza in Belton. 6 p.m.

August 28, Saturday - Full STEAM Ahead! Learn about optical illusions and how to make them. Bell County Museum. 11 a.m.

August 29, Sunday - Margarita madness. Corky’s. 1-5 p.m.

September 2, Thursday - Central Texas State Fair, Bell County Expo Center. Wade Bowen. 5 p.m. to midnight.

September 3, Friday - Central Texas State Fair, Pat Green. Twisted Metal Mayhem Derby. Bell County Expo Center. 5 p.m. to midnight.

September 4, Saturday - Central Texas State Fair, Flatland Calvary, Professional Bull Riding. Bell County Expo Center. 5 p.m. to midnight.

September 5, Sunday - Central Texas State Fair, Aaron Watson, Professional Bull Riding. Bell County Expo Center. 5 p.m. to midnight.

September 7, Tuesday - Interested in learning to dance, but not sure how to get started? Be our guest and join us for a sample class, professional performances, social dancing, and hors d’oeuvres. This is a great opportunity to get introduced to Arthur Murray in Temple and finding out more about what we have to offer! Open to the public, RSVP (254) 721-9524

September 11, Saturday - A Sami Show Arts & Crafts Market, Bell County Expo Center. 10 a.m.

September 11, Saturday - Weird Science. Explore different adaptations animals have made through presentations, fun games, and activities. Bell County Museum. 11 a.m.

September 11, Saturday - 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb & Ceremony. Wildcat Stadium. 7-11 a.m.

September 11, Saturday - Rescue Magazine’s Pet Adoption Extravaganza. There will almost 400 Animals up for adoption and fun for the whole family. Bell County Expo Center. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

September 12, Sunday - A Sami Show Arts & Crafts Market, Bell County Expo Center. 10 a.m.

September 12, Sunday - Rescue Magazine’s Pet Adoption Extravaganza. There will almost 400 Animals up for adoption and fun for the whole family. Bell County Expo Center. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

September 15, Wednesday - Tiny Thinkers, Kids 5 years old and younger are invited to the museum to experience the State Fair! Bell County Museum. 10 a.m.

September 18, Saturday - Harvest Celebration. Bring your family and friends to enjoy grape stomping, food trucks, music, and wine. This is a ticketed event. 3 Texans Winery. 6 p.m.

September 25, Saturday - Fun at the Fair! Join us at the museum to for fun at the fair! View the newest exhibit and take part in fun activities - explore symmetry by decorating a popcorn bucket, build your own mini rollercoaster, race your family in duck races, and visit our petting zoo! Bell County Museum. 11 a.m.

September 25, Saturday - Dale Watson, Texas Music Series,Cultural Activities Center. 7:30 p.m.

September 30, Thursday - TLC’s Celebration of Crazy, Sexy Cool with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Bell County Expo Center. 7:30 p.m.

September 30, Thursday - Funniest Comic in Texas semi-finals. Corky’s.

October 8, Friday - Painting with a Twist, 3 Texans Winery. 6:30 p.m.

October 9, Saturday - Shinyribs, Texas Music Series,Cultural Activities Center. 7:30 p.m.

November 6, Saturday - Chris Hillman, Texas Music Series,Cultural Activities Center. 7:30 p.m.

November 13, Saturday - Market in the Vines. Take a walk through the vines and shop with over 50 vendors! Free to the public. 3 Texans Winery. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Have an event you would like to promote? Email info to OurTownTemple@gmail.com with “What’s Happening” in the subject line. Keep it short and sweet — what, when and where. You may include a short description. You must include a phone number for verification purposes. The phone number will not be published unless requested by submitter.

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