Combined 36th & 540th 2008 Reunion

[roque_riojas]

WELL IAMNOT AN ENGINEER, JUST AN OLE DOGFACE---I AM LEAVING IN THE MORNING TO OUR REUNION,

THE REUNION OF THE FAMOUS 34TH INFANTRY DIVISION, IT WILL BE IN DES MOINES, IOWA. I WILLBE

THERE THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. WONDER HOW MANY WILL BE THERE THIS TIME. I QUESS WE WILL

ALL TALK ABOUT OUR ACHES AND PAINS AND TALK ABOUT "THE HERE AFTER", AS WE GO INTO THE GUEST

ROOM AND JUST SAY---WHAT AM I HERE AFTER!!!! Rocky

 

See all y"all come Monday.

[Walt's Daughter]

Have a wonderful time. I know you will. Just bring that great sense of humor with ya, and all will be bright!

[Walt's Daughter]

Re: post 9-3-08

 

Looks like we will have representation from the current 36th Eng Brigade. Latest letter sent to Capt John Fallon.

 

Sir,

 

COL Savre will join your reunion of heroes on 25 SEP. I will forward details once we complete travel plans.

 

Best regards,

 

LTC Mike Rose DCO, 36 EN BDE

[Walt's Daughter]

I'm BACK!!!!!

 

I'm not going to type a lot of information right now. I am exhausted after five days and a LOT of travelling. Just got in late last night, and very tired. Also had to jump right back in and go back to work today. I'm a bit slow, and have a lot to catch up on, including a ton of email, forum related things, and of course work and home.

 

Had a GREAT time. So much to report later... Wish it didn't have to end SO soon. It never seems to last long enough.

 

Till later dear friends!

 

[Walt's Daughter]

Had a WONDERFUL time, and didn't want to leave. Wish these things could go on for weeks. I can never get enough.

 

Anyway, will report in spurts, since there is a lot to tell, and I have to fit all this in while working too. Always so hard to come back and jump right back into the reality of work and all the things waiting for you at the home front...

 

Had a great turn-out in Lebanon. The best thing was how many of the guys showed up early (Thursday). This way we got to have the honor of their company for even longer.

 

First off, the Colonel was able to attend and we had the pleasure of his company for a day. Great guy. Very interesting, very friendly, and quite charming (that one's for the ladies). It was a great two-way street, with our guys interested in the "happenings" of today's 36th Eng Brigade", and the Colonel, vice-versa.

 

I ran my documentary that evening, so he could see it too, and was quite surprised by what occurred next...

 

Col Savre approached me and asked, "If all expenses were paid, including airfare, would you be willing to fly to Fort Hood to show your documentary....?" WHOA!!! It was like, "You mean ME?" Yes, he said he will arrange to have me flown there, and he wants me to give a presentation to the troops. He wants to make sure they know all about their proud history.

 

He doesn't want to wait until it's finished, because time is so fleeting, because you never know where they will be, such as Iraq. He is going to contact me to arrange all of this, and as you can imagine, I am thrilled, excited and elated! What a wonderful opportunity.

 

He also informed us, they will have a full-time webmaster very soon, to keep their site up-to-date. He laughed because his photo STILL isn't up on the site, even though he took over command two months ago... Yup, they do need some help!

 

Interesting note: Even with all the modern conveniences and inventions since WWII, we learned they STILL use that old-standby, the Bailey, on occasion. That was cool to hear!

 

More later....

[CaptO]

Glad to hear things went so well. I would have loved nothing more than to be there, but with everything going on here it was not possible. When I come back from Iraq I should be moving to Quantico in mid 2010 (sounds so far off doesn't it? It's 2010! Where's the flying cars??!!) Hopefully, I would be able to make it up there (assuming it is somewhere in the vicinity) for the reunion.

 

Col Savre approached me and asked, "If all expenses were paid, including airfare, would you be willing to fly to Fort Hood to show your documentary....?" WHOA!!! It was like, "You mean ME?" Yes, he said he will arrange to have me flown there, and he wants me to give a presentation to the troops. He wants to make sure they know all about their proud history.

 

I'm glad to hear this. I think the Army, as an institution, doesn't emphasize it's history as much as it should. Take the advertising, for example, you can tell the Marines are keen on their heritage just by the commercials that we generate. I've only seen one Army commercial that focused on their history, and I thought it was great (especially for being in the wake of the awful "Army of One" ads.) I have also come in contact with a good deal of soldiers who didn't know anything about their history! I often know a great deal more than they do - even about the history of the unit patches they are wearing!

The Army has a awsome heritage! They should tout it more often. Once again, I'm glad the colonel is taking a proactive step to embue his soldiers with a love for their history. I hope this is happening more often than I realize.

 

Interesting note: Even with all the modern conveniences and inventions since WWII, we learned they STILL use that old-standby, the Bailey, on occasion. That was cool to hear!

 

I guess there is only so much you can improve on a big chunk of steel spanning two banks, big enough to drive on. The AVLB is a newer piece of gear (relatively) at 21 years old.

 

But the concept is not new. This is the German version (ours is very similar to it):

 

This is the British version. It was one of Hobart's Funnies:

It was obviously not necessarily for spanning streams, etc.

 

All in all, I guess the Bailey proves that if something ain't broke. . . !!

[Walt's Daughter]

Agreed! I too think an historical approach is good for all. I think each (Army, Navy...) should stress their proud histories, and I was so glad to hear the Colonel was pursuing this. Of course, it's fun for me too!

 

What an honor for me to be there with all of them. I am still reeling from it! So happy to be the representative for all these fine young men (they are still young to me). Only wish I could bring them all along to meet this generation of engineers.

 

I also want to visit Fort Leonard Wood one of these years. So much history there!

 

Well back to work. Have to go re-stock the shelves.... Historian one day, stock-boy the next.

[Walt's Daughter]

Thanks for the sequence of photos. Forgot to throw that in there....

[civilwargal]

 

Wow Marion!!!!

This is fantastic news. It's nice that this project is getting the recognition it deserves.

[Walt's Daughter]

Thanks dear. It blows me away. It's nice to see that people are actually taking it seriously. The boys are delighted too.

 

When I showed it to the 157th on Sunday evening, they were happy to see that someone was putting out info on the combat engineers. There was a round of "hoops and hollers", when I asked them, "When's the last time you saw or heard something on engineers?" "When's the last time you picked up a history book, and saw more than ONE LINE, about what you did?" That definitely drew a response from the crowd!