Sunday, September 20, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Reflection on 2009 reunion
Whew! If you missed this year's reunion, let me tell you, it was really something.
I'll write more later, and heartily encourage anybody who was there to share their personal reflections here, but right now, I'm just giving the highlights.
For the first time that I'm aware of, we had, not just one, not even two, but three different commanding officers present.
We also heard from Bryan Kassahn, a former 516th member, who was part of the initial engineer force to enter Iraq this decade. He had a slide show presenting his perspective of what they encountered, and it isn't always what the press has to show us. He was unable to make it to the reunion, but had sent the slide show on a CD and phoned in to narrate the show. One of my favorite scenes was when he gave a 15-year old Iraqi girl her first pair of shoes ever. Judging by the emotion in his voice, I'm certain this was one of the high points of that tour for him.
And, we also heard a riveting presentation from Chris Reeder, the son of former 516th member Don Reeder, about his time serving as a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I was personally moved by Chris's presentation, as he showed insight to a very private segment of the military whose credo is to honor those who have come before us.
I'm not sure of the exact number of former members of the 516th who were present, but according to Gene Ogletree's lovely wife Linda, this was easily the largest turnout we've ever had. According to some estimates, there were somewhere around 70-80 people attending the catered meal on Thursday night, but this number includes family members.
On a personal note, my dad had his 76th birthday on that Thursday and he has said many times since, that this one was one of the best birthdays he's ever had. I do know that it was definitely the first time he's had a group of 70-80 people, including nearly a dozen from his time with the 516th, singing "Happy Birthday" to him. Additionally, someone commented that Paul Sharkey had also marked a recent birthday, so the group then serenaded him with the same song. I swear that I heard somebody with a loud voice proclaim, "Happy birthday, dear Jaws."
If anybody has any memories from this year's reunion that they want to share here, please email me at
reunion516@yahoo.com
and I'll work to get those posted on the blog as well.
This invitation goes for photos, too. Email them to me, or if you have them uploaded at a photo-sharing site, like Flickr or PhotoBucket, send me the link and we'll get a post here with that on the blog.
Thanks to all of those who came and presented this year for making the reunion the special occasion that it was.
I'll write more later, and heartily encourage anybody who was there to share their personal reflections here, but right now, I'm just giving the highlights.
For the first time that I'm aware of, we had, not just one, not even two, but three different commanding officers present.
We also heard from Bryan Kassahn, a former 516th member, who was part of the initial engineer force to enter Iraq this decade. He had a slide show presenting his perspective of what they encountered, and it isn't always what the press has to show us. He was unable to make it to the reunion, but had sent the slide show on a CD and phoned in to narrate the show. One of my favorite scenes was when he gave a 15-year old Iraqi girl her first pair of shoes ever. Judging by the emotion in his voice, I'm certain this was one of the high points of that tour for him.
And, we also heard a riveting presentation from Chris Reeder, the son of former 516th member Don Reeder, about his time serving as a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I was personally moved by Chris's presentation, as he showed insight to a very private segment of the military whose credo is to honor those who have come before us.
I'm not sure of the exact number of former members of the 516th who were present, but according to Gene Ogletree's lovely wife Linda, this was easily the largest turnout we've ever had. According to some estimates, there were somewhere around 70-80 people attending the catered meal on Thursday night, but this number includes family members.
On a personal note, my dad had his 76th birthday on that Thursday and he has said many times since, that this one was one of the best birthdays he's ever had. I do know that it was definitely the first time he's had a group of 70-80 people, including nearly a dozen from his time with the 516th, singing "Happy Birthday" to him. Additionally, someone commented that Paul Sharkey had also marked a recent birthday, so the group then serenaded him with the same song. I swear that I heard somebody with a loud voice proclaim, "Happy birthday, dear Jaws."
If anybody has any memories from this year's reunion that they want to share here, please email me at
reunion516@yahoo.com
and I'll work to get those posted on the blog as well.
This invitation goes for photos, too. Email them to me, or if you have them uploaded at a photo-sharing site, like Flickr or PhotoBucket, send me the link and we'll get a post here with that on the blog.
Thanks to all of those who came and presented this year for making the reunion the special occasion that it was.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
It's almost time, are you coming?
I'm heading out in the morning, heading to my brother's home to overnight. On Tuesday morning, we'll be heading up to St. Robert for the reunion. I'm excited and looking forward to seeing everybody there.
Travel safely and we'll see you there.
Travel safely and we'll see you there.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Itinerary set for 2009 reunion
As of today 7-30-09, this is the way things have been lined-up for the 516th Engr. Co. Reunion Sept 9 thru 12, 09.
Wednesday, 09/09
Travel Day and check in hotels after 3:00 P.M.
About 6:00 P.M. We meet in front of hotels and go up or
across street to Mediterranean Grill for our evening meal.
This will be buffet style, after meal we will have a short
meeting.
Sgt. Major Sam Peeler will brief us on the next
day's activities on Ft. Leonard Wood. Plus we will have short Meeting on any questions that may arise.
Thursday, 09/10
9:00 a.m. we will take in a Graduation.
After Graduation we will go to mess hall and eat with the
class.
After lunch we will tour the Army Museum"s, there are 3 or 4 Museum's.
After this we will return to hotels.
About 7:00 p.m. we will have a catered meal and meeting
at one of the hotels. Probably the Hampton Inn.
Friday, 09/11
We go back on the Fort to the Bridge Training Site, and watch troops train on the bridge.
After this we go to mess hall and eat lunch.
After lunch, we can visit PX and other points that we haven't seen on Fort.
About 7:00 p.m. we will have a catered meal and meeting
at one of the hotels.
We have one man that will speak to us and show pictures of Iraq when he served there in 2003-04.
We have another man who served as a Guard at the Toomb of Unknown Soldier will speak one night. Plus we will have others who will speak about their time in the 516th.
Saturday, 09/12
We will just visit several historical places in the
surrounding area, and this day we will just play it as we see
fit. I am sure someone will come up with something.
It is possible that some minor changes could occur, but nothing that we can't adjust too.
Thanks, Gene Ogletree
Wednesday, 09/09
Travel Day and check in hotels after 3:00 P.M.
About 6:00 P.M. We meet in front of hotels and go up or
across street to Mediterranean Grill for our evening meal.
This will be buffet style, after meal we will have a short
meeting.
Sgt. Major Sam Peeler will brief us on the next
day's activities on Ft. Leonard Wood. Plus we will have short Meeting on any questions that may arise.
Thursday, 09/10
9:00 a.m. we will take in a Graduation.
After Graduation we will go to mess hall and eat with the
class.
After lunch we will tour the Army Museum"s, there are 3 or 4 Museum's.
After this we will return to hotels.
About 7:00 p.m. we will have a catered meal and meeting
at one of the hotels. Probably the Hampton Inn.
Friday, 09/11
We go back on the Fort to the Bridge Training Site, and watch troops train on the bridge.
After this we go to mess hall and eat lunch.
After lunch, we can visit PX and other points that we haven't seen on Fort.
About 7:00 p.m. we will have a catered meal and meeting
at one of the hotels.
We have one man that will speak to us and show pictures of Iraq when he served there in 2003-04.
We have another man who served as a Guard at the Toomb of Unknown Soldier will speak one night. Plus we will have others who will speak about their time in the 516th.
Saturday, 09/12
We will just visit several historical places in the
surrounding area, and this day we will just play it as we see
fit. I am sure someone will come up with something.
It is possible that some minor changes could occur, but nothing that we can't adjust too.
Thanks, Gene Ogletree
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Announcing the 2009 516th ENGR. CO. Reunion
516TH ENGR. CO. REUNION - 2009
THE 2009 REUNION WILL BE HELD SEPT. 9 THRU 12, 2009 AT FT. LEONARD WOOD, MO. IT IS LOCATED ON I-44 BETWEEN ST. LOUIS AND SPRINGFIELD, MO.
WE HAVE MADE RESERVATIONS AT THE COMFORT INN (25 ROOMS) AND THE HAMPTON INN (25 ROOMS) YOUR CHOICE. THESE TWO MOTELS ARE BUILT SIDE BY SIDE IN ST ROBERT, MO. JUST OFF I-44, AND 3 MILES FROM FT. LEONARD WOOD.
THE COST PER ROOM WILL BE $74.00 PLUS TAX PER NIGHT AT BOTH MOTELS. WHEN YOU CALL IN, OR E-MAIL PLEASE TELL THEM YOU ARE WITH THE 516TH ENGR. CO. REUNION. CLOSING DATE TO GET THESE RATES WILL BE JULY 4, 2009.
COMFORT INN - TELE. NO. - 573-336-3553 OR
E-MAIL linda@fortwoodhotels.com
HAMPTON INN - TELE. NO. - 573-336-3355 OR
E-MAIL kelly@fortwoodhotels.com
1. TO GET TO MOTELS EXIT 161 OR 159 GO NORTH ONE BLOCK. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THEM ONCE YOU EXIT I-44.
2. EACH MOTEL HAS A FREE CONT. BREAKFAST. CHECK-IN TIME IS 3:00 PM CHECK OUT IS 11:00 AM.
SEVERAL THINGS HAVE BEEN PLANNED TO DO AT THIS REUNION:
- TAKE A TOUR OF THE FORT.
- TOUR 3 MUSEUMS ON THE FORT.
- HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE TROOPS TRAINING, AND EAT IN THE MESS HALL.
- TAKE IN A TROOP GRADUATION.
- TOUR ST. JAMES WINERY.
- LADIES - 110 STORE OUTLET MALL AT THE LAKE OF OZARKS.
- MEN - BASS PRO SHOP, AND WONDERS OF WILDLIFE MUSEUM.
- THERE ARE also ALL KINDS OF HISTORICAL SITES TO SEE.
- THEN THERE IS ALWAYS BRANSON, MO.
THEY LIST 70 RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA SUCH AS, CRACKER BARREL, RYAN'S STEAKHOUSE, BBQ, AND PIZZA PLACES ETC.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS REUNION, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS, OR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT US.
THE MORE INPUT WE HAVE THE BETTER THE REUNION WILL BE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE REUNION. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE, PLEASE PASS THIS INFO. ONTO THEM.
THANK YOU,
GENE OGLETREE
E-MAIL geneogletree@bellsouth.net
TELE. NO. 478-237-7159
Monday, March 31, 2008
Updated: Former members of 516th Engr. Co. we are looking for
Howdy,
The purpose of today’s post is to list names and information of former members of the 516th Engineer Company that we are trying to locate. The post below will be an on-going list of men we are seeking to contact with news about our reunion group.
We hope that if somebody does a search for the 516th and/or a name they are looking for, they will find our blog. We want to help connect the former members.
To get this done, will need your input to help with the list.
If you know of somebody who served with you and can give a name, rank, dates with the 516th, home town, or other information that will help in finding them, then Email me at
reunion516@yahoo.com
With your information and I’ll add it to this post.
* * * *
Former members of 516th Engr. Co. we are looking for
**James B. (Pat) Patterson
Sp4
Personnel clerk
1962-63-64
Pat was from the St. Louis, Mo. Area, but I am almost sure that he has moved from that area. If anyone knows what state that he lives in now please let me know.
**James O Stanfield
Sp4
Bridgeman and Truckdriver
1962-63-64
From North Georgia Area
**Gary W Armstrong
Sp4
Bridgeman and Truckdriver
1963-64-65
Could be from, Iowa, Minnesota, or Missouri
The purpose of today’s post is to list names and information of former members of the 516th Engineer Company that we are trying to locate. The post below will be an on-going list of men we are seeking to contact with news about our reunion group.
We hope that if somebody does a search for the 516th and/or a name they are looking for, they will find our blog. We want to help connect the former members.
To get this done, will need your input to help with the list.
If you know of somebody who served with you and can give a name, rank, dates with the 516th, home town, or other information that will help in finding them, then Email me at
reunion516@yahoo.com
With your information and I’ll add it to this post.
* * * *
Former members of 516th Engr. Co. we are looking for
**James B. (Pat) Patterson
Sp4
Personnel clerk
1962-63-64
Pat was from the St. Louis, Mo. Area, but I am almost sure that he has moved from that area. If anyone knows what state that he lives in now please let me know.
**James O Stanfield
Sp4
Bridgeman and Truckdriver
1962-63-64
From North Georgia Area
**Gary W Armstrong
Sp4
Bridgeman and Truckdriver
1963-64-65
Could be from, Iowa, Minnesota, or Missouri
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