Here's the first personal account beyond my own. Its from my dad, 1SGT Bobby C. Graham. Go on and send yours in to me.
What a reunion!!!
I was on an high all the time. With 13 members there that was there during my time as as 1st Sgt.
It was just great seeing them after 30 some years. It was great sitting around hobnobbing with them and catching up on what every one had been doing. I am really looking forward to next years reunion.
Will see y'all in Pigeon Forge.
Thanks for making my day!!
Bob Graham
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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
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