What a great Reunion! We say that every year and every year we mean it. It’s so good to see everyone again and welcome to the new guests who attended for the first time.

Among our guests this time, were four special guys: Captain Andrew Bischoff, First Sergeant Tommy Love, PFC Richard Malott, and Corporal Ryan Hanson of the 7th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, 630th “Sapper Company”. The 630th Engineering Unit was re-activated September 14th at Fort Drum, New York and Jim Fitzgerald, Jack and Georgeanna Wilson and Paul O’Bryan attended the ceremony in New York. Captain Bischoff , Commander, was invited to come to our Reunion which he did along with three others.

As most of you know, Linda no longer works at the Four Seasons but was able to come to the cookout on Saturday. It was so good to see her again. Without Linda managing in the office, there were a few mix-ups with room numbers but in the end, it all worked out okay. We knew Linda was really efficient and helpful, now we know how much she did for us. The Four Seasons Motel and Branson seem to offer it all--if anyone prefers to stay at the motel for meals and visiting, they can. And we have our own shopping too, with our auctions. If you would like to venture out, there are so many shows, theaters, and shopping. The downtown Branson Craft Show was there again this year the same weekend as the Reunion. It’s fun to go out to eat and go sight-seeing--but it’s all the more fun to come back and laugh and talk and visit with everyone.

The weather was absolutely perfect that weekend--couldn’t ask for any better. And the food--we always eat well, that’s for sure. We had our Friday Night Fish Fry. As always, Ray Walley and his helpers did a wonderful job. Friday night’s fish dinner great! (Carl keeps telling me that he “HAS to go fishing” so he can “put food on the table” and “take fish to the Reunion”…yeah, right!) Shirley Walley--the hush puppies were delicious! We also had baked beans and cole slaw which is always good with fish. And thanks to the Hansens who brought the jerky, watermelon, tomatoes and corn--so good and sweet! Meat and vegetable trays were available at noon on Friday and Saturday.

Meeting

The meeting was held on Saturday at 1PM. Jim Fitzgerald introduced the new guests: Russell Cooke who came with his family; Kenny Shillingberg and his wife, Linda; Richard Rafferty and his wife, Debbie; and George Phelps. Everyone stood for a moment of silence as Jim read the names of all those killed in action in Vietnam in the 630th. It was voted that we again stay at the Four Seasons Inn for the next reunion which will be September 18 - 21st, 2008. The Reunion is always the third weekend of September.

Jim introduced each of the service men and asked each to say a few words. All stated they were very pleased to attend this Reunion and were enjoying it very much. At first, they weren‘t sure what to expect from a bunch of 55 - 70+ years of age guys, but they soon fit right in. The company was reactivated September 14, 2007 at Fort Drum, New York. The Engineering Unit is now called the “Sapper Company” and are a light infantry unit as opposed to light equipment. A plaque, “Passing The Torch” was presented to Captain Bischoff. Corporal Ryan Hanson read a poem entitled, “I Am A Veteran”.

Another guest, Roger Heaton from the 14th Combat Engineer Unit, was able to attend our Reunion. In his search for members of the 14th Engineers on the internet, he has found a number of names of men in the 630th and has passed those names on to Jim.

Thanks to Carmen Higgins for keeping the Web-site (630thengrco.com) updated on a regular basis and will have a link to the 630th Sapper Company.

Carol Fuller gave an update on the finances--how much was spent for mailing/postage and other Reunion expenses. Money from the silent auctions and the bidding auction help pay for the food. A reminder--please, if you change your address, or telephone number/e-mail address, let Carol Fuller, Jim Fitzgerald, or Carmen Higgins know. At least 12 to 14 letters a year are returned unable to be forwarded.

Something new this year--Jim asked everyone to look under the chair they were sitting on as there would be a prize--Mary Emmons won a 50.00 gift card. Vanessa O’Bryan passed out tickets to everyone and drawings were held and prizes given out all evening long. Great idea!

Gary Hermance made an announcement--next year, we will have a hog roast on Saturday evening--Hurray!!

Ray Walley asked everyone to remember to be respectful while at Four Seasons--remember that there are others at the motel that are not part of our Reunion Group. The whereabouts of the “Traveling Plaque” (a plaque that recognizes people for their outstanding service) was also brought up. By the next Reunion, the Plaque will again be “traveling” and be at the meeting.

Reminder--sign up with the V.A. There will be a time in the not too far distant future that Vietnam veterans will no longer be able to sign up. PLEASE, sign up, get your name in the system and on the Agent Orange Registry. The meeting was then adjourned.

We want to thank John and Cathy Cullor who made T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts and brought them for sale. Roger Heaton from the 14th Combat Engineer Unit also brought T-Shirts/hats and other memorabilia. He has sold these at the 14th Reunions but he said that he would not be doing that anymore. He brought what he had left to our Reunion. He donated a percentage of what he made plus bought items at the auction and ended up giving us $160.00.

At 4PM Saturday, we began our silent auction. Many items were on the tables--just waiting to for someone to make a bid! And all the time we are making our bid on paper…deciding what to bid on…circling the table… waiting to see if someone makes a higher bid-…all this time…..we are smelling the wonderful aroma of chicken and steaks being cooked on the grill by our chief griller, Gary Hermance. Awesome! Add to this pork roasts, cabbage/carrots/potatoes cooked in a “cream can” prepared by (Ron and Jan Haselhorsts’s daughter and son-in-law), baked beans, cole slaw, grilled onions/green peppers. Other side dishes included that delicious sweet corn, tomatoes and watermelon brought by the Hansens. Dessert would not be complete without pure maple syrup from New Hampshire drizzled over the top of ice cream. Thanks to John and Wendy Boles for bringing this treat (and some extra for the auction) that has become a tradition.

When dinner was finished, everyone took a chair and headed outside where Jack Wilson, our auctioneer, started us off with lively bidding. We couldn’t think of everything that all of you so generously brought (and bought) at the auction but here are just a few--two beautiful hand-made rag rugs made and donated by Gary Hermance’s mother, home made peanut butter fudge, a Christmas wall hanging, a gift basket filled with different kinds of Cajun mixes and seasonings, a fruitcake and fudge made by the monks at the Abby in Kentucky, several bottles of mighty fine wine and whiskey, three beautiful throws, and a book of National Cemeteries from Arlington. Our “top seller” was a beautiful handmade quilt by Sandra Fitzgerald that had the logo of the engineer’s castle in the center. It was a gem! The bidding was fast-paced on this one but Pat and Eve Kaiser purchased the quilt (via long distance/cell phone with Carl as “the middle man”) all the way from Gresham, Oregon. They were unable to attend this year due to Pat having surgery on his leg--we missed you guys!!!

We have had the auction for several years now--it is so enjoyable and all proceeds help pay for Reunion expenses. Throughout the year, keep in mind items for the auction to bring with you or to make.

Ooops, we almost forgot to add a couple of “specials” that were auctioned off. Corporal Hanson and PFC Malott decided they wanted to do their share and stepped up to auction themselves off! They went for a whopping $40.00 each! I don’t know how many times I said, “These boys looks so young!” Someone reminded me that they were the same age that “our guys” were when they went to Vietnam.

After the auction, it was “music time”--many thanks to Ed Hitchcock and Paul Kline our guitar players, along with Pauls’s son who sang and his grandson who was the drummer.

That reminds us too-- Paul’s family was able to join him at the Reunion, but we had other “family guests” as well. Jack and Georganne’s son, B.J. and his guest, Carol; Ron and Jan Haselhorst’s daughter and son-in-law attended (and cooked).

MANY THANKS TO MANY PEOPLE…

Jim Fitzgerald for putting together another great reunion

Sandy Fitzgerald and Vanessa O’Brian for all their work on the auctions

Carol Fuller for managing our finances, for the mailings to everyone and for being our “official photographer”

Gary Hermance, Ray and Shirley Walley and all their helpers for being such great cooks

Al and Carmen Higgins for all their help cooking and keeping up the Web-Site

Thanks to everyone who helped with the cooking, the clean-up, shopping for groceries and going to the stores to pick up food. Thanks to everyone who brought food and we sure hope we haven’t missed anyone . Thanks to everyone who takes their time to come to the Reunion--that’s what makes it so much fun!

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for future Reunions, please bring them up at the meeting so everyone can have a say in what goes on. We want to do what the majority wants.

Be sure to mark your calendars--the Reunion in 2008 will be Thursday, September 18 through Saturday, September 20th . We hope all those who came for the first time enjoyed themselves--we’re so glad you did. For those of us who keep coming back and wouldn’t miss it for anything--we’ll see you again next year!

Carl and Marianne Brown

****NOTE****

We just finished with this letter and were getting ready to mail it out when we received very sad news. We sincerely regret to inform all of you of the death of Mary Emmons, wife of Dewey Emmons, who passed away October 20, 2007 in Temple, Texas. I'm sure that all of you will join us in expressing our most heartfelt condolences to Dewey and his family for their loss. Memorial services will be in Wisconsin at a later date.